Associate Creative Director

Title: Associate Creative Director, Copy

Location: Philadelphia PA US

Type: Full-time

Workplace: Hybrid 

Job Description:

About Athena

Athena is a creative place for leaders, risk-takers, creative thinkers and boundary-pushers. We partner with organizations looking to transform their presence, reputation, and performance. For over ten years, we’ve delivered business insights, marketing strategies, and brand activations for leading organizations in industries ranging from telecommunications to major league sports.   

Our people make Athena, Athena. They’re what help set us apart from traditional ad agencies and consultancies. As a Philadelphia Inquirer Top Workplace for three years running, we take pride in fostering a work environment where passion meets excellence. Our people are solutions-oriented individuals who eagerly roll up their sleeves to make work that works while sharing a couple of laughs along the way.    

About the Position

We’re looking for an ACD Copywriter to help lead creative output across client work and the Athena brand. This role balances big idea thinking with strong execution, partnering closely with designers, strategists, project managers, and fellow writers to deliver insightful, on brand work. 

You’ll move fluidly between concept development, creative direction, and team leadership—owning the written voice while helping set the creative bar across channels and initiatives. 

Requirements

What you'll be responsible for:

• Lead copy direction across campaigns, content, and brand expressions, ensuring consistency in tone, voice, and messaging. 


• Develop creative platforms and messaging frameworks that support integrated campaign ideas from concept through execution. 


• Drive and facilitate concepting and ideation sessions, translating insights into clear, compelling creative ideas. 


• Manage day-to-day copy development across multiple projects, ensuring work is delivered on time and to a high standard. 


• Mentor and guide writers through feedback, coaching, and editorial review to elevate creative output. 


• Collaborate closely with designers and art directors to ensure copy and visuals work together seamlessly. 


• Partner with clients and internal stakeholders to present work, respond to feedback, and maintain alignment throughout execution. 


• Contribute to new business efforts, pitches, and Athena brand initiatives as needed. 


• Provide confident creative feedback on visual design and art direction, helping shape campaigns with a strong point of view on taste, craft, and overall creative quality.


• Partner closely with design and art leadership to elevate the work, ensuring ideas are holistically strong—from concept to copy to visual execution.

 

The skills and experience you should have:

• ACD level copy leadership experience, demonstrated through a portfolio showing campaign concepting and multichannel execution. 


• Required: Proven 360 advertising experience, leading copy across fully integrated campaigns (paid and organic social, digital, TV, video, experiential, OOH, CRM/email, web, etc.). 


• Required: Experience leading and mentoring a team of writers, including assigning work, providing editorial direction, and developing talent. 


• Advanced writing, editing, and storytelling skills with a strong point of view on craft and quality. 


• Ability to translate complex or ambiguous ideas into clear, persuasive messaging for defined audiences. 


• Comfort working in a fast paced, collaborative, agency style environment with multiple stakeholders. 


• A strong design sensibility and art direction instinct, with the ability to evaluate visual work, give constructive creative feedback, and help push campaigns to their highest level.

 

It's a plus if you have:

• Experience writing for regulated, complex, or high-stake industries (telecom, automotive, enterprise brands). 


• Experience developing or managing brand voice and messaging frameworks. 


• Experience partnering with performance or analytics teams to refine messaging based on results.

 

Benefits

• Medical/Dental benefits including of 1K Health Reimbursement Account


• Matching 401K


• Generous PTO policy


• Substantial Parental Leave Policy


• Hybrid Work Environment

 

Candidates must be willing to work hybrid (3 days on-site) in our Philadelphia, PA office.

 

Curious about your career path at Athena? This role is within a rapidly growing creative department and the right candidate can excel, produce great work, and have an immediate impact on Athena’s creative product culture and growth.

Athena is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other basis prohibited by law. If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance in applying for a position,