Associate Creative Director, Design

Firewood Marketing, Inc.; Canada; Hybrid; CAD 110,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading creative agency is seeking an experienced Associate Creative Director, Design to spearhead innovative advertising solutions for a major automotive client. Candidates must have over 7 years of design and art direction experience, with proficiency in Figma and the Adobe Suite. This role combines leadership with hands-on design work, fostering collaboration across cross-functional teams to develop compelling creative material. Strong communication and project management skills are essential for success. The position offers a salary range of CAD 110,000 to CAD 125,000.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of design and art direction experience in advertising.
• Experience in automotive advertising for 3+ years.
• Exceptional graphic design skills with a digital-centric portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Lead design for digital and print campaigns.
• Collaborate with teams to develop cohesive creative concepts.
• Mentor junior creatives on design and best practices.

Skills

Figma mastery

Graphic design

Leadership

Communication skills

AI proficiency

Project management

Tools

Adobe Suite

Job description

Please note that we will never request payment or bank account information at any stage of the recruitment process. As we continue to grow our teams, we urge you to be cautious of fraudulent job postings or recruitment activities that misuse our company name and information. Please protect your personal information during any recruitment process. While Monks may contact potential candidates via LinkedIn, all applications must be submitted through our official website (monks.com/careers ).

Associate Creative Director, Design

As an Associate Creative Director, Design for one of the largest automotive companies in the world, you'll partner with copywriters, art directors, account managers, creative directors, strategists, and other creatives to deliver a variety of compelling materials. Focusing on both art direction and design, the ACD will collaborate with cross‑functional teams to create innovative and visually compelling solutions that resonate with target audiences. This position requires a command of design (Figma mastery is a must), an ability to multitask in a high‑pressure, high‑volume environment, and a blend of artistic talent, strategic thinking, and leadership skills to elevate our agency's creative output. In practice, this means both getting your hands dirty as a hands‑on designer and while steering the team towards excellence, maintaining schedules, and heading creative development and production.

This pivotal position requires you to navigate multiple responsibilities, serving as both creator and supervisor simultaneously. You need to bring a progressive creative instinct and can‑do positivity—working effectively in teams with a no‑ego approach.

You will work closely with account leadership on how we continue to grow and support our strong relationship with one of the largest automotive companies in the world. Pivotal to your success in this role is having a strong visual acumen—strong design skill and visual curatorial taste is a must—as are strong communication skills and the ability to present your work effectively. You will need to work collaboratively and inclusively across brand, strategy, product, content and integrated marketing teams through a variety of opportunities while also supporting your ever‑growing creative team. Of equal importance is your influencing prowess with clients while ever being humble and adaptable.

Key Responsibilities

Elevate Creative Vision

• Partner with Creative Directors and leadership to elevate client brand expression and achieve creative excellence.
• Lead the design of integrated digital advertising, print and broadcast campaigns.
• Present ideas effectively, build client relationships, and confidently lead art and design conversations. Proactively respond to feedback (both written and verbal), and follow up with creative and account teams throughout each project.
• Guide the conceptual and aesthetic direction of campaigns, asset creation, experiential activations, and design projects.
• Work closely with clients to understand their vision, objectives, and feedback.
• Confidently present work alongside Creative Directors during client reviews.

Foster Collaboration and Execution

• Collaborate with copywriters, designers, and strategists to develop cohesive creative concepts.
• Creation of high‑quality, impactful work across all deliverables - from campaigns and design assets to experiential work.
• Provide clear, focused feedback to creative teams regarding work, department, and agency improvements.
• Mentor junior creatives by providing guidance on design best practices and professional development.
• Multi‑task and track the progress of a number of projects at any given time
• Contribute to the creative process from concept ideation to production, ensuring high‑quality, consistent, and innovative work.
• Critique major deliverables, upholding the highest standards of creative excellence and ensuring alignment with client objectives.
• Drive innovation and creativity, setting new industry standards and ensuring work is consistently smart, impactful, and scalable.
• Ensure work is best‑in‑class and award‑worthy.

Thrive in a Fast‑Paced Environment

• Stay updated on industry trends, tools, and techniques to inspire innovation.
• Embrace a hands‑on approach, seamlessly collaborating with cross‑functional teams to drive projects forward and proactively identify areas for improvement.
• Thrieve in a dynamic, deadline‑driven environment, effectively prioritizing tasks and maintaining a poised and professional demeanor.
• Collaborate seamlessly across time zones with a global team, supporting both local and international initiatives.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of design and art direction experience in advertising and marketing.
• 3+ years of automotive advertising experience
• Exceptional skill as a graphic designer and mastery of both Figma and the Adobe Suite
• AI proficiency and experience integrating AI in the creative process
• On set production experience for film and still shoots
• Thrive under pressure, adapting to changing priorities and consistently meeting tight deadlines.
• Possess an exceptional creative background, inherently understanding digital and thinking beyond traditional ad formats and budgets.
• Collaborate effectively with creative leads and copywriters, developing on‑brand, strategically sound designs that meet brief requirements.
• Contribute constructively to strategic and creative discussions throughout the entire project lifecycle, from conception to production.
• Leverage data and research to identify unique brand opportunities, effectively presenting creative vision and philosophy.
• Experience crafting brand style guides to ensure consistency across all touchpoints.
• A versatile, contemporary, digital‑centric portfolio showcasing a proven track record of excellence across multiple formats (digital, video, social, etc.) is required.

Your Working Style

• Highly creative and imaginative with a strong visual and design aesthetic.
• Exceptionally detail‑oriented and organized, with an unwavering commitment to pixel‑perfect precision.
• Self‑motivated, resilient, and adaptable, thriving in fast‑paced, dynamic environments.
• Adept at handling quick turnarounds as part of a dedicated, collaborative team.
• Constructive, solution‑oriented, and client‑centric, balancing a strong work ethic with a positive, humble approach, eager to learn from clients and teammates.
• Manage projects efficiently, minimizing friction and maximizing productivity.
• Open to feedback, providing clear rationale and readily offering alternative solutions, seamlessly transitioning between projects and brands.
• Comfortable working both independently and collaboratively.
• Driven to become a subject matter expert with a strong understanding of related creative disciplines.
• Possess excellent problem‑solving skills and a proactive approach to delivering high‑quality work.
• Stay ahead of the curve, informed about emerging creative trends, cultures, and technologies.
• Committed to upholding equity, inclusion, and accessibility in all aspects of the role.

Working Conditions

• The role may involve long hours and tight deadlines, requiring flexibility and a commitment to maintaining high standards under pressure. Collaboration with teams across different locations and time zones is frequently necessary.

At Monks, we believe in fostering an environment where a diversity of perspectives can thrive. We proactively work to design hiring processes that promote equity and inclusion while mitigating bias. We celebrate diversity and are committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome and encourage qualified applicants, from all backgrounds, who are excited to contribute to our mission.

Monks is committed to ensuring equal access and participation for people with disabilities. We are committed to treating people with disabilities in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. We believe in integration, and we are committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner. We will do so by removing and preventing barriers to accessibility and by meeting our accessibility requirements under local accessibility laws.

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This role is subject to our Return to Office (RTO) policy. If you reside within a commutable distance of one of our office locations, you will be expected to work from the office a set number of days per week. The specific details, including the number of required office days, will be in accordance with the company’s then-current RTO policy, which is subject to change from time to time.

Monks has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what Monks may pay for the position at the time of posting. Monks may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on job‑related factors, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Salary Range $110,000—$125,000 CAD

About Monks

Monks is the global, purely digital, unitary operating brand of S4Capital plc. With a legacy of innovation and specialized expertise, Monks combines an extraordinary range of global marketing and technology services to accelerate business possibilities and redefine how brands and businesses interact with the world. Its integration of systems and workflows delivers unfettered content production, scaled experiences, enterprise‑grade technology and data science fueled by AI—managed by the industry’s best and most diverse digital talent—to help the world’s trailblazing companies outmaneuver and outpace their competition.

Monks was named a Contender in The Forrester Wave™: Global Marketing Services. It has remained a constant presence on Adweek’s Fastest Growing lists (2019-23), ranks among Cannes Lions' Top 10 Creative Companies (2022-23) and is the only partner to have been placed in AdExchanger’s Programmatic Power Players list every year (2020-24). In addition to being named Adweek’s first AI Agency of the Year (2023), Monks has been recognized by Business Intelligence in its 2024 Excellence in Artificial Intelligence Awards program in three categories: the Individual category, Organizational Winner in AI Strategic Planning and AI Product for its service Monks.Flow. Monks has also garnered the title of Webby Production Company of the Year (2021-24), won a record number of FWAs and has earned a spot on Newsweek’s Top 100 Global Most Loved Workplaces 2023.

We are an equal‑opportunity employer committed to building a respectful and empowering work environment for all people to freely express themselves amongst colleagues who embrace diversity in all respects. Including fresh voices and unique points of view in all aspects of our business not only creates an environment where we can all grow and thrive but also increases our potential to produce work that better represents—and resonates with the world around us.

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