Kick

Position Summary

At Kick, the Associate Creative Director is both a maker and a leader — a creative force who sets the bar for excellence, inspires the team to think bigger, and turns smart strategy into work that moves people and brands forward. This position provides best practice leadership in copywriting for the agency, which includes developing compelling, brand-centric narratives across all channels, seamlessly integrating copy with design to maintain a consistent and impactful brand voice. With a strong understanding of B2B and B2C marketing, this role creates integrated campaigns that resonate across multiple touchpoints. This position requires an ability to navigate challenges with professionalism to work cross‑functionally across teams, upholding brand standards and fostering a culture of creativity and innovation. This role reports to the Executive Creative Director and operates as a strategic partner to guide concepting and creative development.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities Creative Leadership & Vision

• Lead the creative development of brand, campaign, and experience work — setting a high creative standard rooted in concept, craft, and cultural relevance.
• Guide designers, writers, and art directors through the creative process, from blue‑sky ideation to polished execution.
• Ensure every piece of work embodies Kick’s creative ethos: strategically grounded, emotionally resonant, and beautifully made.
• Foster an environment of inspiration, where experimentation and bold thinking are encouraged and rewarded.

Partnership with the Executive Creative Director

• Act as a trusted partner to the ECD — translating vision into action, helping steer the creative department, and elevating work.
• Manage up with foresight and clarity: communicate progress, anticipate needs, and surface opportunities for the ECD’s attention.
• Collaborate on high‑stakes projects, pitches, and presentations, contributing both conceptual thinking and craft finesse.
• Represent the ECD and the broader creative vision in reviews and client conversations when needed.

Concept Development & Strategic Creativity

• Turn insights into big, brave ideas — work that’s as smart as it is striking.
• Lead ideation sessions that push the boundaries of storytelling across branding, digital, experiential, and campaign platforms.
• Partner with Strategy and Account teams to ensure every concept is tightly aligned with brand objectives while delivering creative surprise and delight.
• Champion originality and push for ideas that challenge conventions and stand out in the marketplace.

Mentorship & Team Development

• Coach and inspire the team to do their best work — nurturing talent, developing voices, and celebrating diverse perspectives.
• Model creative excellence and professionalism, leading by example in both process and output.
• Cultivate a collaborative, inclusive team culture that values curiosity, craft, and accountability.
• Manage direct reports, as may be assigned.

Collaboration Across Disciplines

• Work fluidly with Strategy, Account, and Production to deliver integrated, cohesive creative solutions.
• Translate creative ambition into clear deliverables, managing timelines and priorities without compromising the integrity of the idea.
• Collaborate with leadership to evolve Kick’s creative methodologies and raise the overall quality of output across the agency.

Client Partnership & Presentation

• Present creative work with confidence and clarity, telling the story behind the idea in a way that inspires trust and excitement.
• Build meaningful relationships with clients, earning their confidence as a strategic and creative partner.
• Advocate for brave, insightful ideas that strengthen both the client’s brand and Kick’s reputation for world‑class work.

Process & Operational Excellence

• Support the ECD and leadership team in refining creative processes, helping to streamline communication and collaboration across departments.
• Balance creative direction with hands‑on making — ensuring each project reflects both vision and precision.
• Manage multiple projects, ensuring on‑time and on‑budget delivery, without losing sight of the details that make work extraordinary.
• Oversee project files, assets, and outputs through to completion.

Industry Insight & Creative Curiosity

• Stay ahead of creative, cultural, and technological trends — bringing fresh thinking and inspiration into the work.
• Contribute to Kick’s creative culture through thought leadership, mentorship, and participation in industry conversations.
• Constantly push for what’s next: new ideas, new technologies, new forms of storytelling that keep Kick at the forefront of the industry.

Copywriting

• Develop creative, thought‑provoking copy that aligns with brand objectives and maintains a consistent voice across multiple touchpoints, including campaigns, social content, video scripts, blog posts, and more.
• Take complex, technical and/or regulatory concepts and simplify for a general audience in a written/visual format.
• Accurately convey findings and data for the intended audience.
• Ensure all content aligns with the brand’s positioning and resonates with key target audiences.
• Conduct research and interview subject‑matter experts to inform and elevate storytelling.

Other responsibilities, as may be assigned

Position Requirements, Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Advertising, Journalism, or related field; or equivalent work experience
• 8-12+ years of copywriting experience within an agency or in‑house creative environment
• Experience leading or mentoring creative team members
• A strong portfolio showcasing conceptual campaign work and a breadth of writing expertise, from compelling headlines to engaging long‑form copy
• Experience managing creative campaigns and cross‑functional projects; demonstrated collaboration and communication skills to work effectively across teams
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and creatively, translating insights into compelling narratives
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced and collaborative environment
• A proactive, problem‑solving mindset and a passion for storytelling
• Strong organizational and time‑management abilities to juggle multiple projects and priorities
• Proven ability to partner with clients and team members to achieve intended results
• Proficiency with the Microsoft Suite, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint

Preferred

• The ideal candidate will bring experience copywriting with regulatory, healthcare, CPG and/or pet and animal health industry
• Experience contributing to or leading brand strategy, including brand positioning, messaging frameworks, audience insights, and creative platform development
• Understanding AP style in order to create long‑form content for use in blogs and websites
• Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suites
• Familiarity with medical legal review (MLR) requirements and processes

Working Conditions

This is a hybrid position, working primarily at the Kick Office in Northeast Minneapolis. Dependent on scheduling needs for this role, this position may work from a remote location two days per week. Occasional travel for client meetings may be required.

Compensation

Compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to relevant skills, experience, and qualifications. In addition to the base salary, we offer a comprehensive benefits package, including healthcare, 401K, agency perks, and the flexibility of a hybrid work environment. Kick is an equal opportunity employer.

About Kick

Kick is a Minneapolis‑based branding and design agency specializing in helping organizations stand out and make an impact through strategic brand development, creative storytelling, and innovative design solutions. With a multidisciplinary team, Kick partners with clients across industries to craft distinctive brand identities, engaging campaigns, and cohesive digital experiences that drive results. The agency is known for its collaborative approach, combining strategic insight with bold creativity to deliver work that is both effective and memorable. By focusing on clarity, originality, and measurable outcomes, Kick empowers brands to connect with the audiences and achieve their business goals. For more information, visit www.kickmpls.com.