Associate Creative Director, Art

Fifth Element; New York, Northern (NY, KY); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

Fifth Element is seeking an experienced ACD to drive big ideas with strong craft. This hands-on creative leader will shape brand direction and guide teams across healthcare advertising, partnering with copy, strategy, and account teams to transform complex stories into memorable experiences.

You will mentor art directors and designers, push concepts, and collaborate to keep work on brief and on budget while presenting creative rationale to clients in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 8–10+ years of experience in Advertising.
• Healthcare or pharma agency experience preferred.
• Comfortable leading ideas, guiding teams, and talking to clients.
• Strong design instincts and attention to detail.
• Clear communicator, collaborative partner, and problem-solver.

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 delivers on the strategy.
• Help teams navigate the realities of a fast-paced agency while keeping the creative energy high.
• Build a deeper understanding of the science, therapeutic areas, and disease states behind the work.
• Play an active role in shaping the creative culture and raising the bar for the agency.

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