Associate Creative Director — The Grist, Boston, MA

Company Description: We are a Boston-based advertising agency built on grit, resourcefulness, and an entrepreneurial spirit of resilience and determination. Our team combines strategic thinking, design expertise, and creativity to help reshape and elevate the trajectory of brands. We prioritize thoughtful, disciplined work that engages both body and mind to deliver impactful results for clients. The environment is collaborative, fast-paced, and focused on solving complex brand challenges through inventive, smart ideas.

Job Description: We’re looking for an ACD with a copywriting background and a conceptual thinker who brings great ideas, a collaborative spirit, and the relentless drive to make the work better.

This is a hands-on creative role for someone who is equal parts thinker and maker. You can see the big picture, find the unexpected angle, and develop ideas that work across all channels. From scripts to social posts, you’re as skilled at shaping the concept behind an integrated campaign as you are executing the pieces that bring the idea to life.

You should be able to thrive in multiple settings: when taking the lead, working independently, or collaborating with others. We’re looking for someone who is obsessed over the details and dedicated to pushing the work and the agency forward.

What you’ll do:

• Develop original, strategically grounded concepts and copy that bring client brands to life in fresh, memorable, and relevant ways.

• Lead and contribute to the development of big ideas, creative platforms, and integrated campaigns across channels.

• Write across a wide range of formats, including TV and video scripts, social content, digital and traditional advertising, headlines, websites, brand books, campaign platforms, presentations, and short- to medium-form marketing content.

• Establish and adapt to distinct brand voices, tones, and personalities across a diverse roster of clients.

• Partner closely with Creative Directors, Art Directors, Designers, Strategists, Account teams, and Producers from initial brief through final execution.

• Present creative concepts and work to clients and internal teams with confidence, clearly articulating and defending the thinking behind the work.

• Take an active role in production, including pre-production, shoots, recording sessions, post-production, and other creative execution as needed.

• Review, edit, and refine copy to ensure accuracy, consistency, clarity, and creative excellence.

• Provide thoughtful creative direction and feedback to other writers and creatives, helping elevate both the work and the people making it.

• Contribute to new business pitches, agency initiatives, and opportunities to grow existing client relationships.

• Manage multiple projects of varying sizes and stages, moving comfortably between high-level concept development and hands-on execution.

• Work independently, take ownership of assignments, and consistently deliver excellent work within deadlines, budgets, and production realities.

• Stay curious about culture, advertising, technology, media, and emerging creative tools—and bring that curiosity back into the work.

Skills we’re looking for:

• 7+ years of copywriting and conceptual creative experience

• Previous experience in a small-mid sized agency

• A strong portfolio demonstrating conceptual thinking, excellent writing, and integrated campaign work across a range of channels.

• Exceptional command of language, storytelling, tone, grammar, and the craft of writing.

• The ability to move comfortably between big-picture concepting and meticulous execution.

• A collaborative, low-ego approach and a genuine desire to make the work better, regardless of where the idea comes from.

• Strong presentation skills and experience presenting and discussing creative work directly with clients.

• Experience guiding, mentoring, or providing creative direction to other writers and creatives.

• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to prioritize and manage multiple assignments without sacrificing quality.

• Experience with video, broadcast, and/or content production, including experience working on set.

• Experience working with insurance brands,food & beverage brands, and DRTV is a plus.

• Fluency with current AI-assisted creative tools and an understanding of how to use them thoughtfully and responsibly for ideation, exploration, research, and creative development.

• A bachelor’s degree in advertising, English, journalism, marketing, communications, or a related discipline is preferred, but equivalent professional experience and an exceptional portfolio matter more to us.