Creative Director

Job Description

Job Description

Reports To: Executive Creative Director

Department: Creative/Leadership

Classification: Exempt

Overview

The Creative Director champions brand, taste, and curiosity, ensuring creative excellence across our studio. Reporting to the Executive Creative Director, they lead the creative vision for client work, new business, and the agency’s creative growth.

With a refined sense of brand and a keen eye for design, they translate campaign objectives into compelling experiences. They work closely with cross-functional teams to ensure the work is both visually striking and strategically sound, solving client challenges with intelligence and the unexpected.

This role is also dedicated to building and strengthening the creative team. Through mentorship, process improvement, and recruitment, they foster a culture of curiosity and continuous growth, ensuring Owen remains a leader in design and brand storytelling.

Above all, they are a clear and compassionate leader. Whether collaborating with an ECD to bring a brand to life or guiding a junior designer through a new challenge, they lead with empathy, kindness, and self-awareness while maintaining a strong commitment to quality.

Roles & ResponsibilitiesProject Leadership

• Manages and oversees select accounts, projects, and the creative team.

• Responsible for managing and directing the creative process.

• Guides and directs ACD, art/copy directors, and designers in their individual project and account responsibilities.

• Responsible for leading work on large-scale projects that have a significant impact on the account and agency.

People Management

• Is responsible for team performance while keeping the team focused and motivated.

• Develops goals for each direct report, is able to tie individual goals to department and agency goals, and drives high accountability in their department/team/with their direct reports. Collaborates with creative leaders in establishing team and company-aligned goals.

• Models strong leadership and management skills with both individual contributors and people managers.

• Manages other director-level (ACD) leaders as well as individual contributors (AD-Designer).

Team + Agency Leadership

• Partners with ECD to establish team vision and goals.

• Implements & tracks progress against these departmental goals.

• As a member of our Senior Leadership team, you'll serve as a visible, accountable leader who operates from an all-agency perspective—setting the tone through action, fostering clarity and alignment through open communication, listening with intent, and leveraging deep organizational and industry knowledge to guide teams toward shared goals.

Recruiting

• Keen eye for new talent at all levels across the creative team.

• Identifies, recruits, and secures contractor talent for their areas of responsibility.

Knowledge & Skills

• A self-starter with the autonomy and confidence to take initiative and make decisions, while staying aligned with the company’s strategy and goals.

• Partners with department leadership in developing long-term strategies. Has an expert understanding of business problems and solutions.

• Strong voice in partnering to develop the strategic narrative for our company.

Interpersonal Skills & Collaboration

• Adopts and exemplifies operating imperatives, guiding others in the organization to understand and follow them.

• Able to effectively delegate. Skilled at managing up and across the organization.

• Is resourceful, dynamic, and adaptable. Team(s) consistently hit targets and goals.

• Highly skilled at breaking down barriers, never afraid to ask questions.

• Able to lead conflict resolution with a positive approach and positive outcome, with all levels of employees.

• Strong ability to build relationships and trust with internal teams, external teams, and clients.

• Continuous training and development in emotional intelligence, emotional regulation, people leadership, mentorship, and equity and inclusion, including power and privilege awareness.

• Grow client relationships and establish client partnerships supported by trust and mutual respect.

• Be a representative of Owen in the greater creative community.

Expectations for Success

• Commit to the best possible work: Push through creative roadblocks, try new things, and embrace experimentation.

• Communicate honestly, directly, and with detail.

• Bring depth to your work: Research, dig deep, and use your unique experiences to push our creative executions forward.

• Be adaptable and collaborative: Whether it's asking for help, offering support, or jumping into something new, we figure it out together.

• Sweat the small stuff: The details are the work, and they make all the difference.

• Respect the team: Soft skills are our superpower. Openness, self-awareness, and empathy are at our core.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Design, Advertising, Marketing, or a related field, or equivalent experience in a creative role.

• A minimum of 8-10+ years in a creative-focused agency or in-house at a leading brand.

• 3 or more years leading creative teams.

Relationships

This position reports to the ECD, serves on the Agency’s Senior Leadership Team, and manages designers, writers, art directors, and ACD’s.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

The following capabilities are required in order to perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations that do not create an undue burden on the agency are available to address the following requirements:

• Using standard office equipment, computers and related technology.

• Certain activities are performed in an environmentally controlled office setting subject to extended periods of sitting, keyboarding and manipulating a computer mouse.

• Bending, reaching, lifting, pushing and pulling up to 25 pounds.

• Travel is not anticipated for this role.

Inclusion and Encouragement

We know that experience can show up in many ways, and we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet 100% of the qualifications. If you're passionate about strategy, eager to grow, and excited to contribute your perspective, we'd love to hear from you.

At Owen, we believe the best ideas come from bringing together diverse voices, experiences, and ways of thinking. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are not checkboxes—they are essential to how we work, collaborate, and create. We are committed to fostering an environment where all employees can thrive and where every individual is treated with respect and dignity.

Owen is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. We provide reasonable accommodations throughout the hiring process for applicants with disabilities. If you require an accommodation, please contact Human Resources at View email address on ziprecruiter.com.