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Associate Creative Director

United States

Company Introduction

WorldStrides is the global leader in educational travel and experiential learning. The company was founded in 1967 to provide middle school travel programs to Washington, D.C. and has grown to provide a wide range of programs for more than half a million students annually to over 100 countries around the world. WorldStrides offers experiential learning programs in educational travel, performing arts, language immersion, career exploration, service-learning, study abroad, and sports. Each of these experiences helps students to see beyond the classroom and to see the world – and themselves – in new ways.

Job Description

The Associate Creative Director is the primary visual creative lead for the K-12 Individual business, responsible for developing compelling creative that brings our programs, destinations, and customer experiences to life. 

Through strong design, storytelling, and execution, this role helps families envision what is possible through travel while driving enrollment growth across our portfolio. Working alongside a Copywriter and agency partners, you will help shape a modern, digital-first creative capability across social, web, email, video, and direct mail. 

Key Responsibilities 

  • Develop creative across paid social, display, email, web, landing pages, video, and direct mail. 
  • Turn authentic student, parent, and educator experiences into compelling campaigns and customer stories. 
  • Translate business goals, audience insights, and marketing strategies into creative concepts that drive engagement and enrollment. 
  • Apply testing results, customer feedback, and performance insights to continuously improve creative effectiveness. 
  • Partner with a Copywriter, marketers, strategists, and agency partners to bring ideas to life. 
  • Manage projects from concept through delivery, whether creating the work yourself or directing external resources. 
  • Champion high standards of creative quality, craft, and consistency. 
  • Leverage AI-assisted tools and workflows to accelerate ideation, content creation, asset adaptation, and production. 

What You’ll Bring 

  • 4–6+ years of experience in design, art direction, creative development, or integrated marketing. 
  • Strong portfolio demonstrating concept-driven, multi-channel campaign work. 
  • Experience creating both brand-building and performance-oriented creative. 
  • Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and Figma. 
  • Experience developing creative across social, email, web, landing pages, display advertising, video, and direct mail. 
  • Working knowledge of video editing, motion graphics, and short-form content creation. 
  • Understanding of customer journeys, user experience principles, and digital engagement best practices. 
  • Ability to take projects from concept through execution while managing multiple priorities and deadlines. 
  • Experience leveraging AI-assisted creative tools and workflows. 
  • Direct mail creative experience and working knowledge of print production preferred. 
  • Strong collaboration, communication, and presentation skills. 

Who You Are 

  • You believe experiences can change lives—and great creative helps families envision what’s possible. 
  • You know how to turn authentic customer moments into work that inspires action. 
  • You balance creative instincts with customer insights and results. 
  • You are comfortable moving between big ideas and hands-on execution. 
  • Strong collaborator, you thrive in environments where you can create, influence, and build. 

What Success Looks Like 

  • Creative work strengthens the brand and contributes to enrollment growth. 
  • Student and family experiences are brought to life through meaningful and effective creative. 
  • Campaigns improve through testing, insights, and continuous optimization. 
  • Agency partners operate within clear creative standards and direction. 
  • AI-enabled workflows improve the speed and scalability of creative output. 

Portfolio required for consideration. 

Work Perks:

  • Comprehensive health benefits: medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, accident, critical illness, disability insurance, FSA/HSA options with employer HSA contributions, and a generous 401(k) match.
  • Generous paid time off including 11 paid company holidays, 25 PTO days the first year (prorated), 1 paid volunteer day, 4 mental health days, and bereavement
  • Professional development support, including up to $5,250 annually for tuition reimbursement and up to $1,000 for certifications annually
  • Opportunities for paid and discounted travel
  • Flexible work schedule providing on-site, remote, and hybrid office opportunities
  • Encouraged participation in a wide variety of Employee Resource Groups
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and wellness resources, including fitness centers at select locations
  • Paid parental, caregiver, and disability leave
  • Team Member Discount Program
  • Engaging, collaborative, and fun work environment

The minimum and maximum full-time annual salaries for this role are listed below, by location. Please note that this salary information is solely for candidates hired to perform work within one of these locations, and refers to the amount WorldStrides is willing to pay at the time of this posting. Salaries for part-time roles will be prorated based upon the agreed upon number of hours to be regularly worked.

Candidates hired to work in other locations will be subject to the pay range associated with that location, and the actual annualized salary amount offered to any candidate at the time of hire will be reflected solely in the candidate’s offer letter.

California Salary Range

$85,000 - $95,000 USD

 

 

The minimum and maximum full-time annual salaries for this role are listed below, by location. Please note that this salary information is solely for candidates hired to perform work within one of these locations, and refers to the amount WorldStrides is willing to pay at the time of this posting. Salaries for part-time roles will be prorated based upon the agreed upon number of hours to be regularly worked.

Candidates hired to work in other locations will be subject to the pay range associated with that location, and the actual annualized salary amount offered to any candidate at the time of hire will be reflected solely in the candidate’s offer letter.

 

 

Maryland Salary Range

$85,000 - $95,000 USD

The minimum and maximum full-time annual salaries for this role are listed below, by location. Please note that this salary information is solely for candidates hired to perform work within one of these locations, and refers to the amount WorldStrides is willing to pay at the time of this posting. Salaries for part-time roles will be prorated based upon the agreed upon number of hours to be regularly worked.

Candidates hired to work in other locations will be subject to the pay range associated with that location, and the actual annualized salary amount offered to any candidate at the time of hire will be reflected solely in the candidate’s offer letter.

New York Salary Range

$85,000 - $95,000 USD

The minimum and maximum full-time annual salaries for this role are listed below, by location. Please note that this salary information is solely for candidates hired to perform work within one of these locations, and refers to the amount WorldStrides is willing to pay at the time of this posting. Salaries for part-time roles will be prorated based upon the agreed upon number of hours to be regularly worked.

Candidates hired to work in other locations will be subject to the pay range associated with that location, and the actual annualized salary amount offered to any candidate at the time of hire will be reflected solely in the candidate’s offer letter.

Massachusetts Salary Range

$85,000 - $95,000 USD

The minimum and maximum full-time annual salaries for this role are listed below, by location. Please note that this salary information is solely for candidates hired to perform work within one of these locations, and refers to the amount WorldStrides is willing to pay at the time of this posting. Salaries for part-time roles will be prorated based upon the agreed upon number of hours to be regularly worked.

Candidates hired to work in other locations will be subject to the pay range associated with that location, and the actual annualized salary amount offered to any candidate at the time of hire will be reflected solely in the candidate’s offer letter.

Virginia Salary Range

$85,000 - $95,000 USD

 

WorldStrides, a global organization, is committed to educate and serve communities worldwide. Our commitment is fueled by the passion of our team members and partners to make experiential learning accessible, while also being socially, environmentally, and ethically responsible. Together, we accomplish this by investing in initiatives to promote inclusion, diversity, and sustainability.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, WorldStrides is committed to building a diverse workforce, supported by an environment that promotes inclusion and belonging. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

WorldStrides will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States. This is not a position for which sponsorship will be provided. Individuals with temporary visas such as E, F-1, J-1, H-1, H-2, L, B, J or TN, or who need sponsorship for work authorization now or in the future, are not eligible for hire. Select seasonal roles may consider students on J-1 or F-1 visas. 

 

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