Creative Director

A confidential active and lifestyle apparel company with ideals grounded in sustainability is searching for a Creative Director for their Carlsbad, CA headquarters.

The Creative Director will establish and evolve the brand “voice” and is responsible for determining the best ways for the company to conceptually represent the brand. He/she will oversee all creative projects and staff and is responsible for the overall quality of work produced by the creative department. Responsibilities include managing creative projects from concept to completion, translating marketing objectives into creative strategies, and directing the creative team in the production of advertising and marketing collateral.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop creative programs and design concepts that meet the business objectives of the organization and advance our brand strategy
• The ability to set vision and drive concepts and strategies through the entire creative and development process
o Translate campaigns into integrated marketing communications including print work, online, events, retail stores, etc.
• Ability to engage with a variety of users (customer profile, online shoppers, wholesale accounts, regional segmentation for retail stores, etc.)
• A solid understanding of both business and user goals and how they relate
• Understanding of how copywriting works within the creative process (i.e. headlines, body copy, briefing copywriter to achieve project goals and maintain brand voice)
• Supervise and inspire the creative team of vendor partners generate multiple concepts for a campaign or project
• Budget Management - co-establish & manage budgets for imagery and creative execution
• Manage multiple projects from concept through completion
o Lead creative sessions for project kick-offs
o Work with account team, strategy team and copywriters to develop concepts and present to management
o Interpret client briefs from marketing managers into creative deliverables
o Manage deliverables and timelines of creative team (including Senior Designer, Production Manager and outside print shop)
• Excellent presentation skills and interest in building open, trusting client-relationships with departments
• Provide quality control over concepts and proposals

QUALIFICATIONS:

- Undergraduate degree in Graphic Arts or related field or equivalent visual design and management experience required graduate degree preferred
- 5+ years of leadership experience, an accessible digital portfolio, a thorough understanding of information architecture, and proven project management required.
- Must possess a thorough understanding of interactive communications and delivery systems, processes, and user interface design as well as industry best practices
- Print and web design capabilities: must know how to work in both media for integrated campaigns
- Experience with design basics such as: layouts, graphic fundamentals, typography & limitations of the web, and have the ability to storyboard or translate ideas to designers and develop innovative motion graphics solutions
- A strong working knowledge of experience design, brand development, interactive commerce and creative process
- Knowledge of copywriting as part of the creative process
- Ability to lead projects from concept to completion. Apply best practices in user interface and interactive design, including image optimization, and site mapping
- Basic understanding of software such as Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign & Flash, Adobe AfterEffects & video editing (a plus) needed for this position
- Basic understanding of HTML, DHTML CSS, Actionscript & Drupal
- Ability to make evaluative judgments
- Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
- Ability to supervise and train employees, to include organizing, prioritizing, and scheduling work assignments
- Passion, Integrity, and Energy!
- Experience in the action sports industry or apparel industry a plus

Please submit your cover letter and resume through Malakye.com.