Associate Creative Director - Advantage Solutions

Associate Creative Director

At our Company, we grow People, Brands, and Businesses! We are seeking a highly talented Associate Creative Director to perform all tasks related to graphic design in support of Marketing Services efforts.  Assists the Creative Director and other members of the creative team partnering with account leaders in strategic thinking efforts to define project assignments and develop and execute creative solutions.

Bring your skills and build your career with Marketing Services, the marketing division of the Company, where our focus is on influencing buyer behavior and driving sales through shopper marketing, experiential marketing, in-store event services and more.  We form close relationships with leading brands and retailers that matter most. Apply today!

What we offer:

• Full-Time Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, Life)
• 401(k) with company match
• Training and Career Development
• Generous Paid Time-Off

Responsibilities:

• Establish, manage, and maintain the creative direction and goals for specific projects ensuring they fit the Client/Retailer, brand, and business objectives.
• Manage projects from beginning through completion ensuring all deliverables are met.
• Develop and execute creative solutions of the highest standard.
• Mentor Jr. team members to assure achievable workload balance, effective challenges for each member’s skill level, and career development.
• Provide guidance to the Creative team relative to the team’s knowledge and understanding of the Client’s business and marketing needs and situations.
• Manage fiscal job budgets and utilization of all team members to prepare reports as needed.

Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or GED required; Bachelor's Degree in Advertising, Graphic Design, Communications, Journalism or equivalent job-related experience is preferred
• 5+ years of experience in the industry
• 5+ years of experience in consumer products, media, or agency
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; Ability to visualize and plan objectives and goals strategically with the ability to make oral presentations
• Skill in supervising to include delegating responsibility, training and evaluating the performance
• Ability to effectively utilize MAC computers and current fluency in relevant computer programs such as: Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, QuarkXPress, Acrobat, and MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Entourage)

Job Will Remain Open Until Filled

The Company is one of North America’s leading sales and marketing agencies specializing in outsourced sales, merchandising, category management and marketing services to manufacturers, suppliers and producers of food products and consumer packaged goods. The Company services a variety of trade channels including grocery, mass merchandise, specialty, convenience, drug, dollar, club, hardware, consumer electronics and home centers. We bridge the gap between manufacturers and retailers, providing consumers access to the best products available in the marketplace today.

Position Summary                                                  

The Associate Creative Director performs all tasks related to graphic design in support of Marketing Services efforts.  Assists the Creative Director and other members of the creative team partnering with account leaders in strategic thinking efforts to define project assignments and develop and execute creative solutions.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

Project Management

• Establish, manage, and maintain the creative direction and goals for specific projects ensuring they fit the Client/Retailer, brand, and business objectives
• Manage projects from beginning through completion ensuring all deliverables are met

 Design and Layout

• Develop and execute creative solutions of the highest standard
• Design for traditional and digital marketing including but not limited to emails, display, web site and more

 Team Leadership

• Mentor Jr. team members to assure achievable workload balance, effective challenges for each member’s skill level, and career development
• Provide guidance to the Creative team relative to the team’s knowledge and understanding of the Client’s business and marketing needs and situations

 Reporting

• Manage fiscal job budgets and utilization of all team members to prepare  reports as needed

Supervisory Responsibilities

Direct Reports

Hires, retains, trains, coaches, guides, directs, and develops direct reports using company-wide processes, tools and resources

Indirect Reports

May delegate work of others and provide guidance, direction and mentoring to indirect reports

Travel and/or Driving Requirements

Travel is an essential duty and function of this job. Driving is not an essential duty or function of this job. 

Travel up to 10%

Minimum Qualifications

Education Level: (Required)  Associate's Degree or equivalent experience

                         (Preferred)  Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience               

Field of Study/Area of Experience:  Advertising, Graphic Design, Communications, Journalism

5+ years of experience in industry or

5+ years of experience in consumer products, media, or agency

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

- Team building Skills
- Ability to understand and follow specific instructions and procedures
- Well-organized, detail-oriented, and able to handle a fast-paced work environment
- Ability to complete multiple duties with accuracy shifting from one to another with frequent interruptions and competing deadline
- Excellent written communication and verbal communication skills
- Ability to visualize and plan objectives and goals strategically
- Skill in supervising to include delegating responsibility, training and evaluating performance
- Ability to make oral presentations
- Ability to efficiently utilize MAC computers and current fluency in relevant computer programs such as: Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, QuarkXPress, Acrobat, and MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Entourage)
- Preferred: Skills in marketing or digital platforms: building/designing websites, email marketing/communications, database management; while programming is not required, a working knowledge of the process is highly preferred
- Preferred: Strong design and typographic skills
- Preferred: Knowledge of marketing or digital video editing and motion graphic

Environmental & Physical Requirements

Office / Sedentary Requirements

Incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of the job.  Work is performed primarily in an office environment. Typically requires the ability to sit for extended periods of time (66%+ each day), ability to hear the telephone, ability to enter data on a computer and may also require the ability to lift up to 10 pounds.

Additional Information Regarding The Company Job Duties and Job Descriptions

Job duties include additional responsibilities as assigned by one’s supervisor or other manager related to the position/department. This job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position. The Company reserves the right at any time with or without notice to alter or change job responsibilities, reassign or transfer job position or assign additional job responsibilities, subject to applicable law.  The Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable a qualified applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by the law.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of associates so classified.

The Company is committed to providing equal opportunity in all employment practices without regard to age, race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, physical or mental disability, or any other category protected by law. As part of this commitment, the Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable an applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by the law.