Creative Director - Art

M+C Saatchi Group•New York, NY

96d

About The Position

SS+K is seeking an experienced Creative Director with an art focus to lead visual identity and design excellence across client work. The role sets the look, feel, and craft of campaigns, ensuring that design and visual storytelling elevate ideas, resonate with audiences, and deliver measurable impact. The Creative Director partners with writers, strategists, and producers to create strategically grounded, visually distinctive work, balancing creative oversight with hands-on concepting, design, and execution as needed. The role includes defining agency design standards across broadcast, digital, social, experiential, and out-of-home channels; guiding campaign visual direction and delivery; presenting creative concepts to clients; and mentoring and developing creative teams. The successful candidate will help foster a collaborative, design-driven culture and translate strategic insights and audience understanding into resonant creative work. SS+K is a creative agency specializing in brand reputation and issue advocacy, and is part of the M&C Saatchi Group. The role requires the ability to work in the United States; visa sponsorship is unavailable. Salary ranges from $220,000 to $230,000, depending on experience.

Requirements

10 or more years of agency experience in art direction, design, and visual storytelling.
At least 3 years in a Creative Director, Associate Creative Director, or senior art leadership role.
A strong portfolio showcasing award-winning design and integrated campaigns.
Mastery of Adobe Creative Suite and/or other design tools.
Strong presentation and communication skills, with the ability to sell creative ideas clearly and passionately.
Proven experience leading and developing creative teams.
Ability to work in the United States; the employer is unable to sponsor work visas.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with motion, UX/UI, and emerging technology.
A record of pursuing culturally relevant, high-quality work that drives business results.
Ability to articulate a cohesive, cross-channel creative vision and challenge conventional thinking professionally.
A mentorship-focused approach that helps develop talent and supports a diverse, collaborative creative culture.
Curiosity about human behavior and culture, with the ability to turn strategic insights into emotionally resonant creative concepts.

Responsibilities

Define and elevate design and visual standards across broadcast, digital, social, experiential, and out-of-home channels.
Set the visual direction for campaigns and guide teams in creating striking, brand-right creative.
Balance creative oversight with execution, ensuring high-quality design delivery and contributing directly to concepting or execution when needed.
Oversee concept development, mood boards, style frames, layouts, and final design delivery.
Contribute to design, typography, photography direction, illustration, and motion or UX design as needed.
Promote visual innovation while maintaining brand integrity and consistency across touchpoints.
Present creative and design concepts to clients and explain the rationale behind visual choices.
Build client trust by understanding their needs and demonstrating how design solutions support business objectives.
Partner with copywriters to develop holistic, visually driven ideas.
Work with strategy teams to ensure design solutions are rooted in insights and consumer truths.
Collaborate with production partners, photographers, illustrators, animators, and developers to deliver polished work.
Mentor art directors, designers, and junior talent, supporting their creative and professional development.
Foster a design-driven culture that values craft, curiosity, and collaboration.