VP, Creative

Dept; New York (NY); On-site; USD 150,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

DEPT seeks a VP, Creative to lead the creative output, execution, and strategy for one of our largest global accounts. This role ensures bold, human, and tech-enabled work aligned with business goals across campaigns and digital products.

As a hands-on leader, you will manage a distributed creative team, mentor talent, and establish scalable workflows to deliver world-class work for clients at a global scale.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of creative leadership experience delivering for large enterprise accounts.
• Proven ability to mentor distributed teams across geographies.
• Strong partnership with Strategy, Media, Tech, Data and Production teams to deliver integrated work.

Responsibilities

• Lead the creative output and strategy for a major global account.
• Build and mentor a distributed creative team across geographies.
• Collaborate with Strategy, Technology, Data and Production to deliver integrated solutions.
• Set and pursue account growth and industry recognition goals.

Skills

Creative leadership

Team leadership

Digital ecosystems

Global account management

Job description

WHY DEPT®?

We are a Growth Invention company built to help the world's most ambitious brands grow faster. Operating at the intersection of technology and marketing, we create what is next by pioneering ideas, acting fast, and moving further because standing still just is not in our DNA.

We are drawn to people who stay curious, move with intent, and never stop inventing. Our culture runs on three values: better together, relentlessly curious, and get sh*t done. It is how we work, how we grow, and how we make things that matter.

At DEPT®, you will find the freedom to explore, the space to collaborate, and the trust to make a real impact for our clients, for each other, and for the world we are helping to build.

THE ROLE

The VP, Creative, is responsible for leading the creative output, execution, and strategy for one of DEPT®'s largest global accounts and a world leader in AI. In this role, you will ensure that creativity is bold, effective, human, and deeply integrated with technology, media, and data, specifically tailored to our client's business goals. You will act as the day‑to‑day creative anchor for this account, ensuring exceptional craft and driving real business impact.

As a key creative leader, you will partner closely with the Account, Strategy, and Technical leads to elevate the account's creative offering, manage a dedicated team, and foster a highly collaborative environment. This role is for a hands‑on leader and builder: someone excited to manage a distributed creative team, mentor emerging talent, and establish seamless ways of working to ensure world‑class work happens consistently on a global scale.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Creative Vision & Account Positioning

• Execute Vision: Translate and champion DEPT®'s future-forward creative vision within the context of the global account's brand guidelines and business objectives.
• End-to-End Delivery: Deliver a high-impact creative offering across the account that spans the full brand experience, from digital product design to integrated, campaign-led storytelling.
• Innovation: Inject emerging platforms, technologies, and cultural shifts into the client's creative roadmap to keep their brand progressive and competitive.
• Industry Recognition: Set ambitious goals for account-specific creative awards and recognition, managing the execution of case studies and submissions.

Client Partnership & Trust

• Trusted Advisor: Act as a senior creative partner and trusted day‑to‑day advisor to the client's marketing and creative leadership teams.
• Problem Solver: Deeply understand the client's business challenges and translate them into measurable, high‑performing creative solutions.
• Value Growth: Elevate the role of creativity in the account relationship, demonstrating how bold ideas drive client retention, expansion, and business growth.

Creative Leadership & Culture

• Team Management: Lead, inspire, and mentor a multidisciplinary creative team dedicated to the account, including Creative Directors, Designers, Copywriters, and emerging talent.
• Foster Culture: Nurture a culture that reflects DEPT®'s values: collaborative, inclusive, entrepreneurial, and people‑first.
• Craft & Accountability: Maintain high standards of craft, execution, and accountability while encouraging the team to experiment and continuously learn.
• Performance: Provide regular feedback, clear expectations, and structured talent development for the creative team members on the account.

Account Growth & Thought Leadership

• Organic Growth: Partner with account and regional leadership to identify and pitch organic growth opportunities within the global client's business.
• Pitch Leadership: Lead the creative vision and execution for subsequent workstreams, extensions, and renewals related to the account.
• External Presence: Contribute to DEPT®'s thought leadership and industry presence by showcasing the innovative work built for this global account.

Creative Excellence & Quality

• Quality Control: Oversee the day‑to‑day creative output across all channels for the account, ensuring it meets the highest standards of craft and innovation.
• Pragmatic Ambition: Balance creative ambition with practical execution, delivering work that is scalable, on time, and grounded in real‑world performance.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Integrated Solutions: Work seamlessly with the account's dedicated Strategy, Media, Technology, Data, and Production teams to deliver fully integrated solutions.
• Break Down Silos: Champion DEPT®'s collaborative model, ensuring shared ownership of project outcomes across different disciplines.

WHAT YOU BRING

• 10+ years of creative leadership experience within a global agency or digital-first organization (with a focus on managing large-scale enterprise accounts).
• Team Leadership: Proven ability to manage and mentor distributed, multidisciplinary creative teams.
• Digital Expertise: Deep understanding of digital ecosystems, modern media platforms, and technology-enabled cre