Creative Director

Creative Director MARCOM

Company: Marks Design NA
Reports to: VP Creative
Location: Chicago (Hybrid)

About the Company

Marks is a consumer experience agency creating engaging moments across the entire brand spectrumfrom brand design and packaging to content and consumer connections. Rooted in a deep understanding of human behavior we help brands win in an age of constant change.

We are a global collaborative network of 1900 team members across 25 studios and 20 countries partnering with some of the worlds most recognized brands to solve complex business challenges through design strategy and craft.

About the Role

The Creative Director Marketing Communications is a senior creative leader responsible for defining championing and delivering big ownable campaign ideas that translate into smart scalable design and communication systems across channels.

Reporting to the VP Creative this role sets the creative vision for a portfolio of brands and leads multidisciplinary teams to bring that vision to life from early concept through execution. The Creative Director ensures the work is strategically grounded creatively bold and impeccably crafted.

This role requires a confident point of view the ability to inspire and galvanize teams and the credibility to lead clients as a trusted creative authority. The Creative Director is responsible for shaping briefs pushing ambition and raising the creative standard for both clients and the agency.

Role Expectations

Creative Vision & Idea Leadership

• Own and define the creative vision for integrated marketing communications across your portfolio of clients
• Lead the development of big campaign ideas that ladder to brand strategy and flex across channels formats and moments across the shoppers journey
• Translate conceptual thinking into cohesive design and messaging systems vs one-off executions
• Ensure all work is strategically sound creatively distinctive and executed with craft and consistency
• Act as a brand guardian who protects the brand DNA while also championing appropriate evolutions to brand voice tone and expression

Integrated Campaign Expertise

• Lead concepting and execution across retail in-store digital social video motion and out-of-home
• Guide teams in developing content ecosystems that feel connected intentional and scalable
• Oversee narrative development for presentations ensuring ideas are clearly framed confidently sold and easy to rally behind

Client Leadership

• Serve as a trusted creative partner and senior-level advisor to clients
• Bring confidence and clarity to client conversationsarticulating ideas defending creative choices and pushing ambition when needed
• Partner with strategy and client services to shape briefs unlock stronger insights and elevate the work
• Support new business efforts by contributing to pitches kickoffs and growth opportunities

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead inspire and mentor teams of Art Directors Copywriters and Designers
• Set clear creative direction and expectations: give teams the confidence to do their best work
• Balance high-level vision with hands-on guidance when needed
• Foster a culture of accountability curiosity and creative excellence
• Partner with client services and project managers to plan each project and cast the right team for the right ask
• Partner with recruiting and operations to build and maintain a strong balanced team

Collaboration & Culture

• Act as a cultural leader and ambassador for Marks
• Champion collaboration across disciplines studios and global teams
• Lead effective internal reviews that elevate thinking and push work forward
• Model respect generosity and shared ownership. Always prioritize the work over ego.

Agility & Resourcefulness

• Thrive in a fast-paced evolving environment with multiple streams of work
• Identify opportunities to improve creative processes workflows and ways of working
• Maintain high standards while moving with speed and flexibility
• Bring a solutions-oriented roll-up-your-sleeves mindset to every challenge

Critical Skills & Behaviors

• Proven ability to lead big-idea campaign thinking not just execution
• Strong conceptual and strategic thinking paired with exceptional craft
• Confident creative point of view with the ability to inspire teams and clients
• Deep understanding of integrated marketing ecosystems and brand systems
• Highly organized detail-oriented and accountable
• Passion for marketing communications design and storytelling

Minimum requirements

• Bachelors degree in Advertising Marketing Communications or related field
• 10 years of experience in marketing communications or advertising
• Demonstrated experience leading teams and managing senior-level client relationships
• Strong portfolio showcasing integrated campaigns and system-based thinking
• CPG and retail experience strongly preferred
• Fluency in Keynote PowerPoint and Microsoft Word; familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite a plus
• Fluent in iOS

Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several U.S. geographic markets and we pay differently based on those defined markets. The U.S. pay range for this position is $120000 USD - $135000 USD annually. Ultimately in determining pay we will consider the successful candidates location experience and other job-related factors.

Group benefits currently include a selection of health care plans with prescription drug coverage dental plan vision plan basic and supplemental life insurance a flexible spending account for medical and dependent care expenses or a health savings account based on plan selection short/long term disability and 401(k) Savings Plan.

Required Experience:

Director