Creative Lead

Right Side Up; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading creative agency in Austin, Texas, is seeking a Creative Director to lead the creative strategy across various campaigns. You will manage a team of designers and copywriters, mentor talent, and ensure a strong connection between creativity and marketing performance. Ideal candidates will have over 5 years of experience in a creative agency, along with exceptional skills in communication, data analysis, and campaign development. Embrace innovation in a fast-paced environment for impactful storytelling.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in a creative agency or similar environment, managing teams.
• Experience with performance marketing campaigns like paid social.
• Strong background in concepting and visual storytelling.

Responsibilities

• Lead creative direction and manage multiple clients' campaigns.
• Mentor a distributed team of designers and copywriters.
• Build strong relationships with clients, guiding creative discussions.
• Align creative strategies with broader marketing goals.

Skills

Creative direction

Data analysis

Campaign development

Team management

Performance marketing

Communication

Tools

Figma

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

What You'll Do

• Lead the creative direction across multiple clients, ensuring work is both high-quality and grounded in strategy.

• Turn data and performance insights into clear, actionable creative direction.

• Develop campaigns across channels including paid social, email, web, OOH, and more.

• Set a high bar for creative work while balancing brand storytelling with measurable results.

Performance-Driven Creative

• Partner with growth and media teams to understand what’s working and where creative can improve performance.

• Help develop and iterate on testing approaches and creative concepts.

• Use insights to refine messaging, visuals, and formats over time.

Talent & Team Management

• Manage and mentor a distributed team of designers, copywriters, and freelancers.

• Assign the right talent to the right projects based on strengths and client needs.

• Provide clear feedback and direction to help the team grow and do their best work.

• Build a collaborative, accountable, and supportive team environment.

Client Leadership

• Build strong relationships with clients and act as a trusted creative partner.

• Present work clearly and confidently, guiding conversations and incorporating feedback.

• Help clients understand how creative ties to performance and business results.

• Support or lead new business efforts when needed.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with growth marketers, strategists, and account leads to align creative with broader goals.

• Help improve how we produce, test, and iterate on creative internally.

AI & Innovation

• Stay curious about new tools and technologies, including AI, and look for ways they can improve how we work.

• Explore opportunities to use these tools to increase speed, quality, and scale.

Who You Are

Experience

• 5+ years in a creative agency or similar environment, with experience managing creative teams.

• Experience working on performance marketing campaigns such as paid social or lifecycle.

Strategic & Analytical

• Comfortable looking at performance data and using it to inform creative decisions.

• Understands how testing and iteration improve results over time.

Creative Expertise

• Strong background in concepting, campaign development, and visual storytelling.

• Proficient in Figma and Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign).

Leadership & Communication

• Able to manage both clients and teams effectively.

• Clear, confident communicator with strong presentation skills.

Adaptability

• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, evolving environment.

• Willing to take on new challenges and help shape how the team works.

Curiosity for Innovation

• Interested in how new tools and technologies are changing creative work.

• Open to experimenting with new ways of working.

Why this role is different

This is not a traditional Art Director role.

In this role, you will be expected to think beyond execution, connect creative to performance, and play a meaningful role in shaping both the work and the team behind it.

If you’re excited about the intersection of creativity and performance, and want to help build something impactful, we’d love to hear from you.