Senior Art Director

Critical Mass•Chicago, IL

13h•Hybrid

About The Position

As a Senior Art Director, you are excited to join a large creative team to develop experiences that support one of the oldest brands in America. Leading major marketing initiatives is what keeps bringing you back to the office—including championing concepts to plan cutting-edge online strategies. We will welcome your strong working knowledge of developing client relationships within experience design, brand development, and creative process. Gaining key management experience is important to you. Good news—you’ll lead the collaborative efforts of a talented group of creatives. And you always foster an environment for professional growth to inspire your team to exceed expectation. Most importantly, you’re a sound creative thinker who efficiently manages time to juggle client needs for world-class brands.

Requirements

4+ years’ experience working in a digital agency.
Experience leading a team of designers, production specialists, and writers to creative excellence.
Strong portfolio of digital design and art direction work.
Experience meeting clients and presenting your work.
Ability to think creatively and justify concepts to clients and team members.
Experience with strategic brainstorming, creative brief development, and creative execution.
Experience using Figma for design and prototyping.
Significant understanding of working within, and adding to, and existing Design System.
Working knowledge of the latest versions of Adobe Creative Cloud platforms including: Photoshop, Lightroom and Illustrator.
Comfortable using Microsoft Suite, including PowerPoint.
Candidates must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents (Green Card holders) to obtain a Level 2 Security Clearance.
Must be able to work from an office a minimum of 3 days a week.

Nice To Haves

Motion design, rapid prototyping, and vibe coding experience are all a plus.
Collaboration with an inter-agency team is an asset.

Responsibilities

Lead concept development and creative direction across projects and accounts.
Develop innovative ideas and proposals that drive growth and new business.
Partner cross‑functionally with strategy, technology, and production teams to deliver strong client outcomes.
Manage project scope, timelines, budgets, and resources to ensure on‑time, high‑quality delivery.
Build, lead, and mentor a multidisciplinary creative team, providing ongoing feedback and development.
Translate business and marketing strategies into effective experience and design solutions.
Champion creative excellence, quality standards, and continuous improvement across all deliverables.
Communicate creative ideas and strategies clearly to clients, stakeholders, and senior leadership.