--- title: 'Associate Creative Director - Design at MERGE' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/associate-creative-director-design-merge-boston-fanc5d8na9n2' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-09' --- # Associate Creative Director - Design at MERGE - **Company:** MERGE - **Location:** Boston, MA - **Posted:** 2026-09-02 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-09 - **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/mergeworld/jobs/8171268 ## Job description At MERGE, we are Built Different. We are a marketing and technology agency purpose-built for the intersection of health and wellness—where human impact matters most. By weaving storytelling through technology, we move beyond traditional engagement to Whole Human Marketing. This approach recognizes that humans are multidimensional and complex, and uses AI to ensure every brand interaction feels natural, contextual, and relevant. This commitment to human-first innovation is what brings us together and propels us forward. We are united by our North Star: to unite people and brands to empower healthier, happier lives. Emerge to the Top of Your Career At MERGE, we strive to create a superior work experience where talented and ambitious people grow. An experience that encourages people to think higher and feel deeper. An experience where people engage their minds and hearts to do the best work of their careers. Associate Creative Director (Design) As Associate Creative Director (Design), you will shape the digital and physical visual narrative for a fast-paced retail account [major Quick-Service Restaurant (QSR) account]. You are a digitally forward design lead—equally comfortable setting high-level creative vision, implementing and guiding design systems, and  hands-on execution across dynamic digital touchpoints, retail environments, and integrated campaigns. ## What You’ll Do - As a core member of the team, you’ll craft visually compelling designs, ensuring a consistent and premium presence across diverse channels - Produce high-quality assets across digital and animated menu boards, packaging, in-restaurant signage, mobile apps, and web, ensuring pixel-perfect accuracy and timely delivery within budget constraints. - Strategically apply design systems across various touchpoints to ensure cohesive and unified execution. - Engage in all facets of design, from quick comping and creating design systems to type treatments, consistently delivering polished design solutions - Work seamlessly with client-side digital and development teams to create best-in-class UX/UI experiences - Articulate the underlying strategy behind design projects, emphasizing the rationale ("why") over the deliverables ("what") to all team members - Work seamlessly with the creative team, account managers, developers, studio designers, and most importantly, clients, fostering a collaborative and synergistic environment - Guide and inspire other designers by providing valuable direction - Has a strong understanding of copy direction and its emotional impact on design - Design and/or direct design efforts across multiple mediums and touchpoints, ensuring consistency and alignment with strategic goals - You are responsible for holistic project lifecycles—from interpreting high-level business objectives into pixel-perfect execution and measurable post-launch success ## Qualifications - 8+ years of design experience within an ad agency, digital shop, or creative studio, with a portfolio showcasing strong digital, responsive, and cross-channel work - Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Digital Design, UI/UX, or equivalent practical experience - Proficiency in Figma (auto-layout, components, prototyping) alongside deep mastery of the Adobe Creative Suite - Proven track record of designing digital and physical experiences using component-based design systems. Across both digital platforms and physical/print retail environments - Demonstrated ability to manage, inspire, and direct a team of designers while managing multiple fast-paced projects simultaneously - Prior experience with QSR, fast-casual, or high-volume retail brands is a major plus #LI- ## #LI-HYBRID At MERGE, we’re committed to fostering an environment where our team members can thrive in both their careers and personal lives, ensuring they feel supported and empowered to succeed. MERGE believes in transparency and equity. In accordance with state regulations, we’re proud to include salary ranges in our job postings to ensure fair compensation practices. The salary range for this role is $88,450 - $129,750, based on the individual’s skills, experience, qualifications, location, and other relevant factors. The salary pay range is subject to change and may be modified at any time. MERGE is proud to invest in benefits that include meaningful Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, 401K, Lifestyle Spending Account, Employer Paid Life & Disability Insurance, Flexible Time off & Holidays plus many other benefits and rewards. Applicants for employment in the US must have work authorization that does not now or in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the United States. And here’s how we live our values at MERGE - Ability. Mastering our craft - Agility. Delivering with a growth mindset - Humility. Collaborating for shared success MERGE is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer MERGE welcomes and celebrates diversity regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, veteran status or people with abilities. We believe that the more diverse we are, the more creative our work will be! ## About MERGE ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: MERGE is a marketing and technology agency built for the intersection of health and wellness, using storytelling through technology to help brands connect more meaningfully with the people they serve. - **Entity Type**: Private (no disclosed funding rounds; operates as an independent agency) - **Headquarters**: Chicago, Illinois, United States - **Founded**: 2018 - **Founders**: Not publicly available ## Core Business - **Primary Industry**: Marketing and technology agency (full-service), with a deep specialization in healthcare (pharma, medtech, health insurance, health providers) and consumer brands. - **Target Customers**: B2B – enterprise brands in life sciences, payer/provider organizations, and large consumer goods companies. - **Mission or Purpose Statement**: "Uniting people and brands for healthier, happier lives" by turning complexity into clarity through data-driven storytelling, AI-powered personalization, and bold creativity. ## Products & Services - **Humanity Suite**: An AI-powered operating model designed to bridge technology and human empathy, providing tools for dynamic engagement, personalization, and data integration across the customer journey. (Launched in 2026) - **Core Agency Services**: - **Strategy**: Brand strategy, consumer insights, journey mapping. - **Creative**: Copywriting, design, storytelling. - **Public Relations**: Communications and reputation management. - **Experience**: UX/UI, digital experience design. - **Performance Marketing**: Paid search, paid social, precision activation, media planning. - **Media**: Integrated media planning and buying. - **Platforms**: Workfront implementation, DAM systems, data engineering (API integration, Workfront Fusion). - **AIgency™**: A framework blending AI innovation with human creativity, specifically for health and life sciences. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed (private company) - **Key Metric**: Annual Revenue of **$124M** (as of latest LinkedIn data) / Total Funding: Not disclosed (bootstrapped or organic growth) - **Notable Clients & Partners**: - **Clients**: Abbott, Blue Cross Blue Shield, GE Healthcare, Supernus, American Express, T-Mobile, Coach, Meta, Kroger, Kraft Heinz. - **Platform Partners**: Workfront (Adobe), DAM systems. - **Growth Signals**: - Headcount of 604 employees (+1.6% year-over year, +14 people) [LinkedIn] - Recognized as **Agency of the Year** by Modern Healthcare and Ad Age’s 2025 Healthcare Marketing Impact Awards. - Launched **Humanity Suite** in 2026 as a strategic AI-powered operating model. - Named a **Best Place to Work** by Built In (Atlanta and Colorado markets) in 2026, highlighting a culture that blends AI innovation with employee wellness. - Offices in 8 US cities (Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Kansas City, Los Angeles, New York City, Raleigh) and presence in 11 countries. ## Competitive Advantages - **Deep Healthcare Specialization**: Decades of experience in pharma, medtech, and health insurance – a complex, highly regulated sector where trust and compliance are critical. - **AI-Human Integration**: The "AIgency™" model combines AI-powered efficiency with human empathy, explicitly tailored for health brands. - **Full-Service Capabilities**: From strategy and creative to performance marketing and platform implementation (Workfront, DAM), creating a one-stop shop for large clients. - **Long-Standing Client Relationships**: Work with marquee brands like Meta, American Express, and GE Healthcare, indicating high retention and trust. - **Diverse, Inclusive Culture**: 41% of staff are caregivers; employees speak 25+ languages at home; strong LGBTQIA+ inclusivity, making it attractive for top talent. ## Strategic Focus - **AI Transformation**: Investing heavily in its proprietary Humanity Suite and AIgency model to redefine agency services for the AI era. - **Health-Centric Growth**: Doubling down on health and life sciences, as evidenced by its Agency of the Year recognition and dedicated health/life sciences account teams. - **Operational Efficiency**: Delivering measurable ROI for clients (e.g., 35% time savings in marketing ops for a national grocery retailer, $4M annual savings with a DAM system for a CPG company). - **Talent & Culture**: Growing remote and hybrid roles while maintaining offices in key US markets; emphasizing "whole person" wellness and innovation. ## Why Work Here - **Culture**: Built on "ability, agility, and humility" – a strong emphasis on collaboration and personal growth. Recognized as a Best Place to Work by Built In (2026). - **Remote/Hybrid Policy**: Multiple roles listed as remote (e.g., API Integration Specialist, VP roles in brand strategy); many positions are hybrid or office-based in major cities. The company operates across 8 US offices. - **Notable Perks & Engineering Culture**: 41% of employees are caregivers, suggesting family-friendly policies. Strong focus on diversity (25+ languages spoken, LGBTQIA+ support). Opportunities to work on cutting-edge AI and data integration projects for top-tier brands. - **Growth Potential**: 57 open job postings (as of search date) across marketing, account management, creative, data engineering, and performance – indicating active hiring and investment in new capabilities. ## Sources 1. [mergeworld.com](https://www.mergeworld.com/) 2. [mergeworld.com](https://www.mergeworld.com/about) 3. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/mergeworld) 4. [greenhouse.io](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/mergeworld) 5. [mergeworld.com](https://www.mergeworld.com/about/agency-updates/2026/merge-launches-humanity-suite-a-new-operating-model-for-the-ai-empowered-agency) 6. [mergeworld.com](https://www.mergeworld.com/about/agency-updates/2025/merge-wins-modern-healthcare-x-ad-age-healthcare-marketing-impact-award-agency-of-the-year) 7. [mergeworld.com](https://www.mergeworld.com/about/agency-updates/2026/the-aigency-is-a-best-place-to-work) 8. [mergeworld.com](https://www.mergeworld.com/work/kroger) 9. [mergeworld.com](https://www.mergeworld.com/work/kraft-heinz) ## Other roles at MERGE - [Director, Experimentation, Decision Science](https://feeny.ai/job/director-experimentation-decision-science-merge-raleigh-v4tj5k6ykm7q) — Raleigh, NC - [Director, Communications](https://feeny.ai/job/director-communications-merge-atlanta-v3htaxtezmn7) — Atlanta, GA / Boston, MA / Chicago, IL / Kansas City, MO / New York - [Social & Content Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/social-content-manager-merge-boston-1e0cwe17xm5t) — Boston, MA - [Social & Content Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/social-content-manager-merge-kansas-city-njknyngxtsck) — Kansas City, MO - [Social & Content Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/social-content-manager-merge-denver-m9snx67b6bp5) — Denver, CO - [Social & Content Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/social-content-manager-merge-chicago-dfwb1avypjwh) — Chicago, IL - [Social & Content Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/social-content-manager-merge-raleigh-zzjwdbb8mrfr) — Raleigh, NC - [Associate Creative Director - Design](https://feeny.ai/job/associate-creative-director-design-merge-raliegh-0h71p85peztv) — Raliegh, NC - [Associate Creative Director - Design](https://feeny.ai/job/associate-creative-director-design-merge-chicago-rvh5p36xe358) — Chicago, IL - [VP, Pharma Media](https://feeny.ai/job/vp-pharma-media-merge-remote-vmfp88mrsc84)