Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization:

As a Sr. Copywriter you are accountable for concepts and messaging for all briefed projects. You will be leading copy direction, and will regularly partner closely with Sr Designers and Art Directors to create comprehensive answers to creative problems. You will lead from concept to completion – following the global brand direction, and the brand voice. Knowing your channels and touchpoints will ensure that you tailor concepts that will remain relevant across all digital placements. You will be focused on creating excellent, compelling, and effective creative executions that deliver against each brief.

Additionally, you will be managing, coaching, and directing the work of copywriters and assistant copywriters as they contribute to other projects. You and your team will regularly be working on multiple projects simultaneously. You are expected to teach practical skills to your team regarding writing, editing, concept development, and creating a flexible messaging framework.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership

• Must be an empathic and insightful manager capable of responding to critical feedback and leading your team through creative rounds.
• Directs the work of 1-2 writers working on multiple projects at any given time.
• Must contribute to cultural initiatives, and champion these principles for your team.
• Must have strong interpersonal skills and be comfortable having difficult conversations—both giving and receiving hard feedback.
• Must solicit feedback from all levels within the studio to make informed decisions.
  

Writing & Execution

• Lead writing of headlines, sub-headlines, body copy, and storyboards.
• Review all work for quality control and brand alignment, and work of any direct report.
• Review post-production with visual lead (text/supers in video, when necessary/relevant).
• Delegate writing needs as necessary for concept, presentations, or execution.

Creative Direction & Writing

• Run brainstorms and concept with Lead Designer.
• Research concepts as needed.
• Write concept set-ups and overview details in initial concept decks or delegate as needed.
• Propose messaging direction per project and concept.
• Present to stakeholders when requested.
• Propose potential Lead Creative Partners (photographers, videographers, directors) and provide justification.
• Propose production details including location, casting, props, styling, treatment of shoot.

Briefing & Project Management

• Participates in brief kickoffs. Read brief carefully and ask critical questions.
• Cascade direction from Senior Art Director—delegate to and provide clear instructions, timelines, and expectations for other copywriters.

Managerial

• Manages, coaches, develops, and directs the work of writing team (copywriters, assistant copywriters.)
• Teaches their direct reports both practical and managerial skills.
• Contributes to resource management within the scope of their teams.
• Attend weekly 1:1 with Creative Director.
• Lead weekly 1:1 with any direct reports focused on taking a pulse-check, reviewing creative work, or workshopping.
• Attend weekly all-team stand up and participate in creative review.
• Attend relevant workstream Team standup(s).
• Shares creative insights, inspiration, and best practices with the team.
• Be unfailingly charming with stakeholders, especially during conflict.

Key Relationships:

• Creative Director (Direct Manager)
• Sr. Designer or Sr Art Direction Manager (Partners)
• Copywriters, Assistant Copywriters (Direct Reports.)
• Project management and production teams
• Stakeholders and project briefers (Digital Content, Retail Marketing, Membership, Planning)
• External agencies and vendors

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities :

• Comprehensive knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word & PowerPoint in particular).
• Perfect English written skills, with exceptional grasp of grammar.
• Fluency and experience writing in Spanish or Canadian French a definite plus.
• Working knowledge of Figma.

Soft Skills :

• Strong understanding of the dynamics of the sporting goods industry.
• Culturally savvy and able to alter written “voice” to connect with various consumer cohorts
• Strong communication & negotiation skills
• Comfortable presenting complex topics to stakeholders at various organizational levels both in person and remotely
• Capacity to establish short and mid-term plans, and drive execution.
• A collaborative mindset

Requisite Education and Experience:

• A BA, MA, or BFA degree with focus on writing, journalism, marketing, or related areas.
• 5+ years of experience in executional writing.
• Experience developing successful concepts and working in collaborative multi-functional teams.
• Experience in SEO copywriting a definite plus.

About Studio A

Studio A PDX launched in October 2021, and resides within the adidas America Portland HQ. We're an internal digital creative studio. We make (or adapt) just about every campaign you see on adidas.com, the app, the blog, and much of the email across North America. We’re busy!

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at adidas means championing individual uniqueness and cultivating a culture of belonging in which everyone can create at their best. We embrace diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives and seek to create a workforce that reflects our consumers and communities.
• adidas offers robust and progressive medical, including HSA (Health Savings Account) with employer funding or FSA (Flexible Spending Account) options, dental, vision, prescription drug coverage, adoption, with surrogate and fertility support, short and long-term disability, and basic life and AD&D insurance, which can be supplemented with employee-paid coverage. Employees are able to enroll in adidas’ 401k plan and Stock Purchase Plan with employer match. Full-time employees are eligible for education assistance and generous Leave policies including 12 weeks of paid parental leave.
• Employees are eligible to earn an annual bonus based on both company and personal performance. Employees accrue prorated flexible time off in the amount .4388 hours per day that increases with years of service, eleven paid holidays throughout the calendar year and Service Time Off during milestone years.
• We officially returned to office in a hybrid work environment, working 3 days in office and 2 days remote. The working location of this position is Portland, Oregon.
• Though our teammates hail from all corners of the world, our working language is English.