Group Head: Digital

99 Cents; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

99 Cents is seeking a Senior Art Director to lead a team of talented art directors in Cape Town. You will shape visual concepts across channels, drive innovative campaigns, and ensure brand consistency.

You will mentor, collaborate with copywriters, and integrate AI-powered tools to streamline workflows and elevate creative output. You will manage day-to-day operations, oversee shoots, and present concepts to clients, aiming for first-time approvals while delivering high-quality results for

Qualifications

• Experience leading a team of art directors in a creative agency.
• Strong understanding of retail marketing and brand identity.
• Proven ability to translate client briefs into visual concepts.

Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire a team of art directors across channels.
• Develop innovative creative concepts aligned with client objectives.
• Mentor junior team members and participate in new business pitches.
• Oversee production from concept to final sign-off.
• Integrate AI-powered design tools to improve workflows.
• Present concepts to clients and manage feedback.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Creative direction

Client presentation

AI tools proficiency

Tools

AI design tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Brand guidelines

Job description

You will be responsible for leading and inspiring a team of talented art directors to create exceptional visual concepts across all channels.

You will play a pivotal role in developing innovative and impactful campaigns that resonate with our target audiences, driving brand awareness and engagement.

Responsibilities

Leadership

• Oversee and mentor a team of art directors, providing guidance, support, and inspiration to foster their creative growth
• Drive the development of innovative and compelling creative concepts that align with client objectives and brand identity
• Ensure the highest standards of quality and execution in all creative deliverables
• Lead and inspire Art Direction best practice
• Ensure consistency and integration of art direction across all communication channels
• Responsible for seeing the idea through the creative process to final sign off
• Mentor junior and mid art directors
• Participate in new business initiatives, from identifying opportunities to pitch development
• Hands-on creative development from concept to implementation
• Provide quality assurance of all creative deliverables

Thinking

• Collaborate with copywriters and other team members to develop the overarching creative strategy and big ideas for campaigns
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of consumer insights and market trends to create relevant and engaging content
• Think critically and creatively to solve complex challenges and generate unique solutions
• Interact with other agency teams/divisions to develop creative concepts
• Work to brief and show understanding and relevance to the target market

Integration

• Research and implement AI-powered design tools and techniques to streamline workflows and enhance creative output
• Utilize AI algorithms for tasks such as generating design ideas, creating custom illustrations, and optimizing visual assets
• Stay up to date on the latest design software, hardware, and industry trends
• Leverage technical skills to create visually impactful and technically sound designs
• Create social, digital, print, TV, OOH and editorial layouts and oversee shoots
• Manage the day-to-day operations of the art direction team, including workflow, deadlines, and – along with Traffic – optimal resource allocation to enable quality delivery
• Ensure efficient and effective execution of creative projects, from concept to completion
• Collaborate with production teams to ensure seamless transition of creative concepts into production
• Oversee creative consultations with strategy and account teams to assure appropriate creative strategies, adequacy/accuracy of input, production support, necessary reviews, and client presentations

Client Management

• Present creative concepts to clients and effectively communicate the creative rationale and solution, ensuring all concepts are well thought out, strategic, highly creative, and effectively answer the brief requirements
• Build strong relationships with clients and foster trust and collaboration
• Address client feedback objectively and openly, and make necessary adjustments to creative deliverables

Retail Focus

• Demonstrate a deep understanding of retail marketing and consumer behaviour
• Develop creative concepts that are tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities of the retail environment

KPIs

I. Leadership and Team Development

• Conduct performance reviews and individual development plans for team members, focusing on creative growth and skill enhancement.
• Achieve consistent team satisfaction scores, measuring the effectiveness of mentorship and guidance provided to junior and mid-level art directors.

II. and Consistency in Creative Output

• Maintain consistently high levels of adherence to brand standards and quality expectations across all creative deliverables.
• Ensure that 100% of projects meet consistency and integration standards across channels

III. in Project Delivery and Resource Management

• Complete creative projects on time and within the allocated resources by effectively managing workflow and collaborating with the Traffic team.

IV. Satisfaction and Communication

• Present creative concepts to clients with a goal to first time approval on initial presentations.
• Satisfactorily address and implement client feedback, ensuring responsiveness to client needs and alignment with project briefs.

V. through AI and Technical Proficiency

• Integrate AI-powered design tools wherever possible, streamlining workflows and enhancing creative output.
• Ensure team proficiency with the latest design software