Creative Retail Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

ROLE: CREATIVE DIRECTOR, PORTFOLIO

TEAM: THE KITCHEN NORTH AMERICA
LOCATION: TORONTO / CHICAGO (HYBRID)

COMPANY OVERVIEW

The Kitchen brings together a range of disciplines and capabilities. It's a team of creatives, producers, data analysts and social experts working together to deliver remarkable ideas that live in a variety of mediums, from everything from social to TV. This team moves at the speed of culture. It is built to respond to trends and events as they happen, coming up with ideas that transcend social media to capture the spirit of the moment, earn media impressions, and get the country talking.
Are you ready to join an award-ambitious team that's making waves in the advertising industry? Our incredible team has been recognized internationally by industry giants like Cannes, One Show and was named Campaign's Global 'In-House Agency of The Year', further solidifying our position as a leader in the industry. Join us and be a part of something truly special - a team that's dedicated to creating ground-breaking work and pushing limits.
At The Kitchen, we're not just looking for individuals who want to be a part of the advertising industry - we're looking for trailblazers who are ready to lead the way to the next big thing! We want individuals who are passionate about producing award-winning work and have an innate drive to their craft and are eager to generate innovative ideas both within and outside of the brief.

ROLE OVERVIEW

As the Creative Director, Portfolio you will lead multidisciplinary creative teams across a portfolio of iconic Kraft Heinz brands, partnering with Sr. Creatives, Designers, Accounts and Strategists to develop breakthrough ideas that extend seamlessly across every consumer touchpoint-from national campaign and social content to retail experiences and the moment of purchase. Unlike a traditional Creative Director role, this position requires someone who is equally comfortable developing breakthrough brand platforms as they are translating those ideas into compelling retail and shopper experiences.
As an experienced creative leader, you know how to have an impact on your team and ensure every project reaches its full potential-from integrated brand campaigns and cultural moments to retail experiences that drive shopper engagement. You champion platform-agnostic, consumer-centric ideas that create one connected brand experience.
You're more than a creative manager; you're a teacher to other creative managers and talent. You know how to help senior creatives get the most out of their teams while coaching junior talent to develop ideas they're passionate about. You are hands-on in contributing to ideas and producing great work.
You're always thinking about your team and its capabilities addressing skill gaps, developing talent and holding them to a high standard.
You're an enthusiastic presenter who wants to be the creative face of the agency to your Brand Teams, Retail Marketing partners and senior stakeholders.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Inspire and lead multidisciplinary teams of Sr. creative creatives, and Designers, fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration and high performance while growing, motivating and retaining top talent across a portfolio of Kraft Heinz brands.
• Champion integrated thinking across every consumer touchpoint-from TV, social and digital to experiential, OOH, retail, shopper marketing, and emerging platforms-ensuring cohesive, compelling brand experiences, visual excellence and message consistency.
• Lead the development and execution of integrated creative across advertising, retail, shopper marketing, and brand experiences, managing multiple projects, workflows and brand portfolios while balancing long-term brand building with speed, agility and cultural relevance.
• Lead teams to deliver bold, non-traditional creative solutions across integrated campaigns, collaborating closely with the Executive Creative Director to align creative vision with agency and brand's objectives.

EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

• Integrated Creative Leadership: Proven success leading integrated creative across advertising, digital, social, retail and shopper marketing, with 8+ years of experience in advertising, integrated marketing or medium-agnostic creative-or a track record that demonstrates exceptional advancement.
• Creative Excellence: A strong portfolio showcasing originality, innovation and integrated thinking across brand campaigns, retail experiences and consumer touchpoints.
• International Recognition: Experience creating world-class campaigns that have achieved international recognition or earned multiple international awards.
• Leadership & Talent Development: An established leader with a proven ability to inspire, mentor and develop creative talent while elevating the creative output of multidisciplinary teams.
• Strategic & Innovative Thinking: A big-picture thinker who consistently develops bold, unconventional ideas that extend beyond executional solutions and drive cultural and business impact.
• Retail & Shopper Expertise: Experience translating brand ideas into compelling retail and shopper marketing experiences that strengthen brand equity and drive conversion.
• Communication & Influence: Exceptional presentation, communication and storytelling skills, with experience influencing senior stakeholders and building trusted relationships.
• Collaborative & Entrepreneurial Mindset: A positive, proactive and collaborative leader who takes initiative, brings forward new ideas and contributes to a strong team culture.
• Production & Operational Excellence: Experience managing creative production, collaborating with photographers, directors and vendors, and delivering high-quality work within budget.
• Organization & Adaptability: Strong organizational, time management and prioritization skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects, meet deadlines and thrive in a fast-paced environment.

What Success Looks Like

• Big ideas that inspire consumers across every touchpoint-from national campaigns to the moment of purchase.
• Retail experiences that feel like an extension of the brand, not an afterthought.
• High-performing creative teams that consistently produce outstanding work.
• Strong partnerships with brand and retail stakeholders built on trust, creativity, and collaboration.
• Creative that moves culture, wins at retail, and delivers measurable business impact.

The Kitchen and Kraft Heinz. are committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and to attracting and retaining the most qualified employees regardless of race, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, age, or disability

The anticipated annual base salary range for this position is $145,000-$170,000. Individual compensation within this range is determined based on job-related factors such as experience, skills, level of responsibility, internal equity, and business needs. This range represents the expected base salary for this role and does not include other elements of The Kitchen's total rewards program.