Associate Creative Strategist

Company Description

The Ethereal Agency is a boutique, AI-first marketing and PR agency in Toronto, specializing in restaurants, franchises, and lifestyle brands. We don't just create content, we build brands that perform. Across 50+ brands, 41M+ views, and 3,500+ creators, we've helped businesses turn attention into real, measurable growth through social media, content production, influencer campaigns, brand identity, and paid advertising.

We run a modern, systems-led operation. Campaigns move through structured planning, approval, and reporting stages, performance data informs what we make next, and AI-assisted workflows support research, ideation, and documentation across the agency. If you value strong systems as much as strong ideas, you'll feel at home here.

About the Role

We're looking for a highly organized, proactive, and detail-oriented Associate Creative Strategist to own the creative aesthetic and ideation across our client projects.

You will be the checkpoint between an idea and a finished asset. You'll bring concepts to the table, set the visual direction for each brand, and give the team a clear creative approval before anything reaches the client. You'll work closely with our Social Media Manager, Performance Manager, Video Editor and Designer, acting as the link between creative, production, and performance so the pipeline keeps moving.

This role is ideal for someone who wants to learn how an agency actually operates, from content planning and client communication to campaign execution. As you settle in, you'll take on broader ownership of accounts, including holding the day-to-day when the wider team is on shoot, travelling, or off the desk.

Work Schedule

• Monday to Friday, aligned with EST hours

• Remote / hybrid, with on-site presence for shoots roughly once or twice a month

• Flexible hours (Internship / Part-Time → Full-Time transition based on performance)

**Key Responsibilities

Creative Direction & Ideation**

• Lead concept development for social content, campaigns, shoots and events across multiple client accounts

• Define and uphold the visual language for each brand across tone, composition, typography, and finish

• Develop mood boards, shot lists, and reference decks precise enough to execute on the first round

• Identify hooks, angles, and formats worth testing, informed by platform and competitor research

Creative Approval & Quality Control

• Approve designs, reels, and ad creatives against brief, brand, and platform standards before they move forward

• Direct revision rounds with clear, actionable feedback to the design and video team

• Partner with the Performance Manager to keep paid creative on-brand and converting

Coordination & Account Support

• Own content calendars, messaging, and publishing schedules across accounts

• Set creative priorities across the team and hold delivery timelines

• Lead shoot planning and coordinate vendors, creators, and event logistics

• Represent the agency in client conversations and convert discussions into clear scopes, timelines, and next steps

• Assume account ownership and keep delivery on track when key team members are unavailable

Operations & Workflow

• Maintain accurate creative status and approval records across our project management tools

• Safeguard the integrity of the asset library so work is traceable and reusable

• Contribute to the agency's SOPs, checklists, and templates, and hold the team to them

• Apply AI-assisted workflows to accelerate research, briefs, and documentation without diluting the work

Requirements

• A strong visual eye and a portfolio that shows it (social content, branding, editorial, video, anything creative)

• Education or experience in design, marketing, communications, film, PR, or a related field

• Comfortable giving and receiving creative feedback, and able to explain why something works or doesn't

• Highly organized: you can carry several accounts, deadlines, and revision rounds without dropping threads

• Clear written and verbal communication, including with clients

• Strong understanding of Instagram, TikTok, and short-form content

Bonus Skills

• Canva / Adobe basics (Photoshop, Premiere, etc.) or CapCut

• Familiarity with scheduling and project management tools such as Metricool, Trello, or Notion

• Comfort applying AI-assisted tools in day-to-day work

• Photography or on-set production experience

• Interest in hospitality, lifestyle, or restaurant brands

What You'll Learn

• Agency workflows, systems, and operating standards

• Client communication and account management

• Creative direction across organic and paid channels

• Campaign, shoot, and event coordination

• How brands grow on social media

Growth Opportunity

This role is built as an on-ramp. You'll start supporting creative direction and coordination, and as you build a track record, the path opens toward:

• Full-Time Associate Creative Strategist

• Creative Strategist or Account Manager

Compensation & Benefits

• Compensation based on experience and role type (internship stipend / hourly)

• Flexible remote work environment

• Direct mentorship from the founders and senior team

• Exposure to a wide range of clients and campaigns

• Opportunity to grow within a scaling agency

What We're Looking For

We're not looking for someone who just completes tasks — we're looking for someone who takes ownership, stays organized, and genuinely wants to learn how great work gets done. If you're proactive, detail-oriented, and excited to be part of a fast-paced creative environment, we'd love to hear from you