At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead social-first creative strategies and elevate pitch quality across the agency.
- Company: Join Ponderosa, a dynamic brand and communications agency in Leeds.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, 25 days holiday, and comprehensive health benefits.
- Other info: Be part of a collaborative culture with excellent growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Shape the future of social creativity and make a real impact on ambitious brands.
- Qualifications: Senior-level experience in social-first creative work and strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 68000 - 78000 € per year.
Ponderosa is a brand and communications agency that helps ambitious brands grow through powerful ideas and meaningful connections. We bring together strategy, creativity, and digital expertise to deliver work that moves audiences and drives measurable results. As part of Audience Collective, we collaborate across creative, media, research and digital performance to bring broader perspective and greater impact.
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.
What good looks like
- 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
Key responsibilities
- Social‑first creative leadership
- 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
- Pitch leadership & new business elevation
- 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
- Agency‑wide creative influence
- 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
- Team leadership & creative standards
- 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
- Social growth & capability building
- 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
- Future capability & innovation
- 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
Experience & requirements
Essential
- 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
Nice to have
- Previous Director title, or a standout Senior/Head‑of‑level experience ready to step up
- Experience working on integrated campaigns where social leads the idea
- Influencer or creator experience
- Experience helping shape or grow a social offering through creative excellence
What we offer
- Hybrid working (Leeds office Tuesday–Thursday)
- 25 days’ holiday + 3 celebration days
- 37.5‑hour working week
- Pension, life insurance and income protection
- EAP and 24/7 virtual GP access
Your first 6 months
Months 0–3: Creative immersion & standard setting
- Get under the skin of Ponderosa, clients and creative culture
- Build trust with Creative, Strategy, Social and Client teams
- Start shaping what “great social” looks like through feedback and reviews
- Support live pitches with social‑first creative thinking
Months 4–6: Influence & elevation
- Clearly establish the social creative quality bar
- Be a visible creative leader in pitches and big ideas
- Start seeing improvement in pitch confidence and social creative output
- Challenge teams to think more natively, culturally and boldly
Progression & capability growth
Objective: The role continues to increase its creative influence, impact on growth and agency reputation over time.
- Increasing ownership of pitch leadership and creative direction
- Broader influence across integrated campaigns
- Stronger external reputation for Ponderosa’s social work
- Shaping future senior creative or social leadership roles within the agency
Director of Social in Leeds employer: Ponderosa Agency Limited
Ponderosa is an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and collaborative work culture, where creativity thrives and employees are empowered to challenge the status quo. With a strong focus on social-first thinking, the agency offers ample opportunities for professional growth and development, alongside a competitive benefits package including hybrid working, generous holiday allowances, and access to wellness resources. Located in Leeds, Ponderosa not only champions innovative ideas but also prioritises employee well-being, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers in the creative industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Social in Leeds
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to folks on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on a job opening!
✨Tip Number 2
Nail that interview prep! Research the company, understand their culture, and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs. Practice common interview questions and prepare some of your own to show you’re genuinely interested.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your social skills! As a Director of Social, you need to demonstrate your understanding of social platforms and trends. Bring examples of your past work to the table and be ready to discuss how you can elevate their social strategy.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team at Ponderosa. Don’t miss out on the chance to make a great impression!
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Social in Leeds
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Creative Side:When you're writing your application, let your creativity shine through! Use engaging language and examples that reflect your unique approach to social-first thinking. We want to see how you can elevate ideas and challenge the norm.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application for the Director of Social role. Highlight your experience in leading social creative work and how you've influenced pitches and teams in the past. This is your chance to show us why you're the perfect fit!
Be Clear and Concise:While we love creativity, clarity is key! Make sure your application is easy to read and gets straight to the point. Use bullet points or short paragraphs to break up text and make it digestible for us.
Apply Through Our Website:Don't forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it shows you're keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Ponderosa Agency Limited
✨Know Your Social Landscape
Before the interview, dive deep into Ponderosa's recent social campaigns and their overall creative direction. Familiarise yourself with their tone, storytelling, and platform-native thinking. This will not only show your genuine interest but also help you articulate how you can elevate their social-first approach.
✨Prepare to Showcase Your Creative Judgement
Be ready to discuss specific examples from your past work where you've challenged ideas constructively or elevated pitches through social thinking. Highlight your ability to influence senior stakeholders and how your creative judgement has led to successful outcomes in previous roles.
✨Emphasise Team Leadership Skills
As a Director of Social, you'll be managing a team. Prepare to talk about your experience in building confidence and taste within a creative team. Share how you've created an environment where ideas are constructively challenged, and how you’ve supported your team in producing consistently strong work.
✨Stay Ahead of Cultural Trends
Show that you're not just aware of current trends but also how they can be leveraged creatively. Discuss your approach to staying close to cultural shifts and emerging social formats, and how you encourage experimentation without chasing trends for their own sake. This will demonstrate your forward-thinking mindset and commitment to innovation.
