Senior Creative Manager

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RaceTrac Company Overview

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The Senior Creative Manager is responsible for leading the internal creative services team in the strategic delivery of persuasive, engaging and memorable creative concepts supporting our Brand. This person will manage the relationship with internal clients (including but not limited to brand, A&D, category teams, Ops and HR) and will ensure that the creative teams are delivering work within Brand Standards and aligning to Brand Tone within the agreed priorities. This role will be the gatekeeper for the creative brand persona, including developing creative content - specifically copy - when needed. The internal creative function is part of the Marketing Team, and reports into the Director of Brand Strategy and Communications.

Responsibilities:

• Provides recommendations to Marketing Leadership Team which projects are outsourced to creative agencies and which are handled in-house, rooted in rationale and based on internal and external teams' capabilities. Acts as creative consultant to partner agencies. Also consults between business stakeholders and creative team.
• Serves as a brand steward, rooted in brand strategy and continues to uphold brand standards and enables successful creative deployment against the brand strategy. Provides strategic input, direction and Tone of Voice content copy on appropriate guest-facing creative elements across owned marketing channels. Is responsible for evolving creative strategy to stay current and update existing brand standards and style guides as needed.
• Directs, leads and manages all photography shoots from strategic development to tactical execution. Assists agency as creative lead for all major campaign video and television shoots.
• Briefs and directs creative teams in the delivery of creative assets that meet strategic brand objectives, breaks through the clutter (memorable) and persuades consumers to act.
• Develops content/copy for multiple channels including but not limited to instore merchandising, digital assets, social media, internal communications as needed for consistency, etc.
• Partners with internal teams to ensure that strategy within creative projects and briefs are clearly defined, and can be delivered within required parameters (time, budget, etc.). Assists the Creative Design Managers to manage priorities of creative team. Ensures work amongst creative team is consistent across all concepts.
• Ensures that all projects are effectively tracked (on time) and efficiently produced (on-budget). Whenever needed, collaborates with external agency partners on projects and production process.
• Coaches and motivates creative and internal teams to deliver best in class insights, briefs, and creative concepts to solve business issues. Provides honest feedback and evaluation of creative output and resource needs (are we overstaffed, do we need new design skills to stay current). Identifies development and training opportunities for the team.
• Proactively identifies opportunities where creative can have an impact on the business. Has an eye for areas of opportunity to improve processes and efficiency within marketing team and internal clients, as well as eternal vendors and agencies.

Qualifications:

• BA/BS degree in Business, Marketing, Design, Advertising or related field preferred.
• 8+ years of experience in account/creative relationship management, as well as shortform or ad Copywriting experience.
• Proven ability to influence, and navigate through complex situations, managing a team that can deliver impactful concepts to be executed in a multi-unit retail environment.
• Very strong presentation, written and oral communication skills, with the ability to work with cross-functional partners in an environment with multiple stakeholders. Proven experience working on complex, large-scale, time-critical projects.
• Experience performing or managing a range of creative positions, such as graphic designer, art director and copywriter.
• Strong ability to work cooperatively and influence partners in a matrixed environment to achieve goals.
• A solid understanding of design, copy and web practices.
• Strong understanding of industry/social trends and creative tools.