Creative Director

George P. Johnson Experience Marketing • Los Angeles, NY

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

GPJ is hiring a Creative Director to lead creative ideation and innovative thinking, mentor and develop creative team members, and foster an open, collaborative, and inclusive environment. The role works directly with clients and internal teams to guide strategic and creative ideas and solutions, with a focus on creative strategy, customer journeys, and delivering results across trade shows, launch events, lifestyle events, sports and entertainment, conferences, and PR opportunities.

The Creative Director supervises account-based creative teams, manages 1–4 direct reports, supports new-business efforts and pitches, leads planning and strategy sessions, and oversees creative work from concept through execution. The role partners with creative leadership and teams across strategy, accounts, production, IP, graphics production, fabrication, and creative technology to meet client objectives, maintain design and brand integrity, establish agency standards, and manage workload, budgets, and deadlines. The position also develops client relationships and represents the agency with clients and at industry events.

This is a hybrid role requiring on-site attendance at a GPJ office at least two days per week. The position requires 25% travel and the ability to work irregular hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays, as needed. The stated salary range is $120,000–$150,000, dependent on factors including experience, skills, and location.

Requirements

• A four-year degree in Design, Advertising, Theater, or a related creative discipline.
• At least 10 years of industry experience or related creative-process experience combining strategy, content, messaging, and creative deliverables.
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Ability to lead, motivate, and inspire a creative team while aligning the creative process with business goals and objectives.
• Ability to travel 25%.
• Ability to work irregular hours in addition to normal business hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays, as needed.
• Ability to manage priorities, time, budgets, and resources effectively, including full-time and freelance resources.
• Strong communication, creative innovation, adaptability, organization, and prioritization skills.

Nice To Haves

• Event and experience design expertise.

Responsibilities

• Lead creative ideation and innovative thinking, and mentor and develop creative team members.
• Foster an open, collaborative, and inclusive environment that inspires high-quality work.
• Work directly with clients and internal teams to guide strategic and creative ideas and solutions.
• Lead account-based creative teams day to day and manage 1–4 direct reports, supporting their career growth and development.
• Collaborate on new-business efforts by developing ideas and contributing to pitches.
• Work with creative leadership to develop strategic presentations, including copywriting, sketches, renders, mock-ups, and presentations.
• Manage team workload and meet tight deadlines.
• Lead planning and strategy sessions that result in clear creative briefs.
• Oversee project creative teams and ensure work is executed consistently and to a high standard.
• Help establish agency best practices and standards with creative leadership.
• Develop multiple concepts and solutions that meet client objectives while considering business impact.
• Build client relationships, inspire clients, and manage expectations.
• Collaborate with IP, graphics production, fabrication, and creative technology to set standards and solve design and budget challenges while maintaining design and brand integrity.
• Partner with strategy, production, and account teams to deliver experiences for clients.
• Contribute to concepts, designs, and pitch presentations for new and existing clients.
• Develop ideas and creative design solutions across multiple brands and initiatives.
• Maintain project budgets and track allocated hours to support creative-team profitability in partnership with Creative Project Managers and Account Teams.
• Represent the agency with integrity and confidence to clients and at industry events.
• Travel 25% and work irregular hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays, as needed.

Benefits

• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) providing employees with an ownership interest.
• FTO policy with no accrual of time off.
• Employer-matching 401(k) plan with no vesting period.
• Low employee-contribution healthcare option.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior