Creative Director

The Creative Director (CD) is responsible for the overall supervision of the agency’s creative product. The CD interfaces between the client, the account services team and the Creative Department. The CD plays a critical role in developing the work from the minute a project makes itself known: able to provide insight on media and more importantly overall strategy.

Responsibilites & Qualifications

Essential Functions

• Concepts ideas in all mediums and channels that are on strategy, insightful, relevant, inventive, refreshing, innovative, original, effective.
• Works in tandem with any and all team members including art directors, copywriters, designers, planners, developers, social media specialists, account and media to ensure that every idea is as good as it can be.
• Leads the written of any execution without being limited to the copy side - have a perspective on visuals, design, look, feel.
• Attends and oversee production when necessary.
• Provides feedback and guidance to members of the team.
• Delivers multiple concepts for any assignment before narrowing a focus.
• Coordinates with assistant account executive to schedule creative and production jobs.
• Manages the creative and production teams’ day-to-day operations.
• Represents the agency at functions of creative/professional/civic organizations.
• Directs the creative product at the agency and strives for excellence in everything from concept to completion of every project on schedule.
• Works closely with Account Services to solve marketing problems through smart, well-designed advertising and collateral materials that help sell product and maintain good image for the clients and agency.
• Manages the creative team and has oversight on selection and management of all freelance services.
• Attends creative input meetings to develop creative strategies and implements all creative requirements.
• Oversees creative solutions and presents those to Account Leader for internal approval at a date determined in the initial creative input meeting.
• Directs comp work to assure on schedule delivery for client review.
• Is called on request of account leader or by request to sell creative at client presentations.
• Interviews and screens applicants for creative positions as well as hiring and termination.
• Reviews project workload daily.
• Attends and participates in creative internal reviews before forwarding through agency. Checks final art before releasing through Production Managers to vendors.
• Ensures purchase orders are accurate and verified.

Other Responsibilities

• Stay immersed in current industry trends and pop culture in general.
• Find ways to be creative outside of assigned work.
• As a leader of the department, sets examples through work, behavior, effort and attitude.
• Understands and abides by the agency’s business practices and philosophies as well as understands R&R’s policies and procedures.
• Performs other work-related responsibilities which are deemed by management to be an integral part of the job.
• Advocate on behalf of the creative department with other departments.

Expectations

• Understand that an idea is just the beginning that can and should be improved upon at every opportunity until the deadline. In other words, understand the importance of craft.
• Understand the difference between being on-brand and on-strategy and the importance of both.
• Expert at presenting ideas in all group sizes, both internally and client facing.
• Assists team members as needed.
• Be able to work and think in complete ideas without the aid of a partner at times.
• Seek out opportunities to go beyond merely creating work to beginning to manage projects and relationships.
• Be a voice not just for the creative department but for the agency.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in fine arts or related field, graduation from a school specializing in the creative process or equivalent experiences.
• Minimum ten (10) years in an agency environment preferred. Effective interpersonal skills.

Work Environment

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, copiers and filing cabinets.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit; stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.