Job Description

Overview

Must be located in Chicago and able to go into the office in accordance with our hybrid office model.

We have a simple belief: Unexpected Works. It means that the best idea is the one you never saw coming. And the only path to genuinely unexpected works is through creativity. Not the kind that looks the part and helps everyone sleep at night, but surprising, brave, irrepressible creativity that gets people talking—and as a result, achieves outrageous outcomes for our clients. We constantly strive to build diverse teams where everyone brings something unique to the table. Because you can’t make the unexpected if you only work with the usual suspects. By bringing together diverse thinkers with different backgrounds and perspectives, we validate Bill Bernbach’s notion that an idea can turn to dust or magic, depending on the talent that rubs against it. So, come be part of the magic.

This position is Associate Creative Director at Team DDB, an integrated organization consisting of nine agencies for one of the largest accounts in our network: the U.S. Army. This person is an art director by trade, with strong conceptual thinking, expert design skills, and the leadership acumen to oversee others (junior creatives, cross-functional partners, production vendors) for the realization of all creative strategies. The ACD/AD is facile in many aspects of a modern marketing ecosystem—including video, social, experiential, and web—and is charged with developing inspiring campaign concepts, arresting visual direction, and flawless design execution across platforms and formats. The ACD also mentors young creatives, collaborates closely with specialists in other departments and partner agencies, shares examples from media and culture that elevate the quality of our work, approves deliverables on a project level, and is a clear and thoughtful presenter to colleagues and clients.

The U.S. Army provides an enormous array of opportunities for young people who want to make a dent in the Universe, but misperceptions and functional barriers loom large. Team DDB’s ambition is to make the Army the most irresistible life choice for a diverse new generation.

Responsibilities

• Realizes the brand vision and marketing objectives through exceptional concepts and craftsmanship.
• Helps the creative team establish look, feel, and tone, with excellent taste and skills in design execution.
• Mentors designers and art directors by providing inspiring direction for both projects and long-term professional growth.
• Directs external production vendors (illustrators, photographers, comp artists, editors, and developers).
• Oversees the planning and production of presentation materials.
• Presents concepts, executions, and creative decisions to colleagues and clients.
• Responsible for the proper placement, context, and meaning of creative elements across media platforms and formats, as well as the overall message within a creative assignment.
• Works with producers and project managers to ensure all deliverables and deadlines are met within budget.
• Reports state of account and current projects to Creative Directors on a regular basis.
• Spreads expertise, passion, and innovation throughout the multi-agency team.
• Generates extra-credit innovative ideas that can solve different aspects of the Army’s recruitment challenges.
• Collaborates with other creative staff to share learning and experience, and to establish initiatives that will improve Team DDB’s creative product.
• Contributes to overall office morale, spirit, and character.

Qualifications

• 8+ years’ experience as an art director or designer in a brand or digital agency.
• 3-5 years’ experience as a creative manager.
• Proven ability to develop award-winning creative concepts, art direction, and design.
• Proven ability to collaborate with a cross-functional team of strategists, creatives, and channel specialists.

DDB is committed to diversity in its workforce and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and to review all of our job postings to minimize biased language. DDB Chicago does not make hiring or employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sex, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, citizenship, or any other basis protected by applicable local, state or federal law.

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