Head of Creative

THE ROLE

The Head of Creative is the senior creative and strategy leader within the company, overseeing the development of an industry-leading creative department. They are responsible for managing mentoring and developing a team of Creative Directors, Art Directors and Designers, and Creative Strategists. The ideal candidate is someone with 10+ recent years in the experiential marketing business and at least eight years of team leadership and management experience. They started their career as a designer and/or Art Director and have expert-level experience with Adobe Suite and other technical tools.

Additionally, the Head of Creative is an active member of the Executive Leadership Team, which develops, supports and implements agency-wide initiatives, plans and processes to support the business strategy, operations and business development in order to ensure financial success.

WHO WE ARE

At ADVOC8, we create experiences that build trust, shift minds and win hearts. Our special sauce? Chemistry, collaboration and an endless supply of curiosity. We're a team of strategic thinkers, creative problem-solvers, thoughtful storytellers and logistical magicians expertly bringing ideas to life from strategy and creative through to production and execution. We work with brands, nonprofits and associations to create experiences that make an impact. And we do this all in a flexible 'work from anywhere' environment where we celebrate differences and encourage each of our 'advocates' to bring their unique perspectives to the table each and every day.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Executive Leadership

• Develop and implement agency business model, strategic, financial and operational goals
• Represent the Creative Group in Executive Leadership Team meetings and responsibilities
• Represent and communicate Creative Group vision, growth and work at agency-wide meetings/gatherings, i.e. All Hands, Retreat etc.
• Participate in developing companywide internal communications and change management procedures

Project Leadership

• Keeps the bigger picture on how multiple projects connect for the client
• Build and maintain positive relationships with vendor and contract partners, and ensure seamless integration into agency operations
• Develop and implement new/improved processes, timelines, policies, procedures, reporting, and tools including templates, practices, checklists, SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures), and training materials to consistently improve the ADVOC8 workflow

Business Development and Agency Growth

• Keeper of creative institutional memory and onboards new creatives using previous project insights
• Responsible for overseeing, developing and leading ADVOC8’s proposal process in partnership with the Head of Growth. Expert in client dynamics, navigating personalities, and embracing change to positively and proactively move proposals forward
• Navigates challenging client feedback and team learning curves to uphold brand standards, push the quality of the creative work, and maintain positive/productive relationships
• Identify additional opportunities that leverage agency offerings
• Participates in agency marketing efforts, from strategic planning to tactical efforts including social media marketing and promoting the agency in mediums such as panel discussions, thought leadership pieces in trade publications, and/or podcasts
• Working in tandem with leaders of the Growth Group and Experience Group, lead the development, writing and presentation of project/program plans, scopes of work, strategic roadmaps and staffing plans as they relate to upcoming project work

Creative Leadership & Innovation

• Deep understanding of experiential marketing tactics, from conferences and tentpole events to pop-ups, gifting and OOH.
• Coaches creative team members through design development of 2D and 3D elements
• Develops and implements new/improved processes, timelines, policies, procedures, reporting, and tools including templates, practices, checklists, SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures), and training materials to consistently improve the ADVOC8 workflow
• Facilitates the collaboration between Creative, Production and Growth departments to develop creative solutions throughout the lifecycle of a project
• Reviews creative scopes and budgets for feasibility before presenting to the client
• Be able to jump into project work on an as needed basis
• Have an understanding of the role strategy plays in the creative process and work alongside strategy to develop creative concepts

Departmental Leadership

• Responsible for the growth and development of the Creative Group, including hiring and departmental strategic planning
• Oversee the day-to-day management of the Creative Group
• Review and negotiate third-party contracts, including price and deal memos for vendors and contract partners
• Oversees creative project timelines and deliverables outputs and monitoring deadlines and project scope
• Maintains a highly utilized team that meets or exceeds our utilization goals and keeps team members engaged and retained
• Ongoing evaluation and development of new/updated practices and processes of tracking, managing and memorializing Creative Group work

SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

Team Leadership & Industry Experience

• 10+ years of experiential marketing agency experience required
• 8+ years of management experience within an agency environment or similar
• Proven track record in leading and developing creative talent
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills

Technical Skills

• Advanced knowledge in Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop required
• Should have the design know-how to create print-ready files and troubleshoot Adobe design questions from team members
• Must have deep experience designing for physical builds and spaces (e.g., directing floorplans, directing renderers, working with fabricators)
• Ability to properly resource and scope creative and strategy deliverables across all projects
• Existing industry profile and credibility as a thought leader is preferred
• Experience writing and reviewing contracts with creative freelancers and vendors
• Experience working with G-Suite and Microsoft Office a must, must be able to design in Google Slides and understand basic excel formulas

Team & Culture

• Talented communicator who can inspire and lead a team, articulate a vision and strategy clearly, and authentically champion all aspects of the agency
• Committed to fostering and modeling a companywide environment of inclusivity and strong group dynamics
• Aligned with and committed to ADVOC8’s core values; represents them in daily work
• Ability to travel 15-20% of the year

BENEFITS

• Collaborative and creative work environment
• Competitive base salary, with additional performance-based incentives
• Health Insurance: 100% coverage of base level medical insurance plus buy up options to meet the needs of you and your family
• Health Insurance: Dental and vision insurance
• 401k, FSA, and stipend for mobile phone usage
• Professional development and training reimbursements
• Flexible work schedule
• Unlimited vacation and personal time
• Paid parental leave and Grandternity Leave
• Fully remote company

We have transitioned from a once Washington D.C.-based agency to being Washington, D.C.-born. This position is not location-based, though travel will occasionally be required for project work and team offsites. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.; at this time, we are not able to provide sponsorship.

At ADVOC8, building an inclusive team that celebrates our differences is integral to our success. We strongly encourage people from underrepresented groups to apply even if you don’t meet all qualifications.

At ADVOC8, we are committed to fostering transparency and equity in compensation. The salary range provided for this position reflects the base salary offered to a successful candidate based on their experience, qualifications, and internal compensation structures. Please note that this salary range is subject to change based on evolving market conditions, company budget, and other factors, and does not include potential bonuses, benefits, or other forms of compensation. Final compensation may vary depending on the candidate's negotiation, location, and the specific role's requirements. We believe in fair pay for all employees and encourage candidates to engage in open conversations with us regarding compensation expectations during the hiring process.

ADVOC8 is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to achieving a diverse workforce, and prohibits discrimination and harassment: ADVOC8 is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at ADVOC8 are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, neurodivergence, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, exercising the right to family care and medical leave, veteran status or any other status protected under federal, state or local law. ADVOC8 will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.