Associate Creative Director Job at Mkragency in Milwaukee

Overview

MKR is searching for an Associate Creative Director with a background in Art Direction to assist in the development of projects from concept creation to completion.

The ACD / AD is responsible for collaborating with creative, account, strategy, and media to develop and present marketing initiatives to meet the clients business strategies and objectives.

To be successful as an ACD / AD, you must be able to develop concepts based on strategic insights gleaned from creative briefs. Our expectation is that your ideas will be engaging, relevant, innovative, effective and highly creative. On a more tactical level, our ideal candidate will also possess a great deal of experience creating work for all channels including broadcast, video, radio, digital, social and point-of-sale. A demonstrated ability to create a wide range of tones from inspiring and emotional to more technical and informational is required.

The ideal candidate will be experienced, proactive, curious, confident, collaborative and possess the ability to demonstrate leadership in a group setting. In addition, you must have an understanding of how to utilize generative AI platforms and be an advocate for implementing emerging technology and tools within the creative team.

What We Are Looking For

Collaboration

Teamwork and collaboration are foundational to this creative department. You will be partnered with many talented individuals on a daily basis - copywriters, designers, strategists, project managers and account managers. We need someone who is calm under pressure and understands how to collaborate in the spirit of shared goals and positivity.

Hunger

We want an ACD / AD who is ready for increased responsibility. Someone who is seeking an opportunity to work with amazing people on a focused list of truly rewarding accounts. This is a chance to demonstrate leadership and excellence in an effort to move to the next phase of your career.

Attention to Detail

We hold ourselves to a high standard as it relates to the tight execution of work for our clients. The ideal candidate will oversee large, complex projects with a systematic approach to production, with a special focus on details.

What do we want to see in your book?

Great concepts? Of course. Strong design skills? Yes. TV, OOH, POS, social and experiential? Yes, to everything. We need a well-rounded ACD / AD who’s done it all.

Responsibilities

Supporting the CD with the development of concepts, creative strategies and visual communications in a wide range of channels

Demonstrating confidence, professionalism and persuasiveness in client presentations

Ensuring adherence to standards with consistency and a keen focus on details for complex, execution-heavy projects

Working with PMs to ensure resources are allocated according to project needs and ensuring smooth processes to keep team on deadlines, which can occasionally be aggressive

Supervise and mentor direct reports to help them improve and develop into successful creatives

Meeting client objectives, budgets, and deadlines

Keeping up with the latest trends, strategies, and technologies in marketing

Command the workflow and conceptual direction for assigned accounts

Direct all members of team to ensure proper production of campaign elements. Review and direct creative materials with partners

Bring and maintain knowledge and understanding of the client's products, their marketing objectives, and the promotional activities of similar or competitive products to evaluate work in light of the current marketing environment

Understanding marketing plans including objectives and strategies and how success will be measured. Contribute innovative ideas and tactics appropriate to client marketing strategy

Participate in strategic and tactical meetings to develop effective campaigns reflecting the client objectives.

Collaborate and communicate with team members in a productive manner to ensure goals are being met and to attain / maintain creative vision outlined for the agency

Develop strong client relationships through participation in market research, presenting creative concept development, and strategic direction

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in graphic design, fine art, marketing, advertising, communications or related field

A strong portfolio that includes work executed for a wide range of channels, produced on behalf of a diverse range of clients

7+ years of advertising agency experience strongly preferred

Must possess a very keen understanding of new and continually developing social channels

Must have a foundational appreciation and understanding of all steps in the customer experience, and be able to develop creative that aligns with where the customer is in their journey

Ability to be a gatekeeper of creative on assigned accounts, held accountable for approving work prior to client presentation or final trafficking

Proven concept and strategy development skills necessary

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Persuasive and engaging presentation skills are a must

Strong leadership skills to inspire, direct and motivate creative team

Ability to think strategically and translate strategy into creative

Experience with generative AI platforms

Who Is MKR?

MKR is an award-winning, audience-centric agency with offices in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Indianapolis, Indiana. We strive to create a working environment that empowers you to do the very best work of your career during your time with us. Our culture is based on creativity, flexibility and fur babies. And sometimes foosball. Also, gifs. Lots of gifs.

Benefits

MKR offers a competitive benefits package that includes :

Unlimited vacation days - we insist employees “take a break” a minimum of 10 days / year

Strategic Flexibility - work where you are most productive but encourage office attendance at least 2x / week

Health and dental insurance

Vision, life, and disability insurance are covered 100% by MKR

401(k) with employer matching

Salary will be commensurate with experience

Interested Applicants

You must submit a link to view your portfolio to be considered for this position!

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