Associate Art Director

Associate Art Director – Boston

Hybrid (3 days in-office)

Rival is a marketing consultancy for challengers—and we’re looking for an up-n-coming Associate Art Director to join our team.

Please note: We’re ONLY looking at Associate Art Director candidates with less than five years experience. A portfolio link (spec or produced) featuring cohesive, conceptual advertising campaign work will be required for consideration. We’re not expecting to see produced Super Bowl spots, of course. But we want IDEAS. 

What You’ll Do

• Work on conceptual campaigns in TV, online video, social, OOH, radio, etc. And shepherd that work through the approval and production process. 
• You’ll leverage AI tools in your everyday workflow and work as part of an integrated, international team. 
• Support the Rival brand and new business efforts with art direction help on decks and Rival internal branding/media efforts
• BONUS POINTS for indications of a strong design sense reflected in your work, as we’d love you to help us build a creative culture that reflects a thoughtful, elevated aesthetic.

Why Rival, Why Now

• A consultancy built differently. We’re four years in, growing fast, and proving there’s a premium alternative to yesteryear’s holding company incumbents.
• Global perspective. Work with ambitious clients across North America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
• Small team, big impact. With boutique sizing, you’ll be firmly in the fray and expected to produce —no hiding in the back row.
• Direct influence. Work alongside Rival’s founders and Creative/Design directors, shaping the consultancy’s future as much as our clients’.

We hire people who think and act like challengers.

• Candidates who’ll do well in our culture are open-minded and creatively curious, have a great motor, bring positive energy, thrive as part of a team, and legitimately care about the work they make. 

Premium Compensation, Real Upside

We believe in rewarding excellence with premium upside, not average paychecks.

• Base Salary: Competitive within consultancy/agency benchmarks.
• Profit Share: Twice-yearly distributions (after year one), tied to performance.
• Employee Liquidity Plan (“shadow stock”): Share in Rival’s long-term success—without the friction of traditional options.

About Rival

Rival is a marketing consultancy built for challengers.
Incumbent best practices deliver average results—we don’t do average. We apply challenger brand thinking to help CMOs achieve outsized impact with smarter, leaner, bolder marketing strategies.

Our Hiring Philosophy

We’re building a consultancy that’s both premium and progressive—a home for the world’s best marketing talent and a model for diversity in our industry.

Our commitments:

• Clarity and fairness in every process
• Respect for candidates’ time (including paid tasks)
• Speed and transparency in communication with feedback opportunities throughout

 

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

We know diverse perspectives drive better strategies. Rival is committed to building a consultancy where individuality fuels innovation. Authenticity isn’t an initiative—it’s a requirement.

BENEFITS

• Health and Dental are covered 50% for Rival employees
• 401K Plan 
• 100% of Elective Deferral Contributions which are not over 3% of pay plus 50% of Elective Deferral Contributions which are over 3% but are not over 5% of Pay
• Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Program for MA employees
• 29-days vacation days for US employees + public holidays
• 22 discretionary vacation days
• 7 company ‘recharge days’ during the year - these are mandatory days that everyone takes off to relax and focus on family, friends and ourselves
• Group Life Insurance + Income Protection
• Pension scheme from day one
• All the tech + tools to do your best work, wherever you are
• Quarterly “Team Weeks” for collaboration, development, and global exposure
• All-expenses-paid Rival Retreats in amazing locations (most recent was May 2025 at a castle in Scotland)
• Year-round Rival “surprise & delight” experiences