Creative Director, Design Lead

Title: Creative Director, Design Lead Location: New York, United States

POSITION OVERVIEW

As Creative Director of Design you will be responsible for setting the creative direction, driving innovation, and delivering exceptional design solutions for our clients' advertising campaigns. The ideal candidate possesses exceptional design skills, strategic thinking, and a proven track record of successful creative leadership in the advertising industry.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide strategic leadership and creative vision, guiding the creative team to develop innovative and impactful design solutions that meet client objectives and resonate with the target audience.

• Collaborate closely with clients and account managers to understand their business goals, target audience, and communication objectives, translating them into compelling design strategies and concepts.

• Oversee the development and execution of design projects across various platforms, ensuring the delivery of high-quality and on-brand creative work that exceeds client expectations.

• Provide guidance and mentorship to junior designers, nurturing their skills and fostering a collaborative and creative work environment. that encourages creativity, exploration, and the generation of fresh ideas.

• Set the creative direction for advertising campaigns, overseeing the conceptualization, design development, and execution of visual elements

• Present and effectively communicate design concepts to clients, articulating the creative rationale, and incorporating client feedback to refine and enhance designs

• Foster strong relationships with clients, becoming a trusted creative partner and offering strategic guidance and insights to enhance their brand's visual identity and communication efforts.

• Lead and participate in brainstorming sessions, collaborating with copywriters, art directors, and other team members to develop integrated campaign concepts that seamlessly merge design and messaging.

• Ensure brand consistency and adherence to design standards across all advertising materials and campaigns, maintaining the integrity of clients' brand guidelines.

• Manage and allocate resources effectively, overseeing project timelines and budgets to ensure timely delivery of high-quality creative work within allocated resources. 

• Remain current on the latest trends, consumer preferences, and best practices in the industry

• Stay on top of the latest technological advancements, including design software, digital tools, and platforms, to enhance creative processes and deliver innovative solutions
• Remain informed about current pop culture and social media trends in order to infuse culturally relevant elements into briefs and campaigns

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

• At least 8+ years of industry experience in a well-established, creative role with a proven track record

• Strategic mindset and the ability to think creatively, generating innovative design concepts and solutions that align with client objectives and resonate with the target audience.

• Excellent leadership and managerial skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate a creative team, foster collaboration, and drive the execution of exceptional design work.

• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate design concepts, influence stakeholders, and build strong client relationships.

• Strong creative portfolio highlighting relevant/category experience

• Solid verbal communication skills, with experience presenting

• Experience working with large teams in client facing role 

• Excellent written and presentation skills

• Excellent grasp of design and layout fundamentals

• Able to gracefully handle multiple projects in a fast-paced environment

• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, Keynote, PowerPoint, Google Slides, AI Tools

• Knowledge of digital media and experience designing for various digital platforms is highly desirable.

• Proficiency in front-end development work (CSS and HTML) and working within a CMS is a plus

WHO YOU ARE:

• Creative: Putting together two things to create a third thing no one’s ever seen before

• Productive: Acting on ideas to make things happen and get stuff done

• Collaborative: Focused on the greater good versus personal gain

• Adaptable: Ready and able to embrace change