Associate Creative Director - Design

$120,550 - $230,400/Yr

USAA - San Antonio, TX

Full-time - Mid Level

San Antonio, TX

Credit Intermediation and Related Activities

About the position

At USAA, we are on a mission to facilitate the financial security of millions of U.S. military members and their families. We are seeking a dedicated Associate Creative Director - Design who will play a crucial role in conceptualizing and executing marketing and advertising design. This position is responsible for delivering best-in-class visual solutions through shared leadership of project teams, collaborating closely with ACDs of copy and video. The ACD of Design will provide creative direction for the design discipline and will also be involved in the hands-on execution of design deliverables. In this role, you will contribute to the creative vision and ensure quality standards for each project. You will oversee the execution of tactics that support creative platforms and concepts, while also developing and leading teams to create idea platforms and creative concepts. Providing actionable feedback to creative teams will be a key part of your responsibilities. You will manage the day-to-day creative direction for multiple campaigns and projects, ensuring that all creative outputs meet brand standards and are delivered on time and within budget. Additionally, you will proactively seek opportunities for knowledge sharing and mentoring within the team, and you will lead the creation and implementation of onboarding processes for new team members. Your role will also involve advocating for creative best practices and identifying challenges within the creative discipline, proposing improvements as necessary. You will stay informed about creative trends, strategies, and technologies, ensuring that risks associated with business activities are effectively managed in accordance with compliance policies.

Responsibilities

• Contributes to the creative vision and execution of quality standards for each project.
• Oversees and aids in the execution of tactics in support of creative platforms and concepts.
• Develops and leads teams to develop idea platforms and creative concepts while providing succinct, actionable feedback to creative teams.
• Provides day-to-day creative direction for multiple campaigns and projects, ensuring creative and brand standards are met.
• Works closely with marketing partners to ensure all creative is produced on time, on budget and on brief.
• Manages operating rhythm for creative and project teams.
• Proactively looks for and initiates knowledge and experience sharing as well as mentoring opportunities.
• Leads creation and implementation of onboarding curriculum and processes for new team members.
• Helps develop and advocates for creative best practices, tools, and processes.
• Identifies challenges, imagines and proposes improvements for the broader creative discipline.
• Researches and shares creative trends, strategies and technologies.
• Ensures risks associated with business activities are effectively identified, measured, monitored, and controlled in accordance with risk and compliance policies and procedures.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree; OR 4 years of related experience may be substituted in lieu of degree.
• 8 or more years of related experience within the creative development, design, copy, production and/or media planning functions and accountability for complex tasks and/or projects required.
• Subject-matter-expert knowledge of the function/discipline and demonstrated application of knowledge, skills and abilities towards work products required.
• Subject-matter-expert level of business acumen in the areas of business operations, industry practices and emerging trends required.
• Knowledgeable of design practices such as brand development, user-centered experience design and digital design.
• Highly proficient computer skills, especially with Adobe Creative Suite applications.
• Knowledge of social media platforms and trends.
• Knowledge of marketing practices.

Nice-to-haves

• Digital portfolio required.
• Proven, extensive experience in developing, and overseeing the development of compelling and on-brand visual solutions across all relevant channels and tactics.
• Demonstrated expertise in leading creative project teams, providing day-to-day creative leadership on visual direction for multiple campaigns and projects, while balancing innovation and brand standards.
• Demonstrated experience in fulfilling on creative briefs by establishing visual creative direction and setting output quality standards for creative outputs and deliverables, with a focus on advertising & marketing design.
• Excellent presentation skills in representing creative project teams and creative outputs to stakeholders, including senior leadership.
• US military experience through military service or a military spouse/domestic partner.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision plans
• 401(k)
• Pension
• Life insurance
• Parental benefits
• Adoption assistance
• Paid time off program with paid holidays plus 16 paid volunteer hours
• Various wellness programs
• Career path planning and continuing education assistance.