Executive Director, Creative and Design

Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated•Chesterfield, MO

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

RGA is a purpose-driven organization working to solve today’s challenges through innovation and collaboration. A Fortune 200 Company and listed among its World’s Most Admired Companies, we’re the only global reinsurance company to focus primarily on life- and health-related solutions. Join our multinational team of intelligent, motivated, and collaborative people, and help us make financial protection accessible to all. The Executive Director, Creative & Design is a senior marketing and creative leader responsible for driving RGA's brand and marketing effectiveness through inspired creative execution, enterprise-wide brand stewardship, and strategic marketing consultation. This role leads a lean Creative & Design team while extending creative authority and direction, marketing acumen, and organizational influence across the enterprise to elevate the quality and impact of RGA's marketing and brand experiences globally. Reporting to the VP, Global Brand, the Executive Director serves as a trusted partner to senior leaders and internal clients throughout the organization, bringing marketing and creative excellence to bear on the initiatives that matter most to RGA's business, brand, and reputation.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Marketing, Advertising, or a related creative field, or equivalent professional experience.
10–15 years of progressive experience in creative services, brand, or marketing communications, with demonstrated leadership of in-house corporate or professional services creative teams.
Proven experience leading and developing multi-disciplinary creative teams in a corporate or professional services environment, with a track record of elevating creative quality and marketing effectiveness.
Demonstrated experience providing creative direction and marketing consultation to senior stakeholders and internal clients, translating business objectives into effective creative and marketing strategies.
5+ years of people management experience, including hiring, coaching, performance management, and associate development.
Advertising and marketing communications experience, with a strong understanding of integrated marketing and multi-channel brand execution.
Strong marketing acumen, with the ability to connect creative execution to marketing objectives.
Highly advanced creative direction and visual communication skills, with the confidence to develop, present, and sell compelling creative concepts and brand recommendations to stakeholders at all levels.
Deep expertise in brand architecture, visual identity systems, and the practical application of brand guidelines and design standards.
Proven ability to manage and influence without direct authority — across internal teams, regional contributors, and external agency partners.
Highly advanced people management skills, with a demonstrated ability to lead, inspire, coach, and develop a multi-disciplinary creative team.
A strong and current understanding of the creative toolset with the ability to lead and develop a team of experts to leverage these platforms to their full potential.
Highly advanced oral and written communication and presentation skills, with the ability to build consensus and secure organizational alignment and buy-in.
Highly advanced project management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and ensure consistent delivery across a high-volume creative function.
Advanced critical thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate complex creative and organizational challenges with confidence.
Well-developed portfolio demonstrating enterprise-level creative leadership, brand stewardship, and marketing communications effectiveness.

Nice To Haves

MBA and/or Master’s Degree in Communications, Design, Marketing, or a related field.
Experience in a B2B, financial services, or professional services environment.
Life reinsurance or life insurance industry experience.
10+ years of people management experience.
Experience engaging, briefing, and directing external creative or marketing agencies.
Working knowledge of insurance-related businesses, e.g., reinsurance, life, health, etc.
Familiarity with UX/UI principles, accessibility standards, and digital experience design.
Experience with SharePoint, digital asset management platforms, and marketing project management tools.
Familiarity with marketing automation platforms and their creative and production implications.

Responsibilities

Act as a trusted marketing partner and advisor to senior leaders and internal partners across the enterprise, bringing marketing acumen and strategic counsel to bear on the brand experiences, communications and initiatives that matter most to RGA's business and its Brand.
Lead and influence creative direction across the enterprise establishing the creative vision, standards, and culture that define how RGA's brand is brought to life. Ensure every execution, regardless of origin, meets the same high bar of creative excellence, brand alignment and marketing effectiveness.
Serve as the primary steward of RGA's visual identity, leading the evolution and adoption of guidelines, design systems and resources, and creative standards that govern and influence how the brand is expressed. Translate strategic brand direction, enterprise initiatives, and market trends into actionable creative and brand recommendations for senior leadership consideration.
Lead and develop a high-performing, multi-disciplinary creative team, fostering a culture of creative ambition, accountability, and continuous growth. Manage all aspects of team leadership (coaching, mentorship, hiring, and development) ensuring the function remains equipped to meet the evolving creative and marketing needs of the enterprise.
Oversee the planning, production, and delivery of RGA's marketing and brand output, ensuring every deliverable meets the highest standards of creative quality, brand compliance, and marketing effectiveness. Drive workflow efficiency, resource management, and continuous process improvement to maximize delivery performance and client satisfaction.
Lead the evolution and optimization of the creative toolset (e.g. Adobe CS, MS Office, Canva, AI tools, etc) championing innovation and smarter ways of working as drivers of creative quality, operational efficiency, and scalable brand enablement across the enterprise.
Stay ahead of developments in creative design, brand execution, marketing technology, and competitor activity; translating relevant trends and insights into practical recommendations that keep RGA's creative approach current, differentiated, and effective.
Maintains regular and predictable attendance.
Performs other duties as assigned.