Paid Ads Creative Strategist

The Role

This is a performance-first, paid acquisition creative role. We're looking for someone locked in and deeply versed in performance marketing. You'll be the connective tissue between paid acquisition data and creative output: researching, ideation, content creation, writing scripts, briefing creators, coordinating with editors and freelancers, and analyzing what's actually driving results (lower CPA, CAC, and higher ROAS).

The role requires a combination of strong creative ability and analytical discipline. You will develop original creative concepts and use performance data to determine why they succeed, then apply those insights to consistently produce high-performing ads. Success depends on a solid understanding of consumer psychology, fluency across major paid platforms, and a consistent focus on translating data and insight into creative that acquires customers profitably at scale.

What You'll Own

• Own creative strategy for paid acquisition — research, concept, and test ad hypotheses across our core stack: Meta, TikTok, Google/YouTube, and AppLovin.
• Research first: study our brand, audience, products, and competitor ads (ad-library teardowns) to find angles worth testing.
• Live in the ad accounts — pull up performance and analyze your creative against the metrics that matter (ROAS, CAC/CPA, CTR, CPM, hook rate, thumbstop, hold rate, conversion rate).
• Diagnose individual videos at a granular level — read hook rate, hold rate, and drop-off points to pinpoint exactly why an ad is or isn't working.
• Turn diagnosis into action: build smart variations, iterate on existing winners to make them stronger, and bank the learnings for the next round.
• Write scripts and briefs for a wide range of formats — UGC, POV, founder/testimonial, podcast-style, street interview, low-fi, statics, GIFs, and more.
• Apply consumer psychology and direct-response frameworks (hooks, angles, value props, objections, social proof, CTAs) to build messaging that converts across the funnel.
• Create content directly and do your own video editing in CapCut (or similar) when needed; partner closely with the video editors on heavier cuts.
• Design static ad concepts and mockups in Figma.
• Source, brief, and coordinate UGC creators and freelance editors to get assets produced on deadline.
• Own creative reporting — run learning recaps, document what's working, and turn winners into repeatable playbooks and systems.
• Collaborate tightly with the other creative strategist, the video editors, and media buying / analytics to keep strategy and spend aligned.
• Use AI tools to speed up research, ideation, scripting, and workflow.
• Stay ahead of platform trends, ad formats, and emerging creative patterns.
• Get into the nitty-gritty wherever it moves the needle — no task is beneath this role.
• Assist with email, landing pages, and broader marketing initiatives as they come up.

What We're Looking For

• Performance marketing expertise first and foremost — you understand paid acquisition and how creative drives it.
• 3 years in a paid ads creative strategy, performance marketing, or direct-response content role (strong candidates with ~2 years of high-volume DTC paid creative experience will be considered).
• A track record of creatives that scaled to significant ad spend at previous brands while holding target KPIs — proof your ads work at real budget, not just in theory.
• A strong portfolio of paid social ads you've worked on, ideally with performance context (spend, ROAS, CPA — what scaled and what didn't).
• Genuinely comfortable in ad platforms — you can view and analyze ad performance and make decisions off the metrics that matter.
• Able to break down a single video's performance — hook rate, hold rate, drop-off points — explain why it's winning or losing, and make variations that improve on it.
• DTC ecommerce background; you've worked on brands that sell physical products online.
• Strongly preferred: experience in a durable goods category — apparel, accessories, eyewear, drinkware, and similar non-consumable products (think brands like True Classic, Ridge, or Simple Modern). Exceptional candidates from consumable or personal care backgrounds will still be considered.
• Strong copywriting is essential — this is core to the role. You can write direct-response hooks, scripts, and ad copy that sell, grounded in consumer psychology.
• Fluent in paid creative best practices across our core stack — Meta, TikTok, Google/YouTube, and AppLovin — including framing, pacing, structure, and storytelling.
• A strong team player who collaborates well with other creative strategists and with video editors.
• Hands-on — you can do light-to-medium video editing yourself in CapCut or similar and create content yourself.
• Proficient in Figma for static ad creation and creative mockups.
• Experience managing or coordinating creators and freelancers to hit deadlines.
• Active on social media and genuinely plugged into what's performing.

Bonus Points

• Experience with Northbeam (or similar attribution / creative analytics tools like Triple Whale or Motion) is a big plus.
• Familiarity with direct-response copy frameworks (AIDA, PASDA, JTBD) and structured creative testing.
• Experience with organic social media and an instinct for what's performing organically.
• Comfortable on camera for occasional demos or reference content.
• Experience with landing pages and CRO, plus other performance marketing levers beyond creative.
• Experience with ad platforms beyond our core stack — Connected TV (CTV), native (Taboola, Outbrain), Pinterest, Snapchat, Reddit, X/Twitter, or anything else you can bring to the table.
• Working knowledge of email, funnels, and broader performance marketing fundamentals.
• Skilled with additional tools — Premiere for heavier edits, Photoshop or Canva for design.

You're a Fit If

• You're wildly creative but lead with performance — you think in metrics, hooks, and scroll-stoppers, not brand guidelines.
• You can read an ad report and a creative test with equal confidence, and you have strong opinions on what makes a winning angle.
• You're relentless about iteration — you learn from every test and make the next one better.
• You're a true team player who makes the strategists and editors around you better.
• You're not afraid to get down and dirty with the nitty-gritty — editing, shooting, briefing, whatever it takes.
• You move fast, take ownership, and don't need a lot of hand-holding.
• You've worked in scrappy, high-output DTC environments and liked it.