Creative Director

Aquent is thrilled to partner with an innovative, tech-enabled growth firm that operates at the cutting edge of marketing, consulting, and data intelligence. This dynamic firm is dedicated to fueling revenue growth and enhancing brand recognition for a diverse portfolio of leading and emerging companies worldwide. With a profound commitment to a people-first culture, they champion diversity and believe it is paramount to their success, striving to be recognized as the most valued and respected private growth marketing firm globally. They are driven by a mission to redefine what's possible through a team of growth-obsessed experts who demand innovation and results, all powered by integrity, autonomy, and grit. Join a team that expertly manages billions in media, consistently challenging traditional planning and measurement through meticulous testing and data science across every milestone of the customer journey.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a visionary leader to make an indelible impact, not only on a dynamic creative team but also across a diverse portfolio of clients spanning lifestyle, CPG, and B2B sectors. In this pivotal role, you will directly shape the creative vision for a significant book of business, influencing the quality of work, driving team growth, and elevating client outcomes. Operating as a player-coach, you will lead from the front, influencing strategy, and directly contributing to high-priority accounts. Your leadership will be a significant stepping stone for further advancement, allowing you to cultivate exceptional people leadership and product judgment while staying deeply connected to the craft. This role is designed for those who are ready to redefine what's possible through creative services and deliver truly exceptional results.

Your Impact & Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of creative professionals, overseeing hiring, onboarding, and day-to-day operations to foster a high-performing environment.
• Develop and mentor team members, actively fostering growth paths, positive sentiment, and psychological safety within the team.
• Drive performance management, provide direct and constructive feedback, and make recommendations for raises and promotions.
• Oversee capacity planning and staffing to strategically align resources with evolving client needs and business objectives.
• Facilitate ongoing training and knowledge-sharing sessions to keep the team at the forefront of industry trends and tools.
• Meet directly with clients to articulate creative strategy, performance insights, and channel nuances, building strong relationships.
• Provide hands-on execution and exemplary support on complex or high-priority client accounts, demonstrating leadership through action.
• Act as the primary escalation point for creative client concerns, ensuring swift and effective resolution.
• Strengthen client retention through the delivery of strong creative solutions and the proactive identification of expansion opportunities.
• Proactively address client churn risks within your book of business, implementing strategies to mitigate potential losses.
• Ensure exceptional product quality through consistent and accountable QA processes, maintaining high standards.
• Lead creative product development, structured innovation initiatives, knowledge-sharing, and dynamic brainstorms.
• Collaborate effectively with service leads and platform partners to remain at the forefront of creative trends and technologies.
• Maintain full working knowledge of relevant systems and adapt seamlessly to evolving processes and methodologies.
• Employ cutting-edge AI technologies to enhance and optimize business processes and drive superior results.
• Demonstrate a genuine interest in expanding and evolving creative services within the industry, pushing boundaries.

What You'll Bring

• 7-8 years of digital marketing/creative experience, with a minimum of 5 years in an agency setting.
• Minimum 5 years of hands-on, expert-level experience across creative disciplines, including copywriting, design, production, strategy, and/or post-production.
• 5+ years of experience managing a team, including proven success in performance management and development planning.
• A robust portfolio showcasing a compelling track record of conceptualizing, developing, and delivering creative campaigns across multiple channels at scale.
• Demonstrated judgment and credibility that has consistently earned the trust and respect of creative specialists.
• Expert knowledge of how creative functions within the broader marketing funnel and contributes to overall business strategy.
• Executive-level presentation and communication skills, with the ability to confidently advise senior client stakeholders and internal leadership.
• A visionary leader with a proven track record of building strong team cultures, inspiring creative teams, and pushing boundaries while consistently delivering measurable business results.