Associate Editorial Director

We Are Social; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading creative agency in Toronto is looking for an ambitious Associate Editorial Director. This role requires at least eight years of experience in content strategy and social media, overseeing editorial output and leading a team. You will engage with diverse clients and drive innovative content solutions while thriving in a dynamic environment. The ideal candidate has strong leadership credentials and a creative mindset, ready to create impactful narratives for world-class brands.

Benefits

Generous vacation starting at 3 weeks

Flexible work hours

Access to wellness programs

Team social events

Qualifications

• A minimum of eight years experience in content strategy, journalism, or marketing.
• Six years experience working within social media.
• Direct line management experience of at least one writer and one social media manager.

Responsibilities

• Define the social content and channel strategy of brands.
• Oversee and execute content strategies for clients.
• Manage day-to-day operations of a team of writers and social media managers.

Skills

Content strategy

Leadership

Social media engagement

Creativity

Strategic thinking

Job description

THE ROLE

We are looking for an ambitious, hands-on Associate Editorial Director to help us to deliver content and community engagement worth talking about for world-class brands. This role requires someone with the core qualities of creativity, strategic thinking and leadership.

Your work will have challenged the status quo and pushed boundaries, showing your ability to combine creativity, strategic thinking and effectiveness. You will know the power of a story and how to use this to engage audiences, especially on social media.

You will be experienced in creating content solutions for local and global clients. You will be expected to lead pitches to new clients, and to put together compelling editorial responses, based on audience insight and with clear measurable goals.

You will be responsible for the editorial output, overseeing the editing and production of content originating from the editorial department, as well as providing creative and strategic oversight, support, guidance and final sign-off for the work your team are responsible for delivering.

You will be great at identifying the biggest business development opportunities within your clients and build partnerships with key clients by being hands-on and providing strong direction and be front and centre in the winning of new clients.

Our clients come from sectors such as entertainment, gaming, CPG and beverage, so you must be versatile and excited about the opportunity to manage a diverse portfolio of clients.

In return, you will have the opportunity to work with some of the world’s biggest brands to create career-defining work and ideas worth talking about.

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

• Takes a lead role in defining the social content and channel strategy of brands
• Identifies, oversees and executes best-in-class content strategies for several clients across the portfolio
• Oversees, subs, proofs, edits, and signs off best-in-class copy and content laydowns produced by writers and social media managers within their team
• Ensures that the community management done across their team aligns with the wider business objectives as well as each brands’ strategic positioning
• Guardianship of clients’ tone of voice and the quality of content output
• Regularly presents agency work to clients
• Proactively identifies opportunities to expand client’s social presence
• Pitches for new business opportunities from within existing and new clients
• Workshops and tissues content ideas with team members and directly with client
• Builds and maintains strong client relationships that generate extra business for the agency
• Manages the day-to-day operation of a team of writers and social media managers, including taking responsibility to ensure they have up-to-date information relating to the industry, their clients, and platforms to do their work effectively
• Produces case studies that demonstrate editorial excellence in the work they have developed
• Constantly looks for ways to improve their teams’ structure, ways of working, and the products used for each account

REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS ROLE

• A minimum of eight years experience with a proven content strategy, journalism and/or marketing background. Six years experience working within social media.

• Several years of direct line management experience of at least one writer and one social media manager is essential.
• They must be able to inspire, motivate and manage their team to deliver against the strategic vision for each client, as well as share with their team what success looks like.

• Knowledge sharing within the department
• Apply cross-portfolio learnings to improve all their brands’ content
• In depth understanding of how to use analytics & data to inform content creation
• In depth knowledge of platforms and platform updates
• Flawless editing & proofing skills
• Experienced at storyboarding & building narrative structure for longer-form edits
• Confidence in storytelling and presentation skills, owning the room with clients to sell strategies and ideas
• In depth knowledge of how to orchestrate the relationships between owned, earned and paid media
• Demonstrable experience of measuring the impact of work post-publication

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!

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