Art Director IV

Overview

Our leading financial client is seeking a rockstar Art Director to join its team on a hybrid basis in any of the following locations:

• Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Portland, St. Louis
• Candidates must be within 50 miles of a client office in locations above.
• This is currently a remote role but candidates must be agreeable to a possible hybrid work situation in the future.
• Candidates will be required to be onsite at a client office on their first day
• Candidates must be open to being asked to work specific days at an office

As an Art Director, you will be a pivotal creative force, championing innovative thinking and strategic visions that empower clients to solve complex business challenges with unique, impactful solutions. You’ll approach every creative task as an opportunity to craft useful, memorable, and innovative experiences—constantly pushing design boundaries across a diverse portfolio of client campaigns, digital initiatives, large-scale events, and tradeshows.

In this dynamic role, you will lead projects from strategy through execution, ensuring every detail aligns with and elevates brand objectives. Collaborating closely with internal teams, stakeholders, and multi-disciplinary creatives (including graphic designers, motion designers, videographers, and content strategists), you will drive conceptual storytelling, lead ideation, and foster exceptional client relationships that build trust and unlock new opportunities.

What You’ll Do:

Creative Strategy & Storytelling

• Lead and influence innovative thinking and strategic visions to deliver elevated visual content across various platforms, media, and complex event channels.
• Drive creative and conceptual storytelling methods, actively influencing the development of creative briefs, storyboards, and layouts.
• Initiate, facilitate, and lead creative ideation sessions that inspire new design perspectives and empower teams to develop award-winning work.
• Articulate and present compelling creative concepts to stakeholders, securing alignment, building consensus, and advancing critical business objectives.

Project Execution & Portfolio Management

• Manage and execute a diverse portfolio of client projects, campaigns, events, and tradeshow deliverables simultaneously from concept to completion in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Review creative work, troubleshoot design challenges, and provide constructive feedback to ensure output meets the highest standards of quality and brand alignment.
• Apply sound business acumen to comprehend stakeholders’ strategic visions, directly influencing creative development throughout the project lifecycle.
• Skillfully act as a liaison between groups to achieve positive solutions, manage resources, build short- and long-term budgets, and meet business objectives.

Team Leadership & Mentorship

• Mentor, coach, and empower creative professionals to develop their conceptual skills, including critiquing design projects and providing constructive feedback in virtual environments.
• Lead multi-disciplinary creative project teams by example, harnessing the strengths of diverse skill sets to implement project vision, concepts, and designs.
• Foster an inclusive, innovative team environment that encourages bold ideas, continuous learning, and creative excellence.

What You’ll Bring:

• Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree in graphic design or a related discipline, or equivalent work experience as an Art Director, alongside 8+ years of related art direction and design experience.
• Portfolio: A strong creative digital portfolio demonstrating outstanding conceptual thinking and design skills.
• Strategic & Innovative Mindset: A strategic thinker with an innovative mindset, consultative skills, and current knowledge of digital design trends (including trends relevant to events and creative technology).
• Work Environment: Experience working in a fast-paced, matrixed agency or in-house team environment to develop a range of creative initiatives.
• Business Acumen & Brief Development: Sound business acumen to fully comprehend stakeholders’ strategic vision and influence the development of creative briefs, storyboards, and layouts.
• Ideation & Leadership: Ability to initiate and successfully lead creative ideation sessions, inspiring new design perspectives while demonstrating strong leadership skills and the ability to lead by example.
• Independence & Problem-Solving: Ability to work independently on highly complex projects in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment with advanced problem-solving skills to identify, resolve, and overcome challenges.
• Management & Budgeting: Strong time-management skills with the ability to lead resources and build short/long-term budgets.
• Team Guidance: Proven ability to successfully lead creative project teams and individuals in implementing project vision, concept, and design of deliverables across various platforms and media; reviewing work, troubleshooting, and providing constructive feedback.
• Client & Interpersonal Relations: Ability to proactively foster exceptional client relationships to build trust and collaboration that leads to the co-development of new opportunities, paired with the ability to skillfully liaison between groups of people to bring positive solutions that meet business objectives.
• Technical Software Skills: Advanced knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud; proficiency in prototyping tools, Microsoft Office (including PowerPoint), and Microsoft Teams.
• Mentorship: Experience in successfully mentoring and coaching creatives in developing conceptual skills, including critiquing design projects and providing constructive feedback in a virtual environment.
• Communication: Superb communication skills, with active listening and diplomacy when working with internal team members and business partners.

Preferred (Nice-to-Have) Qualifications:

• Proficiency in Adobe Workfront or related project management software is beneficial.
• Experience directing motion graphics, video production, and spatial/environmental design for physical experiences.

The target hiring compensation range for this role is $55-$60 hr. Compensation is based on several factors including, but not limited to education, relevant work experience, relevant certifications, and location.

About Aquent Talent:

Aquent Talent connects the best talent in marketing, creative, and design with the world’s biggest brands.

Our eligible talent get access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match. We also offer free online training through Aquent Gymnasium. More information on our awesome benefits!

Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We’re about creating an inclusive environment-one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.