Description
EssenceMediacom is a new breed of media agency. Grounded in analytics & insights and powered by data & technology, we believe in the power of media and creative to drive breakthroughs for the world's best brands. We help clients understand the modern marketing paradox and discover the breakthroughs brands need to win with their consumers. We are designed for the new communications economy - built on data & technology, built for people & algorithms, built around diverse schools of thought, built to test & learn at scale, and, crucially, built to evolve.
Role Summary & Impact
We are actively seeking an experienced Associate Creative Director (Design) on EssenceMediacom's MFG team. This individual is responsible for overseeing the development of creative design concepts and approaches, juggling multiple projects through execution, and helping manage a team of designers, copywriters, motion designers, and developers.
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We are looking for a seasoned team lead who can provide clear direction, articulate a clear point of view, and catch those tiny mistakes that are off by a pesky pixel. You will guide and mentor the creative team to deliver exceptional, on-brand work, review all work before client delivery, and ensure creative excellence. You are experienced in creating a mix of digital and social creative work, and massaging large concepts into small formats.
A successful candidate will have excellent presentation skills and communication abilities at all levels of both internal and client organizations. You consider yourself a solutions-oriented problem-solver with a deep understanding of digital platforms and culture. You should be eager to try new things, evolve ways of working, and stay up to date with new and emerging creative technologies and AI."
Key Responsibilities
- Oversee your assigned creative teams and provide clear direction, leadership, and timely and constructive feedback to elevate creative work.
- Direct all phases of creative work including developing design concepts and approaches, while overseeing multiple projects through execution and managing creative teams on each project.
- Ensure standards of creative excellence across copy, design, motion, and production.
- Provide strategic and creative guidance throughout the creative process from concept development to final production.
- Effectively present creative rationale to clients, upholding standards of delivering innovative and effective creative campaigns.
- Identify potential roadblocks, escalate issues accordingly, and offer timely solutions.
- Responsible for maintaining overall quality standards for all creative deliverables, ensuring alignment with brand guidelines, client expectations, and any applicable best practices across all decks and documents.
- Act as a brand steward. Deeply understand the client's visual identity, voice, and brand DNA.
- Manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritizing tasks and delegating effectively.
- Collaborate with PM/CS team members to understand client objectives and help translate them into creative concepts and to the wider team.
- Ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget.
- Perform regular resourcing tasks, including but not limited to resourcing allocations, timely submission and approval of time cards, and maintaining and using accurate job codes.
- Collaborate with internal teams, external teams (e.g. Media, Planning), and outside partners (third Parties, Vendors).
- Build and maintain strong relationships with clients and act as a main creative POC on respective active workstreams.
- Building relationships with other disciplines, being able to showcase the value of creative expertise.
- Understand the roles and functions of the PM/CS/Activation/Planning teams.
- Assist with deploying innovation opportunities to the clients and MFG/CF Leadership.
- Communicate opportunities for up-leveling, upselling, and/or innovation to MFG/CF Leadership.
- Stay up-to-date with industry trends, platform best practices, the work across MFG/CF, and emerging technologies that drive innovation and creative tech.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in advertising, marketing, business administration, and communications; OR equivalent professional work experience.
- An exceptional portfolio that demostrates creative chops.
- 5 years of agency experience.
- Proven creative success leading collaborative multi-functional teams.
- Strong presentation & communication skills (visual and written).
- Experience nurturing and growing agency and client relationships.
- Extensive knowledge of emerging platforms and cultural trends.
Life at GroupM
Our passion for shaping the next era of media includes investing in our employees to help them do their best work, and we're just as committed to employee growth as we are to responsible media investment. GroupM employees can tap into the global GroupM & WPP networks to pursue their passions, grow their networks, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. We have a variety of employee resource groups and host frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our benefits include competitive medical, vision, and dental insurance, significant paid time off, preferential partner discounts, and employee mental health awareness days.
GroupM is WPP's media investment group and the world's leading media investment company with a mission to shape the next era of media where advertising works better for people. The company is responsible for more than $60 billion in annual media investment, as measured by the independent research bureau COMvergence. Through its global agencies Mindshare, Wavemaker, EssenceMediacom, and T&Pm, and cross-channel performance (GroupM Nexus), data (Choreograph), entertainment (GroupM Motion Entertainment) and investment solutions, GroupM leverages a unique combination of global scale, expertise, and innovation to generate sustained value for clients wherever they do business. Discover more at www.groupm.com.
GroupM provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race; color; sex; gender identity; sexual orientation; religious practices and observances; national origin; pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; status as a protected veteran or spouse/family member of a protected veteran; or disability.
GroupM is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to, among others, individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans. If you need an accommodation because of a disability to search and apply for a career opportunity with GroupM, please send an e-mail to GroupM Leave Administration at [email protected] or call (212) 297-8507 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.
The base salary for this position at the time of this posting may range from $75,000 to $180,000. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including business needs, experience, level of responsibility and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package, please visit https://www.wpp.com/people/wellbeing/benefits-at-wpp-in-the-us for more details.