Social-First Creative Director Vacancy At TBWA South Africa

TBWA South Africa, a global leader in innovative advertising solutions, is on the hunt for a passionate, hands-on, and talented Social-First Creative Director. This role offers the perfect opportunity to collaborate with an exciting team and work with BBDO Atlanta / Dobbino on groundbreaking, platform-first content creation. If you have the right creative mindset, possess a strong art direction/design background, and thrive in a fast-paced digital environment, then this role could be your next big career move.

Job Title: Social-First Creative Director (Art Director)
Location: TBWA South Africa (Remote)
Duration: 12-month contract (with possibility of extension)
Working Hours: Overlap between South African Standard Time (CAT) and Eastern Standard Time (EST) – 10:30 AM to 6:30 PM CAT
Reports To: BBDO Atlanta Dobbino ECD, with dotted line to Hunt Lascaris CCO
Contracted by: TBWA\ HL but deployed to BBDO Atlanta / Dobbino
Work Structure: Remote, flexible for working across projects and platforms
Salary: Market-related
EE Position: No

About Dobbino and TBWA South Africa

Dobbino is a unique and innovative agency, combining BBDO’s advertising expertise with cutting-edge technology and an experimental approach to creativity. The agency places high importance on collaboration, agility, and staying at the forefront of social trends and emerging technologies. Dobbino’s philosophy is to produce work that goes beyond just being eye-catching— it is platform-first and interest-led, aimed at capturing the attention of the modern, fast-moving, scroll-happy consumer.

Key Responsibilities

Lead Creative Strategy: Take charge of developing creative strategies for multi-platform campaigns that align with social-first principles.
Mentorship & Team Leadership: Lead a talented, remote-based creative team, inspiring them to produce breakthrough work while providing guidance and mentorship.
Cross-functional Collaboration: Collaborate closely with the leadership team in Atlanta, global teams, and clients to ensure alignment and consistency across campaigns.
Innovation and Trend Spotting: Keep a pulse on emerging cultural and social media trends, ensuring that Dobbino stays ahead of the curve.
Creative Excellence: Supervise every step of the creative process from ideation to execution, ensuring the final product meets high-quality standards.
Client Presentations: Present creative concepts to clients, guiding them through the decision-making process.
Hands-on Creation: Enjoy being actively involved in the creative work—whether that means shooting, designing, editing, or animating— you won’t just be overseeing the work, but actively contributing to its creation.

Requirements

To be considered for this role, you must meet the following criteria:

Experience: A minimum of 7 years in creative direction, with a strong background in digital, social, or advertising. Previous agency experience is an advantage.
Portfolio: A standout portfolio showcasing platform-first work that demonstrates your expertise in creative digital campaigns.
Self-Starter: Ability to work autonomously and remotely while remaining disciplined and adaptable to various project requirements and global time zone expectations.
Leadership: Proven experience leading creative teams, providing mentorship, and fostering a collaborative work environment.
Deep Understanding of Social Platforms: A solid grasp of social media platforms, creator culture, and emerging technologies is essential.
Creative Skills: Enjoy being hands-on with design, shooting, editing, and other creative tasks— this is a working CD role.
Exceptional Communication: Strong communication skills to present and collaborate with clients and global teams.
Strategic & Agile: Ability to think strategically, stay agile, and stay curious about what’s next in the creative industry.
Beauty or Petcare Experience: Experience working in the beauty or petcare sectors is a plus but not a requirement.

Desired Attributes

A passion for creativity and an eagerness to push boundaries.
A proactive and self-disciplined approach, especially in remote working setups.
A deep understanding of the latest social media trends, including AI and other emerging technologies.
The ability to think strategically while being nimble enough to respond quickly to new opportunities or changes in direction.

Work Structure and Location

Location: TBWA South Africa, but the role is fully remote.
Working Hours: The role requires working within South African Standard Time (CAT) with an overlap to Eastern Standard Time (EST). The core working hours are from 10:30 AM to 6:30 PM CAT.
Contract Duration: This is a 12-month contract with the potential for renewal based on performance and project requirements.
Reports to: You will report directly to the BBDO Atlanta Dobbino ECD, with a dotted line to Hunt Lascaris CCO.

Salary & Benefits

Salary: Competitive and aligned with market standards.
Duration: This is a 9 to 12-month contract position.
EE Position: No, this is not an Employment Equity (EE) position.

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How to Apply

If you are a creative visionary with a passion for social-first content, a proven track record of leading teams, and an eagerness to create groundbreaking work for global brands, we encourage you to apply.

Submit your updated CV and a portfolio that showcases your experience in digital and social-first campaigns. Highlight projects that demonstrate your leadership skills, innovative thinking, and platform-first approach.

Apply Here

This is an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic and creative team at the intersection of technology and marketing. If you’re ready to shape the future of social media creativity, we look forward to hearing from you!

Also check: How to Create a Professional Online Portfolio