Associate Motion Director

1000heads; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

Generous time off

401k with employer match

Gym stipends

Commute benefits

Job summary

A leading creative agency in Chicago is seeking an Associate Motion Director to elevate brand storytelling through motion design. You will lead projects, mentor talent, and set design standards while engaging with digital and social media landscapes. The ideal candidate has over 6 years of experience in motion design, a strong portfolio, and proficiency in tools like Adobe After Effects. Competitive salary and inclusive company culture offered.

Qualifications

• Experience mentoring and providing constructive feedback to design talent.
• Strong portfolio showcasing motion design and visual storytelling.
• Proficiency in AI tools related to motion design.

Responsibilities

• Set the vision and standards for motion design.
• Mentor junior and mid-level motion designers.
• Partner with creative leads to execute ideas.

Skills

Motion design

Animation principles

Team leadership

Brand storytelling

Collaboration skills

Education

6+ years of professional experience in motion design or animation

Tools

Adobe After Effects

Adobe Creative Suite

Cinema 4D

Blender

Job description

Overview

We are looking for an Associate Motion Director with a strong foundation in motion design and a keen eye for crafting clean, branded content across digital and social platforms. You’ll help shape the creative direction of motion projects, balancing hands-on design skills with the ability to guide and mentor motion design talent. While animation expertise is a big plus, a deep understanding of animation principles and how to apply them in fast-moving, social-first contexts is essential. The ideal candidate thrives at the intersection of creativity and execution, elevating ideas into polished, effective, and culturally relevant visual storytelling. As Associate Motion Director, you’ll play a key role in shaping how brands show up across digital and social channels, combining hands-on design with creative leadership to guide a team of designers while producing work that is culturally relevant and visually exceptional.

Responsibilities

• Set the vision and standards for motion design at 1000Heads
• Apply motion and animation principles to social-first campaigns, short-form video, and branded content
• Partner with creative and design leads to bring ideas to life through storyboarding, motion tests, and final execution
• Mentor and nurture junior and mid-level motion designers, helping them grow in craft and confidence
• Maintain a consistent design language across motion assets, keeping content polished, professional, and aligned with brand standards
• Stay plugged into social and digital culture—adapting styles and techniques that resonate with audiences in real time
• Occasionally contribute hands-on design and animation to set the creative bar and push the work forward
• Build a network of motion freelancers and partners to ensure delivery during peaks

Qualifications

• Hybrid role with 2 days per week in-office from one of these US locations: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, or Miami
• 6+ years of professional experience in motion design or animation, ideally with a focus on social-first and branded content
• Strong portfolio showcasing motion design, animation understanding, typography, and visual storytelling
• Experience leveraging AI tools in the motion design practice
• Proficiency in Adobe After Effects and Adobe Creative Suite; experience with Premiere and 3D tools (Cinema 4D, Blender) a plus
• Demonstrated ability to create clean, branded visuals that adapt to multiple digital platforms
• Experience mentoring and providing constructive feedback to design talent
• Strong collaboration and communication skills; comfortable working in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments
• Passion for creativity, culture, and using motion design to elevate brand storytelling

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and more
• Generous time off package, including the last week of the year
• 401k & Roth retirement investment options with employer match after one year
• Gym and professional development stipends
• Culture Club with monthly activities like sports, games and happy hours
• DEI Council and Employee Resource Groups
• Commute and parking benefits
• Wellness program focusing on mental, physical and financial well-being
• And much more

Salary Range
$120,000 - $160,000 per year

About 1000heads

1000heads combines expertise in data & analytics, strategy, technology and creativity to help brands build Social Age brands. We provide a fully integrated, end-to-end Social Transformation proposition to blue-chip clients, including data & analytics, strategy and implementation. With a global footprint, we employ over 200 people across 12 offices worldwide. Our clients include Alphabet, Nature Made, The North Face, San Pellegrino, Amazon, Cisco, and Diageo.

1000heads is an Equal Opportunities Employer devoted to an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity. We welcome applicants irrespective of age, sex, race, ethnicity, disability and other factors that do not affect an individual’s ability to perform the job. For more information, visit 1000heads.com.