Job Information
SRW Associate Creative Director / Creative Director in Chicago, Illinois
Ragtag bunch of hooligans seeks a skilled Associate Creative Director or Creative Director to manage art direction and design for integrated campaigns from conceptualization through production across health, wellness and better-for-you brands.
The ACD / CD is the spark for big ideas and the force to ensure those ideas are bought by clients and come to life. They provide quality content creation by getting their hands dirty in the day-to-day work and by mentoring Creative team members as they develop their skills. All while establishing trust with clients at every turn.
At SRW, our content is sometimes novel, sometimes fun, sometimes pretty, but always authentic. We create campaigns that inform, inspire, educate, or entertain...and in a perfect world, all of the above. The ACD / CD will work collaboratively with SRW’s cross-functional teams, using the insights from Strategy to guide the Creative process and produce effective content. They consider the “why” behind every piece of work to ensure we tell genuine stories for our clients and create work that makes us truly proud to be here.
About You:
No hubris. You have an opinion. A reasoned one. And you communicate it with kind, respectful candor. You have an eye for your craft and encourage others, not only on the creative team, to apply rigor to their work. You are comfortable working outside the traditional structures of the agency model. You are interested in creating kick-ass work while motivating and empowering your team to do the same.
Requirements
Lead the creative vision and execution across a handful of key agency clients
Learn and understand clients’ audience insights, product benefits, offers, KPIs, brand standards and production specifications to influence the work
Provide clear guidance and expectations to your direct reports to ensure all pieces of content made are both up to the standards of SRW as well as aligned with our client’s strategy
Work collaboratively with cross-functional teams (Client Services, Strategy, Public Relations, Influencer Marketing, Paid Media) to:
Help Creative team members sell in concepts to clients, ranging from monthly content pitches to big campaign ideas and everything in between (brand identity development, packaging design, social posts, OOH and more)
Lead brainstorms and develop content themes for integrated and social campaigns
Lead the ideation and execution of photo and video shoots in partnership with creative production counterparts
Work with agency leadership to apply best practices for communicating with wellness and natural foods audiences
Inject fun, insight, and general hooliganism into the Creative team daily
Assist in new business, participate in pitches and ensure that our creative practice is positioned and tailored for our prospects’ needs
Additional Qualifications:
Even if you do not meet 100% of the qualifications, but feel you have something unique to contribute to SRW, please apply! Tell us why you'd be a great addition in your cover letter.
7+ years in an art direction or designer role; or equivalency in experience
Strong portfolio of work showcasing integrated campaigns (big ideas to execution) - brand identity, social, digital, video, website, packaging, print, OOH and more; consumer PR and Influencer experience are a plus
Strong presentation, communication, and story-telling skills with an ability to sell concepts and ideas
A positive energy and a communication style that inspires others
Experience managing and developing creative talent
An entrepreneurial spirit and the drive to implement new and better ways of thinking and problem solving
Zero hubris
You must provide a link to your online portfolio for consideration.
Salary ranges from $95,000 to $125,000 based on relevant work experience.
Benefits
About SRW:
A ragtag bunch of hooligans who just might be onto something, we quit agency life to help a broad range of clients do the same. We specialize in building and growing communities through content - specializing in the healthy food industry. We create and deliver these campaigns from concept to distribution, and earn consumer and media attention for our clients by creating useful experiences for their specific audiences.
Our culture doesn’t come from a book, it’s intrinsic to who we are. We believe people are more than one thing and we abhor the phrase “that’s not my job.” We are compassionate and fun to work with. We are adaptable. We ask (lots of) questions and listen to the answers. We do good work with and for good people. We work hard and have fun.
SRW, a C.A. Fortune company, offers equal opportunities for employment and advancement to all applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based on the principles of equal opportunity, individual qualifications, and merit. We believe the best creative ideas and results come from diverse perspectives that share a purpose. Why? Because, it reflects our values and makes good business sense. And we care: about each other, the work, and the world around us.
Learn more about us at srw.agency