Associate Creative Director (Copy)

Socket.dev; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Equal opportunity employer

Job summary

VML in Toronto is seeking an Associate Creative Director, Copy, to lead award-winning narratives and elevate our brand storytelling. You will partner with an ACD and art leads to craft compelling campaigns across broadcast, digital, and experiential, while guiding junior creatives.

The role requires 8+ years in advertising, a stellar portfolio, and mastery of copy, tone, and presentation. We offer a hybrid work model in Toronto and a collaborative culture that values creativity and client impact.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in copywriting/creative lead within an ad agency or similar.
• A stellar portfolio showcasing concept thinking and crafted copy for traditional and digital spaces.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling with adaptable tone for brands.

Responsibilities

• Translate strategic direction into award-winning copy across media (broadcast, digital, OLV, owned).
• Partner with ACD and art leads to develop and elevate cohesive concepts.
• Provide narrative vision while meeting client needs and deadlines.
• Champion brand voice and objectives to drive business impact.
• Lead research and ideation to inform creative output.
• Craft narratives for client pitches and presentations.
• Oversee production from narrative standpoint, including scripts and edits.
• Collaborate with production, technology, and accounts teams.

Skills

Copywriting

Brand storytelling

Digital copy

Presentation skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Agility

Time management

Attention to detail

Tools

Word processing

Keynote

PowerPoint

Job description

Who We Are

VML is a leading creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce, creating connected brands to drive growth. VML is celebrated for its innovative and award-winning human-first work for clients including AstraZeneca, Colgate-Palmolive, Dell, Ford, Microsoft, Nestlé, The Coca-Cola Company, and Wendy's. In 2026, VML was named Campaign’s Global Network of the Year and ranked #2 Creative Network of the Year at Cannes Lions. VML’s global network spans 55+ markets with principal offices in Buenos Aires, Kansas City, London, New York, São Paulo, Shanghai and Singapore.

VML is part of WPP, the trusted growth partner for the world's leading brands. Powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform WPP Open, WPP unites cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, creativity, production, enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel.

For more information, please visitwww.vml.com and follow along on LinkedIn #WeAreVML.

Associate Creative Director, Copy

About the Role

We are seeking an Associate Creative Director (Copy) (+ACD Art partner) who’s looking to do the best work of their career to join our growing team. Ideal candidates will have a strong creative vision, exceptional strategic skills, and the ability to drive world-class, impactful work. As an ACD, you will not only craft compelling narratives and brand stories but also elevate the conceptual craft of the agency and build trusted relationships with our clients.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive Creative Excellence: Lead the translation of strategic direction into compelling, award-winning copy and campaigns across various mediums, including broadcast, OLV, digital, and owned properties.
• Creative Partnership: Partner seamlessly with an ACD, Art (and cross-functional strategy and account leads) to develop, refine, and elevate impactful and cohesive creative concepts.
• Vision and Agility: Provide clear, inspiring narrative vision for your projects while remaining adaptable and agile to meet client needs and deadlines.
• Brand Stewardship: Champion the client's brand voice, tone, and strategic objectives, ensuring all creative output drives measurable business impact and connects authentically with audiences.
• Strategic Ideation: Drive the research and ideation phase to inform, inspire, and elevate the agency's creative output.
• Client Partnership: Craft compelling narratives for presentation decks and confidently lead client pitches, building trusted relationships with key stakeholders.
• Production Ownership: Direct campaign asset creation from a narrative perspective, including leading script development, voiceover records, audio mixes, and overseeing edits and post-production.
• Cross-Functional Orchestration: Collaborate closely with production, technology, and account teams to seamlessly manage the authoring and delivery of online and offline assets.
• Culture Champion: Foster a culture of collaboration, inclusivity, and continuous innovation, leading by example through the quality of your work and your approach to problem-solving.

Requirements

• Experience: 8+ years of experience as a copywriter/creative lead within an advertising agency or similar environment, with a proven track record of leading high-profile campaigns.
• Portfolio: A stellar portfolio showcasing conceptual thinking, strategic problem-solving, and beautifully crafted copy across traditional and digital spaces.
• Copy Acumen: Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills, with a deep understanding of how to adapt tone and voice for different brands and audiences.
• Digital Fluency: Deep expertise in the latest social media trends, platform-specific copywriting, and emerging digital technologies.
• Technical Mastery: Highly skilled with word processing software, Keynote, and PowerPoint.
• Collaborative Spirit: A highly collaborative team player with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Agility: Proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, successfully directing multiple projects simultaneously without sacrificing craft.
• Drive: A relentless passion for creativity, innovation, and driving real-world outcomes.
• Presentation Skills: Outstanding presentation skills, with the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly, persuasively, and succinctly to senior-level clients.
• Constructive Mindset: A mature, reasoned approach to client and internal feedback, using it collaboratively to push the work further.

The base salary for this position at the time of this posting may range between the values at the bottom of this posting. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications.

$90,000 — $140,000 CAD

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.