Associate Creative Director

Creative Niche; Toronto; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Creative Niche in Toronto is seeking an Associate Creative Director or Creative Director to lead innovative, culturally relevant work for a high-profile retail account with a visually led, hands-on approach.

You will shape shopper marketing and in-store experiences, mentor a small creative team, build strong client relationships, and stay ahead of Gen Z trends, emerging tech, and AI-enabled ideas for retail and QSR brands.

Qualifications

• Experience leading art direction for retail or experiential campaigns.
• Strong portfolio in in-store signage, POP/POS, and experiential activations.
• Proven ability to mentor and lead client-facing teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead creative across retail environments, POP/POS, digital, and social.
• Bring fresh, culturally relevant ideas incorporating emerging trends, AI, and technology.
• Build trusted client relationships, present compelling concepts, and drive creative excellence.
• Lead and mentor a small creative team while collaborating across departments.

Skills

Art direction

Retail shopper marketing

In-store experiences

Leadership

Job description

Associate Creative Director | Retail & Experiential

We're partnering with a creative agency seeking an Associate Creative Director to lead innovative, culturally relevant work for a high-profile retail account.

We're partnering with a globally connected creative agency seeking a visually driven Associate Creative Director or Creative Director to lead innovative shopper marketing and in-store creative for a high-profile QSR/retail account.

The ideal candidate brings a strong art direction and design background, with experience creating impactful in-store experiences, POP/POS, retail signage, menu boards, promotional campaigns, and experiential activations.

Ideal for a Creative Director or ambitious Associate Creative Director, this role requires a visually led, strategic, hands‑on creative leader with strong client skills, fresh thinking, and an understanding of Gen Z culture and emerging trends.

What You’ll Do

• Lead creative across retail environments, POP/POS, digital, and social.
• Bring fresh, culturally relevant ideas incorporating emerging trends, AI, and technology.
• Build trusted client relationships, present compelling concepts, and drive creative excellence.
• Lead and mentor a small creative team while collaborating across departments.

What We’re Looking For

• Senior Associate Creative Director agency experience.
• Strong retail/shopper marketing experience with an impressive creative portfolio.
• Understanding of consumer trends, and retail creative.
• Exceptional client leadership, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
• Strategic, commercially minded, hands‑on leadership with a passion for innovation.