Associate Creative Director, Copy (Social)

VML South Africa; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative agency seeks a dynamic Associate Creative Director (Copy) to spearhead social-first campaigns that resonate with audiences. This role demands a sharp creative voice and strategic insight to craft engaging content that captivates and connects. You will oversee a talented team, manage client relationships, and stay ahead of cultural trends to ensure impactful messaging. Join a collaborative environment where creativity thrives and your contributions shape the future of social media marketing. If you are passionate about culture and design, this is the perfect opportunity to make a significant impact.

Benefits

Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage

401k Match

Paid Time Off

Growth Opportunities

Collaborative Work Environment

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years’ experience in an agency setting focused on social media.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating conceptual thinking and versatility.

Responsibilities

• Lead copy direction for social campaigns across multiple platforms.
• Concept and pitch original social-first campaign ideas.

Skills

Social Media Campaigns

Conceptual Thinking

Copywriting

Client Relations

Cultural Trends Awareness

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Marketing or Related Field

Tools

Social Media Platforms (Instagram, TikTok, etc.)

Content Creation Tools

Job description

Associate Creative Director, Copy (Social)

Associate Creative Director, Copy (Social)

VML

Department: Creative

Location:

Last Updated: 4/24/2025

Requisition ID: 9870

At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration. With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse.

Our global family now encompasses over 30,000 employees across 150+ offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences.Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, offering deep insights in communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work.

Who we are looking for:

VML is seeking a witty, culturally fluent and conceptually strong Associate Creative Director (Copy) to lead social-first campaigns that connect brands to culture—and people to brands. You’ll bring a sharp creative voice, an eye for strategy and a deep understanding of what makes people stop scrolling and start engaging. Bonus points if you are versed in shooting, editing and creating content yourself. This role is ideal for a copy lead who can flex between big ideas and snackable content, understands tone like a second language and thrives in the fast pace of social.

What you’ll do:

• Big idea thinking | Lead the copy direction for organic and paid social campaigns across platforms (Instagram, TikTok, X, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube Shorts, etc.)
• Manage |Oversee team of creatives on organic social evergreen and campaign- driven social.
• Concept | Concept and pitch original, social-first campaign ideas—from reactive moments to campaign platforms and everything in between.
• Create | Translate brand tone and voice across platforms while staying fluent in internet culture, memes, and trends.
• Craft|Craft compelling copy across formats: headlines, scripts, captions, CTA copy, taglines, social bios, and more.
• Client facing | Regularly connect with clients to create a partnership that builds trust in our thought leadership and ideas. Present work to articulating the “why” behind the creative.
• Collaborate|Collaborate with creative leads, copywriters, strategists, producers, and social managers to bring ideas to life.
• Cultivate|Stay ahead of platform shifts, language trends, and creative best practices in the social landscape.

What you’ll need:

• Minimum 7 years’ experience in an agency setting with a focus on social media campaigns.
• A portfolio that shows strong conceptual thinking, a sharp voice and versatility across social platforms.
• Deep understanding of how brands show up natively on social media—and how to shape that presence.
• Strong editorial instincts, attention to detail and a deep appreciation for the craft of writing.
• Experience working with creator/influencer content and UGC strategy.
• Comfort writing for both organic content and paid social media ads.
• Ability to work under tight deadlines, manage multiple projects simultaneously and to work collaboratively as part of a larger team in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Passionate about culture, design, branding, and how they intersect in the social space.
• Obsessed with culture, internet trends and the ever-evolving social media landscape.

What we offer:

• Passionate, driven people|We champion a culture of people that do extraordinary work.
• Consciously cultivated culture|We aim to embody the behaviors to build an inclusivecommunity that is in it together, bringing both positivity and active listening into the workplace as we simultaneously strive to empower creative bravery.
• Competitive benefits| What we offer full time hires ranges from the full spectrum of group health coverage options (medical, dental, vision) to a generous 401k match (100% dollar-for-dollar match, up to 5% of salary contribution), and a variety of paid time off offerings that reflect our investment in all aspects of your overall life balance and wellness.
• Growth-minded opportunities | We aim to nurture a culture of real-time feedback, growth-oriented mindset, and plenty of training opportunities through VML and WPP, so you can continue to grow personally and professionally.

The base salary range for this position at the time of this posting is indicated below. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package, click WPP Benefits for more details.

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$75,000 — $180,000 USD

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

When you click "Submit Application", this will send any information you add below to VML. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through ourRecruitment Privacy Policy . California residents should read ourCalifornia Recruitment Privacy Notice . This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.

When you click "Submit Application", this will send any information you add below to VML. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through our Recruitment Privacy Policy . California residents should read our California Recruitment Privacy Notice . This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.