Art Director

About RP3 Agency and the Role

RP3 Agency is driven by the belief that bold, truly original ideas are the key to impactful marketing. The Art Director role focuses on transforming business challenges, cultural insights, and audience understanding into unique, attention-grabbing concepts that inspire action. This position emphasizes idea creation before any layout processes, blending strategic thinking with hands-on execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Generate multiple innovative and strategically sound creative directions consistently.
• Develop integrated campaign platforms suitable for multi-channel execution beyond single projects.
• Translate initial concepts into compelling visual presentations, including narrative visuals, prototypes, and detailed design comps to align teams and clients.
• Leverage artificial intelligence innovatively to expand creative possibilities, generate original imagery, and accelerate iterations while maintaining high standards of taste and craft.
• Create distinctive, unified, and practical work that delivers measurable business outcomes.
• Provide creative leadership through curiosity, collaboration, and active mentorship of peers.
• Examine briefs deeply to uncover human and cultural insights, developing varied visual and campaign approaches before selecting a path forward.
• Work closely with copywriters, strategists, designers, and leaders to ensure visual elements remain closely linked to core campaign objectives.
• Conceptualize across integrated channels including paid, owned, earned, social, digital, experiential, out-of-home, film, and new media.
• Establish the visual language of ideas, covering aspects like typography, imagery style, motion, and channel-specific expression.
• Create reference materials such as storyboards, prototypes, and high-fidelity comps that make ideas engaging and easy to purchase.
• Direct and collaborate with designers, photographers, illustrators, editors, animators, and production teams from concept through final production with hands-on involvement as appropriate.
• Employ generative AI and other technologies intentionally for ideation, visual development, image creation, and storyboard refinement.
• Develop and refine AI prompts, curate generated images, and ensure consistency across visual elements in line with brand standards and legal/privacy guidelines.
• Maintain documentation of AI workflows to facilitate repetition and improvement across the creative team.
• Present concepts clearly with strategic reasoning, respond constructively to feedback, and champion the integrity of the creative ideas.
• Coordinate with account, strategy, media, and production units to align creative ambition with practical considerations like budgets and deadlines.
• Manage multiple projects and clients effectively within a smaller agency setting, remaining adaptable and resourceful.
• Keep abreast of trends and advancements in culture, design, technology, and media, sharing insights with colleagues.

Candidate Requirements

• A portfolio demonstrating original conceptual thinking, strong visual storytelling, and excellent craftsmanship across varied channels.
• Three to five years of experience in advertising agencies or similarly fast-paced creative environments with tight deadlines.
• Proven ability to translate strategy and insights into substantial creative ideas, visual systems, and executed work at a high standard.
• Strong skills in art direction, design, typography, composition, image-making, and presenting ideas.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and practical experience utilizing generative AI tools for ideation, storyboarding, and image creation.
• Good judgment to curate AI outputs responsibly, evaluate production feasibility, and uphold originality, brand consistency, and ethical standards.
• Collaborative mindset with openness to feedback, alongside capability to work independently as required.
• Curiosity, flexibility, and motivation to produce exceptional work that stands out creatively.

Why Work at RP3?

• Flexible hybrid work model with headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland; candidates able to commute by various means are welcome regardless of location within the US Central or Eastern Time zones (Note: Position not open to candidates in CA or NYC).
• A workplace culture centered on curiosity, kindness, accountability, and innovative thinking.
• Comprehensive company-paid health, life, short-term and long-term disability insurance.
• Employee-supported dental and vision insurance options.
• 401(k) plan with immediate employer match contributions.
• Inclusive and well-rounded family leave policies.
• Generous paid time off, covering annual, sick, holiday, personal, and unique "Karma Days."
• Summer Fridays with early release (2 PM) from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
• Optional benefits including commuter and pet insurance plans.

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $70,000 to $85,000 annually, dependent on experience. RP3 is committed to equitable and transparent pay practices reflecting individual qualifications and internal equity.

Equal Opportunity Statement

RP3 Agency is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to fostering diversity and inclusion. The company does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status. It values diverse perspectives as drivers of better creative outcomes.

Position and Location Details

This role is a full-time onsite position requiring robust leadership, accountability, and adaptability. Some flexibility may be necessary to meet client and agency demands. Candidates must reside in the US, within Central or Eastern Time Zones; applicants from California and New York City are ineligible.