Associate Director, Creative strategy

About Darkroom

Darkroom is the leading next-generation growth marketing firm engineering the brands of tomorrow. Founded in 2017, we set out to redefine what a modern agency could be, by replacing the inertia of legacy advertising behemoths with a model built for speed, intelligence, and measurable impact.

At our core, Darkroom is a human services company powered by Shadow, a universal AI commerce layer that integrates executive-level strategy with proprietary agentic technology. This fusion enables our teams to deliver outsized returns by enhancing creative output, operational efficiency, and revenue generation across every stage of the customer journey.

Our track record speaks for itself: billions in attributable revenue driven across e-commerce marketplaces, media networks, DTC ecosystems, and social commerce platforms. Every engagement feeds into our proprietary data infrastructure, enabling a continuous feedback loop that accelerates growth, improves margins, and compounds results across our client portfolio.

What began as a boutique design studio has evolved into one of the fastest-growing private companies in America (Inc. 5000) and among the most effective performance media agencies of the 2020s (Varos). Our founders were recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30 for advancing the intersection of technology, marketing, and advertising, cementing Darkroom’s role as a defining player in the future of media innovation.

About the role

We’re looking for a visionary creative leader with deep experience in developing ad concepts for acquisition marketing on Meta. You’re able to dive deep into the pixels and give tactical feedback on design and video, but understand how to thread the needle between performance frameworks, creative testing, and world-building assets. You’re likely a Designer or Creative Strategist by trade but hyper-focused on paid media.

You’ll work on our Dark Arts service, that has been newly relaunched as the AI-powered creative direction service for paid media clients. This role is ideal for someone who thrives at the intersection of creativity, AI, and performance - combining bold visual storytelling with data-informed design decisions. You'll report to the Director of Creative and lead the management of Designers and Editors to execute paid media assets across a variety of formats, including static ads, short-form videos, motion graphics, and UGC content.

Your work will directly impact client performance by delivering a high-volume of ad concepts, elevated creative direction, and data-backed testing frameworks. You’ll collaborate closely with performance marketers, designers, and video editors in a fast-paced, remote environment.

What you’ll do:

Management Responsibilities

• Manage a team of 2-4 designers focused on paid ad creative, with room to grow the team over time.

• Provide creative direction, actionable feedback, and career support through regular 1:1s and project reviews.

• Oversee creative quality, ensuring assets align with brand identity, platform best practices, and campaign objectives.

• Partner with performance marketers and strategists to develop and iterate on high-performing ad campaigns.

• Help refine internal processes, establish creative standards, and lead collaborative sessions to drive creative innovation.

Senior Individual Contributor Responsibilities

• Lead concept development and execution for paid media campaigns across Meta, TikTok, YouTube, and display platforms.

• Translate client’s marketing strategy and performance data into clear, compelling ad concepts.

• Design and direct a range of assets including static ads, animations, mobile-first videos, and storyboards for short-form content.

• Present creative work to stakeholders and clients with clarity, confidence, and strategic rationale.

• Monitor performance data in collaboration with the marketing team to inform creative iterations and improve results over time.

You should apply if this sounds like you:

• 3+ years of senior-level design experience, with at least 1 year of people management experience preferred. Must have experience designing ad creatives for paid media campaigns across Meta, TikTok, YouTube, or similar platforms.

• A digital portfolio showcasing performance-focused ad creative - including static ads, motion graphics, and short-form video - with a strong understanding of visual hierarchy, composition, and platform-specific best practices.

• Knowledge of how to incorporate AI software into workflows to increase efficiencies and output, including ChatGPT, Midjourney, Perplexity, Icon, and more.

• Self-motivated, proactive, and detail-oriented with a strong sense of ownership and accountability to performance results.

• Skilled at working with performance marketers and creative strategists to write briefs, incorporate feedback, and iterate based on ad performance data.

• Comfortable communicating in English with internal teams and clients, including presenting creative work and responding to feedback clearly and professionally.

• Confident giving constructive feedback to other designers and supporting their growth through clear direction and mentorship.

• Able to take ambiguous campaign goals and turn them into creative concepts that are visually engaging and conversion-focused.

• Proficient in Figma for ad design workflows; knowledge of Auto Layout, Components, and asset handoff is essential.

• Experience using Adobe Creative Suite (especially Photoshop and Illustrator) for asset creation and layout design.

• Bonus: Experience designing high-performing ads for e-commerce brands, familiarity with motion design tools (After Effects, Premiere), or working with UGC creators and editors.

What it's like to work at Darkroom:

Darkroom is not a typical agency. We are looking for A players that want to build something great. There is no room in our organization for mediocrity and candidates that are not at the top of their game do not last. We move fast, think deeply, and expect every team member to bring insight and rigor to everything they touch. We hold a high bar for performance, creativity, and ownership — but we also support each other relentlessly. No egos, no red tape — just world-class talent building something remarkable.

We believe in autonomy with accountability, truth over comfort, and outcomes over optics. If you want to build and win alongside some of the smartest people in the business, you’ll thrive here.

• Unlimited Vacation Policy and Holidays: Rebooting is one of the most important parts of growth. At Darkroom, you have access to a flexible vacation policy and 10 holidays throughout the year to keep you recharged and sharp.

• Location, location, (or no) location: Remote-first culture with a strong community base. While many roles remain fully remote, employees hired to work from our New York or Lisbon HQs (opening early 2026) are expected to adopt a hybrid working model, including weekly in-office appearances. Hub locations also include the Bay Area, Philly, São Paulo, and Barcelona.

• Health & Wellness: Company-sponsored medical, dental, and vision benefits with, so you can stay as healthy as can be.

• Endless opportunities for growth: Our agency is founded on an interdisciplinary approach, giving Darkroomers insights into services far beyond your job description. Grow your skills and interests beyond your niche and stay at the forefront of the industry through total immersion in cross-functional collaboration.

• Parental Leave: flexible parental leave benefits to support new parents during this important transition, ensuring time to bond with their families while maintaining work-life balance.

Darkroom is an equal opportunity workplace—we are dedicated to equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national orientation, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.