Associate Creative Director, Copy
About the Role
As an Associate Creative Director of Copy, you’ll help deliver narrative excellence, voice, ideas, and storytelling for a Portland-based global athletic wear company. You’ll sit at the intersection of conceptual thinking and exceptional copy craft, translating brand strategy and business objectives into compelling narratives and experiences across campaigns, platforms, products, content, and commerce.
You’ll be a hands-on creative leader—equally comfortable establishing messaging frameworks, writing the headline that brings a story to life, directing other writers, partnering with designers, and presenting work to clients. We are looking for someone with an obsession over creative brand voice, exceptional writing and conceptual skills, strong cultural instincts, and a curiosity for how emerging technologies and AI can expand both the creative process and the work itself.
Responsibilities:
Shape creative, messaging, and narratives across digital campaigns, platforms, content ecosystems, commerce, and interactive experiences.
Write at the highest level across formats, from campaign concepts, headlines, manifestos, and brand storytelling to digital experiences, product copy, social content, and other consumer touchpoints.
Translate brand strategy, audience insights, and business objectives into clear, compelling creative narratives and messaging.
Leverage brand voice, tone, messaging frameworks, and verbal systems to create consistency while allowing the brand to flex across audiences, channels, and cultural moments.
Partner closely with Designers, Creative Directors, Design Directors, Strategists, and Account to develop integrated ideas where copy and design work together from the start.
Lead copy from early ideation through execution and launch, protecting the strength and integrity of the idea throughout the process.
Direct and mentor copywriters and other creatives, providing clear, constructive feedback that strengthens ideas, storytelling, and individual craft.
Turn complex products, strategies, and business requirements into simple, human, culturally relevant stories.
Use AI fluently throughout the creative process for research, ideation, exploration, iteration, and content development while applying strong creative judgment to the output.
Explore emerging technologies and creative tools that can expand storytelling possibilities and improve how teams develop, test, and execute ideas.
Collaborate with strategy and design partners to develop copy and content that support intuitive, cohesive digital experiences without sacrificing brand personality.
Present creative concepts, copy, and messaging strategies to client stakeholders, clearly articulating the thinking behind the work and building confidence in the creative direction.
Review and elevate copy across the team, maintaining a consistently high standard of voice, clarity, originality, and craft.
Balance bold thinking with channel requirements, audience needs, business objectives, usability, accessibility, localisation, and performance considerations.
Stay deeply connected to developments in writing, digital culture, AI, sport, fashion, entertainment, youth culture, and the broader cultural landscape.
About You
The essentials:
8+ years of experience in copywriting, creative, or related roles within an agency, studio, or sophisticated in-house creative environment.
A portfolio demonstrating exceptional conceptual thinking and copy craft across integrated campaigns, digital experiences, brand storytelling, social, content, and other consumer-facing work.
Exceptional writing, editing, and proofreading skills, with the ability to adapt voice, tone, structure, and style across audiences, sports, channels, and formats - demonstrating copy perfection in every word, every alt text and every full stop.
Strong conceptual thinking with the ability to develop big ideas and carry them through to detailed execution.
Experience developing, messaging frameworks, campaign platforms, and narratives that can scale across multiple channels and consumer touchpoints.
Strong understanding of digital experiences and the ability to write effectively for websites, mobile, e-commerce, social, platforms, and interactive environments.
Hands-on experience using AI tools throughout the creative process, with strong judgment around how and when to use them for research, ideation, exploration, iteration, and execution.
Experience directing and mentoring writers while remaining actively involved in concepting and writing.
Ability to collaborate closely with visual creatives and multidisciplinary teams to build ideas where words, design, and experience work together.
Strong presentation and communication skills, with the confidence to articulate, defend, and sell creative thinking to clients and internal stakeholders.
Excellent editorial judgment and attention to detail, with the ability to protect brand voice and creative quality across a high volume of work.
Strong cultural curiosity and the ability to recognize relevant shifts in language, consumer behavior, digital culture, and creative trends.
Ability to manage multiple creative priorities while maintaining a high standard of thinking and craft in a fast-paced environment.
A collaborative, curious, and low-ego approach to creative leadership.
A strong interest in sport, style, entertainment, technology, and youth culture.
Not a Must but a Plus:
Experience working with sports, apparel, footwear, fashion, lifestyle, retail, or other culturally relevant consumer brands.
Experience developing work for large-scale global brands and navigating established global brand voices and guidelines.
Experience writing across product launches, seasonal campaigns, e-commerce, social, digital platforms, and high-profile brand moments.
Advanced experience using AI for creative development, rapid concept exploration, prototyping, personalization, or emerging content workflows.
Experience partnering with Strategic teams on content design, UX writing, or complex digital experiences.
Experience developing naming systems, verbal identities, or comprehensive brand voice guidelines.
Understanding of SEO+GEO, performance considerations and how to balance optimization with strong brand writing.
At Monks, we believe in fostering an environment where a diversity of perspectives can thrive. We proactively work to design hiring processes that promote equity and inclusion while mitigating bias. We celebrate diversity and are committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome and encourage qualified applicants, from all backgrounds, who are excited to contribute to our mission.
This role is subject to our Return to Office (RTO) policy. If you reside within a commutable distance of one of our office locations, you will be expected to work from the office a set number of days per week. The specific details, including the number of required office days, will be in accordance with the company’s then-current RTO policy, which is subject to change from time to time.
What We Offer
Benefits
Excellent, full coverage medical, dental, and vision insurance - more about our coverage here!
Generous PTO and 15 company-wide holidays
401k with company contribution
Paid parental leave
Work-life balance with an emphasis on personal well-being
Career growth in a disruptor space & entrepreneurial opportunities within the Monks network
A globally diverse & inclusive culture with employee resource groups such as S4 Melanin, Pride.Monks, Cultura.Monks, and more!
Authentic commitment to DEI efforts and sustainable growth. (Why Sir Martin Sorrell signed The Climate Pledge here!)
This role is subject to our Return to Office (RTO) policy. If you reside within a commutable distance of one of our office locations, you will be expected to work from the office a set number of days per week. The specific details, including the number of required office days, will be in accordance with the company’s then-current RTO policy, which is subject to change from time to time.
Monks has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what Monks may pay for the position at the time of posting. Monks may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on job-related factors, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.
Salary Range:
$136,000—$155,000 USD