Associate Creative Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Associate Creative Designer

Company: Criteo

Location: Gurgaon, Haryana, India

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Creative & Design / Digital Advertising Operations

Date Posted: 2026-08-11

Experience Level: 2-5 years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and execute high-quality digital ad creatives across static, dynamic, and animated formats, including specialized Meta and TikTok ad campaigns.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration and performance of scalable dynamic display advertising campaigns.

• Leverage emerging AI creative tools and advanced prompt engineering techniques to enhance design efficiency, explore creative concepts, and drive innovative solutions.

• Uphold brand alignment, client objectives, and performance insights throughout the creative development lifecycle, adhering to defined OLAs and prioritization levels.

• Contribute to continuous process improvement and quality control within the Creative team, adapting to evolving digital advertising trends and technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role, while titled "Associate Creative Designer," has significant overlap with the operational aspects of digital advertising and GTM enablement. The emphasis on "end-to-end execution," "scalable dynamic display campaigns," "workflow efficiency," and "AI creative tools" positions this role as crucial for the operational delivery of creative assets that directly impact client performance and Criteo's GTM strategy. Therefore, it's classified under Digital Advertising Operations to reflect these operational responsibilities.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver a range of digital ad creatives, including static, dynamic, and animated assets, with a specific focus on custom Meta and TikTok ad formats.

• Partner with account management, sales, and product teams to ensure creative solutions are aligned with client goals, performance data, and established brand guidelines.

• Efficiently manage a high volume of design requests, prioritizing tasks according to Creative Operational Level Agreements (OLAs) and business impact.

• Utilize Jira for comprehensive task management, workflow tracking, status updates, and cross-team communication, ensuring transparency and accountability.

• Proactively explore and integrate AI-based creative tools, employing effective prompting strategies to generate diverse concepts, variations, and optimize production workflows.

• Stay abreast of the latest trends, technologies, and best practices in digital advertising and design to continuously enhance creative output and operational efficiency.

• Participate in creative quality assurance processes and contribute to initiatives aimed at improving overall workflow efficiency and design effectiveness.

• Adapt rapidly to new design platforms, ad technologies, and evolving client requirements within the fast-paced digital advertising ecosystem.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities listed emphasize not just creative output but also the operational rigor required for high-volume, client-facing digital advertising. The mention of "custom Meta and TikTok ads," "scalable dynamic display campaigns," and "Jira for task management" highlights the need for structured workflows and process adherence, characteristic of operations roles.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree or diploma in Art, Graphic Design, Communication Design, or a closely related field. Experience:

• 2–5 years of professional experience in digital design, with a strong emphasis on digital advertising creative production. Required Skills:

• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite: Expert-level skills in Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator are essential for creating and manipulating design assets.

• Digital Design Principles: A strong understanding of core design principles, including typography, layout, color theory, and visual hierarchy, applied to digital mediums.

• Digital Ad Best Practices: Comprehensive knowledge of specifications, limitations, and performance-driving techniques for various digital advertising platforms and formats.

• Task Management & Workflow: Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a high-volume production environment, utilizing tools like Jira for tracking and communication.

• Communication & Collaboration: Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, with the ability to articulate design decisions and collaborate effectively with diverse teams.

• Adaptability & Learning Agility: Demonstrated capacity to quickly learn and adapt to new technologies, software, and evolving industry standards in a dynamic digital landscape.

Preferred Skills:

• Motion Graphics & Animation: Familiarity with Adobe After Effects for creating dynamic and animated ad creatives.

• AI Creative Tools & Prompt Engineering: Experience with AI-powered design tools and a solid understanding of prompt engineering principles for creative exploration and efficiency.

• Video/Animated Creatives: Prior experience in producing animated or video-based digital ad creatives.

• Basic Web Technologies: Foundational knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript is desirable for understanding creative implementation and limitations.

• E-commerce & Digital Advertising Interest: A genuine interest in e-commerce and the digital advertising industry, understanding its nuances and impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements strongly lean towards operational efficiency within a creative context. The emphasis on "high-volume production," "tight deadlines," "Jira," and "AI creative tools" suggests that candidates will be evaluated not only on their artistic talent but also on their ability to execute designs systematically and efficiently within a defined operational framework.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 2-5 years of digital design work, with a significant portion dedicated to digital advertising creatives.

• Demonstrations of end-to-end execution for various ad formats, including static, dynamic, and animated pieces.

• Case studies or examples highlighting collaboration with cross-functional teams and adherence to brand guidelines and client objectives.

• Evidence of managing multiple projects and meeting tight deadlines within a production environment.

• Examples of creative solutions that have driven measurable performance outcomes for clients. Process Documentation:

• Examples of how you have documented or optimized design workflows to improve efficiency and quality in previous roles.

• Case studies detailing the use of specific tools (e.g., Jira) for task management and workflow tracking in a design context.

• Demonstrations of how you have adapted to new technologies or processes to enhance creative output or operational speed.

• Any examples of contributing to quality control processes or continuous improvement initiatives within a creative production team.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role involving "scalable dynamic display campaigns" and "workflow efficiency," a portfolio that goes beyond aesthetics to demonstrate process and system utilization is crucial. The emphasis should be on how the candidate structures their work, collaborates, and leverages tools to deliver consistently and efficiently.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• For an Associate Creative Designer with 2-5 years of experience in Gurgaon, India, the estimated annual salary range is ₹6,00,000 to ₹12,00,000. This range is based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in the Indian digital advertising and creative production sector, considering the company's profile and the role's responsibilities. Factors influencing placement within this range include specific skill sets (e.g., After Effects proficiency, AI tool experience) and the demonstrated impact of past work. Benefits:

• Ways of Working: Hybrid model offering a blend of in-office collaboration and remote flexibility.

• Career Development: Access to comprehensive learning, mentorship, and structured career development programs designed for professional growth.

• Wellbeing: Robust health benefits, wellness perks, and dedicated mental health support resources.

• Team Environment: Opportunity to work within a diverse, inclusive, and globally connected team that fosters a supportive culture.

• Compensation & Rewards: Attractive base salary with potential for performance-based rewards.

• Family Support: Family-friendly policies to support work-life balance.

• Potential Equity: Depending on the specific role and level, there may be potential for equity participation.

• Additional Benefits: Other country-specific and employment-nature-dependent benefits.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours, estimated at 40 hours per week, with a hybrid work arrangement. Flexibility may be available, but core hours will likely align with team collaboration needs and project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimation is based on research of similar Associate Creative Designer roles in Gurgaon, India, factoring in the experience level (2-5 years) and the specialized nature of digital advertising creatives. Criteo's stated benefits are comprehensive and align with industry standards for tech companies.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology / Digital Advertising / E-commerce Intelligence. Criteo operates at the intersection of advertising technology and e-commerce, providing solutions that leverage shopper data and AI to drive performance for businesses. This context means the creative output is directly tied to client performance and ROI, demanding a data-informed and results-oriented approach.

Company Size: 3,600+ employees globally. This indicates a large, established organization with structured processes, opportunities for specialization, and potential for cross-functional collaboration across various departments and geographies.

Founded: Criteo was founded in 2005. This history suggests a company with proven longevity and experience in the dynamic digital advertising space, likely possessing mature operational frameworks and a culture of adaptation.

Team Structure:

• The Creative team is likely part of a larger Marketing or Go-To-Market (GTM) function, comprised of designers, potentially copywriters, and creative operations specialists.

• Reporting structure is expected to be hierarchical, with an Associate Creative Designer reporting to a Creative Lead or Manager.

• Cross-functional collaboration is essential, involving close partnerships with account managers, sales teams, performance analysts, and potentially product marketing to ensure creative assets meet client needs and performance objectives. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Creativity: Designs are informed by client objectives, performance insights, and data analytics to ensure maximum impact and ROI.

• Agile Production Workflows: Utilization of tools like Jira suggests an agile or iterative approach to managing creative requests and production cycles.

• AI-Enhanced Operations: Embracing AI tools for concept exploration, variation generation, and workflow automation is a key operational strategy.

Company Website: https://www.criteo.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Criteo's focus on "Commerce Intelligence" and AI implies a culture that values data-driven decision-making and technological innovation. For a creative role, this means designs must be both aesthetically compelling and strategically aligned with measurable business outcomes.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at the "Associate" level, typically for individuals with 2-5 years of experience. It signifies a position where foundational skills are applied under guidance, with increasing autonomy expected as proficiency grows. The role is instrumental in the operational execution of creative strategies that support Criteo's Go-To-Market (GTM) efforts.

Reporting Structure: The Associate Creative Designer will likely report to a Creative Manager or Lead, who oversees the creative operations and team performance. This structure provides mentorship and clear direction for task execution and professional development.

Operations Impact: The work of an Associate Creative Designer directly impacts Criteo's ability to deliver effective digital advertising campaigns for its clients. High-quality, performance-optimized creatives are critical for client retention, acquisition, and overall revenue generation. The efficiency and effectiveness of the creative production process are key operational metrics.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas like dynamic creative optimization, animation (After Effects), or advanced AI prompting for design.

• Career Progression: Potential to advance to Senior Creative Designer, Art Director, or specialize in Creative Operations management roles within Criteo.

• Cross-Functional Learning: Exposure to performance marketing, client strategy, and AI technology teams, offering broader business acumen.

• Leadership Development: As experience grows, opportunities for mentoring junior designers or leading smaller creative projects may arise.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path for this role extends beyond pure design into areas of operational efficiency, AI integration, and potentially creative strategy leadership, aligning with the broader GTM and Revenue Operations landscape.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid. Criteo offers a hybrid work model, blending in-office collaboration with remote flexibility. This suggests a dynamic work environment that values both focused individual work and team interaction.

Office Location(s): The role is based in Gurgaon, India. Specific office details would be provided upon inquiry, but it implies an accessible urban location with standard office amenities.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The hybrid model likely includes designated areas for team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and collaborative design sprints within the Gurgaon office.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (Adobe Suite), project management tools (Jira), and potentially Criteo's proprietary AI creative tools. Reliable internet and necessary hardware are expected.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities to connect with designers, creative leads, and other cross-functional teams (sales, account management, analytics) both virtually and in person, fostering a connected and efficient work environment.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week) with a hybrid arrangement. While core hours will be established for team coordination, the hybrid nature may offer some flexibility in daily scheduling, balanced against project deadlines and client needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature and emphasis on collaboration indicate a modern work environment that balances employee flexibility with the operational needs of a fast-paced creative production team.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio by a recruiter to assess qualifications and alignment with the role's requirements.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion focused on your experience, design philosophy, understanding of digital advertising, and how you approach creative problem-solving. Expect questions about your portfolio.

• Technical/Skills Assessment: This may involve a design test or a portfolio review session where you'll present specific projects, discuss your process, and explain your design choices, particularly those related to performance and efficiency.

• Cross-functional/Team Interview: An opportunity to meet with potential colleagues or stakeholders from other departments (e.g., sales, account management) to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, and communication skills.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader to discuss career aspirations and overall fit within Criteo's broader vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best represent your skills in digital ad design, especially those demonstrating dynamic or animated creatives.

• Showcase Process: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your role, the design process, the tools used (especially Photoshop, Illustrator, and any AI tools), challenges faced, and the rationale behind your design decisions.

• Highlight Performance: Where possible, include metrics or outcomes that demonstrate the effectiveness of your designs (e.g., improved CTR, engagement rates). Connect your design choices to performance goals.

• Demonstrate Efficiency: Include examples where you've optimized workflows, used templates effectively, or leveraged tools (like AI) to increase production speed or reduce errors.

• Tailor to Criteo: Research Criteo's clients and the types of ads they run. Highlight projects relevant to e-commerce or performance marketing.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Challenge: Be prepared for a practical design exercise that might involve creating a set of digital ads based on a brief, or critiquing existing ads and proposing improvements. Focus on speed, adherence to brand, and creative problem-solving.

• AI Prompting: If AI tools are mentioned, practice crafting effective prompts for generating design variations, exploring concepts, or even creating initial drafts. Be ready to discuss your experience with AI in a creative workflow.

• Workflow & Collaboration: Be ready to discuss how you manage your workload, prioritize tasks, and communicate with stakeholders using tools like Jira.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "performance outcomes," "workflow efficiency," and "AI creative tools" means candidates should prepare to discuss not just aesthetics but the operational and strategic impact of their design work.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite:

  • Photoshop: Essential for raster image editing, manipulation, and final ad asset creation.
  • Illustrator: Crucial for vector graphics, logos, and scalable design elements.

• Jira: The primary tool for task management, workflow tracking, project updates, and team collaboration. Proficiency in navigating boards, updating statuses, and communicating within tickets is expected.

• AI Creative Tools: Emerging technologies for concept generation, variation exploration, and potential asset creation (e.g., Midjourney, DALL-E, Adobe Firefly, or Criteo's internal tools). Experience with prompt engineering is highly valued.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a direct analytics role, understanding how design impacts performance metrics is key. Familiarity with how creative performance is tracked and reported (e.g., through ad platforms or internal dashboards) is beneficial. CRM & Automation:

• CRM (e.g., Salesforce): While not directly used for design, understanding how client data and campaign information are managed in a CRM can provide context for creative briefs and client objectives.

• Automation Tools: Experience with any tools or processes that automate parts of the creative production pipeline (e.g., template-based generation, scripting) would be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "AI-based creative tools" and "effective prompting" is a significant indicator of Criteo's investment in leveraging AI for operational efficiency and creative innovation.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Performance-Driven: A strong focus on delivering creative solutions that achieve measurable client outcomes and contribute to Criteo's commercial success.

• Efficiency & Agility: Commitment to optimizing workflows, leveraging technology (including AI), and adapting quickly to meet high-volume demands and evolving market needs.

• Collaboration & Communication: Emphasis on seamless teamwork across internal departments and with clients, fostering clear communication and shared understanding.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: A culture that encourages exploration of new technologies and methodologies to enhance creative output and operational processes.

• Quality & Brand Integrity: Dedication to maintaining high standards of design quality and ensuring all creative assets are aligned with brand guidelines and client objectives.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The role requires close collaboration with sales, account management, and performance teams to translate client needs and data insights into effective creative assets.

• Feedback Loop: An open culture for providing and receiving constructive feedback on designs and processes to drive continuous improvement.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, new techniques (especially with AI tools), and lessons learned within the creative team and across departments.

📝 Enhancement Note: Criteo's stated values and the operational demands of the role suggest a culture that values both creative excellence and rigorous execution, with a strong emphasis on data, technology, and collaborative problem-solving.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• High-Volume Production Demands: Managing a constant influx of design requests under tight deadlines while maintaining high quality and brand consistency.

• Adapting to Evolving Technologies: Keeping pace with rapid advancements in AI, ad platforms, and design software, and integrating them effectively into workflows.

• Balancing Creativity with Performance: Ensuring creative designs are not only aesthetically pleasing but also strategically optimized for client performance metrics.

• Cross-Functional Communication: Navigating diverse stakeholder needs and translating complex briefs from sales and account management into actionable design requirements.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Creative Skills: Deepening expertise in motion graphics, animation, and specialized digital ad formats.

• AI & Prompt Engineering Mastery: Becoming proficient in leveraging AI tools for creative ideation, asset generation, and workflow automation.

• Performance Marketing Insights: Gaining a better understanding of how creative impacts campaign performance and client ROI.

• Operational Process Improvement: Contributing to the refinement and optimization of creative production workflows.

• Industry Exposure: Potential participation in industry webinars, workshops, or conferences related to digital advertising and creative technology.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a high-growth digital advertising environment, emphasizing the need for resilience, adaptability, and a proactive approach to learning and problem-solving.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to deliver multiple creative assets under a very tight deadline. How did you manage your time and prioritize tasks?" (Assesses workflow management, Jira usage)

• "How do you ensure your creative designs align with client objectives and drive performance metrics?" (Assesses strategic thinking, understanding of digital advertising)

• "Walk me through your process for using AI tools in your design workflow. What are the benefits and limitations you've experienced?" (Assesses adaptability, AI proficiency, prompt engineering)

• "How do you handle constructive feedback on your designs, especially when it conflicts with your initial vision?" (Assesses collaboration, communication, and resilience) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Criteo's work in Commerce Intelligence and AI?" (Assesses research, alignment with company mission)

• "How do you see yourself contributing to a hybrid work environment and fostering collaboration within the creative team?" (Assesses cultural fit, teamwork)

• "Based on your understanding of Criteo, what kind of creative challenges do you anticipate facing in this role?" (Assesses foresight, problem-solving) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each selected project, follow a clear story: The Challenge -> Your Role -> The Process (including tools/AI used) -> The Solution -> The Result (performance metrics, client impact).

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use numbers and data to demonstrate the success of your designs.

• Showcase Technical Skills: Be ready to discuss your proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and any other relevant software. If you have After Effects experience, prepare to showcase it.

• Highlight Operational Aspects: Emphasize how you managed projects, collaborated with teams, and used tools like Jira to ensure efficient delivery.

• Practice Your Pitch: Rehearse your presentation to ensure it's concise, engaging, and within any time limits provided.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to discuss their design process not just from an artistic standpoint but also from an operational efficiency and performance impact perspective, reflecting Criteo's business model.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Associate Creative Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Criteo Career Site.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight your strongest digital ad design projects, focusing on examples that demonstrate static, dynamic, and animated creatives relevant to e-commerce and performance marketing. Ensure it clearly shows your end-to-end execution process and any measurable performance impact.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to emphasize your 2-5 years of digital design experience, proficiency in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, and any experience with Jira, AI creative tools, or animation software. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, problem-solving skills, and experience with collaborative tools. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions and be ready to discuss your portfolio in detail.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Criteo's business model, its focus on Commerce Intelligence and AI, and the types of digital advertising solutions it provides. Understand how creative contributes to client success and Criteo's overall GTM strategy.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.