Creative Director

Exempt Position

REPORTS TO: President

HOURS: 40 hours/week and as needed

PURPOSE/SCOPE:

To lead the creative department, establish the vision and goals for the department, manage projects and oversee department personnel.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Oversee the creative department and creative output:

• Ensure creative produced by the department and firm is of the highest quality
• Oversee staff and resources: Designers, Copywriters, Art Directors, IT, Production, Traffic
• Write and administer yearly performance reviews, assess quantity and quality of work, award merit raises, determine course of action in disciplinary situations
• Interview and hire new designers, copywriters, IT and production personnel; determine pay range for various positions
• Vet and assign projects to various external freelance designers, copywriters, Web designers
• Evaluate and choose specialty vendors such as photographers, video and audio producers, etc.
• Create and oversee procedures for workflow, accuracy, estimating, budgeting and job tracking

2. Manage brand development, implementation and stewardship:

• Advise and participate in brand discovery processes
• Manage brand development processes including evaluation and formation of brand attributes, positioning statement, communications points, logo, tagline and style guide
• Manage brand implementation including templates and design for business papers and materials
• Manage brand compliance within organization
• Oversee and protect brand to ensure commitment to core principles and visual standards
• Establish guidelines and standards for visual image

3. Manage projects and creative products:

• Provide leadership, creative insight and strategies for all creative projects
• Write creative briefs, establish project scopes, establish estimates and budgets
• Act as creative lead, lead brainstorm sessions, develop creative strategies, provide design/copy solutions
• Review design solutions and copy, offer input and direction and ensure proposed solutions are appropriate to project parameters
• Assign projects to the team, determine timelines and establish budgets
• Keep track of deadlines and schedules for numerous projects simultaneously through traffic management system
• Coordinate deadlines and parameters with other departments to ensure projects are completed in an efficient and timely manner
• Approve all final art, QC press proofs, bluelines, etc.

4. Manage clients (Gordley Group does not have Account Executives—department directors interface directly with the client):

• Meet with clients to discuss project parameters, review creative, assess and solve design-related challenges and issues
• Present creative to client
• Represent creative at marketing meetings
• Work with other departments to establish marketing approach
• Monthly review of client invoices: write or review billing descriptions, check invoices against budget
• Monitor and manage client and project budgets

5. Participate in Gordley management team:

• Provide leadership and insights to address company growth, personnel and management issues at regular management team meetings, offer and participate in creative solutions to these issues
• Actively promote the company’s values and develop and implement strategies to reinforce them
• Represent the company at industry/client events

6. Participate in Gordley marketing:

• Participate in firm marketing meetings and efforts as part of a core marketing team
• Determine and define best targeted clients and projects for creative services
• Review Creative Services RFPs, determine viability and create proposal content
• Direct preparation of comprehensive marketing proposals and presentations

REQUIRED SKILLS:

• Bachelor’s degree of Fine Arts and 10 years of related work experience and portfolio. Five years of project and personnel management experience
• Ability to manage multiple projects and personnel
• Ability to make sound decisions regarding department structure and methodology
• Ability to assess personnel needs and performance evaluations
• Possess excellent communication skills
• Thorough knowledge of Adobe software (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop), Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and Mac OS
• Ability to lift equipment as needed for presentations: easels, large post-it pads, screen, projector, laptop, etc.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $85,000.00 - $95,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Ability to Commute:

• Tucson, AZ 85716 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Tucson, AZ 85716: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person