Creative Director

RESPONSIBILITIES

Creative Leadership:

• Provide visionary leadership to the creative team, guiding them in the development of innovative and culturally relevant design concepts.
• Collaborate closely with clients to understand their objectives, target audiences, and unique cultural contexts, translating these insights into compelling creative strategies.
• Remain current with emerging design trends, incorporate novel techniques into projects, and provide guidance to the team regarding their proper application.
• Thoroughly review and proofread all materials prior to submission and release to the market on behalf of the department, acting as the final approver for the team.
• Generate brand-aligned materials while also venturing into innovative interpretations and formulating unconventional methods to expand the visual identity of the brand.
• Mentor both incoming and existing team members by furnishing assistance and direction across diverse facets of their responsibilities. Develop success strategies, conduct regular individual sessions, deliver coaching and evaluations, and offer candid feedback to empower team members in their pursuit of excellence.

Strategic Planning:

• Develop and execute comprehensive creative strategies that align with the goals and values of political, educational, and non-profit clients.
• Drive the creation of campaigns that communicate messages effectively, motivate action, and resonate with the community. Conceptual Development:
• Lead brainstorming sessions and workshops to generate fresh, engaging, and culturally sensitive campaign ideas.
• Oversee and manage the creation of concept boards, mood boards, and storyboards to visually communicate the proposed creative direction to clients and internal teams.
• Conceive and implement concepts, guidelines, and strategies in various creative projects and oversee them to completion.

Design Oversight:

• Engage in ideation and strategic discussions alongside the creative team to contribute to the formulation of creative direction, emphasizing visual aesthetics.
• Review and approve design assets, ensuring they are aligned with the established creative strategy and client objectives.
• Provide feedback and guidance to designers, illustrators, and copywriters to elevate the quality and cultural authenticity of their work.
• Recommend, research, and develop imagery (e.g., photography, illustration) to support creative strategy and execution.

Client Engagement:

• Establish and maintain strong relationships with clients, acting as the primary creative point of contact. Includes, but is not limited to, attending client meetings and having discussions to meet the objectives of the scope of work.
• Present creative concepts and campaigns to clients, articulating the rationale behind each idea and addressing any questions or concerns.

Cultural Sensitivity:

• Ensure that all creative work reflects a deep understanding of the cultural nuances and sensitivities of the community.
• Strive to create designs that resonate authentically and positively with this audience.

Project Management:

• Collaborate closely with project managers to ensure timely progress and adherence to deadlines for creative deliverables. Additionally, actively engage in client meetings alongside account managers and project managers to evaluate project briefs, create project plans, initiate projects, and present creative work.
• Work closely with the communications team to craft the textual aspect of concepts.
• Monitor project progress, making adjustments as necessary to ensure the successful execution of creative campaigns.
• Display strong organizational abilities, adept time management, and effective accountability management.
• Collaborate with external partners, including vendors, photographers, videographers, and contractors, whenever necessary.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Communication, Fine Arts, or a related field (Master’s preferred).
• A minimum of eight years of professional-level experience is required; three as a senior graphic designer or creative director and ideally within an agency environment.
• Strong portfolio showcasing a range of multichannel, collateral, and integrated, campaign work including political design.
• In-depth understanding of cultural trends and sensitivities within all communities.
• Proficiency in design software such as Adobe Creative Suite, Illustrator, Adobe Creative Cloud, and Blender.
• Meticulous attention to detail is essential for ensuring projects are delivered punctually, within budget, and in alignment with the designated strategy.
• Demonstrate creative conceptualization skills.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to think strategically, solve problems, and adapt to evolving client needs.
• Experience working with political campaigns, educational institutions, or non-profit organizations is preferred.
• Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish is preferred.
• Must exhibit strong graphic design abilities and an understanding of the fundamentals of design (typography, imagery, storytelling, conception).
• Experience in digital design and marketing with the understanding and ability to direct the design of interactive and immersive experiences by showcasing proficiency in operating within a digitally focused setting and skills in conveying this expertise to both creative and non-creative peers.
• Demonstrate exceptional design discernment and a strong grasp of client business obstacles in order to attain the utmost quality standards for all design-related materials across various platforms including print design.

COMPENSATION: $85,000-$100,000 experience + bonus based on performance

BENEFITS

• 11 paid holidays
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401K with employer matching
• Profit sharing
• Joining a collaborative, upbeat team!

SCHEDULE

• Monday to Friday.
• Must be able to work on-site. Remote work is not available for this position.

The Colibri Collective