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Creative Director

Makemarks, New York, NY, United States

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Marks, part of the Propelis Group is a consumer experience agency creating engaging moments across the entire brand spectrum—from brand design and packaging to content and consumer connections. Rooted in a deep understanding of human behavior, we help brands win in an age of constant change.

We are a global, collaborative network of 1,900+ team members across 25+ studios and 20+ countries, partnering with some of the world’s most recognized brands to solve complex business challenges through design, strategy, and craft.

About the Role

The Creative Director is a senior creative leader responsible for defining, championing, and delivering big, ownable ideas that translate into smart, scalable design and communication systems across all touchpoints—from packaging and in-store to integrated marketing campaigns, digital, and beyond.

Reporting to the VP, Creative, this role sets the creative vision for a portfolio of brands and leads multidisciplinary teams to bring that vision to life from brief through execution. The Creative Director ensures the work is strategically grounded, creatively bold, and impeccably crafted—while driving the development of innovative solutions that meet and exceed client expectations.

This role requires a confident point of view, the ability to inspire and galvanize teams, and the credibility to lead clients as a trusted creative authority. The Creative Director shapes briefs, pushes ambition, and raises the creative standard across both brand design and marketing communications work.

Creative Vision & Idea Leadership

Own and define the creative vision for integrated marketing communications and brand design across your portfolio of clients

Lead the development of big campaign ideas and design systems that ladder to brand strategy and flex across channels, formats, and moments

Translate conceptual thinking into cohesive design and messaging systems, rather than one-off executions

Ensure all work is strategically sound, creatively distinctive, and executed with craft and consistency

Act as a brand guardian who protects the brand DNA while championing appropriate evolution to brand voice, tone, and expression

Drive the definition of the creative brief, creative strategy, and creative solution for each project

Integrated Campaign & Brand Design Expertise

Lead concepting and execution across packaging, retail, in-store, digital, social, video, motion, and out-of-home

Develop creative, innovative, and cost-effective design strategies that meet client needs, utilizing market trends, competitor intelligence, and innovative thinking

Guide teams in developing content ecosystems and design systems that feel connected, intentional, and scalable

Oversee narrative development for presentations, ensuring ideas are clearly framed, confidently sold, and easy to rally behind

Lead project review sessions; utilize learnings to recommend best practices for design strategy, concept creation, visual innovation, and execution

Serve as a trusted creative partner and senior-level advisor to clients across both brand design and marketing communications engagements

Bring confidence and clarity to client conversations—articulating ideas, defending creative choices, and pushing ambition when needed

Partner with strategy and client services to shape briefs, unlock stronger insights, and elevate the work

Ensure client retention is maximized by delivering custom‑tailored solutions that meet client objectives and expectations

Support new business efforts by contributing to pitches, proposals, kickoffs, and growth opportunities

Lead, inspire, and mentor teams of Art Directors, Copywriters, and Designers

Set clear creative direction and expectations; give teams the confidence to do their best work

Balance high‑level vision with hands‑on guidance when needed

Foster a culture of accountability, curiosity, and creative excellence

Partner with client services and project managers to plan projects and cast the right team for each assignment

Partner with recruiting and operations to build and maintain a strong, balanced team

Act as a cultural leader and ambassador for Marks

Champion collaboration across disciplines, studios, and global teams

Lead effective internal reviews that elevate thinking and push work forward

Model respect, generosity, and shared ownership—always prioritize the work over ego

Agility & Resourcefulness

Thrive in a fast‑paced, evolving environment with multiple streams of work

Identify opportunities to improve creative processes, workflows, and ways of working

Maintain high standards while moving with speed and flexibility

Bring a solutions‑oriented, roll‑up-your‑sleeves mindset to every challenge

Critical Skills & Behaviors

Proven ability to lead big‑idea campaign thinking and brand design, not just execution

Strong conceptual and strategic thinking paired with exceptional craft

Confident creative point of view with the ability to inspire teams and clients

Deep understanding of integrated marketing ecosystems, packaging, and brand systems

Strong analytical, prioritizing, interpersonal, problem‑solving, presentation, and project management skills

Strong verbal and written communication skills

Highly organized, detail‑oriented, and accountable

Passion for design, marketing communications, and storytelling

Qualifications & Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Art, Design, Advertising, Marketing, Communications, or related field

10+ years of progressive creative experience in marketing communications, brand design, or advertising

5+ years in a leadership role

Demonstrated experience leading teams and managing senior‑level client relationships

Strong portfolio showcasing integrated campaigns, packaging, and system‑based thinking

CPG and retail experience strongly preferred

High degree of proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, MS Office Suite, Keynote, and PowerPoint

Fluent in iOS

Periodic travel either locally, nationally, and/or internationally may be required

About Propelis:

Propelis is a portfolio of global marketing services and technology companies with a combined legacy of

150+ years ,

2,000+ clients ,

9,000 employees , and operations across

30

countries. Propelis provides the scale and support of a global organization while preserving the unique culture and identity of each company in its portfolio.

For more information visit: www.MakeMarks.com

EEO Statement:

We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need. We offer equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetic information, age, disability or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled.

We strive to make our employment website and application process accessible to all users and applicants. In doing so, we provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you have a disability and require a reasonable accommodation or assistance completing the application process, please contact a member of our Human Resource Team.

Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several U.S. geographic markets, and we pay differently based on those defined markets. The U.S. pay range for this position is $131,000–$152,000 USD annually. Ultimately, in determining pay, we will consider the successful candidate’s location, experience, and other job‑related factors.

Group benefits currently include a selection of health care plans with prescription drug coverage, dental plan, vision plan, basic and supplemental life insurance, a flexible spending account for medical and dependent care expenses or a health savings account based on plan selection, short/long term disability, and 401(k) Savings Plan.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

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