Creative Director

MKG Productions•Los Angeles, NY

4d•$120,000 - $180,000•Hybrid

About The Position

MKG is looking for a conceptual Creative Director with a passion for storytelling, a strategic mindset, and a strong aesthetic point of view. In this role, you’ll lead key client projects from concept to execution, while mentoring and inspiring a talented team of creative strategists, copywriters and designers. With a knack for inspiring great work and a deep understanding of how to craft memorable experiences that sets brands apart, this role requires strategic marketing thinking, concept development, and art direction.

Requirements

Strong writing and verbal communication, ability to develop decks with efficiency and impact
A minimum of 10+ years relevant experience in advertising, experiential, marketing agencies or brands
A proven track record of executing successful campaigns for top-tier brands
A passion for culture seeking and an active connection to creative communities that fuel your ideation prowess
Ability to lead teams and drive projects forward by bringing a strong voice, clear direction and decisiveness
Ability to foster the careers of direct reports, helping to carve a path to their success and growth
Ability to own a room and sell an idea - demonstrates a thoughtful POV, supported by insights and powerful rationale; defends work in a tactful and persuasive manner
Ability to manage a large volume of projects at one time while also championing and mentoring direct reports
Strong relationship-building skills across internal and external teams, including clients and partners
Ability to analyze situations, identify problems, exercise judgment and creativity in making decisions
Energy and enthusiasm, your own sense of humor and a curious mind for the work, along with respect and empathy for those you work with
Bachelor's degree or equivalent
Ability and flexibility for travel as required by projects
Given the nature of experiential work, this role may require occasional travel and flexibility to work non-traditional hours, including evenings and weekends, as business needs arise.

Responsibilities

Project Leadership: Develop and deliver creative concepts for new and existing business, with an experiential focus and omnichannel integration.
Use left brain/right brain thinking to develop innovative and ownable concepts and campaigns that are rooted in strategy and align with the client's objectives.
Creatively lead projects from start to finish, while keeping ECD informed.
Responsible for leading brainstorming sessions, developing and refining concepts, composing compelling decks through strong storytelling, guiding the project team and giving constructive feedback, ensuring the vision is being met, while always pushing the creative thinking
Dissect and interpret client briefs and challenge the status quo, steering clients to new territories that drive Brand Action
Assemble internal design briefs, pull inspiration, and guide designers with an aesthetic point of view, creating a cohesive strategic narrative throughout the creative work.
Sell your creative with crystal clear rationale and passionate energy, both internally to our project teams and externally to clients
Identify potential risks or issues related to projects and client relationships, and take proactive steps to mitigate them
Team Leadership: Mentor and manage direct reports from varied creative disciplines and backgrounds, coaching and mentoring them to develop hard and soft skills around creative output, relationship building and leadership
Review direct report’s work, providing guidance and feedback, sharing best practices and recommending next steps
Attend briefing meetings and brainstorms for direct report’s project to help guide initial thinking and action planning
Push direct reports to strive for strategic, results-driven quality work; find ways to continually improve output
Find ways to continually improve output Business Impact: Think big picture about our agency goals and the work, clients, and pitches that will drive us forward
Assume ownership of key client relationships from a creative standpoint, working with internal and external teams to grow MKG’s business and reputation
Stay up to date with industry trends, emerging technologies, and creative practices, sharing knowledge and discoveries with the wider team.
Provide support on agency needs like case study creation, awards submissions, agency marketing, etc