Creative Director, Art

UMT•Brooklyn, NY

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

Translation is an award-winning independent creative agency that aspires to be the most culturally influential company in the world. We help ambitious brands harness the power of culture to solve their biggest challenges – at our best, we make what was once invisible unmissable. As a unique mix of experts in culture, technology, and storytelling, we are united by a passion to grow brands in ways that advertising alone never could. What makes Translation’s work stand out is our ability to collaborate and create with individuals who don’t just consume “culture”, they’re a part of making it and living it every day. We are an entrepreneurial business – not a traditional “ad agency.” That means we value resourcefulness and tenacity just as much as we value creativity and intelligence. We are looking for a Creative Director, Art to join Translation in our Brooklyn headquarters! This role will focus primarily on clients and projects that speak directly to, and by, the African American community. The ideal candidate will have an innate cultural fluency – understanding the latest trends, memes, and phrases. This person should know how cultural moves – what’s new, what’s next, and what’s not for long. At Translation, all of our CD, Art Directors lead the development of bold visual concepts, guide, mentos, and manage creative teams on a given project. They proactively collaborate with strategy and context planning partners, as well as directly with clients, to ensure work is both creatively exceptional and strategically aligned. Our CDs lead by example to consistently inspire creative colleagues to create world-class, pioneering ideas. They generate useful, usable ideas across all existing and emerging digital platforms – continually develop practices and processes to inspire, innovate, and harness new ways of thinking. This role is based in Brooklyn, New York with four days in-office and one day remote.

Requirements

8+ years of professional experience at an agency or similar creative organization
Has held at least an Associate Creative Director title (or equivalent)
A background with progressive experience in a client-facing, creative leadership role in a creative agency environment.
Digitally savvy; MUST be proficient in Google Workspace and Microsoft Office suite as well as have knowledge of current A.I. tools and platforms.
Demonstrated experience leading multicultural or African American targeted work.
Ability to successfully lead, motivate, and mentor teams of creative talent to create work that moves the cultural needle.
Knowledge of the pre- and post-production process across formats and media.
An understanding of the current landscape of creative advertising work in the market.
Strong aptitude for providing clear creative direction, career path guidance, and timely and helpful feedback that will improve creative processes, as well as keep work on budget and schedule.
Able to prioritize work and resources across engagements based on short- and long-term needs, timelines, and budgets.
Possess and encourage high degrees of initiative, drive, empathy, accountability, creativity, and maturity.
Demonstrate, evangelize, and live the core values of the agency.
Incorporate the passion, excitement, and experience of one’s MINOR in relevant ways that inform the quality and output of agency deliverables.
Be able to move with the ebbs and flows of pitches, brainstorming sessions, and deadlines with agility, humor, and focus.
Possess and demonstrate impeccable interpersonal, presentation, and communication skills across all levels of both internal and client organizations.

Nice To Haves

Training or degree in a directly related field, such as advertising, graphic design, commercial art, or web/digital design.

Responsibilities

Ensure the timely development and execution of multiple campaigns and projects that not only meet client objectives but are breakthrough ideas for the creative industry.
Develop creative solutions that defend budget recommendations and measurement objectives to provide both profitable and quality work to our current and prospective clients.
Stimulate creative direction and act in an advisory role throughout the duration of client team projects.
Display an industry-leading understanding and application of the principles that make innovative and effective campaigns, designs, and interaction designs.
Ensures the execution of high-quality work that is on time, on budget, and uses appropriate technology.
Serve as arbiter of verbal and visual tone and craft for creative assignments for internal executive and external client review.
Provide leadership and motivation, conveying the vision and values of the agency to staff.
Train and supervise assigned creative teams
Collaborate with the core leadership team on assigned accounts and projects to ensure alignment on creative recommendations and client opportunities.
Work to resolve any internal challenges.
Maintain external professional relationships with production partners, freelance networks, agency partners, and others to ensure we’re sharing the agency POV across the industry and recruiting the right talent and partners
Participate in the creation and presentation of client pitches / new business efforts, as required.