Job Details

Associate Creative Director, Retail & Commerce

Join to apply for the Associate Creative Director, Retail & Commerce role at Mindgruve

Denver, CO, San Diego, CA, or Cincinnati, OH

We are a global digital agency comprised of strategists, creatives, media experts, data scientists, and engineers driven by one common purpose—accelerate business growth through marketing and digital transformation. Named a top 3% Google Premier Partner and recognized by Inc. 5000 and Adweek's 75 Fastest Growing Companies, we're constantly looking for “A” players to join our team.

The rapid growth is attributed to our strongest asset—our people. Our teams are highly collaborative and work closely with each client to set clear goals and objectives so that we can deliver exceptional results. Mindgruve is a place where every opinion is valued. Not only will you be empowered to contribute ideas, but you will also play a key role in the execution and driving success for brands across a variety of industries. Sound fun? Perfect—you'll fit right in.

Mindgruve is on a mission to revolutionize the retail industry and bring human connection into everything we do. As the Associate Creative Director, Retail & Commerce, you will be leading a team of experts in our industry while fostering a culture of innovation and out‑of‑the‑box thinking. The Associate Creative Director will bring a mix of marketing expertise and business acumen to the role, proven through a book of killer creative ideas and execution. You will be responsible for managing and inspiring a team while taking our retail/commerce creative output as a company to a new level.

You will be a key leader on the team and will be responsible for setting and executing the creative vision for our clients. This role exists to conceptualize & execute our clients' creative vision, and bring innovative ideas that captivate and inspire their customers. The Associate Creative Director collaborates closely with department leaders across Brand Management, Retail Media, Retail Operations, Sales, and Analytics, to drive content & creative strategies on retailer marketplaces for Mindgruve clients. The right candidate will have a basic understanding of e‑commerce marketplaces, with a desire to push beyond the typical boundaries.

As a global partner, the Associate Creative Director will also work with Mindgruve leadership in Latin America and Europe to establish Global Creative best practices, and support cross‑border opportunities. The Associate Creative Director will report to the Senior Vice President of Global Creative, and oversee the current Retail Commerce Creative team, consisting of 5 Designers and 4 Copywriters. Approximately 25% of this role will be hands‑on‑keyboard, supporting your team and clients directly. 60% will focus on managing and leading the team of Designers, Copywriters and SEO Specialists. 15% will focus on prospective client work, through supporting the sales team, and fortifying Mindgruve sales collateral.

What You'll Do Here

• Supervise a cross‑functional team of graphic designers, copywriters and SEO specialists in the strategic development of messaging and deliverables.
• Conduct quarterly & annual reviews with the team, and help craft & support short‑term & long‑term goals for the team and each team member.
• Prioritize work and resources across engagements, based on short‑ and long‑term needs, and collaborate with project managers to develop work‑back schedules for both design and copy projects.
• Collaborate with other Creative Team leadership to provide thoughtful design and copy feedback to designers and copywriters on a regular basis, fostering growth.
• Motivate & inspire the creative team through effective communication, leadership & guidance.
• Provide leadership to inspire, empower, engage and energize the team to achieve key objectives through teamwork and streamlined processes.
• Conduct brainstorming sessions with the creative team, maintaining strategic thinking to develop innovative and actionable initiatives.
• Review and approve art and copy developed by the team, while collaborating with the Brand Management team to ensure that deliverables address clients' marketing and business goals /KPIs.
• Spearhead and manage content strategy for both small and large products, harnessing brand, design, copy, and digital technology.
• Stay ahead of global design and copywriting trends and translate learnings and insights into actionable strategies for clients.
• Directly influence creative strategy & direction for the top 10% of Mindgruve's Retail & Commerce clients and deliver exceptional work that drives their brands forward.
• Deliver a cohesive and forward‑thinking creative strategy to clients that aligns with their brand identity, target audience and market trends.
• Manage the development of creative assets purposely designed to deliver action and built to drive value.
• Collaborate with internal teams on campaign creation & messaging for all clients. Address concerns with clients around creative.
• Conceptualize new ideas for clients that captivate and inspire their customers.
• Partner with the brand management team in order to find opportunities to foster and grow new opportunities for clients.
• Participate in both existing client and new business efforts to increase revenue for Mindgruve.
• Collaborate with the Retail & Commerce department leaders on sales and marketing collateral, including pitch deck storytelling, case study narrative & white‑papers.
• Research and understand creative opportunities for new, emerging marketplaces and relevant commerce platforms.

We Need a Person With

• Strong portfolio of Retail & Commerce client work, and other types of work as well.
• 2‑3+ years of experience contributing, participating, and presenting creative capabilities in a sales situation.
• 2‑3+ years of team management and leadership experience.
• Hands‑on experience with Amazon, Walmart, or other marketplace creative is a significant plus.
• Knowledge of creative and content capabilities & restrictions across major retailer marketplaces (e.g., Target, Macy's, PetCo, Costco, etc.).
• Familiarity using AI tools to streamline creative processes (ChatGPT, Adobe AI, Pebblely, etc).
• Familiarity with using content management/feedback platforms such as Talkoot and Pageproof a plus.

Compensation

• Salary: $95,000 – $115,000 (commensurate with experience and geographic location)
• Annual Bonus: TBD

Compensation will be commensurate with experience. Additionally, for eligible full‑time employees, we offer a competitive benefits package including medical insurance, dental insurance, and vision insurance; a flexible spending account; voluntary life and accident plans; and a 401(k) retirement plan with matching. Our headquarters is based in San Diego, California, with additional offices in Covington, Kentucky, Denver, Colorado, Nashville, Tennessee and Charleston, South Carolina. We're seeking local candidates (or those open to relocation) who are able to work collaboratively with us in one of our office's; however, based on business needs and unique job functions, some roles may be eligible for remote work. (Bonus points if you're bilingual in Spanish and/or Portuguese.)

Mindgruve is an equal‑opportunity employer and values diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national‑origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

Seniority level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function

Design, Art/Creative, and Information Technology

Industries

Advertising Services