Creative Director

Adelphi Group•Chicago, IL

23h•$200,000 - $270,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Creative Director sets the vision and strategy for the creative department’s growth and provides creative leadership for the agency. The role creates an environment that motivates the department to deliver excellent, innovative creative work, with particular emphasis on developing and selling integrated solutions to clients. The Creative Director presents and sells creative work to internal management and clients, partners closely with Account Directors to deliver innovative solutions seamlessly, and manages a portfolio of brands, taking responsibility for creative output, proactivity, and business success. The role also recruits, manages, leads, and inspires creative professionals, including Art Directors, Copywriters, and Designers. The Creative Director provides communications thought leadership, oversees creative development from concept through delivery, contributes proactively to clients’ businesses, and drives collaboration across marketing objectives. The position establishes efficient creative workflows, assigns personnel, tracks project milestones and risks, ensures delivery quality, and directs teams to meet client goals and strategies. It also prepares and delivers presentations, shares knowledge and analysis of communications trends, and uses strong visual literacy and verbal communication skills. The role improves communications and processes, supports creative leaders, builds collaborative relationships across departments, and represents and promotes the agency’s creative reputation and successes. It attracts, develops, and retains creative talent; mentors and evaluates direct reports; leads cross-disciplinary teams; and fosters morale through open communication and team leadership. The stated salary range is $200,000–$270,000. Omnicom policy requires employees to work in the office at least three days per week, subject to local law and any additional direction from the agency or manager.

Requirements

At least 10 years in a creative role at an advertising agency, including at least 4 years in a management position.
Strong management experience, including major and multiple client relationships and campaigns.
Experience across communications channels, production levels, and business categories.
Exceptional verbal communication skills, including the ability to speak effectively before senior management internally and externally.
High-level visual literacy and understanding of typography, illustration, color theory, and photo manipulation.

Responsibilities

Set the vision and strategy for the creative department’s growth and provide creative leadership for the agency.
Oversee creative development from concept through final delivery for agency clients.
Provide communications thought leadership and proactive contributions to clients’ businesses.
Drive collaboration with mainline and marketing objectives to create integrated, synergistic creative work.
Develop and sell integrated creative solutions to clients and present creative work to internal management and clients.
Manage a portfolio of brands and be accountable for their creative output, proactivity, and business success.
Create an effective and efficient structure for developing creative work and allocate appropriate personnel to assignments.
Monitor project milestones, deliverables, and risks; communicate progress, issues, and accomplishments to account leaders and senior management.
Work with Account Directors to secure and advance new client initiatives.
Ensure flawless delivery of creative work and monitor the overall quality of agency output.
Direct teams so their work meets client goals and strategies and keeps their efforts aligned and focused.
Prepare and deliver presentations explaining creative choices and contribute to a shared library of creative knowledge.
Provide insight and analysis on trends and projections across communications channels.
Improve communications and processes that support effective creative output.
Support and inspire creative leadership across the agency and communicate the team’s efforts and successes internally and externally.
Build and maintain the company’s creative reputation and foster collaborative relationships with account management and other departments.
Attract, recruit, develop, and retain creative talent.
Evaluate, mentor, and counsel direct reports; steward career development and mentorship.
Lead cross-disciplinary teams and foster strong morale through open communication and team leadership.