Remote Indie Animation Studio Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

About the Role
Location: Remote - Michigan residents (minimal travel required)
Do you have expertise in digital and print design, motion graphics and video? Are you ready to take your creative career to the next level?
As a remote Art Director on Morley's award-winning in-house creative team, you'll lead with vision and creativity, shaping experiences for major brands across digital, interactive, print and event platforms.
You'll translate business goals into innovative experiences that grow our brand and those of our Fortune 500 clients.
This role requires a people-first leadership approach and the ability to guide teams to deliver extraordinary customer-centric experiences on time and within budget.
To succeed in this role, you'll need to be able to develop concepts and ideas from scratch, confidently pitch them to leadership, and keep an eye on the big picture while also getting hands-on with individual tasks.
This is not an entry-level position; we seek a candidate with at least five years of industry experience who can hit the ground running. Please include a link to your portfolio with your application. We're interviewing immediately and look forward to connecting soon!
What You'll Do

• Create bespoke designs for both digital and print, working from concept through execution of finished art
• Motion design including 2D and 3D animations
• Video concept development, storyboards and editing
• Use AI to assist workflows and create visual content
• Deliver solutions that include web design, prototypes, experiential event identities and communications, large-format graphics, architectural / scenic renderings, stage and event décor, data visualizations, presentations, design / speaker support, collateral and social media graphics
• Translate conceptual and strategic business ideas into striking design solutions and unforgettable storytelling
• Concisely and strongly communicate strategy, design concepts and creative ideas to internal and external partners / clients and effectively articulate the rationale for design decisions
• Contribute to the evolution of our current brand portfolio, while assisting in concepting future brand development
• Proactively manage multiple projects at once while meeting all deadlines and prioritizing work to accommodate tight deadlines that support clients in the Eastern and Pacific time zones
• Collaborate with:
  • Clients and / or project management teams to understand client business needs
  • Our in-house creative team
  • Live event production partners, writers, video / motion graphic studios and marketing / communications executives
• Contribute independently and also collaboratively with cross-functional teams and external partners
• Identify, recommend and direct vendors on the production of unique, ongoing world-class print, digital and video deliverables
• Ensure brand consistency while offering a fresh approach to design, artwork, digital and print output
• Keep up to date with trends across culture, design, technology, e-commerce, social media, graphic design, photography / video, and propose new ideas
• Be a team leader that efficiently delegates project tasks to internal and external talent to:
  • Ensure progress goals are met
  • Ensure projects are completed on time and exceed expectations
• Balance between being a delegator and a doer, and know when to do each to meet deadlines
• Model clear and consistent communication to internal and external teams to make sure everyone is aligned and be willing to speak up when you spot an issue

Questions Before You Apply?
Live chat with a Morley Talent Acquisition (TA) Specialist: careers.morleycompanies.com

• Chat hours: M-F 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Eastern / 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. Central / 6 a.m. - 3 p.m. Mountain / 5 a.m. - 2 p.m. Pacific time | Closed on some holidays
• TA will respond to after-hours questions the next business day

Skills for Success
Required Skills

• Excellent visual communication skills - including:
  • Graphic design, typography, color theory and layout
  • Able to adapt design styles and apply branded style guides with consistency
• Applications:
  • Mastery of Adobe Creative Cloud design apps (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, XD, AfterEffects, Premiere) and Figma
  • Expert in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint; able to create / apply templates and develop world-class, client-facing presentations and proposals
• Able to execute the design of creative concepts and assure sound pre-press production
• Strong attention to detail and creative process workflows
• Able to incorporate feedback and take / give direction well
• A self-starter attitude with a desire to work in a fast-paced, low-ego environment

Eligibility Requirements

• Must have the ability to pass a pre-employment background check and drug screen
• Bachelor of Arts in graphic design or motion graphics-related degree (Extensive industry expertise and job-related experience may be considered in lieu of educational requirements)
• Strong online portfolio demonstrating your passion for great design that shows stylistic breadth, attention to detail and usability in print, digital, web, motion and video deliverables
• Experience:
  • Five years as an Art Director in an agency or in-house creative environment
  • Extensive industry expertise and job-related experience in motion graphics, video editing, AI workflows and visual content generation
  • Experience with:
    • Complex, multi-faceted projects informed by varying stakeholders (both external clients and within an organization)
    • Using Asana or similar task management systems
• Able to work the following schedule:
  • Monday - Friday
  • 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Eastern time (7 a.m. - 4 p.m. Central / 6 a.m. - 3 p.m. Mountain / 5 a.m. - 2 p.m. Pacific time)
  • Flexible to support after standard work hours or on weekends if needed to complete high-priority projects or accommodate client / program schedules
• Able to travel as needed to support live event productions (around 10%)

Nice to Have

• Experience in creating concepts, themes, stories and visual expressions such as scenic, environmental, signage and supporting collateral deliverables for live events
• Leadership role in a live event setting
• Skilled in 3D modeling programs such as Blender, Cinema 4D or Maya
• Automotive experience
• Experiential design background

Remote Work Requirements

• Michigan resident
• High-speed internet access at home
• Secluded and distraction-free work environment

Why Join Our Morley Family
At Morley, your paycheck is just the start - add in health coverage, wellness resources and financial benefits, and you get a total compensation package designed to support you in work and in life.
Health & Wellness Benefits

• Medical and prescription coverage
• Dental and vision insurance
• Paid time off
• Associate wellness program with rewards for annual checkups
• Programs to quit tobacco use and manage chronic conditions (e.g., diabetes, asthma)

Financial Benefits

• 401(k) with match
• Flexible spending account (FSA)
• Life insurance
• Company-paid short- and long-term disability insurance

Benefits to Make Your Life Easier

• 24/7 online access to doctors through Teladoc
• 24/7 nurse help desk
• Patient advocacy with free 24/7 support for benefit questions and claims
• Guidance for family, financial and estate planning (including wills)

About Morley
Our mission is to deliver extraordinary experiences.
We do this by leading with humility, embracing everyone, sweating the details and moving mountains (making the impossible possible) - for our associates and for the world-leading companies that partner with us.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and promote a caring and respectful work environment. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability status.
As part of this commitment, we provide reasonable accommodations for those with disabilities. If you need reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please contact talentacquisition@morleynet.com.
Thank you for your interest in Morley.
Notices

• Morley utilizes E-Verify during onboarding for all hires. Click here to learn more about E-Verify: https://mrly.info/bau and your right to work: https://mrly.info/7wo
• Click here to view Morley's CCPA Notice for applicants in California: https://info.morleynet.com/ccpa
• Click here to view Morley's privacy policy: https://info.morleynet.com/morley-privacy-policy