Dreaming big is in our DNA. It’s who we are as a company. It’s our culture. It’s our heritage. And more than ever, it’s our future. A future where we’re always looking forward. Always serving up new ways to meet life’s moments. A future where we keep dreaming bigger. We look for people with passion, talent, and curiosity, and provide them with the teammates, resources and opportunities to unleash their full potential. The power we create together – when we combine your strengths with ours – is unstoppable. Are you ready to join a team that dreams as big as you do?

The key purpose of this role is to be responsible for leading the development of high-impact, strategically driven creative work that reflects the agency’s creative ambition, and contemporary voice. This role goes beyond execution, owning ideas from concept to delivery, shaping creative direction, and elevating the standard of copy across our brands. The ACD is expected to think conceptually at the campaign level, translate strategy into powerful digital-first ideas, and ensure creative is consistently best-in-class. As a creative leader, you set the tone for quality, guide junior talent, and collaborate closely with the Creative Director, strategy, and production to deliver work that is both award-worthy, and commercially effective.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Own the quality and consistency of creative across multiple platforms and touchpoints.
Set and uphold high standards, ensuring work aligns with brand voice, creative strategy, and channel requirements.
Push creative boundaries while maintaining strategic and brand integrity.
Lead and drive ideation sessions
Originate, develop, and refine big campaign ideas, not just executions.
Evaluate, filter, and elevate ideas from junior team members.
Partner with Creatives and other departments to ensure strong, integrated creative solutions.
Demonstrate a deep understanding of client strategy, brand tone, and audience personas.
Apply digital-first and ecosystem thinking to creative concepts and executions.
Translate strategic insights into compelling, culturally relevant creative work.
Mentor and develop junior and senior creatives through ongoing guidance and feedback.
Lead by example in creative thinking, professionalism, and accountability.
Support Creative Directors in building a strong, motivated, and high-performing copy team.
Ensure accurate time logging and adherence to agency processes.
Take responsibility for backing up and safeguarding creative work.
Collaborate with production and account teams to ensure deadlines and quality standards are met.
Perform additional duties as required to support the broader creative and business objectives.

Qualifications & Experience:

Degree or diploma in Copywriting or Art Direction, Marketing, Advertising, Communications, or a related field.
Minimum of 8–10 years’ experience in an agency environment, with demonstrated progression into a senior creative role.
Proven experience leading creative on integrated, multi-platform campaigns.
Strong portfolio showcasing conceptual thinking, copy / craft excellence, and campaign-level ideas.
Solid understanding of digital platforms, content ecosystems, and contemporary creative formats.
Experience working across multiple brands and industries.
Award recognition (local or international) is advantageous but not essential.
Strong presentation and storytelling skills, with the ability to sell ideas confidently to internal teams and clients.
Excellent collaboration skills and the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams.

Additional information:

Band: VII

SAB/AbInBev is an equal opportunity employer, and all appointments will be made in line with SAB/ABInBev employment equity plan and talent requirements. The advert has minimum requirements listed. Management reserves the right to use additional/ relevant information as criteria for short-listing.

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Associate Creative Director