- Job Title: Creative Director (Art Director)
- Company: Carmichael Lynch
- Location: Minneapolis (hybrid) & Philadelphia (hybrid)
- Job Type: Full-time
- Category: Creative
- Date Posted: April 23, 2025
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Creative Leadership: Overseeing the creative development of campaigns, ensuring high-quality output across multiple platforms.
- Client Partnership: Building strong relationships with clients to understand their brand vision and create impactful brand moments.
- Strategy & Vision: Collaborating with various teams to align creative direction with brand strategy, consumer insights, and market trends.
- Team Management: Leading, mentoring, and inspiring art directors, copywriters, and other creatives to foster a culture that prioritizes the work over people.
- Concept Development: Leading the creation of innovative, breakthrough concepts that stand out in a competitive market.
- Quality Control: Ensuring all creative work meets the highest standards of quality, craft, and consistency.
- Client Presentations: Pitching creative concepts to clients, effectively communicating the rationale behind the ideas and securing client approval.
- Collaboration: Working cross-functionally with production, digital, social, media, and other teams to bring ideas to life seamlessly.
- Trend Monitoring: Staying ahead of industry trends, emerging tech, social/digital platforms, and cultural moments to ensure the agency's creative output remains relevant and innovative.
- Cultural Leadership: Being an active participant in the company culture, attending events, mentoring creatives, and celebrating the agency's people and work.
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a dynamic, strategic, and visionary thinker who can make a significant impact on the agency from day one. The ideal candidate will be a natural leader with excellent communication skills, a high level of professionalism, and a positive, proactive attitude.
📋 Key Responsibilities
- Creative Leadership:
- Lead the creative development for all 360/holistic campaigns, overseeing brief development, concepting, client communication, and executions across multiple platforms (TV/TVC, OLV, digital, social, media, experiential, etc.).
- Ensure all creative work meets the highest standards of quality, craft, and consistency, while always keeping tabs on development opportunities for those you supervise.
- Client Partnership:
- Build strong, collaborative relationships with key clients, understanding their brand vision, business goals, and customer needs to create impactful brand moments that drive engagement and brand affinity.
- Strategy & Vision:
- Partner with ECD, CDs, strategists, account directors, and other disciplines to align creative direction with brand strategy, consumer insights, and market trends.
- Team Management:
- Lead, mentor, and inspire art directors, copywriters, and other creatives, fostering a culture that is “hard on the work, not the people.”
- Concept Development:
- Lead and, in some cases, execute the creation of innovative, breakthrough concepts that stand out in a competitive market.
- Client Presentations:
- Present and pitch creative concepts to clients, effectively communicating the rationale behind the ideas and securing client approval, both for current and prospective clients.
- Collaboration:
- Work cross-functionally with production, digital, social, media, and other teams to bring ideas to life, ensuring seamless execution of creative concepts.
- Trend Monitoring:
- Stay ahead of industry trends, emerging tech, social/digital platforms, and cultural moments, ensuring the agency’s creative output remains relevant and innovative.
- Cultural Leadership:
- Be an active participant in the company culture, attending events, mentoring creatives, and celebrating the agency's people and work avidly.
🎯 Required Qualifications
- Education: Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Advertising, or a related discipline) or equivalent experience.
- Experience: 8+ years of experience in creative roles, with at least 3+ years in a leadership capacity.
- Portfolio: A strong portfolio showcasing a diverse range of creative work, demonstrating a proven track record of leading and delivering award-winning campaigns.
- Pitch Experience: Proven pitch/new business experience with wins in your back pocket.
- Consumer Behavior & Trends: Deep understanding of consumer behavior and trends, with the ability to translate these insights into compelling creative concepts.
- Creative Expertise: Expertise in broadcast, video, social, digital, and experiential creative, with your ear to the streets on emerging technologies, platforms, industry creative, and cultural trends.
- Leadership & Communication: Exceptional leadership, communication, and presentation skills, with the ability to manage, guide, and inspire a creative team while maintaining a collaborative approach.
- Software Proficiency: Proficiency in creative software (Adobe Creative Suite) and broadcast and digital production experience required.
- Workload Management: Ability to work under tight deadlines and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
🎯 Preferred Qualifications
- Language Skills: Fluency in an additional language, particularly Spanish or Mandarin, would be an asset.
- Industry Experience: Experience working with clients in specific industries, such as automotive, finance, or technology, would be beneficial.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
- Salary Range: The salary range for this role is competitive and commensurate with experience and industry standards. Carmichael Lynch offers competitive, equitable salaries reviewed annually to ensure equity and competitiveness.
- Benefits: Carmichael Lynch offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, 401k (company matched 50% of the first 6%), PTO (vacation/sick time) allowance, 18-week maternity leave, 12-week parental leave, 19 paid company holidays, Family Building Benefit (adoption, surrogacy benefit), tuition reimbursement, and much more. Please note that these benefits only apply to full-time roles.
📈 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
- Industry: Advertising Services
- Company Size: 201-500 employees
- Founded: 1962
- Company Description: Carmichael Lynch is an award-winning advertising agency that brings together the best people from every discipline to create the very best brand-building, culture-bending, business-altering work with their partners. They are committed to creating a diverse, safe, and welcoming workplace with opportunity for all, striving for inclusion, equity, and diversity in both their words and actions.
- Company Specialties: Advertising, marketing, brand building, public relations, and digital media
📊 Role Analysis
- Career Level: This role is at the senior leadership level, reporting directly to the Executive Creative Director.
- Reporting Structure: The Creative Director will oversee art directors, copywriters, and other creatives, as well as partner with account directors, strategists, and other disciplines.
- Work Arrangement: This role offers a hybrid work arrangement, with a preference for Minneapolis or Philadelphia locations but not required. The role requires occasional travel for client meetings and new business pitches.
- Growth Opportunities: As a senior leadership role, this position offers ample opportunities for career growth and development within the agency. The Creative Director will have the chance to lead and mentor junior creatives, helping them grow in their careers while also expanding their own skill set and influence within the agency.
- ASSUMPTION: This role requires a dynamic, strategic, and visionary thinker who can make a significant impact on the agency from day one. The ideal candidate will be a natural leader with excellent communication skills, a high level of professionalism, and a positive, proactive attitude.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
- Office Type: Carmichael Lynch offers a hybrid work arrangement, with offices located in Minneapolis and Philadelphia. The Minneapolis office is located in the historic North Loop neighborhood, while the Philadelphia office is situated in the vibrant University City neighborhood.
- Office Location(s): 110 N. 5th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55403, US (Minneapolis) and 30 S. 15th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, US (Philadelphia)
- Geographic Context:
- Minneapolis: Known for its vibrant arts scene, robust music culture, and numerous parks, Minneapolis offers a high quality of life with a diverse range of neighborhoods and a strong sense of community. The city is home to several Fortune 500 companies and has a thriving startup ecosystem.
- Philadelphia: As the birthplace of the United States, Philadelphia is rich in history and culture, with a diverse population and a thriving arts scene. The city is home to numerous Fortune 500 companies and offers a variety of neighborhoods, each with its unique character and charm.
- Work Schedule: The work schedule for this role is Monday through Friday, with the possibility of occasional weekend work for client meetings or new business pitches. The agency offers flexible working hours and remote work options to accommodate employees' personal needs and preferences.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
- Typical Process: The interview process for this role typically involves an initial phone or video screen, followed by one or more in-person or virtual interviews with key stakeholders, including the Executive Creative Director, other Creative Directors, and members of the human resources team. The final round may include a creative brief or presentation to assess the candidate's creative thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Key Assessment Areas: Candidates should be prepared to discuss their creative process, portfolio, and leadership style, as well as their understanding of the agency's clients and their respective industries. They should also be ready to present their ideas for growing the agency's creative output and expanding its client base.
- Application Tips:
- Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio showcases a diverse range of creative work that demonstrates your ability to lead and deliver award-winning campaigns. Include examples of your pitch experience and any relevant industry-specific work.
- Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight the key skills and experiences required for this role, using relevant industry keywords to optimize your application for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
- Cover Letter: Write a compelling cover letter that explains why you are the ideal candidate for this role and how your unique background and skills make you a strong fit for Carmichael Lynch's creative team.
- Follow-up: After submitting your application, follow up with the hiring manager or human resources representative to express your interest in the role and reiterate your qualifications.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Creative Software: Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, Premiere Pro, etc.)
- Project Management: Asana, JIRA, or similar project management tools
- Design & Prototyping: Sketch, Figma, or similar design and prototyping tools
- Presentation: Keynote, PowerPoint, or similar presentation software
- Collaboration: Google Workspace (Google Docs, Sheets, Slides), Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), or similar collaboration tools
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
- Company Values: Carmichael Lynch values creativity, innovation, collaboration, and a strong work ethic. They seek candidates who are passionate about their craft, eager to learn, and committed to helping the agency grow and succeed.
- Work Style: The agency fosters a fast-paced, dynamic work environment where employees are encouraged to take initiative, think independently, and contribute to the agency's overall success. A positive, proactive attitude and a willingness to collaborate with cross-functional teams are essential for this role.
- Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you align with Carmichael Lynch's company values, and how do these values influence your work?
- Describe your preferred work style, and how do you think it would fit within the agency's dynamic environment?
- How do you approach mentoring and developing junior creatives, and what strategies have you used in the past to help them grow in their careers?
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Workload: As a senior leadership role, this position may require managing multiple projects and clients simultaneously, potentially leading to a high workload during peak periods.
- Client Expectations: Clients may have varying expectations and demands, requiring the Creative Director to navigate diverse communication styles and priorities.
- Agency Politics: As with any large organization, Carmichael Lynch may have internal politics and dynamics that the Creative Director must navigate to ensure the success of their teams and the agency as a whole.
- Industry Trends: The advertising industry is constantly evolving, with new technologies, platforms, and consumer behaviors emerging rapidly. The Creative Director must stay up-to-date with these trends and adapt their strategies accordingly to maintain the agency's competitive edge.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Creative Director vs. Art Director: While both roles involve creative leadership, the Creative Director has a broader scope, overseeing multiple campaigns and teams, while the Art Director focuses on the visual aspects of a single campaign or project.
- Creative Director vs. Executive Creative Director: The Executive Creative Director (ECD) is the agency's top creative leader, setting the agency's creative vision and overseeing all creative output. The Creative Director reports to the ECD and is responsible for leading specific campaigns or teams, while the ECD oversees the entire creative department.
- Creative Director vs. Creative Strategist: The Creative Director focuses on the creative execution of campaigns, while the Creative Strategist is responsible for developing the strategic foundation of campaigns, ensuring they align with brand objectives and consumer insights.
📝 Sample Projects
- Campaign Launch: Leading the creative development and launch of a new campaign for a major automotive client, including concepting, client communication, and execution across multiple platforms.
- New Business Pitch: Collaborating with the new business team to pitch to a prospective technology client, developing innovative creative concepts that showcase the agency's unique approach to brand building and problem-solving.
- Brand Refresh: Working with an established retail client to refresh their brand identity, ensuring the new visual language resonates with their target audience and drives brand affinity.
💡 Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Role-Specific Questions:
- How do you approach leading and mentoring a team of creatives, and what strategies have you used in the past to foster a collaborative and innovative work environment?
- Can you describe a time when you had to pivot your creative strategy due to a change in client feedback or market trends? How did you adapt, and what was the outcome?
- How do you balance the need to push creative boundaries with the requirement to deliver work that meets client expectations and drives business results?
- Company-Specific Questions:
- How does Carmichael Lynch support the professional development and growth of its creative team members?
- What are some of the most rewarding aspects of working at Carmichael Lynch, and what challenges have you faced in your time at the agency?
- How does Carmichael Lynch approach diversity, equity, and inclusion in its creative process, and what initiatives is the agency taking to foster a more inclusive work environment?
📝 Applicant Insights
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through the provided link: [Application URL]
- Tailor your resume to highlight the key skills and experiences required for this role, using relevant industry keywords to optimize your application for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
- Write a compelling cover letter that explains why you are the ideal candidate for this role and how your unique background and skills make you a strong fit for Carmichael Lynch's creative team.
- Prepare for the interview process by researching the agency's clients, industry trends, and creative portfolio. Be ready to discuss your creative process, leadership style, and ideas for growing the agency's creative output and expanding its client base.
- Follow up with the hiring manager or human resources representative after submitting your application to express your interest in the role and reiterate your qualifications.
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
