Creative Director

Reports To: Executive Creative Director

Location: Marcus Thomas is based in Cleveland, Ohio

WORKING ARRANGEMENT:

• In-person/hybrid for Northeast Ohio residents
• Remote for residents in the following states: AL, AZ, CA, CT, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MI, MN NC, NH, PA, TN, TX, VA

Who is Marcus Thomas?

Marcus Thomas, with nearly 300 professionals in its offices in Cleveland and Cincinnati, Ohio; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Santiago, Chile, is among America’s leading independent, full-service, integrated advertising and marketing communications agencies. With a team of brilliant experts across 16 states and seven countries, we offer a full suite of marketing communications tools, including creative development, media planning/buying, search marketing, digital and web application development, public relations, social media, and CRM/marketing automation. Our integrated approach has resulted in award-winning campaigns that harmonize all these tools into business-building plans that make a real impact.

At Marcus Thomas, we believe in earning the trust of our clients by consistently delivering measurable results. We’re not just experts in marketing, but we also understand the importance of making people’s lives better. We call that the Value Exchange. Join us and be part of our mission to be the best independent agency to work at and with.

The role

We’re in search of an exceptional creative director, a conceptual expert who not only identifies strong ideas but also possesses the magic touch to elevate them. Ideally, our next director will bring solid agency experience, especially in direct-to-consumer work. We’re seeking someone who can ignite inspiration, craft captivating narratives, and drive groundbreaking creative thinking. The objective? Elevate our creative output, revolutionize strategic approaches, and create a lasting impact, all while coordinating the planning, organization, execution, and control of digital advertising campaigns for specified clients in accordance with clients’ objectives and budgets.

• Work with the media lead on accounts to proactively suggest tests, optimizations, etc.
• Report key insights and takeaways – not just numbers.
• Partner with our analytics practice to develop measurable plans and deliver reporting on a timely basis.
• Provide the day-to-day execution, buy stewardship, and optimize accounts.
• Manage the budget and ensure monthly/quarterly/annual spend goals are reached.
• Serve as quality control for campaigns and setups completed by other team members.
• Sign and send insertion orders.
• Create and maintain respectful, positive working relationships with account service, creative, analytics, strategy, social, etc. to foster cross-department collaboration.

Ideation and Strategy

• Lead projects from concept to execution, fostering client relationships and guiding them through creative challenges.
• Develop impactful ideas that transcend advertising, adding value to people’s lives.
• Collaborate across disciplines to create exceptional work and meet deadlines consistently.
• Recognize strong insights and empower teams to push conceptual boundaries.
• Shape strategy through effective briefing and refine concepts by challenging and guiding creative teams.
• Coach teams to align with strategic visions and concept execution.

Execution, Oversight, and Leadership

• Excel as a skilled presenter, uniting teams around core stories and engaging clients effectively.
• Empower long-range agency strategy and initiatives.
• Elevate presentation skills within creative teams.
• Manage projects from inception to completion, collaborating across disciplines and maintaining the shared creative vision.
• Extract the best from execution partners and offer high-level creative direction.
• Mentor and foster team growth, enhancing their careers.

Standard Qualifications

• Minimum of seven years’ agency experience
• Robust portfolio showcasing innovative work across diverse platforms
• Experience in broadcasting, social, and digital projects
• Client-facing experience and involvement in new business projects
• Demonstrated track record of generating groundbreaking conceptual ideas
• Proficiency in dynamic and persuasive presentations, even for challenging concepts
• Adept leadership ability to steer teams toward the right creative challenges

Reasons You’ll Love Working Here

• Flexible scheduling; hybrid environment
• A passion for diversity – a safe place to work where all voices are encouraged and respected
• Benefits like flexible PTO, where the one guideline is to use common sense; use what you need to support work-life balance
• Defined career paths for all departments, designed to map out and support your professional growth
• Assistance for student loan repayment – because it’s the right thing to do

Interview Process:

Our interview process is designed to help us understand your fit for the role and for you to learn about our agency culture. It usually involves these steps:

1. Initial Screening: We’ll evaluate your application and qualifications to determine compatibility.
2. Conversation with Talent Team: A discussion about your experience and how it aligns with the role will take place.
3. Work Review with Hiring Manager: You might present or review your previous work to show your approach and strategic thinking.
4. Team Interview: Meet potential team members to assess collaboration and culture fit.
5. Final Interview: You’ll have a conversation with senior leaders to discuss alignment and address questions.

Please note, the interview process may vary based on the role.

At Marcus Thomas LLC, we believe that diversity is a strength and that great ideas come from all backgrounds. We are committed to creating opportunities for talented individuals who have been historically underrepresented in our industry. Women, people of color, LGBTQIA+, immigrants, people of any religion or nationality, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. Our hiring process is equitable, and qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, protected veteran status, or disability status. We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive culture where all team members can grow and thrive.