Creative Director

Jun 17

Written By Sanja Komljenovic

WHO WE ARE:

ONA is an independently owned creative agency with expertise in brand strategy, brand identity, creative concepts, graphic design, video and photo production, content strategy and brand experience. We are proud to partner with some of the biggest industry-defining clients in sports, culture, wellness and women-led businesses.

We believe that sports are a conduit to the growth of human potential, that culture is what drives creativity and above all, that exceptional people make exceptional work.

Job Title: Creative Director

Location: Los Angeles

Time Type: Full-time

the role:

The Creative Director is a driving force behind all things creative at ONA responsible for setting the conceptual tone internally and with our client partners. Candidates should be passionate about sport and culture as well as conceptual thinkers who challenge the status quo. You will be responsible for taking work from ideation through execution while achieving client goals and maintaining our standards of creative excellence, timeliness and profitability on culture-defining work. Big ideas should both scare and excite you.

This Creative Director position will report to the Founder and ECD.

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

CREATIVE VISION

• S****et the Creative Tone: Lead the development of creative projects and campaigns, translating overarching business objectives into impactful creative that drives results with a diverse audience.
• Drive the Storytelling: Spearhead content strategy across mixed mediums—including digital, paid/organic social media, print, ooh, motion/video and physical experiential events.
• Identify Market Opportunities: Continuously analyze local and global market trends, consumer journeys, brand tracking, and the competitive landscape to produce fresh, culturally relevant work.

CONCEPT & EXECUTION

• Lead the Work: Build concepts grounded in deep strategic reasoning. Translate these ideas into dynamic, engaging presentations (whitepapers, concept decks, and campaign pitches) that you confidently present and defend to clients.
• Ensure Excellence in Delivery: Review, direct, and approve art, copy, and design deliverables, ensuring that all output addresses marketing goals effectively while maintaining our high standards of quality and profitability.
• Hands-on Production: Step in as a creator when needed, executing seamlessly alongside your team to bring brands to life.

TEAM LEADERSHIP & MENTORSHIP

• Supervise Cross-Functional Talent: Lead, mentor, and inspire a diverse team of internal and external graphic designers, copywriters, social media experts, directors, photographers, videographers, editors etc.
• Cultivate Agency Talent: Manage the developmental needs of your team, fostering a collaborative, highly proactive environment that continually attracts and retains top-tier creative talent.
• Optimize Resources: Conduct brainstorming sessions and collaborate with operations and project management to prioritize work based on short- and long-term agency and creative project needs.

CLIENT PARTNERSHIP & BUSINESS GROWTH

• Act as a Creative Business Partner: Serve as a thought leader and key client partner, building trust and integrating seamlessly with account leadership to identify opportunities for client growth.
• Win New Business: Support and lead new business development and agency pitches, acting as the entrepreneurial face of the creative department.

WHAT YOU BRING:

• Experience: 8+ years of relevant experience as a Creative Director in a fast-paced agency or brand environment. (Strong foundation in copywriting, art direction, graphic design, or production preferred).
• Mixed Media Expertise: Deep, expert-level knowledge across digital landscapes, paid/organic social media, print, and physical/experiential brand design.
• Creative Vision: A highly conceptual thinker and compelling storyteller who can simultaneously see the "big picture" strategy and the granular design details.
• Presentation Skills: Exceptional interpersonal and presentation abilities; you must know how to confidently pitch, present, and defend your creative approach to executive clients.
• Leadership: Proven proficiency in managing, inspiring, and scaling junior/mid-level creative teams while remaining fiscally responsible and deadline driven.
• Cultural Pulse: A deep passion for current trends, design, sport, culture, and technology, with the analytical mindset to unearth deep consumer insights.
• Creative Tools: Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite, Keynote, Google Workspace, Box and Figma. Use of generative AI for initial ideation and workflow optimization is a must. Familiarity with Slack and Monday.com.

COMPENSATION:

• The range for this position is $140,000 - $190,000 annual compensation. Compensation offered will be based upon multiple factors including job related knowledge, skills and range of experience.

To apply please send the following to [email protected]

• Resume + Portfolio's are required
• References (client references a strong positive)

Sanja Komljenovic