Associate Director of Creative
Access
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Access is seeking an Associate Director of Creative in Orlando to drive the development of unforgettable live events and experiences. You will balance hands-on creative leadership with team development, collaborating with Sales, Events, and venues to deliver bold concepts that align with client objectives and operational realities.
You’ll mentor a growing Creative team, manage multiple projects, and help shape creative strategy while staying within budgets.
Qualifications
- 5+ years in a creative-focused role in a DMC or related industry.
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in the DMC or hospitality industry.
- Advanced understanding of client strategy, creative leadership, and operational impact.
- Proven ability to mentor, coach, and manage Creative team workloads, training, and KPI performance.
- Strong financial and pricing strategy capabilities, including budgeting, vendor negotiations, and profitability management.
- Ability to lead teams through innovation, brand alignment, and creative excellence.
- Experience collaborating with Sales, Events, and vendor partners to develop creative solutions that meet client expectations and business goals.
- Familiarity with Salesforce, creative presentation tools, and event design platforms.
- A collaborative, culture-driven leadership style aligned with Access Values.
Responsibilities
- Lead the creative development of assigned events and programs, transforming client objectives into engaging, memorable experiences.
- Oversee creative concepts, presentations, proposals, and experiential designs, ensuring quality, originality, and alignment with client expectations.
- Manage your own creative projects while providing guidance, coaching, and support to designated team members.
- Partner with Sales and Events teams to develop creative solutions that are achievable within program budgets, timelines, and operational requirements.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with venues, production partners, entertainment providers, and creative vendors.
- Conduct venue visits and site inspections to identify creative opportunities and ensure concepts can be successfully executed.
- Support business development by contributing creative strategies and presentations that help win new opportunities.
- Monitor creative budgets, pricing, and profitability while identifying opportunities to enhance program value.
- Mentor and develop Creative team members through feedback, training, and collaboration.
- Stay informed on emerging event trends, technologies, and experiential concepts to bring fresh ideas to clients.
- Collaborate with the Director of Creative to improve workflows, maintain creative standards, and support team performance.
- Travel as needed to visit venues, meet with clients and vendor partners, conduct site inspections, and collaborate with team members across the territory.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
Access Your Potential.
Join us to create and deliver experiences that inspire people, spark connection, and bring imagination to life-while having a lot of fun doing it.
We’re seeking a creative, hospitality-driven Associate Director of Creative based in Orlando to join our Southeast team! This role is ideal for an experienced creative professional who thrives on developing unforgettable experiences, building strong partnerships, and inspiring others to bring bold ideas to life.
As an Associate Director of Creative at Access, you'll balance hands-on creative leadership with team development, helping transform client visions into exceptional live events and experiences.
Working closely with the Director of Creative, you'll lead creative projects, support business revenue goals, mentor team members, and collaborate with Sales and Events to develop innovative concepts that are both inspiring and operationally achievable.
Lead the creative development of assigned events and programs, transforming client objectives into engaging, memorable experiences.
Oversee creative concepts, presentations, proposals, and experiential designs, ensuring quality, originality, and alignment with client expectations.
Manage your own creative projects while providing guidance, coaching, and support to designated team members.
Partner with Sales and Events teams to develop creative solutions that are achievable within program budgets, timelines, and operational requirements.
Build and maintain strong relationships with venues, production partners, entertainment providers, and creative vendors.
Conduct venue visits and site inspections to identify creative opportunities and ensure concepts can be successfully executed.
Support business development by contributing creative strategies and presentations that help win new opportunities.
Monitor creative budgets, pricing, and profitability while identifying opportunities to enhance program value.
Mentor and develop Creative team members through feedback, training, and collaboration.
Stay informed on emerging event trends, technologies, and experiential concepts to bring fresh ideas to clients.
Collaborate with the Director of Creative to improve workflows, maintain creative standards, and support team performance.
Travel as needed to visit venues, meet with clients and vendor partners, conduct site inspections, and collaborate with team members across the territory.
Consistently embody and reinforce Access Values: Imagine First, Demand Integrity, Embody Excellence, Always Collaborate, Service Obsession.
Access is a women-owned and women-led destination management company that collaborates with clients to design and execute corporate events and programs. Our expert teams are in coast-to-coast destinations, designing and producing ultimate experiences for our clients.
We know that there’s no one in the world like you. And we know that you have a lot to offer the next company you work with. Below is a list of “nice-to-haves”, but don’t let those deter you from applying. Access believes that an inclusive team and culture is important. We seek applicants from all backgrounds to ensure we get the best, most creative talent on our team.
Nice-to-haves:
5+ years of proven success in a creative-focused role in a DMC or related industry.
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in the DMC or hospitality industry.
Advanced understanding of client strategy, creative leadership, and operational impact.
Proven ability to mentor, coach, and manage Creative team workloads, training, and KPI performance.
Strong financial and pricing strategy capabilities, including budgeting, vendor negotiations, and profitability management.
Ability to lead teams through innovation, brand alignment, and creative excellence.
Experience collaborating with Sales, Events, and vendor partners to develop creative solutions that meet client expectations and business goals.
Familiarity with Salesforce, creative presentation tools, and event design platforms.
A collaborative, culture-driven leadership style aligned with Access Values.
We’re a women-owned, award-winning destination management company with teams in cities coast to coast. For 50+ years, we’ve been producing high-impact events and experiences for global brands-and we’re just getting started.
Certified as a Great Place to Work - 3 years in a row!
50+ years in the industry!
Women-owned and women-led
Fun, creative, and supportive culture
Focus on recognition and employee value - including annual and quarterly awards
Paid day off to serve your local community
Annual all-company retreat to connect, learn, and have fun together
Annual qualifier-based incentive trip for top performers (certain departments eligible)
Regional team outings
Monthly companywide meetings to connect, learn, and celebrate wins
Highly competitive total compensation, including strong base salary and quarterly bonuses
Very strong performance-based quarterly commission plans
401k with company match (eligible after 1 year - up to 4% of salary matched, vested immediately)
Monthly cell phone stipend
Work from home opportunities and flexibility (including full home office setup)
Flexible schedule opportunities
Generous PTO
Sick days
9 full holidays
5 half days off prior to holidays to unplug early
2 floating holidays off to be used on holidays of your choice
half day Fridays in July & August (based on achievement of goals)
Extensive menu of health plans to choose from
Paid parental leave
Pet insurance program
Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)
Mentorship program
“Masterclasses” in industry/department-specific topics
State-of-the-art technology platforms and tools - including training
Annual and monthly meeting content that focuses on professional development
Access is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. We are a proud Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, or genetic information. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or interview process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at careers@accessdmc.com.
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