📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Creative Director
🔹 Company: Smartly
🔹 Location: New York, United States
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time, On-site
🔹 Category: Advertising Services
🔹 Date Posted: 2025-07-10
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Leading global campaigns from pitch to production
- Mentoring a growing team of art directors and designers
- Partnering closely with clients to shape social advertising that performs
- Pushing visual quality and guiding smart automation
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic and hands-on leader who can balance creative vision with technical execution.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Own the visual and conceptual direction of high-volume, performance-driven campaigns across various social platforms
✅ Develop prototypes and design mockups to pitch and bring creative strategies to life for presentations
✅ Collaborate closely with Creative, Production, and Customer Success teams to deliver scalable design solutions using Smartly’s proprietary creative tools
✅ Guide customers on channel best practices and scalable creative strategies that maximize performance through Smartly’s platform
✅ Apply a deep understanding of creative technology and adtech workflows to produce and activate impactful campaign assets
✅ Review and evolve work from a team of designers and art directors — mentoring junior talent and establishing creative standards
✅ Become a Smartly creative tech power user— shaping how our Creative Suite is used in daily production and guiding both internal teams and clients in unlocking their creative potential
✅ Contribute to a collaborative, curious, and ego-free creative culture — one that values experimentation, diverse perspectives, and the occasional great TikTok shared for inspiration
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a mix of creative leadership, technical expertise, and client management, requiring strong organizational and communication skills.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, Fine Arts, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
Experience: 10+ years of experience as an Art Director or Digital Designer, ideally with a focus on social and performance marketing
Required Skills:
- Expertise in Adobe Creative Suite and Figma
- Deep understanding of social platforms and audience-driven campaign design
- Strong communicator and expert presenter with a collaborative, cross-functional mindset
- Knowledge of how to scale creative across markets, platforms, and performance strategies
- Familiarity with SaaS platforms and how to translate complex tools into campaign-ready creative
- Proficiency in cloud-based tools like Google Workspace and Highspot
Preferred Skills:
- Experience with AI-powered advertising technology
- Fluency in multiple languages
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with a strong portfolio demonstrating creativity, technical ability, and a command of paid digital channels are highly desired.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $120,000 - $140,000 per year
Benefits:
- Healthcare packages
- Mental health services
- Paid holidays
- Family leave
- Equity options
- Performance-based rewards
- Competitive compensation
- Career development opportunities
Working Hours: Full-time, with flexible hybrid work arrangements
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is based on market research and internal equity considerations. Final salary will be determined based on the candidate's background, expertise, and experience.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Advertising Services
Company Size: 501-1,000 employees
Founded: 2013
Company Description:
- Smartly is the leading AI-powered advertising technology company transforming ad experiences for brands and their consumers
- Their comprehensive advertising platform seamlessly integrates the capabilities of media, creative, and intelligence
- They power more than 800 billion impressions and generate more than 300 billion creatives annually, delivering tangible business outcomes for brands and advertisers
Company Specialties:
- Facebook Advertising
- Demand Side Platform
- Retargeting
- Campaign Optimization
- Feed-based Ads
- Programmatic optimization
- Self-service ad management tool
- Customizable reporting
- Product feed based ads
- Multi-product ads
- Dynamic product ads
- Online advertising
- Performance marketing
Company Website: smartly.io
ASSUMPTION: Smartly is a global company with a strong focus on AI-powered advertising technology, offering a dynamic and innovative work environment.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Senior-level, with potential for growth into a leadership role
Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Head of Creative and works closely with the Creative, Production, and Customer Success teams
Work Arrangement: Hybrid, with a mix of on-site and remote work
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to grow into a leadership role within the creative department
- Opportunities to work on diverse campaigns and expand creative skillset
- Chance to contribute to the evolution of Smartly’s creative products
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential for the right candidate, with opportunities to make a substantial impact on the company's creative direction.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Modern, collaborative office space
Office Location(s): New York, United States
Geographic Context:
- New York is a major global hub for advertising and media
- The city offers a diverse range of cultural, entertainment, and dining options
- New York is home to many of Smartly's key clients and partners
Work Schedule: Full-time, with flexible hours and the opportunity to work remotely
ASSUMPTION: The New York office provides a vibrant and dynamic work environment, with easy access to major clients and industry events.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Phone or video screen with the HR team
- Creative challenge or presentation to the Creative team
- Final interview with the Head of Creative and other key stakeholders
Key Assessment Areas:
- Creative portfolio and problem-solving skills
- Communication and presentation skills
- Understanding of social platforms and audience-driven campaign design
- Alignment with Smartly's company culture and values
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills
- Prepare a strong portfolio showcasing your creative vision and technical ability
- Research Smartly's company culture and be ready to discuss how your values align with theirs
ATS Keywords: Creative Direction, Digital Design, Social Marketing, Performance Marketing, Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, Campaign Design, Communication, Presentation, Creative Technology, Adtech Workflows, Mentoring, Collaboration, SaaS Platforms, Cloud-Based Tools
ASSUMPTION: The interview process at Smartly is designed to assess both creative skills and cultural fit, with a focus on finding the best candidate for the role.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Figma
- Google Workspace
- Highspot
- Smartly's proprietary creative tools
ASSUMPTION: Familiarity with these tools is essential for success in this role, as they are integral to the creative process at Smartly.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Inclusive global culture
- Focus on wellbeing and work-life balance
- Comprehensive rewards and career development opportunities
Work Style:
- Collaborative and ego-free creative culture
- Value experimentation, diverse perspectives, and continuous learning
- Hybrid work model, balancing office collaboration with remote work
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you thrive in a collaborative, cross-functional environment?
- Are you comfortable working with a diverse range of clients and stakeholders?
- Do you embrace a growth mindset and value continuous learning?
ASSUMPTION: Candidates who align with Smartly's values and work style will be most successful in this role.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing a growing team of art directors and designers
- Balancing creative vision with technical execution and client expectations
- Keeping up with the fast-paced evolution of AI-powered advertising technology
- Working in a hybrid environment, requiring strong communication and collaboration skills
ASSUMPTION: These challenges can be overcome by a strong, strategic leader with excellent communication and organizational skills.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is unique in its focus on AI-powered advertising technology and global campaign management
- Similar roles in traditional advertising agencies may not require the same level of technical expertise or global scope
- Career progression in this role may differ from that of a traditional art director or digital designer, with opportunities to grow into a leadership role within the creative department
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique blend of creative leadership, technical expertise, and global campaign management, setting it apart from similar roles in the industry.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing a global campaign for a Fortune 500 brand, from pitch to production
- Creating a series of dynamic product ads for an e-commerce client, optimizing for performance across multiple platforms
- Designing a customizable reporting dashboard for a major retail client, showcasing campaign performance and insights
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the diverse range of creative challenges and opportunities that this role presents.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the creative team's structure and how this role fits within it?
- How does Smartly support the professional development of its creative team members?
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 90 days?
- How does Smartly measure the success of its creative campaigns, and how will my work be evaluated?
- What is the company's long-term vision for its creative technology and how can this role contribute to it?
ASSUMPTION: These questions will help you better understand the role, the team, and the company's long-term goals.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills
- Prepare a strong portfolio showcasing your creative vision and technical ability
- Research Smartly's company culture and be ready to discuss how your values align with theirs
- Follow up with the HR team one week after submitting your application to check the status of your application
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
