Associate Creative Director (Copy)

Who is Frankel?
Frankel is a full-service strategic communications firm based in Gainesville, FL, specializing in branding, marketing, and digital strategy. We help organizations connect with their audiences through thoughtful strategy, sharp creative, and measurable results - whether that's a million-dollar budget or a gumball and a paperclip. We partner with clients across financial services, higher education, healthcare, professional services, and more, and we're looking for people who love a good challenge as much as we do.

Who We Need

If you're a big thinker, strong writer, and natural creative leader who can turn a strategic brief into an idea people actually remember, this role is for you.

The Associate Creative Director (Copy) is responsible for developing and leading creative concepts, campaigns, and messaging across Frankel's client portfolio. This role combines exceptional writing and conceptual thinking with creative leadership, helping shape the strategic and creative direction of work from the initial idea through final execution.

The ACD (Copy) works closely with the Creative Director, account teams, strategists, and other creative team members to develop integrated work that is strategically sound, creatively strong, and right for the client. This person is both a creator and a leader - someone who can write the headline, pitch the idea, give thoughtful feedback, and help make the entire team better.

The ideal candidate is an experienced copywriter with a strong portfolio, excellent conceptual skills, and the confidence to lead creative work without bringing a big ego along with them. They should be comfortable moving between big-picture campaign thinking and hands-on execution in a fast-paced agency environment.

Job Title: Associate Creative Director - Copy

Department: Creative

Reports To: Creative Director

Location: Gainesville, FL (Hybrid) or Remote in Select States

Employment Type: Full-Time

NOTE: Only USA-based candidates will be considered for this position. Frankel is unable to provide sponsorship at this time. If based in Gainesville, this hybrid role requires being in the office from Tuesday through Thursday, and Monday and Friday are remote days. We are open to remote candidates.

Responsibilities
Creative Leadership

Partner with the Creative Director to develop the creative vision and direction for client work
Lead the copy and messaging direction for integrated campaigns, brand initiatives, digital experiences, and other creative projects
Translate strategic briefs and client objectives into compelling creative concepts
Help set the creative standard for work across assigned accounts
Present creative concepts and recommendations to clients and internal stakeholders
Provide clear, constructive feedback to copywriters and other creative team members
Mentor and develop junior and mid-level creative talent

Copy & Concepting

Develop big ideas, campaign concepts, messaging platforms, taglines, headlines, scripts, and other creative concepts
Write and edit high-quality copy across digital, print, social, video, email, web, and other channels
Turn complex ideas into clear, engaging, and memorable messaging
Maintain a strong understanding of brand voice and ensure consistency across deliverables
Review and refine copy throughout the creative process, from initial concept through final production
Know when a piece needs more work, when it's ready to go, and when to push the idea further

Client & Team Collaboration

Work closely with Account Services, Strategy, Design, Digital, Web, and other teams to develop integrated solutions
Participate in client meetings, creative reviews, brainstorms, and presentations
Collaborate with designers to ensure copy and visual concepts work together as one idea
Help translate client feedback into actionable creative direction
Build strong working relationships with clients and internal partners

Creative Quality

Ensure creative work meets Frankel's standards for strategy, originality, clarity, and execution
Proofread and edit work for accuracy, grammar, tone, and consistency
Identify opportunities to make work smarter, more effective, and more engaging
Stay current on advertising, communications, cultural, and creative trends
Understand how emerging technologies, including AI, can improve creative development and execution

General

Manage multiple projects and priorities while meeting deadlines
Maintain organized files, documentation, and creative processes
Participate in agency brainstorms, pitches, and new business opportunities
Contribute to the evolution of Frankel's creative product and culture
Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements
10-15+ years of professional copywriting experience, preferably within an advertising, marketing, communications, or agency environment
Proven experience developing and leading creative concepts and campaigns
Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills
Strong portfolio demonstrating conceptual thinking and high-quality copy across multiple mediums
Experience presenting creative work to clients and internal stakeholders
Demonstrated ability to give and receive thoughtful, constructive creative feedback
Experience mentoring or managing other creative team members
Strong understanding of brand strategy, messaging, and integrated marketing
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Strong organizational and time management skills
Ability to manage multiple accounts, projects, and deadlines simultaneously
Comfortable working collaboratively across departments
Bachelor's degree in Advertising, Communications, English, Marketing, or a related field preferred
We’re serious about the work, not about ego. Kindness and collaboration are non-negotiable here.

Bonus points if:

You have experience in higher education, healthcare, financial services, or professional services
You have experience developing brand voice and messaging systems
You have experience writing for video, social, digital campaigns, and emerging platforms
You have experience with UX writing or content strategy
You are confident integrating AI into your creative workflow while maintaining quality and originality
You have experience working on pitches and new business presentations
You have direct team management experience or line management experience, including hiring, coaching, developing, and managing the performance of creative team members
You have experience managing client relationships, accounts, or day-to-day client partnerships
You have experience selling creative work - including pitching creative concepts, capabilities, or agency services to prospective or existing clients

Why Frankel?

Agency life shouldn't take over your life. Beyond the day-to-day, here's what you can expect as part of the team:

Medical, dental, and vision coverage, with Frankel contributing toward the cost of your plan
401(k) with a match, eligible after your first work anniversary
15 days of PTO in year one, moving to our flexible Responsible Time Off plan after that
Holiday Break Days in November and December
Paid parental leave and a free Employee Assistance Program
A hybrid, collaborative culture with an open-door policy - we want to hear your ideas, not just your deliverables

Compensation & Pay Transparency

In compliance with applicable pay transparency laws, Frankel includes the expected salary range for this role. Actual compensation will depend on factors like experience, skills, and internal equity. All full-time employees are eligible for our full benefits package, including medical/dental/vision coverage, 401(k) matching, paid parental leave, generous PTO, and more.

The salary range for this position is $80,000–$120,000 annually, depending on skills, experience, and qualifications.

We Are Stoked, Pumped & Jazzed

...to see your application. If this job sounds like you, we'd love to hear from you.

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