Associate Creative Director, Design
About the Role
As an Associate Creative Director of Design, you’ll help shape and execute world-class digital experiences for a Portland-based global sports wear company. You’ll sit at the intersection of creative thinking and exceptional design craft, translating brand ideas and business objectives into compelling digital experiences across campaigns, platforms, products, content, and commerce.
You’ll be a hands-on design leader—equally comfortable establishing a visual direction, building in Figma, directing designers, collaborating with multidisciplinary creative teams, and presenting work to clients. We are looking for someone with exceptional digital craft, strong conceptual thinking, and a curiosity for how emerging technologies and AI can push both the creative process and the work itself forward.
Responsibilities:
Shape and execute creative and design direction across digital campaigns, platforms, content ecosystems, commerce, and interactive experiences.
Design at a high level in Figma, creating and refining key screens, components, prototypes and user journeys.
Translate brand strategy, creative concepts, and business objectives into compelling digital experiences that balance storytelling, functionality, and user needs.
Develop design approaches that leverage brand standards and systems to deliver new digital experiences and consumer touchpoints.
Partner with Creative Directors, Design Directors, copywriters, strategists, UX designers and account managers to develop creative.
Lead design work from early concept and exploration through detailed execution, production, and launch, protecting the integrity of the idea throughout the process.
Direct and mentor designers, providing clear feedback and hands-on guidance that strengthens both the work and individual craft.
Use AI fluently throughout the creative process for ideation, visual exploration, prototyping, and rapid experimentation.
Explore emerging creative technologies, automations and workflows that enable teams to prototype faster, expand creative possibilities, and elevate the quality of the work.
Build prototypes and proof-of-concepts using Figma, AI tools, rapid-build environments, and other modern design technologies.
Collaborate closely with UX and strategy to ensure visual design and creative ambition translate into intuitive, feasible, and beautifully executed journeys.
Present creative and design thinking to client stakeholders, clearly articulating the rationale behind design decisions and building confidence in the work.
Balance ambitious creative thinking with the realities of usability, accessibility, scalability, performance, timelines, localisation, translation and technical requirements.
Review work throughout the design and production process to maintain a consistently high standard of craft through final delivery.
Stay connected to developments in digital design, AI, technology, sport, fashion, entertainment, youth culture, and the broader visual landscape.
About You
The essentials:
8+ years of experience in digital design, visual design, or creative roles within an agency, studio, or sophisticated in-house creative environment.
A portfolio of exceptional craft made both inside and out brand standards, complex design systems, and component libraries, across websites, mobile, and e-commerce. Ranging from apps, platforms, campaigns, or interactive work.
Expert proficiency in Figma, with the ability and desire to remain highly hands-on in the work.
Mastery of core design fundamentals, including typography, grid, hierarchy, composition, layout, color, interaction, copy, narratives and digital-first visual storytelling - demonstrating pixel perfection of every crop, every word and every full stop.
Strong conceptual thinking with the ability to take an idea from early exploration through polished digital execution.
Experience translating established brand identities into distinctive digital experiences, visual systems, and consumer touchpoints.
Hands-on experience with AI tools across the creative process, with strong judgment around when and how to use them to improve ideation, exploration, prototyping, and execution.
Strong understanding of UI and UX principles and the ability to balance visual craft with functionality and intuitive user experiences.
Experience developing and working within digital design systems, including components, patterns, libraries, and scalable visual frameworks.
Experience directing and mentoring designers while remaining actively involved in the craft and execution of the work.
Ability to collaborate effectively across creative, copy, strategy, UX, production, and account teams.
Strong presentation and communication skills, with the confidence to articulate creative and design rationale to clients and internal stakeholders.
Ability to manage multiple creative priorities and maintain a high standard of 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 designing for large-scale global brands and complex digital ecosystems.
Experience across e-commerce, product launches, seasonal campaigns, and high-traffic consumer experiences.
Experience with motion design, 3D, WebGL, or immersive and interactive experiences.
Working knowledge of HTML/CSS or comfort collaborating closely with engineering teams.
Experience rapidly prototyping ideas through code, AI-assisted development, or other emerging build tools.
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