CREATIVE DIRECTOR, ART (CPG)

Vml South Africa - New York, NY

Full-time - Senior

New York, NY

About the position

VML is seeking a Creative Director with a distinguished art direction background to lead high-profile projects within our world-class creative team, specifically for a client in the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) category. In this pivotal role, you will serve as the creative force behind the cultivation and execution of exceptional work, ensuring that talent remains engaged and that the output is consistently sharp and innovative. As a Creative Director, you will be both a conceptual and strategic thinker, capable of nurturing brilliant ideas while also understanding how these ideas can effectively solve business problems. You will collaborate closely with account directors, strategists, and project managers to ensure that the work is not only breathtaking in execution but also delivered on time and within budget. Success in this role requires you to be a skilled team leader, inspiring your team to generate mind-blowing ideas and executions, while also providing a calming influence during high-pressure situations involving deadlines, feedback, and shifting priorities. You will provide specific direction to designers with the goal of elevating the work to award-winning levels. Independence and leadership are crucial, as confidence in your creative sensibilities will be key to your success. VML observes a hybrid work schedule, and eligible candidates for this role will be expected to work on-site in NYC at least on Wednesdays and Thursdays. In this role, you will build and lead a team of creative innovators, overseeing art directors, writers, and designers while acting as a mentor to help develop their growth. You will drive, develop, and deliver presentations, and when appropriate, take over meetings to influence their outcomes. Anticipating team and client needs, as well as project risks, will be essential, and you will participate in driving resolutions. Your ability to inspire clients and co-workers through excellent work, good spirit, and communication will be vital. You will conceptualize new solutions for a digital world, serving as the creative leader and partnering with the account director to ensure the health and growth of the account. You will exemplify fearlessness in the face of the undefined and possess a passion for bringing order through design exploration. Collaborating on campaign ideas, digital tactics, and other marketing activations with a creative team while managing multiple projects will be a key aspect of your role.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead a team of creative innovators, overseeing art directors, writers, and designers.
• Act as a mentor to help develop the growth of creative team members.
• Drive, develop, and deliver presentations, influencing meeting outcomes when appropriate.
• Anticipate team and client needs and project risks, participating in driving resolutions.
• Inspire clients and co-workers through excellent work, good spirit, and communication.
• Conceptualize new solutions for a digital world as the creative leader.
• Partner with the account director to ensure the health and growth of the account.
• Lead and innovate by exemplifying fearlessness in design exploration.
• Collaborate on campaign ideas, digital tactics, and marketing activations while managing multiple projects.

Requirements

• Minimum of 9 years of experience in a creative advertising agency.
• Portfolio featuring a wide range of award-worthy creative work that displays mastery of your craft.
• Strong working knowledge of visual design, art direction, and the creative process.
• Proven conceptual and campaign experience with integrated campaigns including broadcast, digital, and social.
• Solid understanding of creative development from drafting briefs to executing deliverables.
• Strong ability to prioritize work and resources based on short and long-term needs.
• Ability to handle a high-volume environment with rapid turnaround times and manage multiple tasks and project details.
• Practiced time management skills and a strong work ethic.

Nice-to-haves

• Well-versed in the scriptwriting process and in crafting contributions to both short and long-form content.
• Ability to direct and mentor junior team members.

Benefits

• Full spectrum of group health coverage options (medical, dental, vision).
• Generous 401k match (100% dollar-for-dollar match, up to 5% of salary contribution).
• Variety of paid time off offerings to support overall life balance and wellness.
• Growth-oriented opportunities with real-time feedback and training through VML and WPP.