Associate Creative Designer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Lead Creative for Campaigns That Change Lives

About Change Craft

Change Craft is a California-based strategic communications agency that helps public agencies, nonprofits, and mission-driven organizations solve complex public challenges through research, strategy, communications, and behavior change. We're a federally recognized minority-owned small business and a certified LGBT Business Enterprise, with a growing roster of clients including some of California's leading public health, education, and advocacy organizations.

Our creative practice sits at the center of the agency. We build campaigns that reach a diverse range of audiences and historically underserved populations across California and the US. The work matters, the audiences are real, and the standard for craft is high.

About the Role

We're looking for an Associate Creative Director to help lead our creative practice alongside our Creative Director. This is a player-coach role. You'll own a share of the creative portfolio, drive concepts from brief to production, and mentor a growing team of designers, copywriters, and content strategists.

You'll partner with our Insights & Impact team, PR, digital, and account service leads to translate research and strategy into campaign work that clients can actually launch. You'll present to clients, defend the idea, and ship the work.

What You'll Do

Creative Leadership

• Split the creative portfolio with the Creative Director and own end-to-end creative on assigned accounts
• Lead concept development for integrated campaigns spanning digital, social, video, print, and experiential
• Present creative work to clients and internal leadership with clarity and conviction
• Ensure creative output is on-brand, on-strategy, and on-deadline across every project you touch

Team Management

• Manage and mentor a team of copywriters, designers, video producers, and content strategists
• Set direction, give clear feedback, and raise the bar on craft
• Support hiring, onboarding, and career development for creative staff

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Partner with the Research and Strategy teams to translate insight into creative direction
• Work with PR, digital, and account leads to keep creative aligned with campaign goals
• Coordinate with production partners, freelancers, and vendors on execution

Craft and Quality

• Maintain a high standard of creative craft across every deliverable
• Bring an eye for typography, layout, tone, and multicultural nuance
• Use AI creative tools thoughtfully to accelerate concepting without compromising originality

Required Qualifications

• 6+ years of creative agency experience across advertising, PR, digital, or integrated marketing
• 2+ years directly managing creative talent (copywriters, designers, or hybrid teams)
• Strong portfolio demonstrating campaign-level work from concept to production
• Excellent written and verbal communication in English
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, Canva, and modern collaboration tools
• Ability to present and defend creative work to senior clients
• Comfort managing multiple accounts and deadlines in a fast-moving agency

Preferred Qualifications

• Conversational or professional Spanish
• Experience with public health, government, education, nonprofit, or social impact clients
• Experience directing video, motion, or experiential work
• Familiarity with AI-assisted creative tools (Midjourney, Runway, Firefly, ChatGPT, Claude)

Who Will Thrive in This Role

You are a strong creative who also loves managing people. You can defend an idea in a client meeting and still get hands-on with the file to sharpen a headline or refine a layout. You get satisfaction from making other creatives better and shipping work that actually launches. You care about the audiences we serve and want your craft to matter.

What Success Looks Like

• Creative work on your accounts ships on time and at a standard clients and peers admire
• Your team grows in craft, confidence, and range under your leadership
• Client relationships stay strong on the creative side of the house
• The creative practice keeps building its reputation for smart, culturally resonant, mission-aligned work

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary range: $75,000-$105,000 per year (DOE)
• Benefits include generous health plans for medical and mental health services, dental, and vision; paid time off; life and short-term disability insurance
• 18 observed company holidays and civic engagement days including an annual winter break

Location: Sacramento, CA

Status: Full-time

Travel: 10-20% for client meetings, shoots, and team convenings

Reports to: Creative Director

Post Date: July 2026 | Target Hiring Timeframe: 3-5 weeks

To Apply

Please answer the following:

1. Share a link to your portfolio and highlight two projects where you led the creative from concept through production.
2. Describe a time you managed a designer or copywriter through a difficult client feedback cycle.
3. What AI tools are part of your current creative process, and how do you keep the work original?
4. Why does mission-driven creative work interest you?

The Fine Print

Change Craft LLC is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or on the basis of disability.

Applications must be submitted through Change Craft's job posting system. Questions: careers@changecraft.com.

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