Associate Design Director Canada Creative
The role
THE ROLE
We Are Social is looking for an Associate Design Director to join our growing team! You want to make work that people will talk about, and love keeping up with everything on social media. You elevate our creative output by overseeing the design lifecycle, ensuring every project meets high standards of nuance and sophistication. You are a strategic partner to clients and a champion for the team, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible by creating a culture of innovative problem-solving.
WE ARE
A creative agency powered by social connections. That means we thrive on what’s trending and creating campaigns that get people buzzing. We call it “Ideas Worth Talking About,” and we’re proud to have played a part in some of the most culturally relevant campaigns of the decade for brands like McDonald’s, Adidas, Universal Studios, and YouTube.
WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT HERE
- We like to laugh, we live for celeb gossip and we’re great on AUX.
- Our passport program lets you explore and work from one of our 18 other offices worldwide, including Paris, Singapore, Madrid, Dubai, London and more!
- You best believe we know how to celebrate our wins. And our losses (it’s how we learn).
- From carbon offsets to community kitchens, we’re passionate about making a difference.
YOU ARE
- A person who thrives in a fast-paced environment, responding quickly and proactively
- Not interested in just following trends – you want to create them
- A self-starter, who’ll take ideas from concept to execution, navigating feedback like a pro
Traditional agency experience is not required, but it’s a plus. What matters is your deep understanding of what resonates with social audiences. This role is energetic, innovative and forward-thinking. Alongside engaging with communities, you’ll guide brands by staying ahead of social trends and cultural moments. In return, you’ll join a global agency dedicated to generating buzzworthy ideas for some of the world’s leading brands.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
- Oversee the work of designers and editors, by delegating tasks strategically to ensure all projects are executed to a high standard while maintaining the original creative integrity
- Lead design for client work and agency new business efforts, generating innovative and visually compelling ideas that align with client objectives and resonate with target audiences
- Guide and inspire the creative team, by fostering a collaborative environment where feedback is constructive, and individual performance is actively nurtured through professional development
- Contribute to the foundational strategy of major campaigns, translating abstract client needs into actionable, sophisticated creative tasks that resonate with target audiences
- Confidently defend complex design choices to senior stakeholders and decode client feedback into clear, executable directions for the team
- Juggle multiple high-complexity projects under pressure, navigating budget constraints and evolving scopes without sacrificing creative excellence
- Design visually engaging presentations, create mockups & do light retouching as needed that help sell creative ideas to top clients in the industry
- Build trusted relationships and navigate team dynamics by being an active listener for your team members and provide constructive feedback on work and performance
- Master a diverse AI tools and implement them to help accelerate every phase of the design lifecycle
- Proactively leverage AI to create unexpected work, such as highly personalized ad creative or AI-driven brand experiences that push traditional creative boundaries
REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS ROLE
- 7+ years of experience in a design, motion, or editing role, with a portfolio showcasing an understanding of short-form content best practices and channels
- Experience working in a fast paced environment, and managing multiple projects at a time
- Ability to inspire, influence, and motivate junior team members to be innovative and push creative boundaries
- Expert-level mastery of the Adobe Creative Suite and advanced knowledge of motion/video workflows
- Comfortable collaborating across departments, build relationships and navigate team dynamics
WHY SHOULD YOU JOIN OUR TEAM?
At We Are Social, we don’t just offer a job—we offer a creative career in an agency that moves at the speed of culture. Here’s what you’ll get:
- We are the first, largest, most awarded socially-led creative agency in the world, connecting you to 1,300+ like-minded professionals around the world
- An innovative and entrepreneurial work environment that promotes ingenuity and individuality – with the best of colleagues, and the best of clients
- Hybrid work models and flexible hours, plus a work from anywhere policy for short-term stays in other regions
- Generous vacation starting at 3 weeks + 1 extra week during the summer and over the holidays
- Agency summer days (exact policy differs per campus and agency)
- Modern, open co-working spaces with coffee & snack bars, located in great city neighborhoods, close to shops and restaurants and easy access to public transport
- Dogs allowed, dedicated private wellness room (in select offices)
- Regular team social events – holiday parties, seasonal gatherings, weekly happy hours, inspiring speakers and more! We are obsessed with learning and being better humans
- In-house learning & development sessions and annual career and growth conversations
- Access to internal network of opportunities across all agencies
- Focus on developing and recruiting BIMPOC Talent
- Internal EDI group(s), programs & initiatives across Plus Company and opportunities to be involved in employee resource group(s)
We invest in your health and wellness:
- Flexible benefits to support your individual lifestyle and life stage – with access to a personal wellness spending account you can use for a wide range of wellness expenses, including gym membership fees, pet care, education expenses, and much more!
- Comprehensive mental health support including access to a virtual mental health therapy clinic providing you with personalized therapist, guided iCBT programs and live therapy, access to health clinicians 24/7, and a holistic array of other health and holistic array of other health and wellness resources to support you and your family.
JOIN US
At We Are Social, we celebrate diverse perspectives and experiences. We welcome unique voices and talents, especially those not traditionally embraced by advertising. Discover more about our culture and our work.
Creating meaningful work means embracing different perspectives. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on age, colour, ability, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. Not only are these provisions protected by provincial and federal law, embracing difference is what makes We Are Social what it is—and we wouldn’t have it any other way. We pride ourselves on our inclusive and accessible workplace. If you need any accommodations during the interview process to make it work for you, let us know.
Let’s do cool stuff together. Apply now!
We’re part of the Plus Company – the Entrepreneurial Network!
Plus Company is a unique partnership of forward-thinking creative agencies. As a network, we unabashedly believe anything is possible. Why? Because possibility is what powers the big dreams and limitless drive of an entrepreneur. And entrepreneurial agencies are what we’re made of. A whole network of them.
Together with Plus Company agencies, we use our collective strengths to form bespoke, innovative and integrated teams that deliver a positive impact on your business. That means faster time to market, less bureaucracy to navigate, and no end to the creative magic-making for our clients.