Creative Director

Adelphi Group • Chicago, IL

7d • $100 - $100 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Weber Shandwick Collective is seeking a freelance Creative Director with an art or copy background to develop culturally relevant, earned-first ideas for major brands. The role calls for a creative leader who can turn cultural insight into work people want to share, and shape ambitious ideas from initial concept through execution. The Creative Director will work across strategy, account, media relations, social, and analytics to create work that captures attention, earns conversation, and has meaningful impact.

This role focuses on ideas that give people a reason to care, participate, and share, rather than simply adapting work for channels. The Creative Director will help teams identify human insights and cultural opportunities, bring ideas to life, and explain their potential to colleagues and clients. The position is freelance and requires the ability to get up to speed quickly, build trust, and bring focus and momentum to projects.

Omnicom policy requires employees to work in the office at least three days per week, to the extent permissible by local law, unless additional in-office days are directed by the agency or manager.

Requirements

• 7–10+ years of experience in art direction, design, copywriting, or creative leadership.
• A portfolio demonstrating strong concepts and high-quality execution.
• A track record of developing or leading earned-led campaigns and understanding what makes an idea newsworthy, shareable, and relevant beyond paid placements.
• Ability to develop original, compelling concepts and shape them into work that connects with people and travels across platforms.
• Knowledge of people, platforms, creators, communities, and cultural conversations, with the ability to distinguish meaningful insight from passing trends.
• Ability to guide multidisciplinary teams, improve work through thoughtful direction, and adapt leadership to project needs.
• For art directors or designers: a strong visual point of view and fluency in tools needed to bring ideas to life.
• For copywriters: range across formats, including captions, scripts, and platform-defining narratives.
• Ability to get up to speed quickly, build trust with teams, and bring focus and momentum to freelance projects.
• A sense of humor and ability to laugh at oneself or the internet.

Responsibilities

• Set creative direction from the initial concept through finished work, identifying the human insight, cultural tension, or opportunity that could help an idea travel.
• Develop earned-first ideas designed to generate attention, conversation, and participation, using an understanding of media, creators, communities, and culture.
• Collaborate with strategy, account, media relations, social, and analytics teams to develop integrated ideas grounded in audience insight and real-world opportunity.
• Provide clear, constructive creative direction to multidisciplinary teams, helping improve thinking and craft while keeping the work focused on its purpose.
• Contribute hands-on to the work when needed, using art or copy skills as appropriate.
• Monitor platforms, subcultures, emerging media, and news-cycle conversations, and bring relevant cultural signals and insights into the work.
• Present ideas clearly and persuasively, explaining their potential to earn attention to colleagues and clients.

Benefits

• Opportunity to work alongside talented people who value bold ideas, cultural insight, and collaboration.
• Opportunity to create work that earns attention and makes an impression on brands, audiences, and culture.
• Opportunity to bring a personal perspective to a range of challenges and help teams find fresh approaches.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed