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- Tasks: Lead creative direction for organic social content across major clients.
- Company: Join The Social Shepherd, a top UK social agency with global ambitions.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, 25 days leave, and enhanced parental leave.
- Why this job: Shape the future of social media with a talented, supportive team.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in creative roles, strong knowledge of TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
- Other info: Be part of an award-winning agency with clear career progression.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
We’re looking for someone who really gets social.
The kind of person who knows what content works and why. Who can take an insight from TikTok or an upcoming cultural trend and turn it into something original that performs. Someone who sees the algorithm not as a blocker, but as a brief.
About Us – The Social Shepherd 🐑
We\’re a Social-first agency helping global brands, household names, and high-growth scale-ups accelerate their business growth.
Having won Best Large Social Agency in the UK (2 years in a row!) and continued growth, we\’re now looking to take on our next member to enhance our Social team!
Our service offering includes:
- Social Media Management
- Paid (Social & Search)
- Creative
- Influencer
- Strategy
We’re a team of 70+ across Bath, London, New York, and Miami, with big ambitions.
The Role
As an ACD specialised in organic social, you’ll take charge of the creative direction across some of our biggest organic social clients alongside the wider team.
You’ll lead a team of Social Creatives and Content Creators – helping them turn data, and cultural trends into smart, standout content. You’ll set the tone for creative across our organic output, making sure every piece of work is strategic, sharp, and built for the platform it lives on.
This is a director-level role – so we’ll look to you not just to lead the work, but to help lead the business. You’ll help grow the team, raise the creative bar, shape process and thinking, and be someone others look to, to set the standard.
What You’ll Do
- Coach and mentor creatives and managers – developing their creative instincts, storytelling, and leadership skills
- Contribute to new business and pitches – bringing creative firepower and platform expertise to win work
- Hellp shape how we work – including creative operations, and strategic direction
- Own creative approach and execution for organic content across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and whatever’s next
- Lead ideation, scripting, and content planning – making sure the work’s grounded in data, cultural relevance, and brand voice
- Review and write platform-first copy, hooks, and scripts that engage and convert
- Direct shoots and oversee pre-production – from creative briefs and shot lists to call sheets and campaign delivery
- Collaborate with Paid, Influencer, Video, and Performance teams to create joined-up, high-performing campaigns
- Stay ahead of trends, platform updates, content formats and algorithm changes – and bring that thinking into the room
What We’re Looking For
- 5+ years in a creative role focused on organic social – ideally agency-side
- A portfolio that shows strong ideas, great writing and smart use of platform trends
- Deep knowledge of TikTok, Instagram and YouTube – what’s trending, what performs and how the algorithms work
- Strong storytelling, scripting and social copywriting skills
- Confident directing content on-set and overseeing pre-prod and post
- Experience leading and mentoring creative teams, including line management and performance development
- Able to interpret and apply social and search data to shape strategy and optimise creative
- Calm, collaborative and commercially aware – able to balance ambition with delivery
- A strong sense of what ‘great’ looks like on social – and the ability to make it happen
Why Join Us?
- We’ve been named Best Large Social Media Agency in the UK two years in a row
- You’ll be part of a growing team of sharp, curious, genuinely lovely people
- Hybrid working, regular socials, clear progression plans, and actual career growth
- 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, plus your birthday off
- Enhanced parental leave policies to support you during life’s big moments
- You’ll help shape the creative direction of one of the fastest-growing social agencies across Europe and North America
Salary range: £60,000 – £75,000 depending on experience
Associate Creative Director employer: The Social Shepherd
Contact Detail:
The Social Shepherd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Associate Creative Director
✨Tip Number 1
Stay updated on the latest trends in social media, especially on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Follow industry leaders and engage with their content to understand what resonates with audiences and how you can leverage these insights in your application.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the social media space. Attend industry events or webinars where you can meet people from agencies like ours. Building relationships can give you insider knowledge about the role and potentially lead to referrals.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your understanding of algorithms and how they impact content performance. Prepare examples of how you've successfully navigated algorithm changes in past roles, as this will demonstrate your strategic thinking and adaptability.
✨Tip Number 4
Be ready to discuss your leadership style and how you've mentored others in creative roles. Highlight specific instances where you've helped team members grow, as this aligns with our focus on coaching and developing talent within the agency.
We think you need these skills to ace Associate Creative Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience in organic social media, particularly focusing on your creative roles. Showcase specific projects where you've successfully turned insights into engaging content.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for social media and creativity. Mention how you can contribute to The Social Shepherd's mission and provide examples of how you've led teams or projects in the past.
Showcase Your Portfolio: Include a link to your portfolio that demonstrates your best work in social media. Highlight pieces that reflect your understanding of platform trends and your ability to create engaging content.
Research The Social Shepherd: Familiarise yourself with The Social Shepherd's work and values. Understanding their approach to social media will help you align your application with their expectations and show genuine interest.
How to prepare for a job interview at The Social Shepherd
✨Showcase Your Creative Portfolio
Make sure to bring a well-curated portfolio that highlights your best work in organic social. Include examples that demonstrate your understanding of platform trends and how you've successfully engaged audiences.
✨Understand the Algorithms
Familiarise yourself with how algorithms on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube work. Be prepared to discuss how you can leverage these insights to create content that not only performs but also resonates with the target audience.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
As this is a director-level role, be ready to talk about your experience in leading and mentoring creative teams. Share specific examples of how you've developed others' skills and contributed to a positive team culture.
✨Stay Ahead of Trends
Research current cultural trends and recent updates in social media. During the interview, discuss how you would incorporate these trends into your creative strategy and keep the agency at the forefront of social innovation.