At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead social-first creative strategies and elevate pitches with innovative ideas.
- Company: Join Ponderosa, a leader in distinctive social-first creative thinking.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, creative freedom, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team that values creativity and cultural relevance.
- Why this job: Shape the future of social creativity and influence major campaigns.
- Qualifications: Senior-level experience in social creative leadership and strong judgement skills.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 € per year.
Requirements
- Senior‑level experience leading social‑first creative work in an agency environment
- Strong creative judgement and the confidence to challenge ideas constructively
- Proven experience elevating pitches, ideas or creative output through social thinking
- Deep understanding of how social platforms shape creativity and culture
- Ability to influence senior stakeholders and creative teams with clarity and authority
- (Desirable) Previous Director title, or a standout Senior/Head‑of‑level experience ready to step up
- (Desirable) Experience working on integrated campaigns where social leads the idea
- (Desirable) Influencer or creator experience
- (Desirable) Experience helping shape or grow a social offering through creative excellence
What the job involves
- Reporting to: Managing Director
- Direct reports: Social Lead (and wider social team)
- This is a senior creative leadership role responsible for shaping Ponderosa’s social‑first thinking, creative quality, and reputation
- You’ll set the standard for what great social looks like, how creative it can be, and elevate it across pitches and client work.
- Challenge the agency to think social first, not last
- You will act as part of the senior creative leadership group, shaping overall creative direction alongside Creative and Strategy leadership
- Set the creative bar. Elevate social thinking. Win work through ideas
- Ponderosa is known for strong, distinctive, social‑first creative thinking
- Social ideas meaningfully improve pitch win‑rate and new business confidence
- Teams feel creatively challenged, supported and elevated by your feedback
- Social work is platform‑native, culturally sharp and ideas are challenged
- Social thinking influences creative work across the agency, not just within the social team
- Own and define what great social creative looks like at Ponderosa
- Set creative standards for tone, storytelling, formats and platform‑native thinking
- Champion social as a starting point for ideas, not an adaptation layer
- Act as the senior creative voice challenging work to be braver, sharper and more culturally relevant
Objective: Social work consistently meets a high creative bar and strengthens Ponderosa’s creative reputation
- Lead social‑first thinking within new business pitches and credentials
- Shape pitch narratives, ideas and creative approaches where social plays a defining role
- Elevate pitch work through clear creative judgement, feedback and direction
- Support Growth and MD teams with confident, senior social creative counsel
- Act as a senior creative authority in pitch rooms, helping clients feel confident in bold, social‑first ideas
Objective: Social‑led ideas materially improve pitch quality and win‑rate
- Act as a creative partner to Strategy, Creative, Media and Client teams
- Influence integrated ideas by bringing a social‑first, platform‑native lens
- Push teams to think culturally, creatively and in‑the‑moment where appropriate
- Be a visible, trusted voice in creative reviews and idea development
- Act as a senior, trusted social authority with key clients where creative judgement, platforms or cultural relevance matter
Objective: Social thinking strengthens creative work across the agency, not just within one discipline
- Line manage the Social Lead and provide senior creative direction to the wider team
- Set clear creative expectations and provide direct, constructive feedback
- Build confidence, judgement and taste within the team over time
- Create an environment where ideas are challenged constructively, not just delivered
- Work in close partnership with MDs and Client Leads to ensure social‑first ideas support commercial growth, retention and long‑term client value
Objective: A confident, creatively ambitious social team producing consistently strong work
- Support growth of the social offering through stronger creative reputation and demand
- Identify opportunities where social‑first ideas unlock account growth
- Shape how social capability evolves in response to platforms, culture and client needs
- Ensure influencer and creator work (where used) is idea‑led and culturally credible
Objective: Social grows because the work is good, not because it’s over‑sold
- Stay close to cultural shifts, platform behavior and emerging social formats
- Encourage experimentation with new creative approaches, formats and workflows
- Help the agency test and learn without chasing trends for their own sake
- Ensure innovation improves creative quality, not just novelty
- Contribute to the agency’s external creative reputation through thought leadership, industry presence or awards work where it adds value
- Demonstrate fluency in how AI tools can support social‑first creativity from ideation and prototyping to optimization, using them to enhance creative thinking, not replace it
- Help set principles for the responsible, culturally intelligent use of AI within social creative workflows
- Act as a senior voice in how emerging technologies, including AI, shape creative standards and ways of working
Objective: Ponderosa’s social work stays culturally relevant, progressive and creatively competitive
- Months 0–3: Creative immersion
Director of Social employer: Deepstreamtech
Ponderosa is an exceptional employer that champions creativity and innovation in a vibrant agency environment. With a strong focus on social-first thinking, employees are encouraged to push boundaries and elevate their creative output, supported by a culture of constructive feedback and collaboration. Located in a dynamic area, Ponderosa offers ample opportunities for professional growth and the chance to shape the future of social creativity, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Social
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry folks on LinkedIn or at events. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can land you that dream job.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your social smarts! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, make sure to highlight your understanding of social platforms and how they shape creativity. We want to see you confidently share your ideas and insights!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those interviews by practising your pitch! Think about how you can elevate your ideas through social thinking. We’re all about pushing boundaries, so don’t be afraid to challenge the status quo during your discussions.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and eager to join our creative team at Ponderosa.
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Social
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Experience:Make sure to highlight your senior-level experience in leading social-first creative work. We want to see how you've elevated pitches and ideas through your unique social thinking, so don’t hold back!
Be Creative and Bold:This role is all about setting the creative bar high. Share examples of how you've challenged ideas constructively and influenced teams with your creative judgement. We love a good story, so make it engaging!
Tailor Your Application:Don’t just send a generic application! Tailor your CV and cover letter to reflect how your skills align with our social-first approach. Show us that you understand how social platforms shape creativity and culture.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to see your application and get to know you better. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Deepstreamtech
✨Know Your Social Platforms
Make sure you have a deep understanding of how different social platforms work and influence creativity. Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've used social-first thinking in your previous roles, especially in agency environments.
✨Showcase Your Creative Judgement
Prepare to demonstrate your strong creative judgement by discussing past projects where you challenged ideas constructively. Bring along examples of pitches or campaigns that highlight your ability to elevate creative output through social thinking.
✨Engage with Cultural Trends
Stay updated on current cultural shifts and trends within social media. During the interview, share insights on how these trends can shape creative strategies and enhance pitch quality, showing that you’re not just aware but actively engaged.
✨Be a Confident Leader
As a senior candidate, it’s crucial to exhibit confidence in your leadership abilities. Prepare to discuss how you’ve influenced teams and stakeholders in the past, and be ready to articulate your vision for elevating social-first thinking at Ponderosa.
