Associate Creative Director

amika; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 135,000 - 155,000; Full time

Job summary

amika is seeking an Associate Creative Director (ACD) to lead creative initiatives and manage the day-to-day operations of the creative team in New York City. This role is critical for delivering high-quality, multi-channel campaigns that resonate culturally. Ideal candidates will have 8+ years of experience in creative roles, particularly within beauty or fashion. The position offers a hybrid work model with a salary range of $135,000 to $155,000, plus bonuses.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of creative experience, preferably in beauty or fashion.
• Proven experience scaling 360 campaigns across multiple channels.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating elevated craft and executional rigor.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day creative team management across various domains.
• Translate creative direction into multi-channel campaign systems.
• Collaborate with internal partners to ensure effective execution.

Skills

Creative leadership

Campaign management

Mentoring talent

Visual storytelling

Job description

amika means friend. we’re a fearless, Brooklyn-born, salon-raised haircare brand + a friend to all hair, hairstylists, the planet + you.

we’re rooted in clinical results. each product is infused with our intoxicating scent + powered by our superfruit soul, sea buckthorn. known as one of earth’s most omega-rich plant sources, this potent berry nourishes your skin, scalp + strands.

we’re a proud pal to the planet + certified B-Corp. from sustainably sourced ingredients + recyclable packaging to our energy‑saving production processes, we pledge to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, waste + energy to reach Net Zero by 2030.

having grown up in salons, we know better than anyone how important stylists are—they’re our confidantes + community. Think of us as your at‑home hairapist, here to empower self-expression + bring joy to your haircare experience. all hair is welcome.

The job

amika is seeking an Associate Creative Director (ACD) to lead the now of the brand, driving day‑to‑day creative leadership, scaling campaigns across channels, and ensuring everything we put into the world lands with consistency, craft, cultural relevance, but more over evolves the brand little by little, day by day.

this role is less about setting the long-term vision and more about making it real today. You’ll translate creative direction into fully realized, multi‑channel campaign systems, blow out ideas across every vertical, and keep work moving at pace without sacrificing quality. You’ll manage teams, solve problems in real time, and ensure amika shows up powerfully across high‑volume, fast‑moving touchpoints.

Salary: $135,000 - $155,000 + bonus

Location: Hybrid (must be based in NYC, willing to come onsite 3 days a week, and have the right to work in the US)

What you’ll do

• Lead and oversee the day‑to‑day work of the creative team across art direction, digital design, visual merchandising, video, photography, and motion
• Own day‑to‑day creative decision‑making, reviews, and feedback loops
• Mentor and grow creative talent, fostering a culture of collaboration, experimentation, and craft excellence
• Balance team focus across campaigns, evergreen content, and quick‑turn asks, troubleshooting creative bottlenecks as they arise
• Serve as the primary creative point of contact for internal partners during execution

Creative Direction & Brand Influence

• Translate Creative Director vision into fully realized, multi‑channel campaign systems
• Blow out campaigns across all creative verticals with speed, clarity, and consistency
• Ensure campaigns are executed on brief, on time, and at a high creative bar
• Uphold and evolve amika’s brand perspective across campaigns, evergreen content, social, retail, digital, influencer activations, and events
• Influence the creative development process by guiding concepts, sharpening ideas, and pushing work to meet brand and cultural standards
• Ensure social extensions and platform‑native content are integrated into every campaign and evergreen deliverable
• Share ownership with the Creative Director over quality control across imagery, video, and design (retouching, editing, finishing, and brand consistency)
• Oversee ongoing creative needs beyond campaign launches, including social‑first adaptations, email, PDP/dotcom updates, and retail creative
• Ensure evergreen storytelling reflects amika’s voice while staying fresh, relevant, and aligned with broader brand campaigns
• Maintain strong visual cohesion and craft across high‑volume, fast‑moving outputs

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Brand, Marketing, Social, Digital, and Product teams to translate strategy into clear creative execution
• Represent creative in cross‑functional meetings when needed, ensuring alignment and momentum
• Partner with Creative Operations to help shape and uphold creative standards and best practices—streamlining processes while protecting space for creative excellence
• Flag risks early and propose creative solutions that keep work moving forward

Cultural Relevance & Brand POV

• Stay deeply tapped into beauty, fashion, and cultural trends to influence both evergreen and campaign work
• Help take a brand with a cult following and scale its creative impact into cultural dominance
• Ensure amika consistently shows up with boldness, clarity, and cultural fluency across all channels
• Oversee the creative quality of post‑production across brand films and social‑first content
• Guide video and motion teams in creating versatile cutdowns and adaptations that maximize campaign shoots across paid, organic, and retail channels
• Ensure consistency in pacing, sound design, finishing, and overall video craft

Must haves

• 8+ years of creative experience; beauty or fashion experience strongly preferred
• Proven experience scaling 360 campaigns across digital, social, DTC, and retail
• Strong portfolio demonstrating elevated craft, brand systems thinking, and executional rigor
• Multidisciplinary background with a foundation in design and art direction
• Deep understanding of digital‑first creative best practices across the funnel
• Experience leading and mentoring creative teams in fast‑paced environments
• Strong eye for visual storytelling, motion, and social‑native creative
• Confident decision‑maker who thrives in ambiguity and momentum
• Someone who genuinely enjoys making work better, faster, and clearer—for the team and the brand