Associate Creative Director

IMA; Leeds; On-site; GBP 80,000 - GBP 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent creative agency in Leeds is seeking an Associate Creative Director to lead the creative team and oversee the development of innovative campaigns. The role focuses on managing key accounts and ensuring high standards of creative output. Ideal candidates should have substantial experience in delivering integrated projects, a track record of winning significant client pitches, and expertise in Adobe Creative Suite. This position offers a supportive environment for career development and growth.

Benefits

Career development opportunities

People-first culture

Collaborative team environment

Qualifications

• Significant experience delivering projects from concept to completion.
• Track record of winning client pitches and high-profile campaigns.
• Proven ability to write and visualize creative ideas.

Responsibilities

• Act as the creative lead for key accounts and oversee all creative output.
• Manage the creative team, ensuring engagement and professional development.
• Translate strategic insights into memorable campaigns.

Skills

Integrated project delivery

Creative platform development

Team management

Adobe Creative Suite

Industry awareness

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

AI tools

Job description

IMA is a creative agency that builds brands people want to be part of. We’re looking for a visionary Associate Creative Director to help lead our creative team, concepting and executing channel-agnostic ideas for our full range of clients.

If you have a proven ability to translate strategic insight into engaging creative campaigns and a passion for setting high creative standards, we want to hear from you.

What you’ll get from us

• A chance to develop your career within an award-winning, people-first creative agency
• A values-led culture where your contribution is recognised and supported
• Ownership and variety from day one, with the support of a collaborative team
• Dedicated career development opportunities with a set L&D budget and access to coaching
• A people-first environment where we challenge, grow, and deliver together

The role

As an Associate Creative Director, you will report to the Creative Director and manage designated members of the Creative team. You will take a lead role in the development of the creative team and culture while acting as a figurehead within the wider business. Your focus will be on the creative guardianship of key accounts, from initial conception through to final execution.

What you’ll be doing

• Acting as the creative lead and guardian for key accounts while maintaining responsibility for the standard of all creative output
• Developing provocative and flexible creative platforms that work effectively across awareness, consideration, and conversion media
• Effectively managing your team, including recruitment, assessment, engagement, wellbeing, and professional development
• Ensuring the team meets regularly to facilitate effective relationships, knowledge sharing, and smooth workflow
• Identifying growth areas and strategic opportunities while assisting with project planning alongside traffic and account leads
• Conducting performance and development reviews, including target and goal setting
• Translating strategic insights into memorable creative campaigns and delivering omni-channel creative solutions
• Liaising with and overseeing external suppliers and freelance resources to ensure high-quality delivery

What we’re looking for

• Significant experience delivering integrated projects from concept to completion, including pre- and post-production for shoots
• A track record of delivering and winning integrated client pitches and high-profile campaigns of significant value (approx. £500k+)
• Expert knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite and AI tools
• Excellent grounding across creative and design, with the proven ability to both write and visualise your ideas
• Strong industry awareness and a solid understanding of the latest creative trends and tools

Our values at IMA

We’re curious. We challenge. We commit.
These principles shape how we work — with each other, with clients, and with the world.

Apply now

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. If this Associate Creative Director role sounds like a fit, we’d love to hear from you.