Associate Creative Director, Art - Shopper Marketing

Company Description

Arc is the lead shopper and retail agency within Publicis Groupe. In an era of unprecedented disruption, where the customers you seek actively resist brands like never before, everything we do is in service of making your brand irresistible. We call it Irresistible Commerce. And it starts by employing insights and data to uncover what’s standing in the way of growth. Then we deploy irresistible creative solutions to build connected shopping experiences that are personal, valuable and delightful for your customers. The results simultaneously drive brand sales and love. Helping us become WARC’s #1 Specialty Retail Agency with groundbreaking work recognized by Adweek, ANA Reggie Awards and Effies.

Job Summary

Arc is looking for an Associate Creative Director with a design background to join our team!

The Associate Creative Director (ACD) serves as the creative lead on high-profile projects, driving innovative solutions while mentoring team members and collaborating across disciplines. This role emphasizes art direction, design and concept development, ensuring all creative work is fresh, strategically sound, and visually compelling. You’ll guide the team through all phases of creative development, critique and refine art and copy, and engage with clients to present and sell ideas.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a hybrid role based out of our Chicago office and will require onsite engagement an average of 3 days/week. All candidates must be local to that market and willing to work in a hybrid arrangement.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead brainstorm sessions to generate breakthrough, award-worthy commerce/shopper campaigns.
• Oversee the development and execution of brand and retailer-specific commerce-driving concepts, particularly artwork, ensuring adherence to brand guidelines.
• Understand client needs, contribute strategic solutions, and enhance the team’s understanding of our CPG client’s business and competitive landscape.
• Deliver compelling internal and client-facing presentations, selling and defending big ideas with confidence.
• Explore emerging technologies and communication approaches to expand creative solutions.
• Take ownership of projects, proactively driving them toward successful outcomes.
• Collaborate with studio, ensuring executional excellence and efficiency.

Qualifications

• 7 years of progressively responsible art direction experience in an advertising agency environment with a specific focus on commerce, retail, or shopper marketing.
• Prior experience guiding creative teams from concept to production.
• Expertise in Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft PowerPoint and/or G Suite, along with a strong understanding of digital and physical production.
• Experience directing and managing video shoots, photo shoots, and illustrators.
• Strong strategic thinking and knowledge of brand, commerce, retail media, interactive, and social media marketing strategies.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to lead brainstorms, mentor creatives, and articulate creative rationale effectively.
• A passion for pushing creative boundaries, seeking original and unexpected ideas.

Additional information

The Power of One starts with our people! To do powerful things, we offer powerful resources. Our best-in-class wellness and benefits offerings include:

• Paid Family Care for parents and caregivers for 12 weeks or more
• Monetary assistance and support for Adoption, Surrogacy and Fertility
• Monetary assistance and support for pet adoption
• Employee Assistance Programs and Health/Wellness/Comfort reimbursements to help you invest in your future and work/life balance
• Tuition Assistance
• Paid time off that includes Flexible Time off Vacation, Annual Sick Days, Volunteer Days, Holiday and Identity days, and more
• Matching Gifts programs
• Flexible working arrangements
• ‘Work Your World’ Program encouraging employees to work from anywhere Publicis Groupe has an office for up to 6 weeks a year (based upon eligibility)
• Business Resource Groups that support multiple affinities and alliances

The benefits offerings listed are available to eligible U.S. Based employees, are reviewed on an annual basis, and are governed by the terms of the applicable plan documents.

Arc is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our employment decisions are made without regard to actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, medical condition as defined by applicable state law, genetic information, marital status, military service and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances.

If you require accommodation or assistance with the application or onboarding process specifically, please contact USMSTACompliance@publicis.com. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Compensation Range: $105,165-$151,095 annually. This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and the Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. Temporary roles may be eligible to participate in our freelancer/temporary employee medical plan through a third-party benefits administration system once certain criteria have been met. Temporary roles may also qualify for participation in our 401(k) plan after eligibility criteria have been met. For regular roles, the Company will offer medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401k, and paid time off. The Company anticipates the application deadline for this job posting will be 4/14/25.