Creative Director

Creative DirectorThe Creative Director is a creative leadership role responsible for how Pfeffer Torode's work is seen, understood, and remembered. The Principals hold the firm's creative vision; the Creative Director provides the leadership, execution, and stewardship that carry that vision into the world — through brand, imagery, storytelling, publication, and the standards by which PTA presents itself. This role is both executor and creative partner. The Principals sets the larger direction; the Creative Director develops ideas against it, challenges and refines them, and sees them through to a finished, considered result. The expectation is not only to direct the work but to make it — this is a hands-on role with genuine craft in layout, image, and language. Roughly two-thirds of the role is firm-level: brand, photography, publications, awards, website and social direction, and the presentation standards that govern how every PTA document looks. The remainder is project-level. On a small number of high-profile projects, the Creative Director embeds with the design team, shaping the project's thesis so that the story of the work is built while the work is being built, rather than assembled after the fact. Project-embedded work represents approximately 25–35% of the role and is billable to projects. Reports to: Ginny Au, Principal, with a direct working relationship with the Managing Director and Principals. Direct report: Creative Lead. Works closely with Operations, Business Development, and third party marketing. Location: Birmingham Studio with regular travel to our Nashville Studio.ResponsibilitiesHold and extend PTA's visual and verbal identity so that every touchpoint — brand, website, social, publications, presentations, collateral, events — reads as one firm with one point of viewTranslate the creative direction into concepts, narratives, and finished pieces, bringing ideas forward rather than waiting for assignmentChallenge and refine direction where doing so strengthens the result, and defend the reasoning behind creative decisionsEstablish and maintain firmwide presentation standards — templates, typography, image treatment, document craft — so that any document leaving PTA meets the same barPersonally produce high-craft layouts, presentations, and visual storytelling in Figma, InDesign and PhotoshopReview and approve external presentations, messaging, imagery, and collateral before they leave the firmOversee the photography program end to end: contribute to which projects are photographed and when, work with the Creative Lead on shot lists, art direction on site, and make final selects with the PrincipalRefine the designer thesis of each project — the argument the work is making — and carry it consistently into decks, publications, web, and socialCultivate editorial relationships and pitch projects for publication; manage print publication processes end to endOwn the awards and competitions calendar: select what to enter, write the narratives, package the imagery, and manage submissions through to resultSet social strategy and provide art direction across channels; the Creative Lead and marketing support carry communications, coordination, scheduling, and postingDirect website content, imagery, and structure, keeping the site current with workReview web and social analytic reports, using what they show to adjust strategy rather than merely to report itSupport business development with pitch materials, RFP's, and capability collateral that make PTA's argument clearly and beautifullyShape PTA's presence at events and within the industry — among peers, vendors, editors, and pressSteward employer brand: how PTA presents itself to the people it hopes to hireServe as embedded creative director on a small number of high-profile projects, under the design direction of the PrincipalsParticipate from concept, contributing to concept development, project narrative, and the visual argument of the workDirect project presentation materials so that client-facing work reflects PTA's standard of craftPlan the eventual story of the project early — imagery, publication potential, awards path — while the project is still in designCoordinate with project teams, Principals, clients, and consultants with composure and clarityLead and develop the Creative Lead, setting standards, giving clear briefs, and providing useful, specific feedbackDirect the efforts of operations, business development, and marketing colleagues who join creative work as neededManage creative budgets and timelines, and report progress at major stages of conception, creation, and executionProtect the internal creative process — nurture it, hold it to standard, and keep it from being flattened by deadline pressureTravel regularly between the Birmingham and Nashville studiosQualifications10+ years of professional experience in architecture, interiors, graphic/brand design, creative direction, or a related design discipline, including 3–5+ years of progressively responsible creative leadershipPortfolio demonstrating exceptional layout, typographic, and image craft; visual storytelling with a clear point of view; and work that was personally made, not only overseenDemonstrated ability to produce finished work at a high level of craft — this role makes as well as directsExperience directing photography: shot planning, photographer selection, art direction on site, and image editing (styling support is available; this role directs rather than styles)Experience with publications, press relationships, or awards submissions strongly preferredCore proficiency: Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and AcrobatWorking proficiency: Figma, social platforms, website CMS (Squarespace or WordPress), and Microsoft OfficeArchitecture and interiors literacy — able to read drawings, sit in a design review, and speak credibly with designers about their workExcellent written and verbal communication, with the ability to write in the firm's voiceAbility to handle sensitive project, business, and personal information with discretionDispositionA discerning eye — knows what is good, and can say whyConceptual: works outward from an idea rather than assembling from partsA storyteller who can find and articulate the argument of a project in words as well as imagesStrategic: thinks in terms of positioning, audience, and where the firm should be in three yearsA confident presenter who can hold a room — clients, editors, the studio — without a Principal presentCalm under pressure, steady through shoot days, deadlines, and competing demandsResourceful, with the judgment to move work forward inside real constraintsCompensationThis is a full-time position; salary will be commensurate with experience and skill level.BenefitsEmployer provided healthcare (vision and dental included)Paid Time Off (20 days starting + 9 holidays)4% 401K matching with immediate vesting (after 1 year of employment)$200 monthly technology stipendProfessional Development opportunitiesSubmission RequirementsOne PDF including cover letter, resume, and portfolio.The portfolio should show work you personally made — layout, art direction, brand systems, publications, campaigns, photography direction — with a brief note on your role in each piece.Include at least one sample of writing: a project narrative, an award submission, a press pitch, or an essay.File should be saved as: yourname_pta_creativedirectorFile size should not exceed 15MB. Links to motion, web, or social work may be embedded in the PDF.Submit to View email address on click.appcast.io with the subject heading "Creative Director — Birmingham".No phone inquiries please.