Creative Director

About the Role

Idea Peddler (IP) is a boutique agency that does “Good Work For Nice People.” We believe ideas move across the agency, meaning our strategy and creative teams work closely together. Strategists stay involved throughout the creative process, leading and participating in brainstorms alongside the creative team. The Creative Director acts as the conductor, ensuring teams collaborate effectively, client deliverables stay on time, and positive energy flows even under tight deadlines.

This role is for a true dual threat: a strategic thinker who can concept and develop integrated campaigns, and a hands-on designer who helps bring them to life. It is not a hands-off leadership position—you must enjoy diving into the work. IP specializes in emerging tourism and hospitality brands, so a service-first mindset and hands-on approach are essential. The right candidate will help improve our processes without introducing big-agency bureaucracy or dogma. An entrepreneurial mindset is required.

Responsibilities

Creative Leadership and Execution

• Set the creative direction across client accounts, from the first brief through final delivery.
• Turn strategy into clear concepts and integrated campaigns across digital, social, print, outdoor, presentations, and experiences.
• Invest real time in developing creative talent through mentorship, sharpening their craft, and helping them reach the next level.
• Inspire the team and dazzle prospective clients during the RFP process with presentations that are sincere, smart, and memorably creative.
• Stay close to the work—write, design, edit, and/or art direct to strengthen the final output.
• Give team members clear direction and practical feedback to help them move forward.
• Set and uphold high standards for concept, craft, and execution, even under tight timelines or feedback pressure.

Agency Operations and Pace

• Manage multiple projects, deadlines, and shifting priorities without losing momentum or lowering quality.
• Work closely with account and project management to balance creative ambition with timelines, budgets, and team capacity.
• Help improve workflows from briefing and concept development through review and delivery.
• Make clear decisions, raise issues early, and keep the team focused during tight deadlines.
• Advocate for your ideas, your team, and the resources needed to deliver high-quality work.
• Step up during agency peaks, including pitches, launches, production trips, and tight deadlines.

Team Leadership and Culture

• Lead and develop a team of staff and freelance creatives across disciplines.
• Give clear direction and useful feedback to improve the work and help people grow.
• Create accountability without fear, confusion, or unnecessary drama.
• Build a culture of curiosity, ownership, collaboration, and no B.S.
• Protect the team, address problems directly, and maintain constructive energy when work gets hard.

Qualifications

Must-Haves

• At least 10 years of creative agency experience, including leading integrated campaigns across multiple clients.
• A portfolio demonstrating strong ideas brought to life across digital, social, print, outdoor, presentations, and experiential work.
• A background in design or art direction, with the ability to write, edit, and improve work across disciplines.
• Experience leading staff and freelance creatives from concept through final delivery.
• Confidence in presenting ideas, handling feedback, and working directly with senior clients.
• Strong working knowledge of Figma and Adobe Creative Cloud.
• The ability to manage scope, timelines, budgets, and resources without losing sight of the work.

Nice-to-Haves

• Experience with tourism, hospitality, hotels, resorts, attractions, or travel brands.
• Experience helping emerging brands define their voice and build integrated campaigns.
• Practical fluency with AI tools and modern creative workflows.

Who You Are

• You’ve lived the agency life long enough to know its peaks and valleys and are willing to navigate both.
• You’re kind, open-hearted, and maybe have a little snark or edge—jaded, judgy, or anti-client energy is a dealbreaker.
• You still believe creating and manifesting ideas is fun and a gift.
• You’re nerdy in your own way—we’ll ask about it.
• You prefer small and mighty teams over large, bureaucratic structures.
• You know strong opinions don’t require a big ego.
• You’ve moved past the phase where only famous brands or big budgets matter—good work can be done at any scale.
• You make clear decisions, handle pressure well, and keep work moving when priorities shift.
• You’re curious, direct, and open to better ways of working.
• You care about the quality of the work, the people making it, and the business needs supporting it.

About Idea Peddler

Idea Peddler is the rehab for big agency life. If you love doing smart, thoughtful work but hate big-agency B.S., this might be the place for you. We work with appreciative, purpose-driven clients in a caring, transparent team culture with true work-life balance. Idea Peddler is a meritocracy where you thrive based on your own drive.

We specialize in emerging tourism and hospitality brands, creating bespoke campaigns that deliver on unique client goals with exceptional execution. In uncertain times, ideas win—ideas that inspire, shift behavior, and create growth. Idea Peddler holds true to the promise of doing good work for nice people.

Benefits

• Health, vision, and dental benefits.
• 401k matching.
• Generous paid time off.
• Tech kit.
• Health club stipend.
• Cell phone credit.
• Catered weekly meal.
• Recurring educational opportunities.