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Creative Services Director

KMBC 9 and KCWE 29, the Hearst-owned ABC and CW affiliates in Kansas City, are seeking a dynamic and strategic leader to serve as Creative Services Director.  This is a rare and compelling opportunity to join an award-winning station with a long-standing track record of excellence, while building a career in one of America's most livable and exciting cities.  Our current Creative Services Director is moving on to a larger Hearst Television market after eight successful years leading our creative efforts.  This role offers the chance to step into a well-respected, high-performing operation and continue to elevate a powerful local brand. The Creative Services Director must be a strong manager and brand storyteller who can drive impactful, research-driven marketing campaigns that connect the KMBC/KCWE brands with the Kansas City community across multiple platforms including television, digital, social, paid media, streaming, and OTT.  You will be a hands-on, forward-thinking leader who embraces the latest industry marketing trends while managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.  You will elevate the look, feel, and voice of one of the market's leading news operations while inspiring and developing a high-performing, award-winning creative team.   Join Hearst Television, one of America's most respected multimedia companies, and help lead one of the Midwest's most trusted local media brands.

Why Kansas City?

Kansas City consistently ranks as one of the best places in America to live and work, offering the rare combination of big-city amenities with an exceptional quality of life.

• Affordable Cost of Living:  Enjoy a lower cost of living compared to coastal markets, with affordable housing, short commutes, and a high standard of living.
• Thriving Creative & Cultural Scene:  Home to a growing creative community, world-class arts institutions, live music, and nationally recognized museums.
• Sports Town Energy:  From the Kansas City Chiefs to the Royals, Sporting KC, and college athletics, Kansas City's sports culture fuels year-round excitement and civic pride.
• Food & Lifestyle Destination:  Famous for barbecue but celebrated far beyond it, Kansas City boasts an award-winning culinary scene, craft breweries, and vibrant neighborhoods.
• Central Location:  Easy nationwide travel through a modern international airport and a location ideal for weekend getaways.
• Family-Friendly & Community-Focused:  Strong neighborhoods, excellent schools, abundant parks, and a genuine sense of community.

This role offers not just the chance to lead creative excellence at a top-performing station but to build a life in a city that people genuinely love to call home.

Responsibilities

• Create, lead, and execute the brand marketing strategies for KMBC 9, and associated digital platforms, including Very Local.
• Partner closely with the KCWE Promotions Manager to ensure cohesive, strategic branding and promotion across both stations.
• Develop innovative, multi-platform strategies to grow brand awareness, audience engagement, and ratings.
• Oversee the creative team in producing brand-focused station image, news, weather, targeted special reports, daily topicals, digital/streaming, programming, and special event campaigns.
• Oversee the Commercial Production team to ensure the creation of impactful, results-driven marketing for local advertisers.
• Inspire, mentor, and grow the creative skillsets of the Creative Services and Commercial Production teams.
• Serve as liaison with networks, syndicators, and the Director of Community Partnerships on promotional initiatives and station public service.
• Manage promotional inventory across KMBC, digital platforms, and multicast channels.
• Develop, manage, and monitor the annual department budget and expenses.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in television station marketing, promotion, or brand management.
• Proven ability to lead creatively while using research and data to achieve station goals.
• Strong writing, producing, and storytelling skills.
• Working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, videography, photography, WideOrbit, and ENPS.
• Ability to conceive, evaluate, and refine creative concepts and graphic designs for internal and external branding.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with newsroom leadership and interdepartmental teams.
• Valid driver's license (hire contingent on good driving record).
• Relevant college degree preferred or equivalent professional experience.
• Equivalent military training from Defense Information School (DINFOS) and related experience will be considered.
• In-person attendance is required.

Values in Action

At Hearst Television we tell stories every day. Stories about people of all backgrounds, perspectives, and identities. That's why, behind the scenes, we believe in being an organization that fosters collaboration and open communication, ensuring that the content we create is authentic, accurate, and connected to the communities we serve.

Benefits

Hearst's benefit programs are modern, flexible and designed to focus on you. As a Hearst employee, you and your spouse or partner or dependents would have access to the following benefits.

• Medical | Dental | Vision
• 401(k) matching
• Emotional Wellness Support
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Parental Leave
• LGBTQ+ Health Services
• Additional benefits to meet your and your family's needs

About Company

Hearst Television (HTV) owns and/or operates 35 television and two radio stations serving 27 media markets across 39 states reaching over 22 million U.S. television households. HTV is recognized as one of the industry's premier broadcasting companies and has been honored with numerous awards for distinguished journalism, industry innovation, and community service.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. we do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, creed, national, origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.