Senior Creative Director
Line of Business Anthem
Country United States
State/Province Georgia
City Atlanta
Full-Time / Part-Time: Full-time
Regular / Temporary: Regular
Overall Job Summary
Develops and directs the creative vision for the assigned client(s). Drives the definition of the creative brief, creative strategy, and creative solution, and the approach to the overall project. Typically manages and/or oversees all Creative Design project teams within a location or across multiple locations. Champions and protects the brand and/or creative idea while leading and inspiring teams to deliver the best creative solution that transcends touchpoints (packaging, in store, online, mobile, print, direct, etc.). Leads presentations with clients; is accountable for ensuring the creative deliverables are aligned with the brief and meet or exceed client expectations. Establishes and maintains consultative relationships and is a trusted advisor to the client and across Brand Development.
Job Responsibilities: Client Experience
- Maintains senior-level relationships with clients including senior marketing/brand managers, and agency players. Establishes trusted advisor relationships in which clients and colleagues seek out advice and counsel.
- Is a strategic partner to assigned clients by demonstrating a deep understanding of their market and business sectors and their specific challenges and opportunities. Provides thought leadership, insights, and perspectives that support client initiatives and align our services with client needs.
- Maintains close relationship with the client's assigned leadership contact to ensure Creative Design deliverables (i.e. visual concept, design, textual content, etc.) follow project specifications and meet or exceed client needs.
- Monitors progress of ongoing Creative Design projects; provides guidance and leadership to address and resolve promptly, accurately, effectively, and to the client's satisfaction, any issues or problems that may arise.
- Ensures high quality standards in all Creative Design client deliverables.
Job Responsibilities ~Continued
Operational Excellence
- Creates strong and effective internal partnerships with Client Growth, Brand Development, and Brand Deployment teams; collaborates across the business to ensure client needs are met and projects stay within scope, budget, timeline, quality, and other Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
- Proactively leads the development of improved Creative Design processes (e.g. creative brief development and execution) to better serve clients and achieve financial targets.
- Establishes best practices for design strategy, concept creation, visual innovation, message delivery, and execution utilizing information gathered in 'post-mortem' project review sessions for assigned clients.
- Regularly analyzes the Creative Design practices (Art Direction, Design, Copywriting) and project teams' performance through KPIs and other metrics; utilizes data in decision-making to maintain or improve capabilities and performance.
- Develops creative, innovative, and cost effective Creative Design strategies that meet client needs, utilizing project experience, current market trends, competitor intelligence, and innovative thinking.
Employee Experience
- Maintains and utilizes a long-term, holistic view of the business.
- Communicates timely, relevant information to employees, as appropriate, so they understand company performance, business direction and initiatives, and how they contribute to and benefit from the Company's success.
- Is an inspiring role model through presence and actions.
- Takes ownership of personal actions and outcomes and encourages and empowers others to do the same.
- Drives change; demonstrates adaptability and fosters an environment that encourages open mindedness and flexibility in the face of ambiguity and change.
- Focuses own and the team's efforts on achieving SMART objectives aligned to the Company's Strategic Imperatives; acknowledges employees' efforts and rewards results.
- Sets high and clearly defined standards for direct reports; provides current, objective, and complete positive and constructive feedback and addresses performance concerns directly, fairly, and in a timely manner.
- Serves as a coach and mentor; provides coaching and feedback on specific skill development and encourages employees to pursue upward and lateral growth opportunities to enhance expertise and drive career development.
- Provides specific, objective feedback to direct reports through written performance reviews as part of the Global Performance Management program.
- Creates strong and effective internal partnerships and collaborates across the Company; listens and values the opinions of others.
- Is an effective team member; supports the team by pitching in at any level and effectively working across the organization to meet the needs of the business.
- Proactively seeks opportunities to increase knowledge, skills and abilities.
- Monitors and pursues upward and lateral growth opportunities to enhance expertise and drive career development.
Growth
- Supports Company's profitability efforts by encouraging and actively enabling innovation, creativity, and cost efficiency through all Creative Design client activities.
- Ensures client retention is maximized by delivering custom tailored solutions to meet clients' objectives and expectations.
- Participates in, and may lead, the development and delivery of innovative proposals to capture both account growth and new business opportunities.
- Increase the Company's profile through actively engaging in networking, public speaking, teaching, judging, and/or other industry activities.
Other
- May perform other duties, as needed, to meet the needs of the business.
Qualifications / Requirements
Education & Certifications
- College degree (e.g. Bachelor of Arts) or equivalent degree within appropriate discipline such as Business, Graphic Arts, Marketing, Advertising, or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the key accountabilities of the job required.
- Graduate degree or MBA (Masters of Business Administration) preferred.
Experience - Proven Creative Design experience as a Creative Director in a Creative Design Agency (advertising, marketing, publishing, film), Market Research firm, or similar functional area within a similar client environment.
- Demonstrated experience supervising others including supervising other managers.
- Experience in leading relationships and helping clients develop and deploy Marketing Communications within one or more industries.
Skills & Abilities - Excellent knowledge of business models, objectives, financial metrics, etc. used in decision-making; ability to build sound business cases to support innovative initiatives.
- Strong understanding of the Company's market and business environment and how it impacts business decisions.
- Strong understanding of effective Creative Design practices, trends, techniques, and processes across various touchpoints or mediums (e.g. packaging, in-store, online, mobile, print, direct).
- Expert problem-solving skills; ability to proactively identify and implement effective solutions.
- Strong expertise in building new relationships and nurturing existing relationships with internal and external clients.
- Strong understanding of the assigned clients' products and services and broad business strategy and challenges.
- Proven ability to lead and adapt to the requirements of various client accounts.
- Proven ability to make effective decisions in challenging situations and/or under pressure.
- Proven ability to lead, mentor and manage individual contributors.
- Proven ability to work well in a team environment and develop collaborative relationships with colleagues across the Company; willingness to work with colleagues at all levels.
- Proven ability to manage heavy workloads, prioritize work appropriately, and meet assigned deadlines; excellent organizational and analytical skills (including attention to detail).
- Excellent presentation and communication skills (written, verbal).
- Proficient computer skills (e.g. MS Office Suite, Adobe Suite)
- Ability to travel to client locations as needed.
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EEO Statement: Matthews International affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetic information, age, disability or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled
