Who We Are: At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration. With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse. Our global family now encompasses over 30,000 employees across 150+ offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences. Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, offering deep insights in communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work. Who we are looking for: VML is seeking an Associate Creative Director, Art for our NY office. The ACD, Art is a visual storyteller who works closely with creative directors, client services leadership and brand strategists to conceive and create concepts for digital, social and traditional channels. The entire creative team will work together to translate these ideas from the written tone into a finished ad to meet our clients' business objectives. Our creative teams always strive to create boundary pushing, award-winning work. A bit about the client WPP | CP group leads the ecosystem that serves Colgate-Palmolive and its many diverse units around the world. The group works across multiple WPP agencies to ensure the best talent, expertise and resources are leveraged to meet and exceed our client's needs. Colgate-Palmolive is a caring, innovative growth company that is reimagining a healthier future for all people, their pets and our planet. As CP (a client of WPP's for over three decades), reimagines how they will help to shape a better future for all, the team at WPP | CP is a key partner in leaning into this greater purpose. There has never been a more exciting time to join the talented team dedicated to partnering with this globally recognized top brand and company in their transformation. What you'll do:
- Manage | Provide creative leadership as well as vision and inspiration to creative staff. Own assigned projects and manage all aspects of the assignment, team, creative work, budget, and presenting. Work with Creative Directors to manage Creative team in ensuring quality and accuracy on all creative products. Make recommendations to senior leadership and other team members on how to improve process and product. Supervise, mentor, and train more junior level teams, including: Senior Art Directors, Art Directors, Senior Copywriters, Copywriters, Designers and Interns.
- Create | Demonstrate creativity through efficiently conceptualizing, planning, producing, refining, and leading a diverse range of creative ideas and concepts. Work in a Copywriter capacity and performs the duties of the position when in this role. Present creative rationale during internal and client presentations. Drive the creative solution for new business pitches. Offer proactive solutions and ensure successful progression.
- Collaborate | Communicate with client service Account Director(s) regarding business scopes, financials, schedules, and planning. Collaborate with creative leaders with interviewing, hiring, training and the evaluation of junior Creative staff.
Who you are:
- Leader | Entrepreneurial attitude. Ability and appetite to create bring people together. Posses an Innate knack to marshal people and create gravity around ideas. Prioritize, organize and multi-task effectively. exhibit client service approach with results-driven performance. Effectively solve marketing problems with creative solutions.
- Open and collaborative | Our team is close-knit and supportive and we're working with a lot of unknowns - you must be a champion of team environments that are comfortable with ambiguity and encourage collaboration. Accept constructive internal and client comments with regard to concepts and copy.
- An experimenter | Embrace the unknown and ready to break process. You'll be excited by opportunities to create new rather than default to plugging-in to existing ones, while leaning towards experimentation. You see technology as a tool for creativity. Provide guidance across departments in a team and matrix environment.
- Ego-less | We all wear the hats that need wearing, it's a mentality that makes the team successful.
Required Skills
- Strong conceptual skills and a solid knowledge of the digital landscape
- Polished client presentation skills demonstrating a clear vision of how the work addresses the client challenge
- Ability to lead by example and mentor younger creatives in their development
- Desire to work collaboratively as part of a larger team in a fast-paced environment
Required Experience
- A bachelor's degree, design or writing emphasis preferred
- Seven-plus years of experience in an agency setting
What we offer:
- Passionate, driven people | We champion a culture of people that do extraordinary work.
- Consciously cultivated culture | We aim to embody the behaviors to build an inclusive community that is in it together, bringing both positivity and active listening into the workplace as we simultaneously strive to empower creative bravery.
- Competitive benefits | What we offer full time hires ranges from the full spectrum of group health coverage options (medical, dental, vision) to a generous 401k match (100% dollar-for-dollar match, up to 5% of salary contribution), and a variety of paid time off offerings that reflect our investment in all aspects of your overall life balance and wellness.
- Growth-minded opportunities | We aim to nurture a culture of real-time feedback, growth-oriented mindset, and plenty of training opportunities through Wunderman Thompson and WPP, so you can continue to grow personally and professionally.
The base salary range for this position at the time of this posting is indicated below. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package, click WPP Benefits for more details. $75,000-$180,000 USD At VML, we are committed to fostering an all-inclusive work environment that is both rewarding and career-forward. Our Inclusion, Equity & Belonging initiatives, alongside the VML Foundation, reflect our dedication to giving back and making a positive impact in our communities and beyond. Our people are the heartbeat of our organization-creators, doers, innovators, makers, and thinkers-who drive not just marketing, but meaningful experiences that resonate in every action and interaction. VML is a WPP Agency. For more information, please visit our website, and follow VML on our social channels via Instagram, LinkedIn, and X. When you click Submit Application , this will send any information you add below to VML. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through our Recruitment Privacy Policy. California residents should read our California Recruitment Privacy Notice. This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.