Associate Creative Director

About the role

MKG is seeking an Associate Creative Director to join our dynamic team in New York, NY. This position offers a unique opportunity to lead creative projects from conception to execution while mentoring a talented team.

Responsibilities

• Creatively lead some projects from start to finish, while keeping ECD informed.
• Work under a leading Creative Director on other projects.
• Direct, mentor and guide Senior, Mid and Junior level team members across environmental design, graphic design and creative strategy.
• Dissect and interpret client briefs. Ask thoughtful, strategic questions to uncover insights and clarify project goals.
• Lead brainstorming sessions that generate innovative ideas.
• Develop and deliver creative concepts for new and existing business, with an experiential focus and opportunities for omnichannel integration, aligning the creative with the client's objectives.
• Challenge the status quo, steering clients to new territories that haven’t been seen and done.
• Create compelling creative and pitch decks that clearly communicate the strategy, narrative and ideas.
• Assemble internal design briefs, pull inspiration, and guide designers with an aesthetic point of view, ensuring a cohesive strategic narrative throughout the creative work.
• Present and sell creative concepts confidently to internal stakeholders and clients, providing a strong point of view that is backed by research, data, and strategic insights.
• Manage multiple projects at once while maintaining quality and meeting deadlines, ensuring creative deliverables meet our standards and align with client expectations.
• Collaborate with creative team members along with team members across Production, Accounts and New Business.
• Support creative leadership with department needs including case studies, agency marketing, and strategic initiatives.

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience in advertising, experiential marketing agencies, or brand environments.
• A proven track record of executing successful campaigns for top-tier brands.
• Clear, confident and collaborative creative leadership that drives projects forward while respecting and empowering the voices of others.
• A passion for culture seeking and an active connection to creative communities that fuel your ideation prowess.
• The ability to foster the careers of direct reports, helping to carve a path to their success and growth.
• Strong writing and verbal communication skills.
• Able to manage a large volume of projects at one time while also championing and mentoring direct reports.
• Strong relationship-building skills across internal and external teams, including clients and partners.
• Energy and enthusiasm, your own sense of humor and a curious mind for the work, along with respect and empathy for those you work with.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent.