Creative Director

About Michael Coleman Creative Services

We are a small, independent agency specializing in hospitality, healthcare, lifestyle, and destination brands. Our approach is effective and nimble, free from excessive bureaucracy, allowing quick decision-making directly with agency leadership. We foster a collaborative, supportive environment valuing autonomy and flexible work arrangements focused on meaningful results rather than mere presence.

Role Overview

As Creative Director, you will be a vital member of the leadership team alongside our Directors of Agency Operations and Digital and Content. You will guide a design team of 4-5 members managing a high-volume annual workload exceeding 2,000 projects. Your responsibilities include setting goals, maintaining accountability, ensuring collaboration quality, overseeing performance management, and fostering team growth. You will participate hands-on in creative projects but primarily focus on leadership, dedicating approximately 60% of your time to management and company leadership, and 40% to creative endeavors.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of complex, critical projects and campaigns from initial briefing to final execution.
• Oversee project scopes, deadlines, and quality standards consistently.
• Engage directly with clients to identify needs, manage expectations, and provide updates.
• Mediate client feedback, translating requirements into actionable tasks for the team.
• Provide mentorship to designers on challenging assignments, guaranteeing quality and uniformity.
• Direct the design team's workflow priorities, establish collaboration standards and quality benchmarks.
• Manage performance aspects including goal definition, feedback, and career development.
• Coordinate project assignments and team capacity to optimize outcomes.
• Promote a communication-rich, accountable, and team-oriented culture.
• Function as the communication nexus between the team, clients, and leadership.
• Manage operational factors like team utilization, project profitability, and key performance metrics.
• Regularly meet with leadership to align team activities and resolve operational challenges.
• Continuously seek improvements to team processes and workflows.

Required Experience and Attributes

• Minimum of 3 years in a leadership position managing design teams.
• At least 8 years of design experience, preferably within agency environments.
• Demonstrable portfolio showcasing creative accomplishments and leadership abilities.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills that build trust internally and with clients.
• Strong client management capability, able to comprehend client needs and manage expectations effectively.
• A collaborative team player driven by joint problem-solving and ownership.
• Accountable for both project outcomes and team development, thriving under clear responsibility.

Why This Role Matters

• Direct influence on how clients perceive and engage with the agency.
• Shaping team culture, creativity, and output quality.
• Active partnership in strategic decision-making within agency leadership.
• Ownership over project success and team performance.

Benefits and Compensation

• Annual performance review incentives.
• Hybrid work setup with 1-2 days in-office weekly.
• Health and dental insurance coverage.
• 401K retirement plan with employer matching.
• Unlimited paid time off policy.

Salary range: $85,000 to $100,000 per year.