CREATIVE DIRECTOR
- REPORTING TO: Managing Director, with dotted line reporting to the Group Creative Director
JOB SUMMARY:
The Creative Director will spearhead the development of groundbreaking ideas and high-impact designs. You will leverage visual styles to transform bold creative concepts into reality, overseeing the conceptual development and meticulous storytelling across various channels. As a key member of the leadership team, you’ll also foster an environment where teams and individuals feel inspired to reach their full potential while embodying the agency’s core values.
Key Responsibilities:
- Conceptualize and Create: Develop and execute creative concepts, campaigns, and functional digital designs that fulfill the client’s communication objectives and drive measurable business outcomes.
- Lead and Inspire: Set the gold standard for Art Direction, motivating your team to achieve excellence.
- Strive for Greatness: Demonstrate a relentless pursuit of the highest industry standards, both for your personal portfolio and the collective work of your team.
- Uncover and Apply Insights: Extract meaningful insights from data and client briefs and translate them into actionable creative strategies.
ROLE DIMENSIONS:
Conceptual Thinking:
- Quality Control: You bear the ultimate responsibility for ensuring consistently high-quality thinking from yourself and your teams.
- Innovation Catalyst: Cultivate and encourage the generation of exceptional, fresh, impactful, and integrated ideas.
- Embrace Diversity: Actively seek out and champion diverse perspectives and concepts.
Execution:
- Set the Bar: Establish yourself as the benchmark for quality and the standard-bearer for your discipline within the agency.
- Inspire Excellence: Your art direction should be exemplary, serving as an inspiration for your team. Cultivate an environment that rejects mediocrity.
Presentation:
- Command Attention: Confidently present work to high-level clients and organizational leaders.
- Lead the Pitch: Take ownership of presenting your team’s pitch work.
- Comprehensive Communication: Articulate the creative vision and strategy from initial concept to final execution.
Production:
- Decision Maker: Oversee all production decisions, including the selection of suppliers and the quality of their output.
- Final Authority: Confidently exercise the final say on all work before it’s presented to the client or released to the public.
People & Relationship Management:
- Dual Reporting Structure: Report to the Managing Director with a dotted line to the Group Creative Director.
- Foster Collaboration: Unite all agency disciplines – strategy, account management, production, creative, and traffic – to solve challenges and produce exceptional work.
- Cultivate Talent: Nurture the happiness, performance, and motivation of the entire creative department.
- Lead and Mentor: Serve as both manager and mentor, inspiring your team to create their best work.
- Build Relationships: Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills and cultivate buy-in from all stakeholders.
- Recruit Strategically: Hire the right, diverse individuals to build a high-performing team.
Additional Role Dimensions:
- Business Acumen: Develop a deep understanding of the client’s business and competitive landscape, ensuring that all creative work aligns with the client’s strategic goals.
- Internal Relationships: Foster strong relationships with all internal stakeholders.
- External Relationships: Build strong relationships with clients and production partners, leveraging these connections to navigate challenging conversations and solve problems for your team.
- Positive Work Environment: Promote a collaborative and passionate atmosphere. Cultivate a fun and energetic environment, even during demanding periods.
EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED
- A minimum of 5 years experience as an Art Director within the Advertising sector.
- 3+ years experience in a Creative Director role with a demonstrable history of success.
- A tertiary qualification in Art Direction, Graphic design, or a related creative field is essential.
- Fluency in both English and French is required.
- A deep understanding of the core departments, processes, and structures within an Advertising Agency.
- Sound knowledge of the media landscape in Cameroon-Congo, encompassing traditional (TTL, ATL, & BTL) and digital channels.
- Expert proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud applications, particularly InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator.
- Familiarity with other platforms that aid in the realization of creative ideas, such as Premiere Pro, After Effects, Dimension, and Midjourney, would be advantageous.
- Proven experience collaborating with internal teams and senior clients across various stakeholders.
- A portfolio showcasing award-winning work.
PERSONAL QUALITIES REQUIRED
- The courage to challenge norms and strive for excellence.
- Effective communication skills for interacting with clients and internal teams.
- An assertive nature and an uncompromising stance against mediocrity.
- A solutions-oriented approach in dealing with diverse stakeholders.
- Openness and a willingness to collaborate with individuals from different backgrounds.
- A combination of creative and strategic thinking abilities.
- Proactive problem-solving skills.
- Excellent presentation capabilities.
- The ability to thrive under pressure.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
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Please submit a comprehensive CV, including at least 3 references, no later than midday on 19th August 2024 (Cameroon time) through the provided application link.
