Creative Director - Art

M+C Saatchi SSK; New York (NY); On-site; USD 220,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

M+C Saatchi SSK in New York seeks an experienced Creative Director (Art Focus) to lead the visual identity and design excellence across client work. This role is ideal for a visionary art director who can both concept, design, and execute campaign assets when needed.

You will drive the look, feel, and craft of every campaign, partnering with writers, strategists, and producers to create breakthrough work that’s strategically grounded and visually iconic.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of agency experience in art direction, design, and visual storytelling.
• 3+ years in a Creative Director or senior art leadership role.
• Strong portfolio of award-winning design and integrated campaigns.
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite; familiarity with motion, UX/UI, and emerging tech.
• Strong presentation and communication skills.
• Proven experience leading and growing creative teams.

Responsibilities

• Define and elevate the agency’s design standards across channels.
• Set visual direction for campaigns and guide teams in developing striking, brand-right creative.
• Balance oversight with execution - participate in concepting or execution when needed.
• Campaign Development & Execution; oversee mood boards, layouts, and final design delivery.
• Contribute to design, typography, photography direction, and motion/UX as needed.
• Collaborate with writers, strategists, producers, photographers, illustrators, animators, and developers.
• Mentor art directors, designers, and junior talent; foster a design-driven culture.

Skills

Adobe Creative Suite

Leadership

Presentation skills

Design leadership

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

WHO WE ARE

SS+K is a creative agency specializing in brand reputation and issue advocacy, combining marketing and communications to help brands and organizations navigate significant business, cultural, and reputational change.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are seeking an experienced Creative Director (Art Focus) to lead the visual identity and design excellence across all client work. This role is ideal for a visionary art director who has grown into a leadership position but still has the passion and hands-on skill to concept, design, and execute campaign assets when needed.

The Creative Director will drive the look, feel, and craft of every campaign, ensuring that design and visual storytelling elevate ideas, resonate with audiences, and deliver measurable impact. You’ll partner with writers, strategists, and producers to create breakthrough work that’s both strategically grounded and visually iconic.

Responsibilities

• Define and elevate the agency’s design and visual standards across all channels, from broadcast to digital, social, experiential, and OOH.
• Set the visual direction for campaigns and guide teams in developing striking, brand-right creative.
• Balance oversight with execution - ensuring flawless design delivery while stepping in to concept or execute when needed.
• Campaign Development & Execution
• Oversee concept development, mood boards, style frames, layouts, and final design delivery.
• Personally contribute to design, typography, photography direction, illustration, and motion/UX design as needed.
• Push for visual innovation while maintaining brand integrity and consistency across all touchpoints.
• Client Partnership
• Confidently present creative and design concepts, articulating the rationale behind visual choices.
• Build trust with clients by listening to their needs and showing how strong design solutions can meet business objectives.

Collaboration

• Partner with copywriters to develop holistic, visually driven ideas.
• Work closely with strategy to ensure design solutions are rooted in insights and consumer truths.
• Collaborate with production partners, photographers, illustrators, animators, and developers to bring ideas to life with craft and polish.
• Team Development
• Mentor art directors, designers, and junior talent - pushing them creatively and professionally.
• Foster a design-driven culture that prizes craft, curiosity, and collaboration.

About You

• 10+ years of agency experience with a proven track record in art direction, design, and visual storytelling.
• At least 3+ years in a Creative Director, Associate Creative Director, or senior art leadership role.
• Strong portfolio showcasing award-winning design and integrated campaigns.
• Hands-on mastery of Adobe Creative Suite (and/or other design tools); familiarity with motion, UX/UI, and emerging tech is a plus.
• Strong presentation and communication skills - able to sell creative ideas with clarity and passion.
• Proven experience leading and growing creative teams.

You’re good at

• Elevated Standard Bearer: Demonstrate an unyielding obsession with world-class work that drives cultural relevance and business results, refusing to settle for merely "good enough" ideas.
• Visionary Storyteller: Convey a mindset that sees campaigns as comprehensive narratives across channels, articulating a clear, inspiring creative vision that junior creatives can follow and execute against.
• Constructive Provocateur: Show the attitude to fearlessly challenge conventional thinking (clients, account teams, or even agency leadership) in pursuit of the best creative solution, while maintaining professional respect.
• Talent Amplifier: Highlight a management style focused on mentorship, protection, and developing creative talent, inspiring teams to reach beyond their perceived capabilities and fostering a diverse, ego-free creative culture.

Audience Empath

• Express a deep curiosity about human behavior and culture, demonstrating the ability to translate complex strategic insights into simple, emotionally resonant, and impactful creative concepts.

WHAT YOU'LL GET

We offer a competitive salary, a comprehensive employer subsidized benefits package which includes group medical, dental and vision coverage, Health Savings Account, 401k retirement plan with annual company match, employee wellness, commuter benefits and cellular phone allowance, generous paid time off and employee volunteer day to encourage social responsibility giving time to the non-profit, community service or charity of your choice. Salary is dependent on experience but ranges from: $220,000- $230,000. All candidates must have the ability to work in the US; we are unable to sponsor any work visas for this role.

OUR BENEFITS

• Group medical, dental and vision coverage
• Health Savings Account
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• 401k retirement plan with annual company match
• Employee wellness
• Commuter benefits
• Life and disability insurance
• Generous paid time off
• Employee volunteer day to encourage social responsibility giving time to the non-profit, community service or charity of your choice.

M+C Saatchi Group

M+C Saatchi SSK as part of M+C Saatchi Group has pledged its commitment to create a company that values difference, with an inclusive culture. As part of this M+C Saatchi Group continues to be an Equal Opportunity Employer which does not and shall not discriminate, celebrates diversity and bases all hiring and promotion decisions solely on merit, without regard for any personal characteristics. http://mcsaatchi.com/diversity/ [http://mcsaatchi.com/diversity/] If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please make us aware as part of your application. All employee information is kept confidential according to General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).