Director of Creative Strategy & Services

Gallagher•San Diego, CA

About The Position

The Director of Creative Strategy & Services leads Gallagher’s creative services function, aligning creative resources, talent, processes, and production capabilities with strategic priorities and organizational goals. The role advises Marketing & Communications leadership and business partners, helps define creative solutions and resource allocation, and delivers work that advances organizational objectives. As a strategic leader and hands-on creative partner, the Director guides integrated campaigns and creative solutions across digital, print, video, and experiential channels, and is accountable for the quality, consistency, efficiency, and impact of creative services. As a player-coach, the Director leads and mentors a multidisciplinary creative team while contributing to concept development, creative reviews, and selected design or production work when needed. The role oversees creative strategy, brand development and standards, creative operations, assets, budgets, vendors, and multimedia production. It also consults with organizational leaders and stakeholders to clarify communication goals, audience needs, priorities, and creative requirements. RPA San Diego is Gallagher’s third-party administration, consulting, and strategic management branch for collectively bargained benefit plans, pooled purchasing arrangements, and trusts. Its mission is to deliver high-quality, affordable, and accessible health care to members.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Marketing, Digital Media, Communications, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Eight or more years of progressively responsible experience leading brand, creative, design, digital, or multimedia initiatives.
Three or more years of experience managing creative professionals or multidisciplinary teams.
Demonstrated experience leading integrated creative projects from concept through execution.
Experience developing creative solutions and visual communications for executive, governance, client, and member audiences.
Experience managing external agencies, contractors, and production vendors.
Demonstrated success leading brand, creative, digital, or multimedia initiatives and developing high-performing creative teams.
Expertise in creative strategy, brand management, visual communication, and multimedia production.
Strong understanding of digital experience, web design, accessibility, and user-centered design principles.
Strong leadership, team development, and stakeholder management skills.
Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
Strong strategic thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
Ability to balance strategic leadership with hands-on creative execution.
Strong business acumen and ability to communicate complex concepts to diverse audiences.
Ability to build trusted relationships and collaborate effectively across all levels of the organization.
Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment while managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
Creative, out-of-the-box mindset and strong critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.
Ability to build strong business-partner relationships.
Ability to communicate effectively, including strong listening, verbal, and written communication skills.
Highly engaging public-speaking skills, with a focus on engaging in the community.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in a related field is highly desired.
Strong preference for health care, benefits, or public health experience.
Experience developing personal action campaigns across a diverse population.
Experience working with labor unions, public sector employers, and/or collective bargaining.
Experience managing Salesforce Marketing Cloud, including Customer Journeys and tailored messaging.
Experience in health care, employee benefits, education, public sector, or another highly regulated environment.
Experience within an in-house creative team, agency, production company, or similarly multidisciplinary creative environment.
Demonstrated ability to translate complex business needs into clear, audience-centered creative solutions.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute creative strategies that support organizational and marketing objectives.
Translate business goals, audience insights, and communication priorities into compelling creative solutions.
Provide creative direction across design, video, web, digital, print, and experiential channels.
Evaluate and approve creative concepts and final deliverables for quality, effectiveness, and brand alignment.
Identify and implement innovative creative approaches, technologies, and best practices.
Lead, develop, and mentor a multidisciplinary team of creative professionals; establish expectations, accountability, and professional development goals.
Build organizational capability through talent development, knowledge sharing, succession planning, and performance management.
Foster collaboration, innovation, continuous improvement, service excellence, and high execution standards.
Partner with organizational leaders and stakeholders to identify creative needs, develop solutions, and present recommendations and project updates.
Participate in hiring, onboarding, performance management, workforce planning, and other people-leadership responsibilities.
Promote collaboration between creative services and other Marketing & Communications functions, integrating creative execution with content, product marketing, outreach, digital, and communications strategies.
Lead the development, application, and evolution of the organization’s visual identity and brand system.
Ensure consistent application of brand standards across programs, products, services, campaigns, events, and communication channels.
Develop and maintain brand guidelines, visual standards, templates, creative toolkits, and related resources.
Set creative direction for affiliated programs or initiatives while maintaining alignment with the broader brand.
Advise stakeholders on how creative and visual decisions affect audience perception, clarity, consistency, and trust.
Review and approve final creative deliverables before stakeholder sharing or external release, as appropriate.
Oversee creative services operations, including project intake, prioritization, resource allocation, production, and delivery.
Manage relationships with external agencies, freelancers, contractors, and production partners.
Establish and monitor processes, budgets, performance measures, and asset-management practices.
Balance organizational priorities against available resources and recommend capacity, timeline, and investment decisions.
Monitor team performance, project health, and service levels, and implement improvements as needed.
Oversee visual and multimedia assets, including digital campaigns, websites, presentations, publications, video, photography, and print materials.
Provide strategic oversight of video and multimedia production from concept through final delivery.
Guide user experience, visual presentation, accessibility, and brand standards for web and digital properties.
Provide hands-on creative direction, concept development, and production support as needed.
Consult with organizational leaders and business partners to define communication goals, audience needs, and creative requirements.
Guide stakeholders toward effective solutions, facilitate discussions to build consensus and set priorities, and align creative efforts with organizational objectives.
Present creative recommendations and strategic rationale to leadership and key stakeholders.