Creative Manager

AC Grand Rapids is an MLS NEXT Pro expansion club set to launch in 2027. As a new pillar in the West Michigan sports landscape, the club is committed to building a best-in-class sporting and entertainment organization that reflects the pride, passion, and values of the Grand Rapids community. We are building an innovative and community-driven club that wins on and off the pitch.

Position Summary The Creative Manager will play a foundational role in shaping and leading the creative vision of AC Grand Rapids across every touchpoint, including social and digital, in-stadium match presentation, local artist and community collaborations, freelance networks, and more. This role is responsible for the look, feel, and voice of the club across all audience channels. The Creative Manager will bring hands-on creative expertise in photo, graphic design, and/or video production, while leading a high-performing creative team and partnering with departments across the club to deliver creative work that strengthens brand equity, drives business results, and connects the club to West Michigan.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the creative vision and execution across all AC Grand Rapids touchpoints, including social and digital, in-stadium match presentation, local artist and community collaborations, freelance networks, and more.
• Own, lead, and define the visual look, feel, and creative atmosphere of the in-stadium fan experience and match day presentation..
• Establish and evolve distinctive creative platforms, visual identities, brand standards, and creative frameworks that strengthen brand equity and audience engagement.
• Inspire bold, innovative, and culturally relevant creative work that positions AC Grand Rapids at the forefront of sports marketing.
• Champion creative excellence across all deliverables, ensuring high-quality execution and consistency across every audience touchpoint.
• Serve as the club’s creative authority, providing strategic direction and constructive feedback throughout the creative development process.
• Create and present on-brief creative solutions with clarity, confidence, and persuasive storytelling.
• Contribute hands-on creative work across photo, graphic design, and/or video production as needed.
• Develop and steward partnerships with local artists, creators, and community collaborators to ensure the club’s creative output is authentic, locally rooted, and reflective of West Michigan.
• Build and manage a network of freelance creative talent to support project-based needs and scale creative output.
• Lead, develop, and mentor a high-performing creative team to achieve business success.
• Foster a culture grounded in accountability, care, integrity, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Recruit, retain, and develop top creative talent while promoting an environment that encourages creativity, experimentation, and innovation.
• Build and maintain an efficient operating model and system that enables the team to deliver exceptional creative work on time and within budget.
• Balance competing priorities across multiple stakeholders and business objectives while ensuring quality and consistency.
• Manage the creative department budget, including forecasting and expense management.
• Cultivate trusted relationships with senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders throughout the club.
• Partner with sporting operations, partnerships, ticketing, hospitality, merchandise, communications, and community teams to develop impactful creative solutions that drive business results.
• Work in unison with Communications, Integrated Marketing, Match Presentation & Production to implement department goals.
• Maintain an up-to-date awareness of MLS, MLS NEXT Pro, and sports, media, and entertainment creative trends.
• Assist with the development, coordination, and implementation of game day activities as needed.
• Provide the highest standards of customer service to every fan, partner, and stakeholder.
• Perform other duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in design, visual arts, communications, marketing, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• At least 5 years of progressive experience in creative leadership roles, ideally within sports, entertainment, or a comparable consumer-facing brand.
• Demonstrated hands-on creative expertise in photo, graphic design, and/or video production.
• Proven experience leading and developing high-performing creative teams.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating creative range, strategic thinking, and executional excellence across digital, print, video, and experiential platforms.
• Experience managing creative budgets, agency relationships, and freelance networks.
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, After Effects) or comparable creative tools.
• Must be proficient in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Must be willing to work flexible hours, including nights, weekends, holidays, and match days.
• Must be willing to travel when necessary.
• Must pass pre-employment screens.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience in a professional or collegiate sports creative environment.
• Familiarity with the West Michigan creative, arts, and community landscape.
• Understanding or knowledge of the professional soccer landscape/culture.

Essential Functions

• Develop and maintain courteous, effective, and professional working relationships with employees at all levels of the organization as well as with artists, partners, vendors, and their contacts.
• Must be able to follow company policies and procedures.
• Must maintain appropriate levels of confidentiality concerning partner and club matters.
• Must be punctual and timely in meeting all requirements of performance, including but not limited to attendance standards, work deadlines, and all scheduled meetings.
• Must adapt, with minimal or no advance notice, to changes in how business is conducted and work is accomplished.
• Always meet or exceed the club standards of professionalism.
• Excellent organizational, project management, and time management skills.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and storytelling skills, able to work with multiple stakeholders and personalities.
• Dynamic interpersonal skills and approachable personality.
• Strong personnel management skills and a proven ability to build, motivate, and lead high-performing creative teams.
• Confident decision-maker in high-pressure, live environments.
• Works well under pressure while maintaining a positive attitude.
• Must be a reliable team player who thrives in a collaborative environment.
• Ability to make sound decisions and exercise independent judgment and discretion with integrity and accountability, while working in a fast-paced, high-demand, and sometimes strenuous environment.
• Must be able to multitask while managing time successfully.