Creative Director, Art (Team)

Overview

Must be located in Chicago and able to go into the office in accordance with our hybrid office model.

DDB Chicago is a communications agency dedicated to making creative work that works.

We believe in the power of creativity to create the change we want to happen in the world and develop audacious and famous ideas for our clients that help to grow their businesses and shape culture by driving behavior change at scale.

We are a global network of agencies who believe firmly in respect, kindness, openness, self-expression, and creativity, making spaces for the lived and learned experiences of all our people, and helping them to be the best they can be. We are intellectually curious about difference, embracing change for the better, and are committed to opposing injustice and constantly challenging the status quo. We are a place packed with the energy and passion to make things happen.

The Creative Director sets the vision and strategy for the growth of the creative department and providing creative leadership for the agency. They ensure an environment that motivates the department to deliver excellent, innovative creative work, with special emphasis on developed and selling integration solutions to our clients. The Creative Director is responsible for the presentation (and selling) of creative to internal management and clients, and works closely with Account Directors to ensure innovative solutions with seamless delivery. A key task is managing a portfolio of brands and being responsible for their creative output, creative pro-activity, and business success. They recruit, manage, lead and inspire creative professionals including Art Directors, Copywriters and Designers.

Responsibilities

Creativity

• Provides overall thought-leadership for clients in the area of communications solutions
• Oversees all creative development from concept to final delivery for all agency clients
• Provides proactive contributions to the client’s business, demonstrating best-in-class product (innovation and quality)
• Drives collaboration with mainline and marketing objectives to ensure integrated, synergistic creative approach
• Fosters innovation and quality to ensure delivery of the best creative product in the industry

Productivity

• Creates optimum structure to provide effective, efficient development of creative product
• Allocates appropriate personnel for all creative assignments
• Monitors all project milestones, deliverables, and risks to account leaders and senior management, communicating progress, issues, and accomplishments
• Works with Account Directors to secure and drive new initiatives for clients
• Oversees flawless delivery of creative deliverables in progress and the final product
• Ensures that the effort of the creative team are aligned and focused
• Provides clear direction to teams on their creative work, ensuring that it meets client’s goals and strategies
• Monitors overall quality of agency creative output providing direction and leadership

Knowledge and Skills

• Prepares and delivers presentations representing the creative with in-depth knowledge of why choices are being made
• Contributes to and fosters a growing library of knowledge around creative work and options
• Provides insight and analysis of trends and projections in all communications channels
• Has developed and shares a high level of visual literacy / understanding of typography, illustration, color theory, and photo manipulation
• Exhibits exceptional verbal communication skills, including ability to speak effectively before to senior management internally and externally

Relationships / Communications

• Constantly works to improve communications and processes necessary for optimum creative output
• Supervises, supports, and inspires creative leadership throughout the agency
• Accurately communicates team’s efforts internally / externally and reward success within team
• Has primary responsibility for creating, building and maintaining company creative reputation
• Fosters strong collaborative relationship with account management and other departments to ensure innovative and seamless delivery
• Is responsible for awareness and communication of creative successes both internally and externally

Leadership

• Is responsible for attracting, recruiting, developing and retaining top creative talent
• Builds positive environment for the development of the highest quality creative product
• Provides evaluation, mentorship, and counsel to direct reports
• Demonstrates ability to lead cross-disciplinary team members
• Stewards career management and mentorship
• Ensures strong morale through open and constant communication and team leadership
• Has developed a reputation that commands respect among all stakeholders

Qualifications

• Must have 10+ years in creative role in an advertising agency including 4+ years in a management position
• Strong management experience including major and multiple client relationships and campaigns
• Experience across all communications channels, production levels and varied business categories

Please let us know should you require any additional support or assistance through the recruitment process.

DDB is an equal opportunities employer and will never favor or discriminate against anyone based on their age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief, marriage or civil partnership, gender identity, expression, or realignment.

This role requires regular in-office presence with a minimum of three days per week, to engage and collaborate in in-person team interactions and meetings as required.

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