Creative Director

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Creative Director

🔹 Company: Dentsu

🔹 Location: Chicago, Illinois, United States

🔹 Job Type: Full-Time, Hybrid

🔹 Category: Advertising Services

🔹 Date Posted: 2025-07-30

🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years

🔹 Remote Status: On-site/Hybrid

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Leading the creation of innovative digital experiences across various messaging channels
• Ensuring client branding requirements are met
• Mentoring team members and maintaining strong client relationships
• Driving creative excellence and user adoption

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of creativity, leadership, and client management skills. The ideal candidate will have a strong portfolio showcasing their creative direction skills and experience leading teams.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Lead the creation of custom design systems as well as utilize and scale existing client design systems

✅ Support creative work partnered with Strategy and Analytics teams using all available insights including customer feedback, quantitative data and usability findings

✅ Work with cross-functional teams and leaders to ensure user adoption and client satisfaction

✅ Be a trusted creative voice for your accounts and develop good relationships with your clients

✅ Demonstrate to clients that you understand their challenges and respond to their creative and strategic requirements

✅ Mentor direct reports and create a supportive culture

✅ Oversee that creative choices relate to messaging strategies, elevate the quality of the work, and meet client objectives while achieving financial objectives

✅ Be a go-to client-facing voice, nurture client relationships, present and sell creative concepts, and be a liaison between client and creative teams

ASSUMPTION: The responsibilities listed are specific to this role and may vary depending on the client and project requirements.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in marketing, advertising, digital design, copywriting or related field

Experience: 10+ years of experience in UI design or copywriting with a minimum of 4 years in a creative leadership capacity

Required Skills:

• Proven track record of leading projects, creating innovative and consumer-first experiences, and driving creative excellence
• Exceptional people management skills and creative direction across copywriting, art direction, motion design and user experience
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to facilitate client meetings and lead presentations
• Knowledge of Experience Design and the role creative plays in achieving its outcomes
• Understanding of various technology platforms and media channels (ESPs such as Salesforce Marketing Cloud and Braze, Creative collaboration software such as Figma)

Preferred Skills:

• Digital, interactive and customer experience agency or consultancy experience
• Genuine passion and excitement for consumer engagement and desire to create specific brand outcomes

ASSUMPTION: The required skills listed are essential for this role, and the preferred skills would be a significant advantage for the ideal candidate.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $94,000 - $152,375 per year. This range is based on market research and industry standards for a Creative Director role in Chicago, Illinois.

Benefits:

• Medical, vision, and dental insurance
• Life insurance
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance
• 401k
• Flexible paid time off
• At least 15 paid holidays per year
• Paid sick and safe leave
• Paid parental leave

Working Hours: Full-time, typically 40 hours per week. The work arrangement is hybrid, with a mix of on-site and remote work.

ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on market research and industry standards. The actual salary may vary depending on the candidate's experience, skills, and other factors.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Dentsu is a global advertising and marketing services company that specializes in creative, media, and digital services. They help brands connect with consumers through innovative and data-driven solutions.

Company Size: Dentsu has over 10,000 employees worldwide, providing a large and diverse work environment.

Founded: Dentsu was founded in 1901 and has since grown into a global leader in the advertising industry.

Company Description:

• Dentsu is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees
• The company offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, life insurance, and retirement plans
• Dentsu is dedicated to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans

Company Specialties:

• Marketing communications
• Advertising
• Media planning
• Media buying
• People-Based Marketing
• Creative
• Innovation
• Data and Technology

Company Website: https://www.dentsu.com/

ASSUMPTION: Dentsu's global presence and extensive experience in the advertising industry make it an attractive employer for creative professionals seeking to grow their careers in a dynamic and innovative environment.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: This role is at the senior level, requiring a high degree of expertise and leadership in creative direction.

Reporting Structure: The Creative Director reports directly to the Group Creative Director and is responsible for leading a team of creatives, including copywriters, art directors, and motion designers.

Work Arrangement: This is a hybrid role, with a mix of on-site and remote work. The exact work arrangement may vary depending on the client and project requirements.

Growth Opportunities:

• Proven track record of leading projects and driving creative excellence may lead to opportunities for advancement within the company
• Working with a diverse range of clients and industries may provide opportunities to expand skills and expertise
• Mentoring and developing junior team members may lead to opportunities for advancement within the creative department

ASSUMPTION: The growth opportunities listed are based on industry standards and the company's size. Actual opportunities may vary depending on the candidate's performance and the company's needs.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Dentsu's Chicago office is a modern, collaborative workspace designed to foster creativity and innovation.

Office Location(s): 1-8-1 Higashi-shimbashi, Tokyo, Japan; 10 Triton Street, Regents Place, London, UK; 105 York St, South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; 150 E 42nd St, New York, USA; Guoco Tower 1, Wallich Street #22-01, Singapore; Rua Wisard 298, São Paulo, Brazil; Two Haddington Buildings, 20 -38 Haddington road, Dublin, Ireland; Moermanskkade 85, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Geographic Context:

• Chicago is a major metropolitan area with a diverse and vibrant cultural scene
• The city is home to numerous Fortune 500 companies and offers ample opportunities for professional growth and development
• Chicago has a humid continental climate, with warm summers and cold, snowy winters

Work Schedule: The work schedule for this role is typically Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with flexibility for project demands and client needs.

ASSUMPTION: The work environment and schedule for this role may vary depending on the client and project requirements. The company offers a hybrid work arrangement, allowing for a mix of on-site and remote work.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application submission
• Phone or video screen with the HR department
• In-person or virtual interview with the hiring manager
• Final interview with key stakeholders

Key Assessment Areas:

• Creativity and innovation
• Leadership and team management skills
• Client management and communication skills
• Understanding of the client's branding requirements and ability to incorporate them into creative work

Application Tips:

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your creative direction skills and experience leading teams
• Include a portfolio showcasing your creative direction work, including any awards or recognitions
• Prepare for behavioral interview questions that focus on your leadership, client management, and creative problem-solving skills

ATS Keywords: Creative Direction, UI Design, Copywriting, People Management, User Experience, Digital Marketing, Data-Driven Work, Client Relationship Management, Mentoring, Design Systems, Email Marketing, Gamification, Interpersonal Skills, Team Leadership, Consumer Engagement, Experience Design

ASSUMPTION: The interview process for this role may vary depending on the candidate's experience and the company's needs. The key assessment areas and application tips provided are based on industry standards and the specific requirements of this role.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Figma
• Salesforce Marketing Cloud
• Braze
• Other creative collaboration software and ESPs as needed

ASSUMPTION: The tools and technologies listed are specific to this role and may vary depending on the client and project requirements. The ideal candidate will have experience with various technology platforms and media channels.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Innovation
• Collaboration
• Integrity
• Diversity
• Sustainability

Work Style:

• Creative and innovative
• Collaborative and team-oriented
• Results-driven and accountable
• Adaptable and responsive to change
• Committed to continuous learning and professional development

Self-Assessment Questions:

• Do you have a strong portfolio showcasing your creative direction skills and experience leading teams?
• Are you comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with a mix of on-site and remote work?
• Do you have strong interpersonal skills and the ability to facilitate client meetings and lead presentations?

ASSUMPTION: The cultural fit considerations listed are based on industry standards and the company's size. Actual fit may vary depending on the candidate's personal values and work style.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• The role requires a high level of creativity, leadership, and client management skills, which can be challenging for candidates without extensive experience in creative direction
• The work arrangement is hybrid, which may require candidates to adapt to a mix of on-site and remote work
• The role may involve working with clients in different time zones, which can impact work hours and communication
• The Chicago office is located in the city's North State neighborhood, which may have limited public transportation options for some candidates

ASSUMPTION: The potential challenges listed are based on industry standards and the specific requirements of this role. Actual challenges may vary depending on the candidate's experience and the company's needs.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• This role is similar to other Creative Director positions in the advertising industry, but with a focus on digital-first, data-driven work across messaging channels
• The role requires a strong understanding of Experience Design and the role creative plays in achieving its outcomes, which is a unique aspect of this position
• Career progression in this role may lead to opportunities for advancement within the creative department or the broader organization

ASSUMPTION: The comparison points listed are based on industry standards and the specific requirements of this role. Actual comparisons may vary depending on the candidate's experience and the company's needs.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing a custom design system for a client's email marketing campaign
• Creating a gamified loyalty program for a retail client's mobile app
• Designing an interactive customer experience for a client's website, incorporating user feedback and quantitative data

ASSUMPTION: The sample projects listed are based on industry standards and the specific requirements of this role. Actual projects may vary depending on the client and project requirements.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• Can you describe the team structure and how this role fits within it?
• How does the company support the growth and development of its creative team members?
• What are the key challenges facing the company's clients in the digital messaging landscape, and how does this role address them?
• How does the company measure the success of its creative work, and how does this role contribute to that process?
• What are the key priorities for this role in the first 90 days?

ASSUMPTION: The key questions to ask during the interview are designed to provide insight into the role's responsibilities, the company's culture, and the team's dynamics. The specific questions listed are based on industry standards and the specific requirements of this role.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your creative direction skills and experience leading teams
• Prepare a portfolio showcasing your creative direction work, including any awards or recognitions
• Prepare for behavioral interview questions that focus on your leadership, client management, and creative problem-solving skills
• Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your interest in the role

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.