Experiential Creative/Design Lead

Description JOB TITLE: Experiential Creative/Design Lead DEPARTMENT: Creative REPORTS TO: Group Creative Director LOCATION: West Coast About The Role We are looking for an experienced experiential leader capable of translating strategy into executable live experiences while balancing creative ambition, operational realities, venue constraints, and budget requirements. The ideal candidate can concept, visualize, and lead, but also understands how experiences are actually built, operated, and scaled across multiple markets. What You’ll Do Lead execution of experiential creative development across several product workstreamsDevelop event concepts that balance creative impact with executional feasibilityPartner closely with Production, Strategy, Creative Leadership, and Account teams throughout development and executionProvide clear creative direction to internal designers, production designers, and external partnersAdvise and guide guest experience, environmental storytelling, and spatial design across the programBuild scalable creative systems that can adapt across multiple venues, markets, and budget levels. What We’re Looking For Budget & Feasibility Awareness A successful experiential creative leader develops concepts that are both creatively compelling and aligned with the available budget framework. Expected Behaviors: Design concepts within established budget parametersUnderstand the difference between rental, off-the-shelf, and custom-fabricated solutionsEvaluate cost versus guest impact when making creative decisionsIdentify major cost drivers early in concept developmentPartner proactively with Production when concepts require additional investment or infrastructure Spatial Design & Guest Experience Experiential creative work extends beyond objects and graphics. It requires understanding how guests move through and interact with a space. Expected Behaviors: Design for guest flow, not just aestheticsConsider entry, circulation, gathering areas, and exit pathsIdentify potential pinch points and operational challengesMaintain awareness of capacity, sightlines, accessibility, and flexibilityBalance visual impact with functional event operations Concept Development Standards Creative concepts should be developed with enough fidelity to allow meaningful production evaluation. Expected Behaviors: Include dimensions for custom elementsDefine materiality and finish assumptionsProvide sourcing references for off-the-shelf items whenever possibleClearly identify custom fabrication assumptionsDistinguish between inspiration and intended executionVisuals and mockups presented at scale, inclusive detailed floorplans and consumer flow charts Venue & Production Awareness The ideal candidate understands how venue realities influence creative decisions. Expected Behaviors: Design around venue constraints rather than assuming ideal conditionsDevelop concepts with a clear understanding of the infrastructure required to execute them, and evaluate those requirements alongside budget, venue constraints, and guest experience.Default to practical solutions unless venue-specific opportunities have been confirmed Leadership & Mentorship This role is expected to help elevate experiential capability across the broader creative organization. Expected Behaviors: Mentor designers and creatives who are continuing to build experiential skillsetsEstablish clear creative processes and standardsServe as the primary experiential creative authority for the programHelp bridge the gap between traditional campaign thinking and experiential execution Success Looks Like Creative concepts that can be executed substantially as designedFewer production revisions driven by feasibility concernsStronger integration between Creative and Production teamsFaster decision-making and concept developmentConsistent guest experiences across multiple markets and venuesContinued growth of experiential capability within the agency.A team player whose qualities and motivations align with our agency’s core values – fearless, integrity, advocacy, impact, ingenuity and foresight. What We Offer Comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being.Recharge and unwind with a generous time-off policy.Stay connected with a mobile stipend.Secure your financial future with a 401k and company match.Make a difference through community involvement with time and financial matching.Set goals and track progress through annual performance reviews.Learning and development. About R&r Partners At R&R Partners, we don’t just solve problems—we redefine them. As a fiercely independent, full-service agency with over five decades of experience, we partner with the boldest minds and most innovative creators to tackle challenges others won’t dare touch. Our hybrid workforce spans 20+ states and Mexico City, blending diverse disciplines like government affairs, creative, media and crisis consulting to deliver groundbreaking solutions for some of the world’s most iconic brands. Please note that we are currently able to hire in the following states: AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, KS, KY, MD, MI, MN, MO, MT, NJ, NV, NM, NC, OK, OR, SC, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, DC.