Associate Creative Director

Designer Jobs; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ESOP

401(k) plan

Health insurance

FTO policy

Job summary

GPJ in Boston is seeking an Associate Creative Director to lead ideation and experiential campaigns, mentoring the team with inclusivity and collaboration. You will translate client brands into engaging multi-touch experiences and partner with the Creative Lead to bring vision to life across projects.

As a hands‑on leader, you will manage workloads, ensure high-quality execution, and contribute to new business pitches, while traveling up to 25% and collaborating across disciplines within a

Qualifications

• Minimum four-year degree in Design, Advertising, Theater, or related creative discipline.
• Minimum seven years of industry experience or related creative process experience.
• Event and Experience Design expertise desirable.
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills required.

Responsibilities

• Lead ideation and mentor the creative team with inclusivity and collaboration.
• Conceptualize multi-touch experiences aligned to client brands.
• Partner with Creative Lead to realize vision across projects.
• Supervise a small team and manage tight deadlines.
• Travel domestically and internationally ~25% and support new business pitches.

Skills

Creative leadership

Mentoring

Brand strategy

Presentation skills

Adobe Creative Suite

Google Suite

AI-based tools

Education

Bachelor's degree in Design, Advertising, Theater, or related creative discipline

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Google Suite

Firefly

Gemini

Job description

GPJ is hiring an Associate Creative Director to help lead creative ideation and innovative thinking for experiential marketing campaigns.

Responsibilities

• Lead creative ideation and innovative thinking while mentoring the creative team through inclusivity and collaboration
• Conceptualize captivating multi-touch experiences aligned to clients’ unique brands
• Partner closely with the Creative Lead on a given account to bring their vision to life across projects
• Manage work and the project team while actively engaging in the creative process to bring ideas to fruition
• Provide day-to-day supervision of one to two team members
• Travel to shows domestically and internationally (approximately 15% of responsibilities)
• Participate in new business development, including the pitch process
• Contribute to creative and agency culture by inspiring teams to do their best work
• Translate clients’ brands into thoughtful, compelling, interactive experiences; set high standards by leading new thinking and techniques
• Understand creative disciplines and collaborate with creative leadership on high-quality, strategic presentations that exceed client expectations using copywriting, sketches, renders, mock-ups, and presentations
• Develop and inspire inventive, thoughtful, on-brand work through a hands‑on mentorship approach
• Manage workload and hit tight deadlines
• Join planning and strategy sessions; lead the project creative design team on assigned projects, oversee designers’ work, and ensure consistent, highest-quality execution
• Work with Creative Directors to execute strategic design solutions
• Apply thoughtful design decisions with awareness of business impact; deliver multiple concepts and solutions to meet client objectives
• Build personal client relationships, inspire trust, and manage expectations
• Identify new projects and opportunities with existing clients; support new business and client presentations as an integral team member
• Collaborate with IP, graphics production, fabrication, and creative tech to resolve design and budget challenges while protecting design and brand integrity
• Manage design, development, and implementation of all event‑related creative supporting defined look and feel and brand objectives
• Assess the creative team’s bandwidth and recommend additional resources when needed
• Provide clear creative direction at project initiation and coach creative team members (and account teams), while monitoring and guiding efforts to drive successful outcomes
• Create a thoughtful, engaging guest journey for all projects
• Maintain project budgets and track allocated hours to support profitability for the creative team, in partnership with Creative Project Managers and Account Teams
• Assist in the education and development of designers
• Lead new idea development and creative design solutions supported by sound strategic rationale across multiple brands and initiatives
• Support account‑based creative teams alongside strategy, production, and accounts
• Create sketches, mood boards, layouts, 2D and 3D renders, deck design/templates, presentation/content structure, and POS materials
• Partner with clients and senior team members across departments to elevate brand significance and performance
• Advocate for brand and identity standards by knowing when to adhere closely and when to recommend more creative approaches
• Present work clearly and compellingly to internal and external partners
• Communicate by example the mechanics and attributes of team strategy and accountability
• Work directly with Production to vet ideas and confirm feasibility within budgets; adjust work when needed to maintain strategic integrity within client restrictions

Requirements

• Minimum four-year degree in Design, Advertising, Theater, or a related creative discipline
• Minimum 7 years of industry experience or related creative process experience combining strategy, content, message, and creative deliverables
• Event and Experience Design expertise desirable
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills required
• Ability to lead, motivate, and inspire the creative team while keeping the creative process aligned with GPJ business goals and objectives
• Mastery of Adobe Creative Suite and Google Suite
• Commitment to learning new software and tracking emerging trends, including AI‑based tools (Firefly, Gemini, etc.)
• Solutions‑oriented mindset focused on strategically solving challenges
• Proven track record leading successful creative teams and delivering high‑impact design solutions for experiential marketing campaigns
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, including the ability to articulate concepts, provide constructive feedback, and inspire teams
• Strong strategic thinking and problem‑solving skills with understanding of brand strategy, consumer behavior, and market trends
• Work with the Creative Director to develop a project roadmap
• Ability to travel 25%
• Ability to work irregular hours including nights, weekends, and holidays as needed

Technologies

• Adobe Creative Suite
• Google Suite
• Firefly
• Gemini

Benefits

• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) providing an ownership interest
• FTO policy (no more “accruing” time off)
• Employer matching 401(k) plan (no vesting period)
• Low employee contribution healthcare option

Travel & Mobility

• Ability to travel 25%
• Ability to work irregular hours including nights, weekends, and holidays as needed

Your Competencies

• Urgency: decisive, responsive, fast acting; adaptable under pressure without sacrificing quality
• Communication: conveys and sells ideas clearly; brief articulation during brainstorms or client presentations
• Creative Innovation: idea-driven, big-picture thinking
• Flexible: moves to new tasks with little to no notice
• Prioritization/Organization: allocates time and resources to complete work within timeframe and budget; manages resources (full-time and freelance) effectively

Salary Range

Salary is dependent on a variety of factors including (but not limited to) experience, skills, and location.

Opportunity Details

• Location: Boston, MA (hybrid)
• Hybrid requirement: report on‑site to the Boston office minimum 2 days per week