Role
We're hiring an Associate VP or VP of Creative Strategy for the 2026 election cycle. This is a cycle-dedicated role running through December 2026. You'll own creative strategy across paid media programs for political, advocacy, and public affairs clients, ensuring every piece of creative is built for performance and optimized for the platform where it runs. You'll be the connective tissue between media plans and final deliverables, shaping what gets made, how it gets made, and why it will work. As our creative practice grows, you'll help continue to define the processes and standards that make Assemble's creative output best in class.
This is a fast-paced, high-volume role. You'll develop creative strategies rooted in audience insights, advertising performance, and platform best practices, translate media plans into detailed creative deliverable matrices, and provide art direction and editorial guidance that keeps production moving. You need to be someone who thrives under pressure, can manage multiple campaigns simultaneously without dropping a beat, and brings strong opinions about what works in paid media creative across social, CTV, streaming audio, and programmatic channels.
Responsibilities
Creative Strategy
Develop platform-specific creative strategies for paid media campaigns across social, CTV, streaming audio, OOH, and programmatic channels. Define creative deliverable requirements including video lengths, aspect ratios, file specifications, and platform-native formatting for every campaign. Translate media plans into detailed creative matrices that map deliverables to audiences, channels, and flight dates. Lead creative concepting for advocacy, issue, and electoral campaigns, grounding recommendations in audience research and performance data. Provide video editing recommendations and feedback throughout production, ensuring final cuts are paced, formatted, and optimized for each placement. Own social-first creative strategy, bringing deep knowledge of what performs across platforms.
Client Service and Collaboration
Serve as the primary creative strategy contact for major client accounts. Present creative strategies and concepts to clients with clarity and conviction, articulating the rationale behind format choices, messaging hierarchy, and platform-specific decisions. Respond to client feedback quickly and thoughtfully, incorporating edits without sacrificing strategic integrity or production timelines. Partner closely with media planners and buyers to ensure creative is aligned to targeting, sequencing, and optimization goals. Collaborate with production partners, editors, and designers to manage deliverable pipelines and maintain quality standards.
Process and Production Management
Build and maintain creative deliverable templates, specification guides, and production timelines that scale across a growing client roster. Manage competing deadlines across multiple campaigns, triaging priorities and keeping production on track even during peak cycle moments. Establish quality control workflows for reviewing creative assets before delivery to media buyers or clients. Stay current on platform creative specs, algorithm changes, and emerging ad formats, and share updates with the broader team.
New Business
Contribute creative strategy expertise to RFP responses and new business pitches. Develop creative case studies, spec work, and portfolio materials that showcase Assemble's capabilities.
Qualifications
Required
5+ years of experience in creative strategy, creative direction, or a related role with a focus on paid media creative for political, advocacy, or public affairs campaigns.
Deep understanding of social-first creative principles, including platform-native formats, trending styles, and performance optimization across social media platforms.
Strong command of video specifications including aspect ratios, video lengths, file formats, and deliverable requirements across digital, CTV, and social platforms.
Ability to provide clear, actionable video editing feedback and art direction to editors and production teams.
Proven ability to track and manage high volumes of creative output across multiple simultaneous campaigns without sacrificing quality or missing deadlines.
Experience developing creative deliverable matrices and specification documents in Google Sheets.
Comfort creating and presenting creative strategy decks in Google Slides with strong visual organization and brand consistency.
Clear written and verbal communication skills with the ability to sell a creative vision to clients and internal stakeholders.
Preferred
Experience with political, public affairs, and advocacy campaigns.
Familiarity with creative testing frameworks for creative optimization in paid media.
Experience with Spanish-language or multicultural creative development.
Understanding of ad compliance requirements including political disclaimers and approval workflows.
Hands-on experience writing content and scripts.
Compensation
Base Salary Range: $95,000 to $130,000, commensurate with experience and title level. Benefits: Assemble offers a wide range of progressive benefits, including 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance; 401(k) program with an employer match; flexible vacation and time off policy; monthly phone reimbursement; unlimited sick time; 12 weeks of paid parental leave; health and wellness reimbursement; Flexible Spending Account (FSA); and childcare stipend for work travel.
Location
Hybrid role in Washington D.C. or New York City. Remote available for the right candidate.