Freelance Development Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

POSITION SUMMARY

The Associate Creative Director of Copy will be the strategic authority on brand voice, messaging, and storytelling across a multi-brand portfolio. This leader will drive the development of compelling, insight-driven content that strengthens brand differentiation, deepens customer engagement, and delivers measurable business impact. Partnering closely with senior leadership and cross-functional teams, this role will lead the creation of integrated, multi-channel campaigns and oversee the full content ecosystem—from brand campaigns to product storytelling and customer lifecycle communications. Additionally, this role will ensure all messaging is consistent, culturally relevant, and optimized for performance across platforms. In addition to leading and mentoring a team of copywriters, this role will establish best-in-class editorial standards, drive operational excellence, and leverage data, customer insights, and emerging trends to continuously elevate creative output and effectiveness.

CORE FUNCTIONS

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a team of in-house and freelance copywriters, fostering a high-performance, collaborative, and innovative culture.
• Conduct performance reviews, provide ongoing coaching, and support career development and succession planning.
• Oversee resource allocation, workload prioritization, and capacity planning to ensure efficient execution across initiatives.

Creative Strategy & Campaign Development

• Define and execute messaging strategies that support brand positioning, campaign objectives, and business goals.
• Conceptualize and deliver integrated marketing campaigns across print, digital, social, email, and emerging channels.
• Develop and present campaign concepts, scripts, and storytelling frameworks to senior leadership.
• Translate strategic vision into compelling, customer-centric creative that drives engagement and conversion.

Brand Voice & Editorial Governance

• Serve as the steward of brand voice, tone, and messaging across a multi-brand portfolio.
• Establish and maintain editorial guidelines, copy standards, and governance processes to ensure consistency and quality.
• Shape and evolve brand narratives, messaging frameworks, and storytelling architecture across all touchpoints.
• Ensure all content reflects inclusive, accessible, and culturally relevant language.

Customer & Content Strategy

• Develop and apply audience insights, personas, and customer journey mapping to inform messaging strategies.
• Oversee content strategy across the full customer lifecycle—awareness, consideration, conversion, and retention.
• Ensure alignment and consistency across paid, owned, and earned channels.

Product & Commerce Copy Leadership

• Define product storytelling frameworks, naming conventions, and merchandising narratives.
• Partner with eCommerce and merchandising teams to optimize product detail pages (PDPs) and drive conversion.
• Ensure product messaging aligns with brand positioning while supporting revenue goals.

Digital, Social & Innovation Leadership

• Champion a “made-for-social” mindset, guiding platform-specific storytelling across paid and organic channels.
• Stay ahead of social, digital, and cultural trends to keep content relevant and engaging.
• Drive innovation in content formats, including video, interactive content, AI-assisted copy, and personalization strategies.
• Test and implement new channels, tools, and creative approaches to enhance performance.

Data-Driven Performance & Optimization

• Partner with performance marketing and analytics teams to define KPIs and measure content effectiveness.
• Use data, testing, and insights to continuously optimize messaging and improve campaign outcomes.
• Report on content performance and provide actionable recommendations to leadership.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Influence

• Collaborate closely with design, production, digital, and marketing teams to deliver cohesive, integrated creative.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to senior leadership on messaging, brand positioning, and campaign direction.
• Align cross-functional stakeholders around creative vision, priorities, and execution plans.

Agency & External Partner Management

• Lead relationships with external agencies and creative partners.
• Provide clear direction, constructive feedback, and oversight to ensure alignment with brand standards and business objectives.

Operational Excellence & Compliance

• Establish scalable workflows, briefing processes, and content production frameworks to improve efficiency and quality.
• Ensure all content adheres to brand, legal, and regulatory compliance standards.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, English, communications, journalism, or a related field is required. Master’s degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in copywriting, content strategy, or creative marketing, with a strong portfolio of integrated campaign work
• 3–5+ years of leadership experience managing, mentoring, and developing creative teams required.
• Proven experience leading multi-channel campaigns across digital, social, email, and print.
• Experience working within or across multiple brands or business units strongly preferred.
• Background in retail, eCommerce, consumer goods, or agency environment preferred.
• Demonstrated success partnering with senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Experience with content personalization and customer journey optimization.
• Experience building scalable processes and content workflows.

Required Licenses

None.

Skills, Abilities, and Knowledge

• Exceptional storytelling and conceptual thinking skills.
• Ability to translate business objectives into compelling, customer-centric messaging.
• Strong understanding of brand strategy, positioning, and voice development.
• Highly effective people leader with strong coaching and team development capabilities.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills, with experience influencing senior stakeholders.
• Ability to provide clear, actionable creative direction and feedback.
• Deep knowledge of digital marketing channels, including social media, email, web, and performance marketing.
• Ability to interpret performance metrics and translate insights into actionable improvements.
• Familiarity with A/B testing, SEO principles, and conversion optimization strategies.
• Strong project management and prioritization skills in a fast-paced environment.
• Highly collaborative with the ability to work effectively across creative and business teams.
• Adaptable, solution-oriented mindset with a focus on continuous improvement.

Travel

Occasional travel may be required.

COMPETENCIES

• Action Oriented: Readily takes action on challenges, without unnecessary planning; Identifies and seizes new opportunities; Displays a can-do attitude in good and bad times. Steps up to handle tough issues.
• Being Resilient: Is confident under pressure; Handles and manages crises effectively. Maintains a positive attitude despite adversity. Bounces back from setbacks; Grows from hardships and negative experiences.
• Brand & Business Acumen: Knows the purpose of each function and how they play a role linked to the organization’s strategy; Knows key components of how businesses work and how organizations make money; Keeps up with current brand and portfolio product/services knowledge along with possible future trends in the organization and external competition; Uses knowledge of business drivers and how strategies and tactics play out in the market to guide actions.
• Cross Functional Collaboration: Works cooperatively with others across the organization to achieve shared objectives; Represents own interests while being fair to others and their areas; Partners with others to get work done; Credits others for their contributions and accomplishments; Gains support and trust of others; practices active and attentive listening.
• Manages Ambiguity: Can effectively cope with change; can shift gears comfortably; can decide and act without having the total picture; isn’t upset when things are up in the air; doesn’t have to finish things before moving on; can comfortably handle risk and uncertainty.
• Situational Adaptability: Picks up on situational cues and adjusts in the moment. Readily adapts personal, interpersonal, and leadership behavior; Understands that different situations may call for different approaches; Can act differently depending on the circumstances.
• Thought Leadership: Leverages their deep knowledge on specific areas of the business to generate alternative views, innovative ideas and insightful points to discussions that influence and inspire others; Effectively contributes to strategic discussions; Leads others in the thinking around a given topic along with influencing others to think differently about a specific topic; Has authentic curiosity and is open to listening to others and learning more; Is sought out by others in the company and/or industry for insights and advice.

SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Manager+: Plans, organizes, evaluates, and directs the employees within the department function. Has direct reports. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

This position is subject to Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work involved sitting most of the time. Walking and standing are required only occasionally.

Physical Activities

This position is subject to the following physical activities: talking, hearing, standing, walking, reaching, and the use of hands to handle or feel.

Visual Acuity

The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; expansive reading; visual inspection involving small defects, small parts and/or operation of machines (including inspection); using measurement devices; and/or assembly of fabrication of parts at distances close to the eyes.

Working Conditions

This position operates in a professional hybrid office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment. 

Perks That Go the Extra Mile :
At RealTruck, we take care of our people—because they drive our success. Enjoy great benefits like medical, dental, and vision coverage, company-paid life insurance and disability, and a 401(k) with company match (eligible the first of the month after you start). Need balance? We’ve got wellbeing days and parental leave. Want to grow? Take advantage of educational reimbursement. Plus, earn referral bonuses and score exclusive employee discounts on RealTruck products. Great benefits. Great people. Even better careers.

RealTruck is the premier manufacturer and digital destination of accessories for truck, Jeep®, Bronco® and off-road enthusiasts around the world. Globally headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, RealTruck’s 6,000+ associates operate from 35+ facilities across four continents. RealTruck’s industry leading product portfolio, which includes the Husky Liners total vehicle protection brand, boasts over 1,000 patents and pending applications. The company’s omni-channel retail approach delivers a seamless consumer experience online at RealTruck.com, as well as through its 12,000+ dealer network and automotive (OEM) partnerships.