Associate Creative Director, Social

Associate Creative Director, Social

Location: Los Angeles, CA (Hybrid)

Reports To: Creative Director

 

About Us

UNFOLD is an award-winning digital creative agency based in Los Angeles, partnering with some of the world’s most dynamic entertainment and brand clients. We create culturally relevant, digitally driven work that connects audiences and brands across platforms.

The Role

Our Social team is seeking a dynamic, social-first Associate Creative Director to help lead the creation of culturally fluent ideas and storytelling across the digital landscape. With a strong understanding of TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, you will support strategic direction, guide team members, and ensure work meets high-level engagement objectives.

The ideal candidate brings a proven track record in leading multi-disciplinary creative teams, including entertainment and brand sectors. You are comfortable translating high-level brand strategy into platform-native execution, collaborating closely with design, strategy, and production teams, and delivering measurable impact through scroll-stopping content.

In this role, you will bridge the gap between strategic insight and engaging creative execution. Responsibilities include directing copy and visuals, guiding teams across disciplines, and shaping content from original concepts to adapted assets. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to connect brands like Prime Video, Disney, and Warner Bros. to culture. Because this role focuses heavily on social-first storytelling, a strong understanding of platform algorithms, trends, and "Big Tech" methodologies is essential.

Here’s What You’ll Do

Creative Leadership & Concepting

• Lead the creation of culturally fluent ideas that translate high-level brand strategy into platform-native content across TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and emerging platforms.
• Direct and approve creative work holistically—from copy and visuals to motion—ensuring best-in-class craft, strategic alignment, and cultural relevance.
• Concept original social-first ideas while also possessing the ability to adapt and evolve assets from existing or legacy media libraries into fresh formats.
• Maintain a high creative bar for what is shareable, watchable, and worth posting, ensuring every piece of content drives meaningful conversation.

Platform Strategy & Execution

• Apply a deep understanding of social platform ecosystems—including algorithms, trends, and formats—to leverage them for maximum brand impact.
• React to real-time trends with speed and agility while maintaining brand integrity and meeting agency OKRs.
• Utilize the agency tech stack (Sprout Social, Pulsar, Rival IQ, Tagger, Sprinklr, GWI, and Semrush) to inform creative decisions with data-driven insights.
• Execute platform-native strategies that blend short-form content with long-term brand building for clients like DoorDash and Coachella.

Collaboration & Mentorship

• Inspire and mentor multi-disciplinary creative teams, fostering professional growth in storytelling, trend-spotting, and cross-platform creative execution.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with strategy, design, and production teams to deliver cohesive, high-impact campaigns that deliver on client KPIs.
• Guide team members in both copywriting and visual disciplines, providing actionable feedback to elevate the final creative output.
• Lead by example in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple campaigns across different industries while keeping the work fresh and culturally tuned.

Here’s What It Takes

• Proven leadership in guiding multi-disciplinary creative teams, with specific experience mentoring both copywriters and visual creatives.
• Deep understanding of social platform ecosystems, including algorithms, formats, and emerging digital behaviors.
• Expertise in brand storytelling and short-form content strategy across words, visuals, and motion.
• Ability to move fast and react to culture-first trends without sacrificing strategic rigor or brand voice.
• Hands-on creative skills, from developing high-level strategic concepts to shaping final visual and verbal output.
• Strong instincts