Associate Creative Director, Art

The Kitchen North America; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The Kitchen seeks an Associate Creative Director (Art) to help lead a team of creatives in crafting culturally resonant campaigns. You will work with an ACD (Copy) and diverse experts to move people, generate buzz, and shape work that earns attention across platforms.

With 7+ years in a creative role, you’ll mentor talent, stay ahead of cultural trends, and present concepts to clients with confidence. A fast-paced, collaborative environment awaits, driven by award-winning ambition.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in a creative role within an agency or in-house team.
• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and inspire creative teams.
• Deep understanding of social media trends and culture.
• Portfolio showing big ideas and flawless execution across media.
• Ability to align creative concepts with client objectives and strategies.
• Confident, persuasive presentation to clients and internal stakeholders.
• Thrives in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines.
• Genuine passion for creativity, culture, and storytelling.

Responsibilities

• Creative: development and execution of campaigns, ensuring ideas are fresh and culturally relevant.
• Team Management: mentor and inspire a team of jr. art directors, copywriters, and content creators.
• Trend Responsiveness: stay attuned to cultural and social trends to deliver timely campaigns.
• Collaboration: partner with producers, strategists, data analysts, and social media experts.
• Client Engagement: present concepts to clients with clarity and passion.
• Craft Excellence: ensure high standards across deliverables, from social content to integrated campaigns.
• Award Ambition: drive the team to produce award-worthy work.

Skills

Lead experience

Cultural fluency

Creative thinking

Strategic mindset

Presentation skills

Agility

Storytelling passion

Job description

Company Overview

The Kitchen brings together a range of disciplines and capabilities. It’s a team of creatives, producers, data analysts and social experts working together to deliver remarkable ideas that live in a variety of mediums, from everything from social to TV. This team moves at the speed of culture. It is built to respond to trends and events as they happen, coming up with the ideas that transcend social media to capture the spirit of the moment, earn media impressions, and get the country talking.

Are you ready to join an award-ambitious team that’s making waves in the advertising industry? Our incredible team has been recognized internationally by industry giants like Cannes, One Show and was named Campaign’s Global ‘In-House Agency of The Year’, further solidifying our position as a leader in the industry. Join us and be a part of something truly special - a team that’s dedicated to creating ground-breaking work and pushing limits.

At The Kitchen, we’re not just looking for individuals who want to be a part of the advertising industry— we’re looking for trailblazers who are ready to lead the way to the next big thing! We want individuals who are passionate about producing award‑winning work and have an innate drive to their craft and are eager to generate innovative ideas both within and outside of the brief.

Role Overview

As an Associate Creative Director (Art) at The Kitchen, you’ll support the creative director to help lead a team of talented creatives to craft and write culturally resonant campaigns. Working alongside another ACD (Copy), you’ll collaborate with a diverse group of experts to craft ideas that move people and generate buzz. Whether it’s a quick‑turn trend activation or a thoughtfully crafted TV spot, you’ll be at the forefront of shaping work that captures attention, earns media, and inspires action.

Responsibilties

• Creative: development and execution of campaigns, ensuring ideas are fresh, culturally relevant, and aligned with client objectives.
• Team Management: Mentor and inspire a team of jr. art directors, copywriters, and content creators, fostering a collaborative and innovative environment.
• Trend Responsiveness: Stay attuned to cultural and social trends, leveraging insights to deliver timely, impactful campaigns.
• Collaboration: Partner with producers, strategists, data analysts, and social media experts to craft ideas that work seamlessly across platforms.
• Client Engagement: Present concepts to clients with clarity and passion, building trust and enthusiasm for the work.
• Craft Excellence: Ensure the highest standards of creative execution across all deliverables, from social‑first content to integrated campaigns.
• Award Ambition: Drive the team to produce award‑worthy work that sets industry benchmarks.

Experience & Skills

• Experience: 7+ years of experience in a creative role within an agency or in‑house team, with a track record of producing high‑quality, award‑winning work.
• Leadership Skills: Proven ability to lead, mentor, and inspire creative teams.
• Cultural Fluency: Deep understanding of social media platforms, cultural trends, and the ability to translate them into impactful campaigns.
• Creative Thinking: A portfolio showcasing big ideas, sharp insights, and flawless execution across a range of media.
• Strategic Mindset: Ability to align creative concepts with client objectives and strategies.
• Presentation Skills: Confident and persuasive communicator, capable of presenting ideas to clients and internal stakeholders.
• Agility: Thrives in a fast‑paced environment with the ability to pivot quickly and deliver under tight deadlines.
• Passion: A genuine love for creativity, culture, and storytelling.

The anticipated annual salary range for this position is $120-130K. Individual compensation varies based on job related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. The range listed is just one component of The Kitchen's total compensation package.

The Kitchen, Kraft Heinz, arecommitted to Equal Employment Opportunity and to attracting and retaining the most qualified employees regardless of race, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, age or disability.