Director, Creative Strategy (Paid)

Responsibilities

• Lead high-tempo creative strategy and direction for full-funnel ad programs, typically Meta and TikTok, but also YouTube, Amazon, and Display Platforms.
• Organic Social: You may also lead organic content strategies for Instagram and TikTok by owning content pillars, creative direction, briefing, and performance measurement.
• Short Form Video Expert: Deliver expert advice, concepts, directions, and briefs to sell products and services through short-form video.
• Data Analysis: Translate client’s marketing strategy and performance data into clear, compelling ad concepts (This includes using metrics like thumb-stop rate, hold rate, and clickthrough rate. You’re super comfortable adapting creatives to impact these metrics.)
• Cross-Team Collaboration: Brief Designers and Editors on the creation of assets including static ads, animations, mobile-first videos, and storyboards for short-form content.
• Executive Presentation: Present creative work to stakeholders and clients with clarity, confidence, and strategic rationale.
• Performance Iteration: Monitor performance data in collaboration with the marketing team to inform creative iterations and improve results over time.
• Team Building: Assist with establishing processes, systems, and testing frameworks that raise the floor on quality and speed.
• Continuously refine our Performance Creative service so it scales without losing rigor as volume grows.

Requirements

• 2+ years in a Director-level or equivalent leadership role, with experience leading creative strategy, managing teams, and driving performance marketing results.
• 4+ years of creative strategy work on performance ad programs, with specific focus working on short form video and statics.
• A digital portfolio showcasing performance ad work that includes short-form video, motion, and statics.
• Examples of what you did to impact metrics like hold rate or CTR.
• Evidence of strong creative diversity that includes both highly designed and low-fidelity creative.
• You can storyboard, cut, and ship ads. You can jump into Figma to fix hierarchy and pacing, and into Photoshop or Illustrator to polish assets.
• Strategy-only folks will not be a fit.
• You speak in hooks, angles, and metrics. You know thumb-stop rate, 3-second hold, hook retention, CTR, and CPA, and you use them to decide what to test next.
• You already use tools like Claude, Midjourney, Perplexity, Icon, Runway, or similar to increase speed and volume.
• You have shipped ads with AI-assisted elements, not just experiments.
• You’re an excellent communicator, both in writing and when presenting to clients. You give crisp, actionable feedback to designers and editors and know how to navigate pushback from clients.
• You can turn vague goals into testable concepts, track results, and call the next iteration without hand-holding.
• You can turn vague goals into testable concepts, track results, and call the next iteration without hand-holding.
• You are comfortable in Figma including Auto Layout, components, and systems.
• You are strong in Adobe Creative Suite.

Qualifications

• No Meta performance creative ad experience.
• No portfolio link or no performance context.
• Strategy-only with no hands-on design ability.
• Not excellent in client presentation and salesmanship.

Skills

• Strong in Adobe Creative Suite.
• Comfortable in Figma including Auto Layout, components, and systems.
• Excellent communication skills, both in writing and when presenting to clients.
• Experience with AI-assisted creative tools like Claude, Midjourney, Perplexity, Icon, Runway, etc.
• Ability to quickly adapt creatives to impact key metrics like hold rate, CTR, and CPA.
• Experience with short-form video and static ad creation.
• Experience with performance marketing and creative strategy.

Benefits

Unlimited PTO + US holidays: Rebooting is part of the work. Take the time you need to stay sharp.

Remote-First Culture: Many roles are fully remote. Employees based in or near our New York or Lisbon HQs are expected to work hybrid with weekly in-office time.

Health & Wellness: Company-sponsored medical, dental, and vision coverage.

Finances, growth, and retirement: Darkroom offers a robust 401(k) program with company match and profit-sharing opportunities to help you save and grow as the company grows.

Parental Leave: Flexible parental leave to support new parents during this important transition.

Growth: Our interdisciplinary model gives every Darkroomer exposure far beyond their core role. Grow your skills, expand your influence, and stay at the forefront of the industry.

Pay

The base salary range for this role is $120,000-$140,000 per year. This range represents the anticipated minimum and maximum for this position and applies to candidates based in New York, including New York City, in compliance with the New York State Pay Transparency Law and the New York City Salary Transparency Law.

Schedule

This role is fully remote and operates in the EST Time Zone. All business is conducted 100% in English.