Senior Conceptual Art Director

Publicis Groupe; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 500,000 - 700,000; Full time

Job summary

Publicis Groupe in Johannesburg is looking for a Senior Art Director to create innovative and impactful designs across multiple platforms. This role requires deep familiarity with South African culture and the ability to produce leading-edge creative that fulfills client expectations.

Ideal candidates will have a strong background in art direction, as well as expertise with various design tools. Responsibilities include managing projects, collaborating with different teams, and participating in pitches. This position promotes an inclusive workplace and values diversity.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5-6 years experience as a Senior Art Director.
• Excellent conceptual and design skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Manage creative process on projects.
• Work with other disciplines like developers and strategists.
• Lead the craft and design of your idea.

Skills

Conceptual thinking

Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite

Strong communication skills

Multi-tasking

Time management

Education

Tertiary qualification in Art Direction / Graphic Design

Tools

Illustrator

Photoshop

InDesign

After Effects

Figma

Google Web Designer

DV360

Job description

Overview

As a senior creative you will work with our passionate, multi-talented studio delivering on exceptional, integrated concepts and designs to exceed client briefs and expectations.

As a Senior Art Director, you can expect to be craft‑led and platform neutral conceptual thinker, in particular having an understanding of all major social platforms. You should have a desire to transform companies by creating beautiful, intuitive, and human‑centred products and experiences.

You will be tuned into all aspects of South African popular culture and the platforms and media it plays in, as well as have a strong point of view on what it takes to win in this space.

Responsibilities

Duties include, but not limited to:

• Be a conceptual thinker
• Be up to date with platforms
• Manage your creative process on projects
• Work with other disciplines (Strategists, Developers, Media, Accounts, etc.)
• Be a champion for creative innovation on every project you touch
• Participate in pitches for new business
• Define or apply the aesthetic of overall campaigns
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Generate ideas and sell them into clients or other members of the team
• Mock up creative ideas
• Design across multiple channels
• Consistently produce creative elements against a deliverables list
• Participate in brainstorms & conceptualisation
• Lead the craft & design of your idea
• Compile presentations for clients and learn to present
• Attend client briefings & be prepared to present to clients

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in Art Direction / Graphic Design
• Must have a minimum of 5-6 years’ experience.
• Conceptual and design skills
• Proficient in MS Office (i.e. Word / PowerPoint etc.)
• Knowledge of and experience in Adobe Creative Suite applications
• Good communication & presentation skills
• Good multi‑tasking skills (ability to work on more than one brief at any given time)
• Great time management
• Ability to work under pressure & meet tight deadlines
• Adopt problem solving skills
• Strong communication skills with ability to provide rationales for creative choices made
• Adequate presentation skills
• Working knowledge of existing and emerging technologies & platforms
• A strong understanding of best practice interaction and visual design principles
• Able to work with team members

Working knowledge of these tools:

• Illustrator
• Photoshop
• InDesign
• After Effects
• KeyNote / PowerPoint
• Figma
• Google Web Designer & DV360
• Facebook Creative Hub

Business KPIs

• Demonstrate innovative ideas to the team to improve how we communicate our proposition
• Must be able to work on one sizable and two small size projects at any one time with oversight
• Have the ability to attend every review on a project with 3 new ideas

The Person

• Team player with the ability to work independently
• Ability to work well in a highly pressurised, fast‑paced environment
• Curious, imaginative creative mind with a passion for everything advertising related
• Meticulous with attention to detail
• Proactive – a “can do” attitude and willing to go the extra mile
• Accountable
• Solution and deadline driven
• Flexible to work beyond normal office hours (overtime – if and when required)
• Able to work on alcohol brands (if and when required)

Additional Information

Publics Groupe is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and prohibits any forms of Discrimination or Harassment. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all our employees in line with our Employment Equity Plan. All appointments will be based on qualifications, experience and best fit but preference will be given to all affirmative-action candidates or designated groups.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Should you not hear from us within 2 weeks after submitting your application, please consider your application as unsuccessful.