Creative Director

George P. Johnson Experience Marketing • Nashville, TN

4d • $120,000 - $150,000 • 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 measurable results for 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, and leads project creative teams from planning and briefing through execution. The role contributes to new-business efforts and pitches, develops presentations and creative concepts, maintains client relationships, and partners with creative leadership and teams across IP, graphics production, fabrication, creative technology, strategy, production, and accounts. Responsibilities include managing team workloads, budgets, and allocated hours, and establishing agency standards and best practices while maintaining design and brand integrity.

This is a hybrid role requiring on-site attendance at a GPJ office at least two days per week. Travel of 25% is required, as is the ability to work irregular hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays, as needed.

Requirements

• Minimum of a four-year degree in Design, Advertising, Theater, or a related creative discipline.
• Minimum of 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 GPJ business goals and objectives.
• Ability to travel 25%.
• Ability to work irregular hours beyond normal business hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays, as needed.
• Ability to work on-site at a GPJ office at least two days per week.

Nice To Haves

• Event and Experience Design expertise.

Responsibilities

• Supervise account-based creative teams day to day and support their success.
• Manage 1–4 direct reports and invest in their career development and growth.
• Collaborate on new-business efforts by developing ideas and pitching to clients.
• Contribute to creative and agency culture and inspire teams to do their best work.
• Collaborate with creative leadership to create strategic presentations using copywriting, sketches, renders, mock-ups, and other presentation materials.
• Manage team workloads and meet tight deadlines.
• Lead planning and strategy sessions that result in clear creative briefs.
• Lead project creative teams, oversee work, and ensure high-quality, consistent execution.
• Work with creative leadership to establish agency best practices and standards.
• Develop multiple concepts and solutions that meet client objectives and consider the broader business impact.
• Build client relationships and manage expectations.
• Collaborate with IP, graphics production, fabrication, and creative technology teams to set standards and solve design and budget challenges while maintaining design and brand integrity.
• Provide creative team leadership and direction in support of GPJ’s creative leadership in Experience Marketing.
• Partner with strategy, production, accounts, clients, and senior team members to create authentic experiences and strengthen brand significance and performance.
• Contribute to and oversee pitch presentations and concepts for new business and existing clients.
• Develop new 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.

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