Associate Creative Director, Social - Copywriter

VML
New York, NY
On-siteCareer-pivot friendly

Who this role is best for

Social media-savvy copywriters with strategic storytelling experience will find this hybrid role in New York's beverage brand portfolio offers leadership potential and a focus on cultural relevance.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with a proven ability to blend cultural insight with brand strategy and leadership potential in social copywriting
    — “turn cultural insight and platform behavior into original, brand-right work”
  • Individuals with a distinctive writing voice and experience creating always-on content for multiple platforms
    — “original social-first thinking, a distinctive writing voice and strong execution”
  • Professionals who can balance rapid content creation with strategic campaign development and client presentation
    — “Balance responsive, quick-turn writing with broader platform thinking and strategic storytelling”

Things to consider

  • Hybrid work arrangement requires at least four days in-office per week, which may impact remote flexibility
    — “teams in the office an average of four days a week”

How to stand out

  • Highlight case studies where cultural trends were translated into brand-appropriate social content
    — “Identify emerging cultural conversations, memes and social formats”
  • Demonstrate experience in both short-form and long-form content creation across platforms
    — “Range across short-form copy and larger strategic storytelling”
  • Emphasize your ability to mentor and lead junior teams in creative processes
    — “Mentor and support junior and mid-level creatives”
Pace · SteadyCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • original, brand-appropriate social-first work
  • proactive ideas for always-on content
  • strong creative routes
Typical background
experience as an Associate Creative Director or Senior Copywriter

Skills & requirements

Required

Social-first ThinkingBrand-right WritingCultural InsightPlatform-native CopywritingStrategic StorytellingCollaboration

Preferred

Portfolio Showcasing Original Social-first Thinking

Stack & domain

Social PlatformsInternet LanguageEmerging FormatsWritingCollaborationPresentationSocial MediaCreative

About the role

Original posting from VML

Who We Are

VML is a global creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce to create connected brands that drive growth. Guided by a Human First philosophy, VML is known for its innovative work for brands and consistently ranks among the world’s leading creative companies, including the WARC Creative 100. VML’s global network spans 55+ markets with principal offices in Buenos Aires, Kansas City, London, New York, São Paulo, Shanghai and Singapore. 

VML is part of WPP, the trusted growth partner for the world's leading brands. Powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform WPP Open, WPP unites cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, creativity, production, enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel. 

For more information, please visit www.vml.com and follow along on  LinkedIn #WeAreVML.

The opportunity:

VML is seeking an Associate Creative Director, Social Copywriter to join its New York creative team. This role will help shape the voice and ideas behind social-first work within an iconic beverage brand portfolio, spanning always-on content, paid and organic social, creator partnerships, activations and broader campaigns.

You will turn cultural insight and platform behavior into original, brand-right work—from short-form social writing to larger creative platforms and campaign ideas. The role calls for a strong understanding of youth culture, an ability to write with authenticity for a variety of audiences and the judgment to move quickly without relying on trends for their own sake.

What you’ll do:

Lead writing and idea development for social-first work across relevant platforms.

Develop platform-native copy, including captions, hooks, short-form scripts, headlines and creator-facing materials.

Identify emerging cultural conversations, memes and social formats, and determine how they can inform relevant, brand-appropriate work.

Develop proactive ideas for always-on content, creator partnerships, activations and larger campaigns.

Balance responsive, quick-turn writing with broader platform thinking and strategic storytelling.

Bring a range of well-considered ideas to briefs and clearly articulate the rationale behind the strongest creative routes.

Collaborate closely with art directors, strategists, producers, account teams and other creative partners.

Present creative work and lead client conversations as needed, exercising sound judgment and discretion.

Mentor and support junior and mid-level creatives.

What you’ll need:

Experience as an Associate Creative Director or Senior Copywriter, or equivalent experience demonstrating readiness to lead at this level.

A portfolio that demonstrates original social-first thinking, a distinctive writing voice and strong execution.

A strong understanding of social platforms, youth culture, internet language and emerging formats.

The ability to write authentically for a variety of audiences, with a nuanced approach that avoids stereotypes and forced trend language.

Range across short-form copy and larger strategic storytelling, from social posts and scripts to campaign platforms and activation concepts.

The ability to turn cultural observations into brand-appropriate creative ideas at pace.

Confidence presenting work and leading client discussions with appropriate independence.

Strong collaboration, prioritization and communication skills, including the ability to maintain quality across multiple fast-moving assignments.

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers. 

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Source: VML careers

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