Director of Marketing - 9419

Come join our team! We are looking for a Creative Director of Marketing.

DESCRIPTION: As a Sr. Marketing Manager/Creative Director, you will be responsible for developing and upholding high creative standards for the voice and look of a brand portfolio and multiple original projects while managing the workload and priorities of the Creative Services Team and managing and growing the statewide agency portfolio.

This position is responsible for developing and executing marketing strategies, driving the collaborative efforts of the project’s creative, and inspiring teammates on all levels to exceed our client’s expectations.

The ideal person will have a strong background in creative development and direction (agency or client-side) and be a strategic thinker with a proven track record of leading and developing from conceptualization to execution across all mediums: graphic design, websites, video production, digital and social platforms, animation, and experiential. This position requires the ability to use storytelling to connect with and engage our target audiences.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

· Lead, mentor, coach, and inspire Creative Services Team and the work produced for clients, fostering collaboration across disciplines; assigning projects and directing team workflow

· Oversees creative consultations with associates to ensure appropriate creative strategies, adequacy/accuracy of input, schedules, budgets, production support, necessary reviews, and client presentations

· Purse and capture new statewide agency clients and contracts

· Collaborate with clients to understand the business need and opportunities and determine objectives, budget, timing expectations, background information, and deliverables

· Lead development of materials across various disciplines – print, web, digital advertising, OOH, collateral, etc. – within multiple campaigns and evergreen efforts

· Shape brand standards and create procedures to ensure all work is brand appropriate

· Take on select projects as the Sr. Graphic Designer; Create conceptual comps and final creative assets using the full Adobe Creative Suite, with a strong proficiency in InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop

· Work on special Creative Services-related assignments, which include but are not limited to participating in discussions about creative strategy, designing presentations for Creative leadership, and designing elements for Marketing initiatives

· Experience with planning, developing, and managing large-scale newsletters

· Work closely with executive leadership and internal teams to brainstorm and come up with creative solutions to keep us on the cutting edge of industry trends

· Enhance department and team reputation by accepting ownership for accomplishing new and different requests, exploring opportunities to add value to job accomplishments

· Research trends and inspiration that is relevant to the industry and individual client requirements

· Work closely with our web, social media, and multimedia teams to ensure strong integration of branding, graphics, copy, and concept and be comfortable giving visual feedback

· Plan and organize marketing functions and operations (product development, branding, communications, project management, etc.)

· Design and coordinate promotional campaigns, PR, and other marketing efforts

· Foster the professional growth of the team

· Dedicate time to marketing innovation and quality improvement; Provide strong thinking and help create innovative ideas

· Experience in including and identifying resource needs, day-to-day oversight of the timeliness and quality of their deliverables

· Assess competitive insights to adjust creative approach, messaging, strategy, and tactics

· Develop persuasive, benefit-driven messaging to different customers groups in alignment with their needs

· Play a role in developing key strategy documents (strategic business plan, annual marketing plan, product launch plans, etc.) and leads the execution of the marketing communication elements of the marketing plan

· Create marketing communication strategies to understand, develop, and enhance the relationship between the customer and the product or portfolio

· Understand and apply the marketing framework and links customer acquisition and retention strategies to business objectives

· Write or edit publishing materials, scripts, or other communication media

· Follow standard style guidelines such as 'Associated Press'

· Exhibit interest in new ideas and experimentation

· Establish short-range and long-range improvement goals for the product management team and, under guidance, develops action plans to achieve those goals

· Daily use of reporting, analytics, and trend tools for all platforms

The candidate must have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline, preferably in advertising, marketing, journalism, or communications, or a minimum of five (5) years of experience in robust marketing, multi-media planning/buying, and creative services.

PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Strong creative portfolio, particularly with client graphic deliverables, animation, and motion graphics
• 7+ years of creative experience and managing multidisciplinary teams
• Bachelor's degree in art, graphic design, marketing, communications, journalism, and other relevant fields preferred, but the experience will be considered
• A minimum of 5 years of digital experience, particularly with, but not limited to, web, social, and emerging technologies
• Proven leadership experience in the creative field, managing projects and teams
• Proficiency on PC and Mac platforms, Microsoft Office Suite, and Adobe Creative Suite, including Premiere, Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Acrobat, and other design software/applications
• Excellent organizational, communication, and leadership skills
• Expertise in preparing various file formats for publication and experience with color management
• Demonstrated ability to think creatively and strategically to provide marketable solutions in conceiving, developing, and producing tactics
• Passion for design and branding while keeping up with industry trends
• Ability to produce creative results independently as well as collaboratively
• Meticulous attention to detail and overall commitment to quality
• Well-developed communication skills, including the ability to articulate creative concepts and rationale to other team members and clients
• Ability to see other people's points of view and collaboratively discuss solutions
• Proficient in all phases of the design process, including conception, development, implementation, and production
• Able to give and take direction from multiple internal clients and distill them into compelling marketing messages and designs
• Able to give and receive constructive criticism and collaborate professionally in a fast-paced and continually evolving environment
• Prepared to lead from the trenches, actively participating “hands-on” while also managing the team
• Experience with conversion pixels and direct response-type campaigns and funnels
• Basic HTML knowledge – Maybe you can’t code, but you shouldn’t be afraid to view the source, install pixels, and help clients troubleshoot when pixel isn’t working
• Familiarity with social listening, content distribution management, and measurement tools
• Talent for understanding, simplifying, and effectively communicating complex information to diverse audiences
• Commitment to excellence — working nonstandard hours when necessary, anticipating issues and communicating with diplomacy, identifying emerging platforms and trends to drive innovation
• Superior organizational skills with the ability to multitask
• Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills (AP style preferred)
• Familiarity with digital communications, including websites, social media, signage, direct mail campaigns, and graphic design
• Strong experience with program budgeting, strategic business planning, reporting processes, and requirements