Creative Manager (HYBRID)

Emery Sapp & Sons, Inc; Kansas City (MO); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tech tools

Flex time

Job summary

Emery Sapp & Sons (ESS) is seeking a Creative Manager to lead the visual expression of the ESS brand across recruitment, internal comms, client pursuits, events, digital experiences, and executive communications.

You will elevate the quality of creative output and mentor designers, photographers, and marketing teammates while collaborating with cross-functional leaders. This role combines strategic brand governance with hands-on creative execution.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in graphic design or related field.
• 6+ years of graphic design experience with leadership or mentorship.
• Familiarity with video production, motion graphics, and web design.
• Strong portfolio showing branding, design systems, and campaigns.

Responsibilities

• Lead brand governance across all touchpoints.
• Translate marketing objectives into creative strategies and campaigns.
• Coach and mentor designers and marketing teammates.
• Coordinate with external agencies and production partners.
• Provide art direction for shoots and campaigns.
• Develop a centralized brand toolkit and asset library.
• Apply AI-enabled tools to improve ideation and production while preserving quality.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including marketing, communications, and operations.

Skills

Brand governance

Creative direction

Adobe InDesign

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Video & motion

Education

Bachelor's degree in graphic design

Tools

Adobe Premiere Pro

Adobe After Effects

WordPress

Figma

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 are 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

Bonus skills/experience:

• 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:

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.

Hybrid Work Schedule:

Hybrid Work Schedule: Monday/Friday - Remote Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday - Office

Benefits:

• ESS offers a comprehensive and competitive package including access to top-notch tech tools and flex time.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

Emery Sapp & Sons (ESS) is all about owning what we do from start to finish. We’re a 100% employee‑owned multi‑faceted contractor who thrives on delivering complex heavy civil projects by developing innovative infrastructure solutions. Our growing team of employee‑owners are experts in grading, excavation, underground utilities, bridge construction, asphalt paving, concrete paving, and pavement preservation.