Director, Creative Strategy

Darkroom•New York, NY

2d•Remote

About The Position

Darkroom is seeking a visionary creative leader with extensive experience in developing ad concepts for digital paid media advertising formats, particularly on Meta and TikTok. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of both creative execution and performance metrics, with the ability to provide tactical feedback on design and video while balancing creative testing and brand building. This role is crucial for the Performance Creative service, focusing on enhancing creative strategy, driving sales through compelling ad content, increasing creative diversity across various formats (statics, motion, video, UGC, AI), and scaling ad production to meet high volumes (50+ ads per month). The position is ideal for individuals passionate about digital advertising, AI in marketing, and contributing to a leading creative advertising culture. The Director will report to the Director of Creative, lead Designers and Editors, and collaborate with the Social Commerce and Paid Media teams. The role is fully remote and operates within the EST Time Zone, with all business conducted in English.

Requirements

2+ years in a Director-level or equivalent leadership role, with experience leading creative strategy, managing teams, and driving performance marketing results.
4+ years of creative strategy work on performance ad programs, with specific focus working on short form video and statics.
Must have experience with short-form video creative strategy on Meta.
A digital portfolio showcasing performance ad work that includes short-form video, motion, and statics, with examples of impact on metrics like hold rate or CTR, and evidence of strong creative diversity.
Ability to storyboard, cut, and ship ads; proficiency in Figma for hierarchy and pacing adjustments, and Photoshop or Illustrator for asset polishing.
Strong understanding of performance metrics such as thumb-stop rate, 3-second hold, hook retention, CTR, and CPA, and their application in testing strategies.
Experience using AI tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney, Perplexity, Icon, Runway, or similar to increase speed and volume, with a track record of shipping AI-assisted ad elements.
Excellent communication skills, both written and in client presentations.
Ability to provide crisp, actionable feedback to designers and editors and navigate client pushback.
Capacity to turn vague goals into testable concepts, track results, and determine next iterations independently.
Deep proficiency in Figma, including Auto Layout, Components, and handoff.
Strong skills in Adobe Creative Suite.
No Meta performance creative ad experience is a hard disqualifier.
No portfolio link or lack of performance context in the portfolio is a hard disqualifier.
Strategy-only roles with no hands-on design ability are not a fit.
Lack of excellence in client presentation and salesmanship is a hard disqualifier.

Responsibilities

Lead high-tempo creative strategy and direction for full-funnel ad programs, typically Meta and TikTok, but also YouTube, Amazon, and Display Platforms.
Deliver expert advice, concepts, directions, and briefs to sell products and services through short-form video.
Translate client’s marketing strategy and performance data into clear, compelling ad concepts, utilizing metrics like thumb-stop rate, hold rate, and clickthrough rate to adapt creatives.
Brief Designers and Editors on the creation of assets including static ads, animations, mobile-first videos, and storyboards for short-form content, with the ability to directly contribute to design and editing tasks.
Present creative work to stakeholders and clients with clarity, confidence, and strategic rationale.
Monitor performance data in collaboration with the marketing team to inform creative iterations and improve results over time.
Assist with establishing processes, systems, and testing frameworks that raise the floor on quality and speed, and continuously refine the Performance Creative service for scalability without losing rigor.