Art Director

This is an on-site position in Biloxi, Mississippi. Please only apply if you can relocate or are currently living in the area. We’re searching for an experienced art director who guides and oversees our design team and is known for their own creative work. The ideal candidate is seeking a working role in which they will not only manage, but directly produce exceptional work themselves. The ideal art director will bring a mix of artistic, marketing and business expertise while working against deadlines. They will be proficient in Adobe Creative Suite and current online tools like Canva with a working familiarity of WordPress. We’re looking for someone who can inspire and be inspired by others. We are looking for a professional who has a natural eye for design and a passion for delivering dynamic work that delivers the results our clients are seeking.

Objectives of this role

·      Establish design standards for production, productivity, quality, creativity and client service

·      Ensure team adheres to current processes, identifies opportunities for improvement, and proposes and creates processes and tools to support design operations

·      Collaborate with the accounts team to align team priorities with business objectives so that high-quality work is delivered on time and on budget

·      Develop presentation approaches, styles, and techniques for the team

·      Build and grow a talented team that is like minded with company mission, vision and core values

Responsibilities

·      Conceptualize project or campaign vision, graphics, copy, website content, motion graphics, video, social media, brochures and other marketing materials

·      Work with accounts team on creative briefs with direction, schedules, and deliverables for the creative team

·      Manage in-house designers and freelancers, quickly identifying the resources needed to keep a concept moving

·      Identify ways to maintain and improve workflow, efficiency and productivity while maintaining a high standard of creative excellence

·      Obtain team approval of final layouts, storyboards and illustrations; encourage members to provide feedback; and respond to internal commentary and requests

·      Oversee and/or participate in presentation of final concepts

·      Hire, train, assign, schedule and mentor staff

Required skills and qualifications

·      Six or more years of professional experience in graphic design, with three or more years in a management role

·      Proficiency and speed with design software such as Adobe Creative Cloud

·      Exceptional ability in typography, layout, motion graphics, and prototyping

·      Highly skilled in managing and inspiring a creative team

·      Ability to infuse a strong creative vision with while balancing attention to business objectives

Preferred skills and qualifications

·      Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in fine art, graphic design, or similar discipline

·      Experience as an art director

·      Experience in web development

·      Solid knowledge of photography and video production

The Focus Group