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Contract Creative Director Jobs in Ridgewood, NJ

Senior Art Director Direct Agents is looking for a Senior Art Director to lead the visual and ... Lead creative conception and campaign strategy for new business pitches and existing client ...

Art Director, Contract

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$55.10 - $68.88/hr

Senior Art Director Direct Agents is looking for a Senior Art Director to lead the visual and ... Lead creative conception and campaign strategy for new business pitches and existing client ...

The Role + Purpose The Director of Production leads the end-to-end operational, financial, and ... Deep knowledge of production planning, budgeting, scheduling, contracts, licensing and usage rights ...

The Director of Production leads the end-to-end operational, financial, and logistical execution of ... Deep knowledge of production planning, budgeting, scheduling, contracts, licensing and usage rights ...

The Director of Production leads the end-to-end operational, financial, and logistical execution of ... Deep knowledge of production planning, budgeting, scheduling, contracts, licensing and usage rights ...

Senior Brand Designer

New York, NY · On-site

$70K - $96K/yr

Freelance / Contract or Full-Time * Remote, with availability during Central Time business hours preferred * Reports to the Creative Director What We're Looking For We're looking for a senior ...

Senior Brand Designer

New York, NY · On-site

$70K - $96K/yr

Freelance / Contract or Full-Time * Remote, with availability during Central Time business hours preferred * Reports to the Creative Director What We're Looking For We're looking for a senior ...

Senior Brand Designer

New York, NY · Remote

$70K - $96K/yr

Freelance / Contract or Full-Time * Remote, with availability during Central Time business hours preferred * Reports to the Creative Director What We're Looking For We're looking for a senior ...

Creative Video Producer (TEMP)

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$71.64 - $89.54/hr

Our skilled team of journalists, copywriters, editors, creative directors, designers, videographers ... Draft and negotiate contracts. Maintain all reporting and documentation around invoicing, release ...

ASAP Duration: 8 Month Contract Hours: 8-10 Hours/Week (Part-Time) Compensation: $70-80/hr W2 ... Creative Director or Brand Director background * Experience managing multiple enterprise rebrands

Contract Manager

New York, NY · On-site +1

$80K - $90K/yr

We transform brands into cultural drivers by unlocking the full creative power of Creators. We go ... The Contracts Manager will work closely with every member of the BA team including the Sr. Director ...

Design Lead

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$85 - $120/hr

You would collaborate with one or two strategists, a creative director, motion and graphic ... Madeo is currently hiring Senior Designers on a part-time contract basis. You can find more ...

Showing results 41-60

Contract Creative Director information

See Ridgewood, NJ salary details

$43.5K

$130.9K

$219.1K

How much do contract creative director jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for contract creative director in Ridgewood, NJ is $130,854.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $100,700.00 and $153,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a contract creative director?

A Contract Creative Director is a senior-level creative professional hired on a temporary or project basis to oversee the creative direction of campaigns, branding, or design projects. Unlike full-time creative directors, they typically work for a set period or on specific assignments, lending their expertise to guide teams and ensure the creative vision aligns with the client's goals. Contract Creative Directors often collaborate with designers, copywriters, and other team members to deliver high-quality results within tight deadlines. This role is common in advertising, marketing, design agencies, and companies seeking fresh perspectives or specialized skills for particular projects.

How does a contract creative director typically collaborate with in-house teams and external clients during a project?

As a Contract Creative Director, you’ll often act as a bridge between in-house creative teams and external clients. This involves leading brainstorming sessions, translating client briefs into actionable creative concepts, and providing clear feedback and direction to designers, copywriters, and other team members. You’ll frequently attend client meetings to present ideas and gather feedback, ensuring deliverables align with both client expectations and brand guidelines. Strong communication and adaptability are key, as you may work across multiple projects and industries, often requiring quick onboarding and rapport-building with new teams.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a contract creative director, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Contract Creative Director, you need expertise in creative strategy, visual design, and project leadership, often supported by a relevant degree and a strong professional portfolio. Familiarity with industry-standard design software (such as Adobe Creative Suite), project management tools, and sometimes certifications like PMP or Agile can be advantageous. Exceptional communication, adaptability, and the ability to inspire teams are standout soft skills in this position. These competencies are crucial for delivering innovative campaigns, meeting client goals, and leading creative teams effectively within tight deadlines.

What is the difference between Contract Creative Director vs Contract Art Director?

AspectContract Creative DirectorContract Art Director
CredentialsPortfolio, relevant design/creative experience, sometimes a degree in design or related fieldPortfolio, design experience, often a degree in design or visual arts
Work EnvironmentLeads creative teams, oversees overall vision, collaborates with clients and stakeholdersFocuses on visual concepts, manages design teams, works closely with creative directors and clients
Industry UsageAdvertising, marketing, branding agencies, media companiesAdvertising agencies, media, publishing, branding firms

Contract Creative Directors and Contract Art Directors both require strong portfolios and relevant experience. The main difference lies in scope: Creative Directors oversee the entire creative process and team, while Art Directors focus on visual design and execution. Both roles are vital in creative industries, but their responsibilities and leadership levels differ.

Are contract creative directors paid well?

Contract creative directors typically earn higher hourly rates than full-time employees, with pay depending on experience, industry, and project scope. While rates can vary widely, experienced professionals in competitive markets can command substantial compensation for their specialized skills and leadership in creative projects.

Is there a demand for contract creative directors?

Demand for contract creative directors remains steady as companies seek flexible leadership for branding, advertising, and marketing projects. These roles often require strong leadership, industry experience, and proficiency with creative tools, making them valuable for organizations needing specialized expertise on a temporary basis.

What are popular job titles related to Contract Creative Director jobs in Ridgewood, NJ?

For Contract Creative Director jobs in Ridgewood, NJ, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Contract Creative Director jobs in Ridgewood, NJ look for?

The top searched job categories for Contract Creative Director jobs in Ridgewood, NJ are:

What cities near Ridgewood, NJ are hiring for Contract Creative Director jobs?

Cities near Ridgewood, NJ with the most Contract Creative Director job openings:

Infographic showing various Contract Creative Director job openings in Ridgewood, NJ as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 59% Full Time, 23% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 17% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $130,854 per year, or $62.9 per hour.

Art Director, Contract

Direct Agents

Manhattan, NY • On-site

$40 - $50/hr

Contractor

Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO

Re-posted 17 days ago


Key responsibilities

  • Lead creative conception and campaign strategy for client accounts and internal initiatives.

  • Manage the full creative production process from brief to final delivery across multiple clients.

  • Review and ensure all assets meet technical specs, platform requirements, and brand standards before delivery.


Job description

Senior Art Director

Direct Agents is looking for a Senior Art Director to lead the visual and creative direction across a portfolio of client accounts and internal brand initiatives. This role sits at the intersection of strategy and craft—you’ll concept, direct, and execute work that moves the needle for ambitious brands, while helping build and scale our in-house creative practice. If you think in campaigns, lead with ideas, and know how to translate business objectives into compelling creative, we want to hear from you. This is a full-time, in-office role based in our NYC headquarters.

Compensation

This contract, NYC based role, pays $40-50/hour depending on experience. Hours are Monday- Thursday 10:00am - 6:30pm.

Key Responsibilities

Creative Strategy and Direction

  • Lead creative conception and campaign strategy for new business pitches and existing client accounts
  • Work in a fast-paced environment while maintaining project goals, timelines and objectives on track
  • Execute high-level design work across digital, print, motion, and spatial mediums.
  • Experience leading content campaigns at scale— with a clear visual system holding it together.
  • Develop and present cohesive creative visions by translating briefs—from mood boards and wireframes to final executions
  • Stay ahead of design trends, platform-native formats, and cultural moments to bring fresh thinking to every project
  • Own the pitch process for creative—including concept development, deck design, and live presentation

Production and Quality

  • Manage the full creative production process across multiple clients simultaneously—from brief through final delivery—keeping timelines, deliverables, and revision cycles on track
  • Lead QA review to ensure all assets meet technical specs, platform requirements, and brand standards before client-facing delivery
  • Maintain project tracking in ClickUp (or equivalent), proactively flagging risks before they impact delivery
  • Bridge the gap between paid media performance and creative—understanding metrics, budgets, and platform best practices to inform design decisions and adapt assets for performance

Reporting & Insights

  • Review monthly client creative performance against KPIs; synthesize findings into clear, actionable client-ready decks
  • Develop monthly design trend reports to highlight key opportunities for Direct Agents’ clients and inform forward-looking creative strategy
  • Work closely with paid media, account, strategy, and development teams to ensure creative is seamlessly executed and aligned with campaign goals
  • Represent the creative team on client pitches and presentations as a senior voice for the work

What We're Looking For

  • 6+ years of experience in art direction, creative direction, or integrated campaign design—agency experience strongly preferred
  • A strong portfolio demonstrating concept-driven creative across digital, social, paid media, and brand campaigns
  • Deep fluency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, After Effects); Figma experience a plus
  • Proven ability to present and sell creative ideas to internal stakeholders and clients
  • Strong understanding of paid media ecosystems and how creative decisions affect performance
  • Experience managing or mentoring junior designers and directing freelancers
  • Exceptional attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously
  • Active user of AI tools (Claude, ChatGPT, Midjourney, etc.) with hands-on experience applying them to creative workflows—from concepting and ideation to production efficiency
  • Familiarity with project management tools (ClickUp, Asana, etc.) and Google Workspace
Who We Are

Direct Agents is not a traditional agency. We are an elite team of builders and operators—growth strategists, media architects, and creative thinkers—who partner with ambitious brands to drive measurable revenue growth. Backed by Kanopy AI, our proprietary intelligence platform, and exclusive partnerships with tech and media platforms, we deliver the kind of unfair advantage that helps clients dominate, not just compete.

We operate at the intersection of technology, media, and strategy—where AI meets human expertise to produce outcomes that neither can achieve alone. Our client roster includes brands like Tennis Channel, Marvel, NYSE, Morgan Stanley, Prologis, and DistroKid.

What Sets Us Apart

Direct Agents isn’t for everyone—and that’s by design. We’re building something different.

  • Proprietary AI That Actually Works: Kanopy AI is our custom-built intelligence platform—real-time campaign optimization, media mix modeling, natural language analytics, and algorithm enrichment that gives our clients (and our sellers) a genuine edge. This isn’t a buzzword; it’s operational.
  • Exclusive Platform Access: Direct partnerships across Google AI Search, Meta, TikTok, Amazon, Freewheel, Teads, Stackadapt and best in class tech and media partners. 
  • An Elite, Not Bloated, Team: 100+ operators who move fast, think deeply, and ship work that matters. No layers of bureaucracy. Direct access to senior leadership and the executives building the strategy.
  • AI Integration Across Everything: Claude, ChatGPT, and proprietary AI tools are embedded in our workflows—from data analysis and creative versioning to strategic planning and client intelligence.
  • 7x Crain’s Best Places to Work: A people-first culture with a 12-month average time to promotion, a 4-day workweek, and genuine investment in career development.
  • Certified Minority-Owned Business: 48% BIPOC representation across the agency, 60% female representation—a team that reflects the diverse markets we serve.
Benefits
  • Regular performance reviews with quarterly growth path check-ins
  • Comprehensive health, dental, vision, and mental health benefits (One Medical, Talkspace, KindBody, Health Advocate)
  • 15–24 days PTO/year depending on seniority, plus birthday off, 7 sick/safe days, and up to 12 weeks paid parental leave
  • New MacBook Pro and access to cutting-edge AI tools across the agency
  • Sun-drenched penthouse Acceleration Hub on 5th Avenue in Flatiron—with commuter benefits and Citibike membership
  • Dog-friendly office, regular team events (Field Day, Ski Club, Golf League, holiday celebrations), and a culture built around ownership and ambition

Location: This role is based in our NYC headquarters. You must reside or be willing to relocate within commuting distance.

 

Please be aware of fraudulent recruiters and scams. If you move forward in our recruitment process, you will only be contacted by the Direct Agents HR team. If you have questions about the validity of this job posting, please email hrconcerns@directagents.com

Please be aware of fraudulent recruiters and scams. If you move forward in our recruitment process, you will only be contacted by the Direct Agents HR team. Questions? Email hrconcerns@directagents.com

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