Associate Creative Director / Creative Director

About Us

There’s a reason HUNTER is recognized as a PRWeek Best Place To Work and has been named PRovoke “Consumer Agency of the Year” not once, but twice: At HUNTER, we EARN IT — consumer attention, the trust and loyalty of clients, and the dedication of our staff, currently 350+ strong and counting.

Overview

The Associate Creative Director / Creative Director is a proven creative leader who consistently develops disruptive, culture-shaping ideas that cut through and drive earned-worthy moments for clients. Leading an integrated Art and Copy team, you bring both conceptual rigor and the self-editing skills to shape campaigns with minimal oversight. You thrive as a hands-on creative, formulating bold ideas on brief, directing executions, and presenting directly to clients with confidence and clarity. As an emerging leader, you mentor and elevate your team while demonstrating the creative maturity and strategic thinking that positions you as the next generation of creative leadership at HUNTER.

Responsibilities

Creative Leadership & Idea Development

• Lead and own creative work across assigned accounts, consistently and independently generating a high volume of original, disruptive ideas grounded in strategy and on brief
• Develop compelling creative concepts that align with HUNTER client objectives and measurable KPIs; demonstrate strong self-editing skills to shape ideas into award-worthy, culture-disrupting campaigns
• Translate complex briefs and strategy into clear creative direction; understand and appreciate the importance of strategy and ensure all ideas ladder to client business objectives
• Lead creative concepting, brainstorms, and strategy sessions with energy and conviction, fostering bold thinking and pushing boundaries within strategic intent
• Concept and direct across disciplines; developing storyboards, comps, copy, and integrated executions that showcase creative excellence
• Deliver compelling pitch presentations and new business concepts; serve as a confident external-facing creative voice for HUNTER when needed
• Review all work with ECD and Sr. Integrated Creative Director to ensure alignment and creative excellence before presenting to internal account and client teams
• Lead the charge for Creative Exploration across the agency by leading Creative Competitions, hack-a-thons and open calls for ideas to help get the best creative thinking available in the agency.

Creative Direction & Execution

• Establish strong visual & copy direction and creative standards for assigned work, guiding Art Directors, Copywriters, Designers and Producers toward executions that match creative intent
• Demonstrate strong conceptual design thinking and creative strategy skills; collaborate with design, experiential and production teams to ensure visual storytelling is compelling and on brand
• Demonstrate strong conceptual writing skills paired with strategic thinking; ability to articulate ideas with precision and clarity
• Provide precise, actionable feedback that elevates creative work across ideation, design, and visual execution
• Ensure executions are delivered on time and on budget, with quality matching or exceeding creative vision
• Work seamlessly with Creative Production Leads to handle all production and post-production across design, video, and experiences
• Support the integration of emerging tools and AI into creative workflows, leveraging technology to enhance ideation and execution without compromising craft

Team Leadership & Mentorship

• Lead, inspire, and mentor an integrated Art and Copy team, setting clear expectations and providing regular coaching, feedback, and professional development support
• Mentor Copywriters, Art Directors and Designers at various levels, elevating their thinking, strengthening their craft, and growing the next generation of creative leaders
• Model creative leadership through clear direction, decisive creative judgment, strong taste, and empowerment of individual contributors
• Foster a collaborative team culture where bold ideas are encouraged, feedback is constructive and respectful, and exceptional work is celebrated
• Conduct project-based performance feedback and contribute to formal performance review processes; support career development and growth
• Demonstrate maturity in navigating challenging client situations, finding creative opportunities even within difficult constraints
• Collaborate with flexibility and confidence to build account team and client trust and ensure satisfaction while maintaining HUNTER's creative standards
• Identify growth opportunities with existing clients; support account expansion through strong creative work and strategic thinking

New Business & Agency Growth

• Support HUNTER’s new business initiatives by developing concepting and pitch presentations that showcase HUNTER's creative capabilities
• Bring thoughtful, fresh, and strategic ideas to new business opportunities; demonstrate the energy and enthusiasm that wins pitches
• Contribute to agency marketing and thought leadership by sharing strong work and participating in industry conversations

Budgeting and Finance

• Track team members hours/rates and OOP costs against budget and work with the ECD to manage billability and useability across the team
• Establish a clear line of communication with account teams, ECD and COO with respect to scoping and pricing models for all projects
• Work with account/HR/Finance team on all vendor agreements, ensuring competitive bids are met and costs are appropriate for the size and scale of the project 
• Manage all vendor contracts, and insurance (both freelance and production vendor)

Qualifications

• 6-10+ years of creative leadership, with proven success leading multidisciplinary teams in integrated marketing, brand experiences, or communications
• Exceptional portfolio demonstrating conceptual strength, visual storytelling, and integrated campaign execution
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute innovative campaigns that drive engagement and measurable results
• Record of winning new business and expanding existing client relationships

Leadership & People Skills

• Ability to mentor, coach, and develop creative talent; model strong leadership through clear direction, constructive feedback, and empowerment
• Proven experience managing and inspiring cross-functional teams across design, content strategy, production, and account management
• Strong communication and presentation skills; confidence when presenting to clients, stakeholders, and executive leadership
• Sharp collaboration and active listening skills, with the ability to align teams and stakeholders around shared vision

Strategic & Operational Mindset

• Strong strategic thinking: ability to dissect briefs, uncover insights, and translate business objectives into compelling creative solutions
• Hands-on expertise overseeing multiple complex projects at various stages while maintaining high-level strategic oversight
• Experience managing budgets, resources, and freelance partnerships; commitment to executing projects efficiently and profitably
• Comfort working in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments
• A good understanding of working with vendors, materials costs, freelance costs, printing and pricing and the ability to reach agreements that are fair and/or favorable to the agency

Cultural & Technical Awareness

• Cultural curiosity and awareness; ability to create ideas that resonate with diverse audiences and communities
• Knowledge of design, production, emerging technologies, and their application to earned, marketing and experiential work
• Strong understanding of social media and digital integration; ability to amplify activations through strategic content and storytelling
• Genuine interest in AI, automation, and emerging tools; eagerness to explore and implement technologies that strengthen creative output

Compensation

In order to comply with equal pay and salary transparency laws in various locations, the Company believes the target range of base compensation for this role is $150,000 - $175,000. Actual compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, and location.

At HUNTER, we work hard and play hard, and while we have all the benefits you’d expect —competitive health and dental insurance plans, a 401K company match and generous PTO — we also provide:

·         a hybrid work model;

·         a “work from anywhere in the US” policy (up to four weeks a year);

·         a year-round staff training and development curriculum; and

·         a staff-led Action Group dedicated to DEI excellence in the agency and industry (read our DEI statement here: https://hunterpr.com/dei/)

Perks? We have perks. When you work at HUNTER, you can expect Bring Your Parents (And Kids) to Work Days, regular volunteer Days of Service, mid-day Cupcakes and Cocktails mixers and epic Halloween and holiday parties.

Founded in 1989, HUNTER has grown into one of the most respected mid-size marketing communications firms in the country, creating work that matters in strategic planning, earned media relations, social and digital media, talent and influencer engagement, experiential marketing, multicultural outreach and content creation and distribution. And we do it all for esteemed companies and brands across every sector you can imagine:

·         Food + Beverage

·         Wine + Spirits

·         Health + Wellness

·         Beauty + Personal Care + Fashion

·         Home + Lifestyle + Travel

·         Retail + E-commerce

See us in action here: https://hunterpr.com