Executive Director, Motion Design

THE ROLE

We are looking for an Executive Director, Motion Design, to lead and grow our Motion practice at the highest level. This is a senior leadership role for a visionary creative executive who combines exceptional motion craft with the strategic and operational ability to build, scale, and sustain a world-class discipline.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Practice & Discipline Leadership:
  • Define and own the strategic direction, creative standards, and long-term vision for Motion Design across DEPT®.
  • Build and scale the Motion Design practice — including org structure, hiring roadmap, capability development, and tooling strategy.
  • Establish motion systems, creative frameworks, and quality benchmarks that elevate execution across all accounts and channels.
  • Champion innovation, AI-assisted workflows, and emerging motion technologies that expand what is creatively and operationally possible.
• Client & Business Ownership:
  • Own P&L for the Motion Design practice, including resourcing, utilization, margin performance, and growth targets.
  • Serve as executive creative partner to key clients — including senior stakeholders at accounts like OpenAI — bringing both vision and executional credibility to every engagement.
  • Drive new business and organic growth by positioning DEPT®'s motion capabilities in pitches, proposals, and client conversations.
  • Collaborate with Client Partners and cross-functional leadership to embed motion into broader creative and campaign strategies.
• Team Development & Culture:
  • Recruit, develop, and retain a high-performing team of Motion Designers, Senior Motion Designers, and Principals across the organization.
  • Create a culture of craft excellence, continuous learning, and creative ambition within the Motion Design team.
  • Mentor senior practitioners, helping them grow into leadership roles and expand their creative and strategic range.
  • Partner with People & Talent teams to build scalable hiring practices, onboarding frameworks, and career progression paths for the discipline.
• Creative Execution & Standards:
  • Develop and maintain a high standard of motion craft — ensuring all work demonstrates strong storytelling, technical excellence, and creative originality.
  • Collaborate on music selection, sound design, and audio direction to enhance storytelling, reinforce brand expression, and elevate motion quality.
  • Contribute to creative reviews, pitches, and innovation initiatives, helping define the future direction of motion within the organization.
  • Stay at the forefront of motion design, animation, filmmaking, AI, sound design, and emerging technologies to continually push the work forward.

WHAT YOU BRING

• 12+ years of professional experience in motion design, animation, or a related creative discipline, with significant time in senior leadership roles.
• Demonstrated experience owning a creative practice or studio P&L, including responsibility for revenue, margin, and team growth.
• A track record of building and scaling motion design teams — hiring, developing, and retaining top creative talent.
• Executive-level client relationship skills, with experience presenting to and partnering with senior marketing and creative stakeholders.
• A strong, diverse portfolio showcasing outstanding motion design, animation direction, and a deep understanding of design principles (typography, color, layout, pacing).
• Expert knowledge of Figma, Adobe After Effects, and Frame.io. Cinema 4D a plus.
• Deep fluency in AI-assisted motion workflows, tools, and emerging creative technologies.
• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Animation, Film, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

WHAT DO WE OFFER

• Healthcare, Dental, and Vision coverage
• 401k plan, plus matching
• PTO
• Paid Company Holidays
• Parental Leave

WE SUPPORT YOU BEING YOU

• DEPT® is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We believe our work is its best when our people feel safe and free to be themselves.
• We are a B Corp-certified company passionate about purpose-driven work.
• We are a Growth Invention company built to help the world’s most ambitious brands grow faster. Operating at the intersection of technology and marketing, our 4,000+ specialists deliver growth invention across Brand & Media, Experience, Commerce, CRM, and Technology & Data.
• We are committed to an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment and selection process and workplace, regardless of anyone’s identity, background, beliefs, lifestyle or disabilities.

New York, NY Salary Range

$228,600 - $342,900 USD

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