Creative Director

Stagwell Global•New York, NY

9d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Creative Director is a proven creative leader who consistently develops disruptive, culture-shaping ideas that cut through and drive earned-worthy moments for clients. Leading an integrated Art and Copy team, you bring both conceptual rigor and the self-editing skills to shape campaigns with minimal oversight. You thrive as a hands-on creative, formulating bold ideas on brief, directing executions, and presenting directly to clients with confidence and clarity. As an emerging leader, you mentor and elevate your team while demonstrating the creative maturity and strategic thinking that positions you as the next generation of creative leadership at HUNTER.

Requirements

6-10+ years of creative leadership, with proven success leading multidisciplinary teams in integrated marketing, brand experiences, or communications
Exceptional portfolio demonstrating conceptual strength, visual storytelling, and integrated campaign execution
Demonstrated ability to develop and execute innovative campaigns that drive engagement and measurable results
Record of winning new business and expanding existing client relationships
Ability to mentor, coach, and develop creative talent; model strong leadership through clear direction, constructive feedback, and empowerment
Proven experience managing and inspiring cross-functional teams across design, content strategy, production, and account management
Strong communication and presentation skills; confidence when presenting to clients, stakeholders, and executive leadership
Sharp collaboration and active listening skills, with the ability to align teams and stakeholders around shared vision
Strong strategic thinking: ability to dissect briefs, uncover insights, and translate business objectives into compelling creative solutions
Hands-on expertise overseeing multiple complex projects at various stages while maintaining high-level strategic oversight
Experience managing budgets, resources, and freelance partnerships; commitment to executing projects efficiently and profitably
Comfort working in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments
A good understanding of working with vendors, materials costs, freelance costs, printing and pricing and the ability to reach agreements that are fair and/or favorable to the agency
Cultural curiosity and awareness; ability to create ideas that resonate with diverse audiences and communities
Knowledge of design, production, emerging technologies, and their application to earned, marketing and experiential work
Strong understanding of social media and digital integration; ability to amplify activations through strategic content and storytelling
Genuine interest in AI, automation, and emerging tools; eagerness to explore and implement technologies that strengthen creative output

Responsibilities

Lead and own creative work across assigned accounts, consistently and independently generating a high volume of original, disruptive ideas grounded in strategy and on brief
Develop compelling creative concepts that align with HUNTER client objectives and measurable KPIs; demonstrate strong self-editing skills to shape ideas into award-worthy, culture-disrupting campaigns
Translate complex briefs and strategy into clear creative direction; understand and appreciate the importance of strategy and ensure all ideas ladder to client business objectives
Lead creative concepting, brainstorms, and strategy sessions with energy and conviction, fostering bold thinking and pushing boundaries within strategic intent
Concept and direct across disciplines; developing storyboards, comps, copy, and integrated executions that showcase creative excellence
Deliver compelling pitch presentations and new business concepts; serve as a confident external-facing creative voice for HUNTER when needed
Review all work with ECD and Sr. Integrated Creative Director to ensure alignment and creative excellence before presenting to internal account and client teams
Lead the charge for Creative Exploration across the agency by leading Creative Competitions, hack-a-thons and open calls for ideas to help get the best creative thinking available in the agency.
Establish strong visual & copy direction and creative standards for assigned work, guiding Art Directors, Copywriters, Designers and Producers toward executions that match creative intent
Demonstrate strong conceptual design thinking and creative strategy skills; collaborate with design, experiential and production teams to ensure visual storytelling is compelling and on brand
Demonstrate strong conceptual writing skills paired with strategic thinking; ability to articulate ideas with precision and clarity
Provide precise, actionable feedback that elevates creative work across ideation, design, and visual execution
Ensure executions are delivered on time and on budget, with quality matching or exceeding creative vision
Work seamlessly with Creative Production Leads to handle all production and post-production across design, video, and experiences
Support the integration of emerging tools and AI into creative workflows, leveraging technology to enhance ideation and execution without compromising craft
Lead, inspire, and mentor an integrated Art and Copy team, setting clear expectations and providing regular coaching, feedback, and professional development support
Mentor Copywriters, Art Directors and Designers at various levels, elevating their thinking, strengthening their craft, and growing the next generation of creative leaders
Model creative leadership through clear direction, decisive creative judgment, strong taste, and empowerment of individual contributors
Foster a collaborative team culture where bold ideas are encouraged, feedback is constructive and respectful, and exceptional work is celebrated
Conduct project-based performance feedback and contribute to formal performance review processes; support career development and growth
Demonstrate maturity in navigating challenging client situations, finding creative opportunities even within difficult constraints
Collaborate with flexibility and confidence to build account team and client trust and ensure satisfaction while maintaining HUNTER's creative standards
Identify growth opportunities with existing clients; support account expansion through strong creative work and strategic thinking
Support HUNTER’s new business initiatives by developing concepting and pitch presentations that showcase HUNTER's creative capabilities
Bring thoughtful, fresh, and strategic ideas to new business opportunities; demonstrate the energy and enthusiasm that wins pitches
Contribute to agency marketing and thought leadership by sharing strong work and participating in industry conversations
Track team members hours/rates and OOP costs against budget and work with the ECD to manage billability and useability across the team
Establish a clear line of communication with account teams, ECD and COO with respect to scoping and pricing models for all projects
Work with account/HR/Finance team on all vendor agreements, ensuring competitive bids are met and costs are appropriate for the size and scale of the project
Manage all vendor contracts, and insurance (both freelance and production vendor)