Creative Manager

Emery Sapp & Sons, Inc.; Kansas City (MO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Emery Sapp & Sons, Inc. in Kansas City, MO is seeking a Creative Manager to lead the visual expression of our ESS brand across recruitment, client pursuits, events, digital experiences, and executive communications.

This role blends brand governance with day-to-day creative execution, guiding designers, photographers, videographers, and marketing teammates while collaborating with cross-functional partners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in graphic design, visual communications, or related discipline.
• 6+ years of graphic design experience.
• Management or mentorship experience.
• Familiarity with video production, motion graphics, and web design.
• Understanding of marketing funnels, digital platforms, and content strategy.
• Strong creative portfolio in branding, design systems, and campaigns.

Responsibilities

• Manage and maintain brand standards across internal and external mediums.
• Ensure all assets align with strategic goals and vision.
• Translate marketing objectives into creative strategies and campaigns; lead concept development.
• Develop and maintain a centralized brand toolkit and asset library.
• Design assets for social media, email campaigns, direct mail, events, and digital experiences.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with marketing, communications, media/production, and leadership.
• Coach and mentor designers and marketing teammates.
• Coordinate with external agencies and vendors as needed.
• Provide art direction on shoots and events.
• Utilize AI-enabled tools to improve ideation and production while preserving brand quality.
• Stay current with design trends and best practices.

Skills

Graphic design

Branding

Design systems

Video production

Motion graphics

Web design

Adobe Creative Suite

WordPress

Project management

Mentorship

Spanish content QC

Education

Bachelor's degree in graphic design

Tools

Adobe InDesign

Illustrator

Photoshop

Premier Pro

After Effects

Job description

Emery Sapp & Sons (ESS) is all about owning what you do. We're a 100% employee-owned multi-faceted contractor who thrives on delivering complex, heavy civil projects by developing innovative infrastructure solutions.

We're currently searching for a Creative Manager to join our marketing team. This role bridges high-level brand governance with day-to-day creative execution, requiring a keen eye for design, application of digital and traditional media, a collaborative mentality, and the ability to manage multiple stakeholders across a diverse business ecosystem. This role is responsible for leading the visual expression of the ESS brand across every touchpoint — from recruitment marketing and internal communications to client pursuits, major campaigns, events, digital experiences, and executive communications. You’ll elevate the quality of our creative work while helping our designers, photographers/videographers, and marketing teammates produce their best work.

What you'll be doing:

• Manage and maintain company brand standards and brand systems, ensuring graphic elements are consistently applied across all internal and external mediums
• Ensure all creative assets align with the company's strategic goals and vision
• Translate marketing objectives into creative strategies and campaigns; lead creative concept development from ideation through execution
• Develop and maintain a centralized brand toolkit and asset library for internal and external use
• Design a wide range of creative assets and offer creative insights on a variety of internal and external initiatives and campaigns – including social media, email campaigns, direct mail, branded merchandise, event materials, motion graphics, and more
• Work cross-functionally with marketing, communications, media/production, and operational leadership
• Coach and mentor graphic designers and other marketing teammates
• Work with individuals across a variety of teams to develop creative solutions for our company, partners, and clients
• Coordinate with external agencies, freelancers, or production partners as needed
• Provide art direction on photoshoots, construction jobsites, and other shoots
• Explore and reasonably leverage AI-enable creative tools to improve ideation, production, and efficiency while maintaining brand quality
• Provide best practices and encourage creativity with all marketing team members, staying abreast of and applying design trends
• Attend company events and represent the firm at industry events as needed

You're a good fit if:

• You hold a Bachelor's degree in graphic design, fine arts, visual communications, or a related discipline
• You have 6+ years of graphic design experience
• You have management and/or mentorship experience
• You have familiarity with video production, motion graphics, and web design
• You understand marketing funnels, digital platforms, and content strategy
• You have a strong creative portfolio showcasing expertise in branding, design systems, and campaign-worthy work across various media
• You approach design with passion and discipline
• You're a little obsessed with processes, proofing, and error-checking
• You thrive in both an independent and collaborative environment
• You are passionate about transforming ideas into clear, cohesive, and impactful campaigns
• You don't sweat it if you need to juggle concurrent projects with tight deadlines
• You are an absolute rockstar in Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop
• You have routinely worked with third-party vendors and have experience preparing creative files for web and large-format printing
• You're an active member of the design, marketing, and communications community
• You play well with others and generally have a positive attitude
• You take initiative and drive projects
• Know a little about the A/E/C industry already? Bonus!
• Know about civil construction, too? Double bonus!
• You can navigate Adobe PremierPro, Adobe After Effects, and WordPress
• You dabble in video editing and motion graphics and/or have experience collaborating with video editors to create impactful motion graphics
• ¿Hablas español? We routinely translate our copy into Spanish. If you can write or QC Spanish content, that would be outstanding!

Location:

This team member will work out of the Kansas City, MO office located in the River Market district. Other office locations would be considered. Some regional travel may be required, including a few overnight stays here and there. ESS offers a comprehensive and competitive package including access to top-notch tech tools and flex time.