Creative Director

Inkling is seeking an experienced Experiential Creative Director to lead our creative team and help shape the work coming out of the agency. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone with a deep understanding of experiential design, strong conceptual and visual instincts, and the ability to guide creative teams from the earliest idea through production.

At Inkling, we create brand worlds that come to life across physical experiences, digital and interactive, storytelling, and content. Our strength comes from bringing these disciplines together under one roof, giving us the ability to ideate, design, and produce connected experiences from start to finish.

You’ll oversee the creative development of projects across the agency, working closely with Art Directors, Designers, producers, and account teams to turn briefs into compelling creative ideas and thoughtful experiences. You’ll guide concept development, art direction, storytelling, and experience design while ensuring the work remains connected to the brief, the audience, and the realities of production.

You’ll also play an important role in developing the creative team. You’ll provide clear direction and feedback, help team members strengthen their thinking and craft, manage creative bandwidth, and create an environment where great work can happen consistently.

This is a client-facing role. You should be comfortable leading creative presentations, articulating the thinking behind the work, responding to feedback in the room, and helping clients feel confident in the creative direction.

If you’re passionate about experiential work, care deeply about craft, and know how to lead both ideas and people, we’d love to hear from you.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead creative development across experiential, event, digital, and integrated brand projects
• Guide teams from brief through concept development, art direction, design, presentation, and production
• Establish a clear creative vision for projects and ensure that vision carries through every stage of the work
• Review and provide thoughtful, actionable feedback on concepts, art direction, design, storytelling, and presentations
• Partner with production, and account teams to develop ideas that are creatively ambitious, strategically grounded, and buildable
• Lead brainstorms, concepting sessions, creative kickoffs, and internal creative reviews
• Present creative concepts and recommendations to clients with clarity and confidence
• Navigate client feedback while protecting the strength and integrity of the creative idea
• Oversee the creative team’s workload and help allocate the right talent to the right projects
• Manage and mentor Art Directors, Senior Art Directors, Designers, and other creative team members
• Support team development through regular feedback, performance conversations, and clearly defined growth goals
• Maintain a high standard of visual craft and creative quality across the agency
• Stay engaged through production, collaborating with producers, fabricators, developers, and other partners to ensure the final execution delivers on the creative vision
• Contribute to pitches, new business opportunities, and the continued evolution of Inkling’s creative offering

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• 8+ years of creative agency experience with significant experience in experiential marketing, brand activations, events, or spatial experiences
• Experience leading multidisciplinary creative teams and overseeing multiple projects simultaneously
• A strong portfolio demonstrating conceptual thinking, experiential design, art direction, and visual storytelling
• Proven ability to develop big creative ideas and translate them into cohesive physical and digital experiences
• Strong understanding of experiential design and the relationship between guest journey, environment, content, interaction, and storytelling
• Experience presenting creative work directly to clients and senior stakeholders
• Experience providing creative direction and actionable feedback to Art Directors and Designers
• Strong understanding of the production process and how creative ideas translate into real-world execution
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and leadership skills
• Working knowledge of Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, and other contemporary creative tools

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 10+ years of agency experience
• Experience working with major consumer, technology, entertainment, or cultural brands
• Experience developing integrated campaigns that connect experiential, digital, interactive, and content
• Experience leading creative for pitches and new business
• Familiarity with motion, 3D, interactive technology, and emerging creative technologies
• Experience collaborating closely with fabricators, developers, production partners, and technical teams

THE PERKS

• Competitive salary ranging from $180,000 to $220,000, based on skills and experience
• 100% company-provided medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 20 days of paid time off per calendar year
• 401k with a company match program
• Company-provided Life Insurance Policy

RIGHT TO WORK IN THE US

Applicants must be authorized to work in the US for any employer. At this time, we do not provide sponsorship or assistance with work authorization.

ABOUT INKLING

Inkling is a creative agency that thrives on pushing the boundaries of collaboration and craft. We foster an environment that encourages creative exploration, celebrates diverse perspectives, and delivers exceptional work that leaves a lasting impact.

We’re committed to building an inclusive environment where people of all races, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and backgrounds feel empowered to contribute and grow.