Associate Creative Director, Art

Fifth Element; New York (NY); On-site; USD 160,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

Fifth Element in New York, NY seeks an ACD/creative leader who thrives on big ideas and craft. You’ll partner with copy and strategy to shape campaigns, guide visual directions across digital and traditional media, and mentor art directors to elevate the team’s thinking and output.

You’ll lead by doing—sketching, designing, and pushing concepts forward while collaborating with account management to stay on brief and on budget.

Qualifications

• 8–10+ years of experience in Advertising or related field.
• Healthcare or pharma agency experience preferred.
• Comfort leading ideas, guiding teams, and talking to clients.
• Strong design instincts and attention to detail.
• Clear communicator, collaborative partner, and problem-solver.
• Curiosity about science, healthcare, and the people the work ultimately helps.

Responsibilities

• Partner with copy and strategy to lead concept development and shape campaign ideas from the start.
• Guide the visual direction of brands and campaigns across digital, social, video, print, and emerging media.
• Lead and mentor art directors and designers, helping them grow their thinking and craft.
• Jump into the work when needed—sketching, designing, or helping push ideas further.
• Collaborate closely with account and project management to keep work moving, on brief, and on budget.
• Present creative to clients and help them see the thinking behind the work.
• Make sure everything that leaves the building looks sharp, on-brand, and on strategy.
• Help teams navigate the realities of a fast-paced agency while keeping the creative energy high.

Skills

Leadership

Design instincts

Communication

Collaboration

Problem-solving

Curiosity

Job description

This role is for someone who loves big ideas, strong craft, and helping teams do their best work. The ACD, Art is both a hands-on creative and a creative leader—someone who can jump into the work, guide the vision, and help shape where the brand goes next.

You’ll partner closely with copy leads, strategy and account to turn complex healthcare stories into smart, memorable brand experiences. You’ll help teams crack concepts, refine ideas, and make sure the final work is just as strong as the thinking behind it.

Responsibilities

• Partner with copy and strategy tolead concept development and shape campaign ideasfrom the start.
• Guide the visual direction of brands and campaignsacross digital, social, video, print, and emerging media.
• Lead and mentor art directors and designers, helping them grow their thinking and craft.
• Jump into the work when needed—sketching, designing, or helping push ideas further.
• Collaborate closely with account and project management tokeep work moving, on brief, and on budget.
• Present creative to clientsand help them see the thinking behind the work.
• Make sure everything that leaves the buildinglooks sharp, feels on-brand, and delivers on the strategy.
• Help teams navigate the realities of a fast-paced agency whilekeeping the creative energy high.
• Build a deeper understanding of thescience, therapeutic areas, and disease statesbehind the work.
• Play an active role inshaping the creative culture and raising the bar for the agency.

• 8–10+ years of experiencein Advertising
• Healthcare or pharma agency experience preferred
• Someone who’s comfortableleading ideas, guiding teams, and talking to clients
• Strong design instincts and attention to detail
• Clear communicator, collaborative partner, and problem-solver
• Curiosity about science, healthcare, and the people the work ultimately helps

Pay Range- $160,000-$175,000