Overview
Head of Creative Jobs in Chicago, IL at ADVOC8
THE ROLE
The Head of Creative is the senior creative and strategy leader within the company, overseeing the development of an industry-leading creative department. They are responsible for managing mentoring and developing a team of Creative Directors, Art Directors and Designers, and Creative Strategists. The ideal candidate is someone with 10+ years in the experiential marketing business and at least eight years of team leadership and management experience.
Additionally, theHead of Creative is an active member of the Executive Leadership Team, which develops, supports and implements agency-wide initiatives, plans and processes to support the business strategy, operations and business development in order to ensure financial success.
WHO WE ARE
At ADVOC8, we create experiences that build trust, shift minds and win hearts. Our special sauce? Chemistry, collaboration and an endless supply of curiosity. We’re a team of strategic thinkers, creative problem-solvers, thoughtful storytellers and logistical magicians expertly bringing ideas to life from strategy and creative through to production and execution. We work with brands, nonprofits and associations to create experiences that make an impact. And we do this all in a flexible ‘work from anywhere’ environment where we celebrate differences and encourage each of our ‘advocates’ to bring their unique perspectives to the table each and every day.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Executive Leadership
Develop and implement agency business model, strategic, financial and operational goals
Represent the Creative Group in Executive Leadership Team meetings and responsibilities
Represent and communicate Creative Group vision, growth and work at agency-wide meetings/gatherings, i.e. All Hands, Retreat etc.
Participate in developing companywide internal communications and change management procedures
Project Leadership
Keeps the bigger picture on how multiple projects connect for the client
Build and maintain positive relationships with vendor and contract partners, and ensure seamless integration into agency operations
Develop and implement new/improved processes, timelines, policies, procedures, reporting, and tools including templates, practices, checklists, SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures), and training materials to consistently improve the ADVOC8 workflow
Business Development and Agency Growth
Keeper of creative institutional memory and onboards new creatives using previous project insights
Responsible for overseeing, developing and leading ADVOC8’s proposal process in partnership with the Head of Growth. Expert in client dynamics, navigating personalities, and embracing change to positively and proactively move proposals forward
Navigates challenging client feedback and team learning curves to uphold brand standards, push the quality of the creative work, and maintain positive/productive relationships
Identify additional opportunities that leverage agency offerings
Participates in agency marketing efforts, from strategic planning to tactical efforts including social media marketing and promoting the agency in mediums such as panel discussions, thought leadership pieces in trade publications, and/or podcasts
Working in tandem with leaders of the Growth Group and Experience Group, lead the development, writing and presentation of project/program plans, scopes of work, strategic roadmaps and staffing plans as they relate to upcoming project work
Creative Leadership & Innovation
Deep understanding of experiential marketing tactics, from conferences and tentpole events to pop-ups, gifting and OOH.
Coaches creative team members through design development of 2D and 3D elements
Develops and implements new/improved processes, timelines, policies, procedures, reporting, and tools including templates, practices, checklists, SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures), and training materials to consistently improve the ADVOC8 workflow
Facilitates the collaboration between Creative, Production and Growth departments to develop creative solutions throughout the lifecycle of a project
Reviews creative scopes and budgets for feasibility before presenting to the client
Be able to jump into project work on an as needed basis
Have an understanding of the role strategy plays in the creative process and work alongside strategy to develop creative concepts
Departmental Leadership
Responsible for the growth and development of the Creative Group, including hiring and departmental strategic planning
Oversee the day-to-day management of the Creative Group
Review and negotiate third-party contracts, including price and deal memos for vendors and contract partners
Oversees creative project timelines and deliverables outputs and monitoring deadlines and project scope
Maintains a highly utilized team that meets or exceeds our utilization goals and keeps team members engaged and retained
Ongoing evaluation and development of new/updated practices and processes of tracking, managing and memorializing Creative Group work
SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS
Team Leadership & Industry Experience
10+ years of experiential marketing agency experience
8+ years of management experience within an agency environment or similar
Proven track record in leading and developing creative talent
Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills
Technical Skills
Advanced knowledge in Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop required
Should have the design know-how to create print-ready files and troubleshoot Adobe design questions from team members
Deep experience designing for physical builds and spaces (e.g., directing floorplans, directing renderers, working with fabricators)
Ability to properly resource and scope creative and strategy deliverables across all projects
Existing industry profile and credibility as a thought leader is preferred
Experience writing and reviewing contracts with creative freelancers and vendors
Experience working with G-Suite and Microsoft Office a must, must be able to design in Google Slides and understand basic excel formulas
Team & Culture
Talented communicator who can inspire and lead a team, articulate a vision and strategy clearly, and authentically champion all aspects of the agency
Committed to fostering and modeling a companywide environment of inclusivity and strong group dynamics
Aligned with and committed to ADVOC8’s core values; represents them in daily work
Better Together – Collaborative soul who’s open to new ideas, sharing successes and being part of a team
Level Up – High standards, never settling for the status quo or what we did last time
Hustle Smarter – Entrepreneurial, roll-up-your-sleeves spirit, tempered by the courage to identify smarter ways of doing things
Celebrate Differences – Highly empathetic personality who values individual perspectives
Outcome Over Income – Extensive experience and demonstrated success in client relationship management
Protect the Respect – Navigates conflict with an emphasis on transparency and diplomacy
Engineer Exceptional Value – Inspired by outside-the-box thinking that yields outstanding ROI for our clients and projects
Embrace Change – Recognize situations that require flexibility and craft creative solutions on the fly
Ability to travel 15-20% of the year
BENEFITS
Collaborative and creative work environment
Competitive base salary, with additional performance-based incentives
Health Insurance: 100% coverage of base level medical insurance plus buy up options to meet the needs of you and your family
Health Insurance: Dental and vision insurance
401k, FSA, and stipend for mobile phone usage
Professional development and training reimbursements
Flexible work schedule
Unlimited vacation and personal time
Paid parental leave and Grandternity Leave
Fully remote company
We have transitioned from a once Washington D.C.-based agency to being Washington, D.C.-born. This position is not location-based, though travel will occasionally be required for project work and team offsites. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.; at this time, we are not able to provide sponsorship.
At ADVOC8, building an inclusive team that celebrates our differences is integral to our success. We strongly encourage people from underrepresented groups to apply even if you don’t meet all qualifications.
At ADVOC8, we are committed to fostering transparency and equity in compensation. The salary range provided for this position reflects the base salary offered to a successful candidate based on their experience, qualifications, and internal compensation structures. Please note that this salary range is subject to change based on evolving market conditions, company budget, and other factors, and does not include potential bonuses, benefits, or other forms of compensation. Final compensation may vary depending on the candidate’s negotiation, location, and the specific role’s requirements. We believe in fair pay for all employees and encourage candidates to engage in open conversations with us regarding compensation expectations during the hiring process.
ADVOC8 is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to achieving a diverse workforce, and prohibits discrimination and harassment: ADVOC8 is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at ADVOC8 are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, neurodivergence, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, exercising the right to family care and medical leave, veteran status or any other status protected under federal, state or local law. ADVOC8 will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.
Title: Head of Creative
Company: ADVOC8
Location: Chicago, IL
