Creative Designer - Paid Social (m/w/d)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Creative Designer - Paid Social (m/w/d)
Company: ADBAKER
Location: Köln, Germany
Job Type: Full-Time
Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Operations
Date Posted: October 7, 2025
Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)
Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive creative strategy and execution for paid social media campaigns, focusing on high-impact visual assets and compelling storytelling.
• Collaborate closely with performance marketing teams to translate campaign objectives into visually engaging designs that prioritize conversion optimization.
• Leverage a strong understanding of social media platforms and audience behavior to craft creative that resonates and drives measurable results.
• Contribute to a dynamic agency environment, working with a diverse range of prominent brands across various industries.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within the broader "Marketing Operations" umbrella, specifically focusing on the creative execution and optimization of paid social campaigns. While not a traditional "operations" role focused on process and systems, it requires a strong operational mindset for campaign delivery, asset management, and performance-driven design. The emphasis on conversion and measurable success aligns with GTM operations principles.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and produce high-performing social media advertisements, including dynamic motion ads, engaging animations, and impactful static creatives, utilizing provided or self-shot photo and video materials.
• Integrate animations, special effects, and appropriate sound design to maximize target audience engagement and campaign effectiveness across platforms like Meta and TikTok.
• Actively participate in creative shoots and productions within the company's well-equipped studio, contributing to visual concepts and execution.
• Adapt creative strategies and design aesthetics to suit the specific requirements and target audiences of diverse industries, including fashion, food, and automotive.
• Foster close collaboration with the internal German-speaking Creative and Performance Teams, ensuring cohesive campaign strategies and seamless asset integration.
• Maintain brand consistency and creative excellence across all campaign assets, adhering to client guidelines and performance marketing best practices.
• Continuously research and implement emerging design trends and platform-specific creative best practices to enhance campaign performance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of creative talent and performance-driven execution, crucial for paid social. The emphasis on collaboration with performance teams and adapting to diverse brands indicates a need for strong project management and client-facing communication skills, common in operations-adjacent roles.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A degree in Design, Marketing, Communication, or a related field is required.

Experience: Minimum of 2 years of professional experience in online marketing, with a strong preference for hands-on experience in Paid Social Ads.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience in creating compelling social media advertisements (both motion and static) for paid campaigns.
• Strong portfolio showcasing successful product and brand storytelling through visual mediums in paid social contexts.
• Expertise in leveraging a keen sense for motion graphics and storytelling to drive campaign performance.
• Comprehensive proficiency in the Adobe Creative Cloud suite, including Photoshop, Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Illustrator.
• Excellent German language skills (written and spoken) for effective communication within the team and with clients.
• A proactive and results-oriented mindset with a genuine interest in the fast-paced online marketing industry.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, take ownership of tasks, and maintain a strong hands-on mentality.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with sound design for video content.
• Familiarity with A/B testing creative concepts for optimization.
• Basic understanding of performance marketing metrics and their impact on creative decisions.
• Experience working within an agency environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "you" section clearly outlines the core technical and soft skills. The "2 years of experience" suggests a mid-level role, suitable for someone who has moved beyond entry-level and is looking to specialize. The emphasis on Adobe Creative Cloud and German language proficiency is critical for this specific role and location.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated selection of 3-5 high-impact paid social ad campaigns that demonstrate a clear understanding of platform-specific creative best practices.
• Case studies within the portfolio that detail the creative process from concept to execution, highlighting the strategic thinking behind each design decision.
• Evidence of successful asset creation for diverse industries, showcasing adaptability and brand alignment.
• Examples of motion graphics, animation, and sound design integrated into paid social ads, illustrating technical proficiency.
• Metrics and performance data (where possible) to quantify the impact of your creative work on campaign objectives (e.g., CTR, conversion rates, engagement).

Process Documentation:

• Candidates are expected to articulate their creative workflow, from brief interpretation to final asset delivery, demonstrating an organized and efficient approach.
• Ability to describe how creative assets are adapted and optimized for different social media platforms and campaign objectives.
• Understanding of how to collaborate with performance teams to gather feedback and iterate on creative based on performance data.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the original job description doesn't explicitly mention a "portfolio requirement," it's standard for creative roles. The enhancement infers the need for a portfolio that showcases paid social expertise, performance-driven design, and technical skills, aligning with typical operations expectations for demonstrating process and impact.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Creative Designer with 2-5 years of experience in Köln, Germany, the estimated annual salary range is €40,000 - €55,000. This range accounts for the cost of living in Köln, the specific demands of paid social creative work, and the agency environment.

Benefits:

• 30 days of annual leave for well-deserved rest and rejuvenation.
• Up to 2 weeks of Workation allowance, offering flexibility to work from different locations.
• Comprehensive health benefits and wellness programs to support employee well-being.
• Complimentary warm lunches provided daily in the office.
• Access to a Healthy Snack Bar and a variety of Free Drinks.
• Company-provided latest Apple products for a premium work experience.
• Opportunities for professional development and continuous learning.
• Various mobility options including the Deutschland Ticket, employee discount card, and Urban Sports Club membership.
• Access to ADBAKER Bikes and Corporate Benefits at no extra cost.
• Employee assistance programs and well-being initiatives.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week, with a flexible hybrid work arrangement that balances office presence with remote workdays.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary range is an estimation based on German market data for similar roles and location. Benefits are detailed from the "Das erwartet dich" section, emphasizing aspects valuable to creative and operations professionals, such as flexibility, wellness, and professional tools.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital Marketing / Advertising Agency specializing in Paid Social Media. ADBAKER is a prominent player in the DACH region for paid social campaigns.

Company Size: ADBAKER operates as a medium-sized agency, likely employing between 50-200 professionals, fostering a dynamic and collaborative environment. This size allows for both specialized teams and broad cross-functional interaction.

Founded: While the founding date is not specified, the company's reputation and partnerships (Meta, TikTok) suggest a well-established and growing entity.

Team Structure:

• The Creative Team is likely structured to support specialized functions, with designers, animators, and potentially sound designers working in tandem with Performance Marketing Managers.
• Reporting lines are expected to be clear, with designers typically reporting to a Creative Lead or Head of Creative, and closely collaborating with Performance Managers.
• Cross-functional collaboration is a core element, with designers working intimately with performance marketers to ensure creative aligns with campaign goals and data insights.

Methodology:

• Data-driven creative development is a key methodology, where design decisions are informed by performance metrics and audience insights.
• Agile project management principles are likely employed to facilitate rapid iteration and adaptation of creative assets based on campaign performance and market trends.
• A strong emphasis on collaboration and feedback loops between creative and performance teams ensures alignment and continuous improvement.

Company Website: http://adbaker.de

📝 Enhancement Note: Inferred company size and structure based on agency type and partnerships. The "Methodology" section emphasizes a data-driven and collaborative approach, directly linking creative output to performance outcomes, which is a hallmark of effective marketing operations.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is a Mid-Level Creative Designer, suitable for individuals with 2-5 years of experience looking to specialize in Paid Social, and potentially grow into Senior Designer or Creative Lead roles within the paid social domain.

Reporting Structure: The Creative Designer will report to a Creative Lead or Head of Creative, and work in close partnership with Performance Marketing Managers, fostering a collaborative, cross-functional dynamic.

Operations Impact: The Creative Designer's impact is directly tied to the performance of paid social campaigns. By creating visually compelling and strategically sound assets, they directly influence key performance indicators such as click-through rates (CTR), conversion rates, engagement, and ultimately, client ROI. This makes their role integral to the overall Go-To-Market (GTM) success of client campaigns.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in paid social creative, animation, or sound design, becoming a go-to specialist.
• Seniority: Progress to Senior Creative Designer or Art Director roles, taking on more complex projects and mentoring junior talent.
• Leadership: Potentially move into a Creative Lead or Head of Creative position, overseeing strategy and team management.
• Skill Expansion: Develop a stronger understanding of performance marketing analytics to further inform creative strategy and client consultations.
• Agency Growth: As the agency grows, new opportunities for specialized roles or leadership positions may emerge.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Operations Impact" section explicitly links the creative role to GTM success and ROI, framing it within an operational context. Growth opportunities are mapped out to reflect typical career progression in a creative agency setting, emphasizing specialization and leadership.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: ADBAKER boasts a modern, spacious 450 sqm loft office. This type of environment is typically designed to foster creativity, collaboration, and a relaxed yet professional atmosphere.

Office Location(s): The primary office is located in Köln, Germany. Specific details about accessibility or surrounding amenities are not provided but can be inferred to be in a business-friendly area of the city.

Workspace Context:

• The "lockere Atmosphäre" (relaxed atmosphere) suggests an environment where open communication and idea-sharing are encouraged, beneficial for creative problem-solving.
• The office is equipped with the latest Apple products, ensuring designers have access to high-performance tools essential for their work.
• Collaborative spaces, a gaming corner, and a table tennis area indicate a focus on team building and work-life balance, encouraging informal interactions that can spark innovation.

Work Schedule: A flexible hybrid model combining office days with home office options is offered. Standard working hours are around 40 per week, allowing for a structured yet adaptable schedule that supports focused creative work and team integration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description of the office environment highlights elements that are conducive to creative operations – collaborative spaces, access to technology, and a culture that supports work-life balance, which can enhance productivity and team cohesion.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your application, CV, and portfolio to assess qualifications and creative alignment.
• Creative Challenge: Candidates may be asked to complete a small creative task or present a case study from their portfolio that demonstrates their approach to paid social creative development and performance focus.
• Team Interview: An opportunity to meet with the Creative and Performance Teams, discussing your experience, working style, and how you collaborate.
• Cultural Fit Discussion: A conversation to assess alignment with ADBAKER's agency culture, values, and team dynamics.
• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader to discuss overall fit and compensation.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Paid Social Expertise: Highlight projects specifically created for paid social campaigns, demonstrating an understanding of platform nuances and performance objectives.
• Quantify Impact: If possible, include metrics or results tied to your creative work. Explain how your design contributed to campaign success (e.g., increased CTR, conversions).
• Tell a Story: For each portfolio piece, articulate the brief, your creative process, the challenges faced, and the solutions implemented.
• Demonstrate Adaptability: Include examples from different industries or for various campaign goals to show versatility.
• Highlight Technical Skills: Showcase your proficiency in animation, motion graphics, and sound design within your examples.

Challenge Preparation:

• Brush up on current paid social creative trends and best practices for platforms like Meta and TikTok.
• Be prepared to discuss your design process and how you incorporate performance feedback into your work.
• Practice articulating the strategic rationale behind your creative choices.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section infers a typical agency interview process for a creative role, emphasizing the portfolio's importance and the need to demonstrate performance-driven design thinking. The advice is tailored to ensure candidates can showcase their operational approach to creative execution.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Cloud: Essential suite including Photoshop, Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Illustrator for asset creation, editing, and animation.
• Motion Graphics Software: Advanced utilization of After Effects for dynamic animations and visual effects.
• Video Editing Software: Proficiency in Premiere Pro for cutting, editing, and finalizing video assets.
• Design Software: Mastery of Photoshop and Illustrator for static ad creation, image manipulation, and graphic design elements.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary responsibility, a basic understanding of analytics platforms (e.g., Meta Ads Manager, TikTok Ads Manager) to interpret campaign performance data is beneficial.
• Familiarity with data visualization tools or dashboards that report on creative performance metrics.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this creative role, but understanding how creative assets are managed and deployed within campaign management systems could be an advantage.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section details the core creative software expected for the role. While not "operations" tools in the traditional sense, proficiency and efficient use of these tools are critical for operationalizing creative production within the agency.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Performance-Driven Creativity: A core value that balances artistic expression with measurable business outcomes, ensuring creative work directly contributes to client success.
• Collaboration & Teamwork: Strong emphasis on working together across creative and performance teams, fostering a supportive and communicative environment.
• Agility & Adaptability: Embracing the fast-paced nature of digital marketing, with a willingness to learn, adapt, and iterate quickly based on new trends and data.
• Innovation & Excellence: A drive to push creative boundaries, deliver high-quality work, and stay at the forefront of paid social media trends.
• Client Focus: Dedication to understanding and meeting client needs, delivering exceptional results that build long-term partnerships.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Close working relationships between designers and performance marketers, with regular feedback loops and joint strategy sessions.
• Open Communication: A culture that encourages open dialogue, constructive criticism, and knowledge sharing.
• Proactive Engagement: Team members are encouraged to be proactive in suggesting ideas, identifying opportunities, and contributing to team goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: These values are inferred from the job description's emphasis on performance, teamwork, and working with strong brands in a dynamic agency setting. They highlight the operational mindset required for a creative role within a results-oriented marketing team.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creativity with Performance: The constant need to innovate creatively while adhering to strict performance metrics and client briefs.
• Pace of Change: Staying ahead of rapidly evolving social media trends, platform algorithms, and creative best practices.
• Managing Diverse Brand Needs: Adapting creative style and messaging for a wide array of clients across different industries.
• Data Interpretation: Translating performance data into actionable creative insights and improvements.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Paid Social Specialization: Deepen expertise in creating high-converting assets for platforms like Meta, TikTok, and others.
• Animation & Motion Graphics: Enhance skills in advanced animation techniques and visual storytelling.
• Performance Marketing Fundamentals: Gain a stronger understanding of campaign management, analytics, and optimization strategies.
• Industry Trends: Access to training, workshops, and industry events to stay current with digital marketing and creative innovation.
• Mentorship: Opportunities to learn from senior creative professionals and performance marketing experts within the agency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges and growth opportunities are framed to reflect the specific demands of a paid social creative role within an agency, emphasizing continuous learning and skill development relevant to both creative and operational effectiveness.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a paid social campaign where your creative significantly impacted performance. What was your process, and what were the key results?" (Focus on demonstrating performance-driven design and impact measurement).
• "How do you stay updated on the latest creative trends and platform changes in paid social media?" (Showcase proactivity and continuous learning).
• "Walk us through your process for adapting creative assets for different social media platforms (e.g., Instagram Stories vs. Facebook Feed ads)." (Highlight your operational approach to asset management and platform specificity).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What attracts you to ADBAKER specifically, and how do you see your creative style aligning with our agency's focus on paid social performance?" (Demonstrate research and cultural fit).
• "How do you handle constructive feedback on your creative work, particularly from performance marketing colleagues?" (Assess collaboration and adaptability).
• "Describe a time you had to work with a brand in an industry you were unfamiliar with. How did you approach the creative development process?" (Showcase research skills and adaptability).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structured Narrative: For each piece, clearly state the objective, your role, the creative solution, and the outcome (with metrics if possible).
• Performance Focus: Emphasize how your creative decisions were informed by performance goals or data.
• Technical Showcase: Demonstrate your animation, motion graphics, and sound design skills clearly.
• Conciseness: Be prepared to present your strongest pieces efficiently, respecting the interviewer's time.
• Interactive Elements: If possible, be ready to briefly explain specific design choices or technical aspects of your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation advice is tailored to highlight the intersection of creative skill and operational effectiveness, ensuring candidates can articulate their value in terms of performance and process.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Creative Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided join.com link.
• Tailor your Resume: Highlight experience in paid social, Adobe Creative Suite proficiency, and any quantifiable achievements in campaign performance.
• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your strongest paid social ad projects. Ensure they showcase your ability to create engaging, performance-driven creative across motion and static formats for diverse brands. Include case study elements where possible.
• Prepare for the Interview: Research ADBAKER's client roster and recent campaigns. Practice articulating your creative process, your understanding of paid social strategy, and how you measure creative success. Be ready to discuss your portfolio and any potential creative challenges.
• Highlight German Language Skills: Ensure your application and communication clearly demonstrate your fluency in German.

⚠️ 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.

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