Creative Director at Box and Cedar

Job Description

Creative Objectives:

• Must be heavily slanted and proficient in digital marketing communications. Operate at expert level in this space.
• Oversee the design and creative development of enterprise-wide brand guidelines, digital programs, and audio-visual communications.
• Provide vision and clarity to creative team members to ensure creative solutions for client needs and strategies.
• Manage agency partnerships and external vendors to ensure the best value of services, creative deliverables and innovation

Operational Objectives:

• Provide creative leadership and vision to support the evolution and strength of the brand as the most influential shaper of choice. 
• Maintain a high level of efficiencies in the utilization of design staff and resources.
• Implement systems, best practices, standard operating processes and protocol. 
• Guide team growth and development as suited to the needs of the organization, business objectives and marketing strategies. 
• Support the Executive Creative Director to provide leadership, build trust and credibility with partners and shape the culture of the Creative organization

Process Objectives:

• Analyze efficiencies and effectiveness of creative outcomes as they impact the business, the team, the organization and executive management. 
• Apply best practices to process and procedures as needed to ensure evolution of the creative team into a world class design organization
• Monitor compliance and workflow to ensure milestones and deadlines are met.
• Establish and monitor agency/vendor relationships monthly to validate business alignment and value to the organization
• Provide regular, consistent reports and statuses to the Executive Creative Director - elevate & prioritize objectives as needed.

Project Management Objectives:

• Set project goals and objectives with partners and ensure clarity of expectations and deliverables.
• Set the pace for the team and establish priorities that level set quality, innovation, aesthetic and strategy alignment.
• Set annual goals and objectives consistent with the Executive Creative Director and Executive Management. Enable ongoing communication process with clients, creative team and account services. 
• Apply resources wisely and systematically when challenged with unexpected requests and tight timelines. 

Leadership Objectives:

• Develop creative team members; reward high potentials and manage problem performers.
• Partner with the Executive Creative Director to ensure positive morale, clarity of creative vision, team building and partner trust. 
• Conduct regular evaluations and provide feedback to ensure team members are performing optimally and with insight to their opportunities for growth and improvement.
• Responsible for reviews and performance management of team members and freelancers.
• Lead and mentor team members by creating individual, measurable performance objectives that align with the overall team goals and business objectives
• Seek out development and training opportunities for team members to enhance creativity, productivity and skill.
• Work closely with the Executive Creative Director to ensure organizational effectiveness, talent retention & acquisition

Requirements: 

• BA in Design or equivalent experience demonstrating strong visual design skills.
• Over 10 years as a creative professional as a graphic designer, art director or creative manager.
• Over 4 years managing a creative team in an agency or corporate environment.
• Direct management experience of a team comprised of 10 or more creatives.
• Agency/vendor relationship management experience that exhibits the ability to develop successful campaigns through guidance and partnership.
• Operational management in a creative environment with experience handling supervision, resource management, improvement of costs, technology, workflow processes, ideation, creative strategy, and applied marketing/business insights
• Ability to respond and perform swiftly and seamlessly in a rapidly changing environment.
• Deep experience in design at both the contributor and manager level with the ability to support the creative team and cross functional partners in developing appropriate solutions for client communications and challenges
• Experienced at client facing roles with specific experience in setting and managing expectations and outcomes.