Art Director (Social)

At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration. With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse.

Our global family now encompasses over 30,000 employees across 150+ offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences. Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, offering deep insights in communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work.

VML is seeking an Art Director who's as conceptual, as they are creative. Someone who understands human behavior, spots patterns in culture and turns insights into smart, visually driven ideas that resonate. You're energized by making things that move fast, look good and actually say something.

As the Art Director focusing on social media, you bring a strategic mindset and a sharp eye for design, with the hands-on ability to create content that feels native, elevated and effective. From quick-turn TikTok's to campaign-level storytelling, you know how to build ideas that connect with people and make brands part of the cultural conversation.

• Concept and create content rooted in cultural insights, platform behavior and human truths
  
• Translate strategic insights into compelling visual ideas and content narratives
  
• Ideate and execute platform-native social content that's smart, trend-aware and emotionally resonant
  
• Partner with a copywriter to craft campaign concepts, content series and quick-turn reactive ideas
  
• Direct, shoot, design and edit original content across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube Shorts and more
  
• Brief and review creator-led work to ensure alignment on tone, aesthetic and message
  
• Collaborate with creative leads, strategists, producers and social managers to bring ideas to life
  
• Present creative work with clarity, confidence and cultural relevance
  
• Bring a POV to brainstorms and writers' rooms building on insights to shape meaningful, brand-relevant ideas
  
• Help refine creative workflows and contribute to team-wide creative standards
  
• Manage multiple projects at once without compromising quality or creativity
  
• Stay ahead of platform shifts, language trends and creative best practices in the social landscape
  

• Minimum 4 years' experience in a creative, social-first or integrated agency setting
  
• Strong conceptual instincts with a portfolio that shows creative concepts and visual executions for social media platforms
  
• Deep knowledge of social platforms and what types of visuals perform well on each. Excellent understanding of social media platforms, their respective audiences and best practices.
  
• Experience in concepting, directing, editing and designing brand content
  
• Advanced in-app editing capabilities across platforms like TikTok, Reels, CapCut and beyond
  
• Experience creating conceptual campaigns and social-first activations for brands
  
• Familiarity with influencer/content creator workstreams and how to brief or collaborate with them
  
• Proven ability to work solo and collaboratively across disciplines
  
• Fluent in cultural trends, internet aesthetics and emerging visual formats
  
• Keen visual eye and deep understanding of what looks good and what performs in-feed
  
• Exceptionally organized, detail-oriented and able to juggle multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment
  
• Passionate about making great creative work and consistently pushing it further
  
• Obsessed with culture, internet trends and the ever-evolving social media landscape
  
• Bonus: you have a social presence and regularly post original content (outside of a personal channel)
  

• Passionate, driven people | We champion a culture of people that do extraordinary work.
  
• Consciously cultivated culture | We aim to embody the behaviors to build an inclusive community that is in it together, bringing both positivity and active listening into the workplace as we simultaneously strive to empower creative bravery.
  
• Competitive benefits| What we offer full time hires ranges from the full spectrum of group health coverage options (medical, dental, vision) to a generous 401k match (100% dollar-for-dollar match, up to 5% of salary contribution), and a variety of paid time off offerings that reflect our investment in all aspects of your overall life balance and wellness.
  
• Growth-minded opportunities | We aim to nurture a culture of real-time feedback, growth-oriented mindset, and plenty of training opportunities through VML and WPP, so you can continue to grow personally and professionally.
  

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.

VML is a WPP Agency. For more information, please visit our website, and follow VML on our social channels via Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.

When you click "Submit Application", this will send any information you add below to VML. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through our Recruitment Privacy Policy. California residents should read our California Recruitment Privacy Notice. This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.