Commercial Creative Strategist

Shive Hattery Group, Inc.•Iowa City, IA

About The Position

Shive-Hattery is seeking a Commercial Creative Strategist! Do you have an eye for design, a way with words, and a drive to win? The Shive-Hattery Commercial Creative Strategy Team is seeking a creative strategist who brings sharp insight, creative rigor, and a drive to win. In this role, you’ll transform complex information into persuasive, visually stunning proposals and presentations that help us win work and make an impact in the communities we serve. If you thrive under deadlines, have a sharp eye for detail, and enjoy working hands-on in Adobe InDesign, PowerPoint, and other creative tools — this is your opportunity to shine. Our ideal candidate will have: Purpose-Driven Ownership: You hold yourself to high standards because the environments you help shape influence how people work, live, and play. You care deeply about clarity, accuracy, and communication, applying those skills across diverse commercial markets and marketing mediums that drive local and national growth. You anticipate needs, lead with insight, and bring energy to every phase of the creative process. A Strategic Mindset: Not only do you see the big picture, you also understand your place in it. You are curious and ask the right questions at the right time. You listen intently. You can interpret and communicate data clearly. You connect the dots! Servant Leadership: You know when to lead, follow, or get out of the way, not for personal gain but for the greater good. Strong Writing Skills: You pivot from crafting concise project narratives to persuasive cover letters. You distill complexity, clarify value, and tailor messages for diverse audiences — developers, commercial real estate brokers, executives, community leaders, and facility directors alike. Visual Intuition & Graphic Design: You have a strong grasp on visual storytelling. You enjoy collaborating to develop layouts, graphics and visuals supporting an overall message. Why you’ll love working here: You’ll be part of a collaborative, creative, and supportive team that genuinely invests in one another’s growth. We believe in teaching and learning every day; sharing knowledge, skills, and ideas so we can all get better together. You’ll have the autonomy to take ownership of your work, with leaders and teammates who support your goals and encourage continuous improvement. No two days are the same here! The Commercial market spans Corporate Workplace, Gaming and Hospitality, Housing, Commercial Development, and Energy Services, giving you the opportunity to work on a wide variety of pursuits and initiatives, each with its own unique challenges and story to tell. Along the way, we make space for fun, celebrate wins big and small, and keep the work environment inspiring and energizing.

Requirements

Highly proficient in Adobe Creative Cloud (InDesign required; Illustrator and Photoshop a plus).
Skilled in Microsoft PowerPoint and Word; comfortable producing polished, print-and screen-ready documents. Excel a plus.
Strong writing and editing skills, with the ability to distill complex technical concepts into clear, engaging content.
Highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple projects and meet tight deadlines without sacrificing quality.
Collaborative mindset, excellent interpersonal skills, and a proactive approach to communication.
Bachelor’s degree in marketing, journalism, communications, graphic design, or related field — or equivalent experience.
2+ years experience in proposal production, marketing communications, or similar creative role.
At this time, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship now or in the future. Candidates must have current and ongoing authorization to work in the United States without employer sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with AEC marketing and/or commercial market is a plus, but not required — we’ll help you get up to speed.
Experience with Deltek VantagePoint, OpenAsset, or Newforma is a plus, but not required.

Responsibilities

Develop visually compelling, persuasive proposals and presentations from kickoff through final production.
Craft clear, client-focused narratives and supporting visuals that tell a cohesive story.
Format, proof, and polish materials to ensure accuracy, compliance, and brand consistency.
Collaborate closely with technical staff, marketing teammates, and teaming partners to translate ideas into high-quality deliverables.
Design layouts in Adobe InDesign and PowerPoint that communicate ideas clearly and attractively.
Source, edit, create and integrate images, graphics, and infographics that support the message.
Maintain and apply brand standards while tailoring materials for each pursuit.
Partner with pursuit leads to understand client priorities and project details.
Ask smart, targeted questions to clarify content and improve the final product.
Work with Creative Strategy team to maintain updated resumes, project sheets, booklets, digital asset libraries, and qualifications materials.