Associate Creative Director - Design

About the role

As Associate Creative Director (Design), you will shape the digital and physical visual narrative for a fast-paced retail account [major Quick-Service Restaurant (QSR) account]. You are a digitally forward design lead—equally comfortable setting high-level creative vision, implementing and guiding design systems, and hands-on execution across dynamic digital touchpoints, retail environments, and integrated campaigns.

What You'll Do

• Craft visually compelling designs, ensuring a consistent and premium presence across diverse channels
• Produce high-quality assets across digital and animated menu boards, packaging, in-restaurant signage, mobile apps, and web, ensuring pixel-perfect accuracy and timely delivery within budget constraints
• Strategically apply design systems across various touchpoints to ensure cohesive and unified execution
• Engage in all facets of design, from quick comping and creating design systems to type treatments, consistently delivering polished design solutions
• Work seamlessly with client-side digital and development teams to create best-in-class UX/UI experiences
• Articulate the underlying strategy behind design projects, emphasizing the rationale ("why") over the deliverables ("what") to all team members
• Work seamlessly with the creative team, account managers, developers, studio designers, and most importantly, clients, fostering a collaborative and synergistic environment
• Guide and inspire other designers by providing valuable direction
• Has a strong understanding of copy direction and its emotional impact on design
• Design and/or direct design efforts across multiple mediums and touchpoints, ensuring consistency and alignment with strategic goals
• Responsible for holistic project lifecycles—from interpreting high-level business objectives into pixel-perfect execution and measurable post-launch success

Qualifications

• 8+ years of design experience within an ad agency, digital shop, or creative studio, with a portfolio showcasing strong digital, responsive, and cross-channel work
• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Digital Design, UI/UX, or equivalent practical experience
• Proficiency in Figma (auto-layout, components, prototyping) alongside deep mastery of the Adobe Creative Suite
• Design System Experience: Proven track record of designing digital and physical experiences using component-based design systems across both digital platforms and physical/print retail environments
• Demonstrated ability to manage, inspire, and direct a team of designers while managing multiple fast-paced projects simultaneously
• Prior experience with QSR, fast-casual, or high-volume retail brands is a major plus

Pay

The salary range for this role is $88,450 - $129,750, based on the individual's skills, experience, qualifications, location, and other relevant factors. The salary pay range is subject to change and may be modified at any time.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, 401K
• Lifestyle Spending Account
• Employer Paid Life & Disability Insurance
• Flexible Time off & Holidays plus many other benefits and rewards