Group Head: Art

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

• 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

• Utilise AI algorithms for tasks such as generating design ideas, creating custom illustrations, and optimising visual assets

Proficiency

• 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

Excellence

• 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

   KPIsI. 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

Qualifications and Experience

• Tertiary degree or diploma in art direction and marketing and/or communications

• 8+ years of experience (preference will be given to candidates from agency environments)

• Strong conceptual ability demonstrated by an impressive portfolio of work

• Experience in omni-channel advertising is crucial

• Proven experience as a Creative Group Head or a similar leadership role in advertising or a related field

• Strong portfolio showcasing exceptional creative concepts and execution across various channels

• Ability to lead and inspire a team of creative professionals

• Deep understanding of design principles, typography, and color theory

• Excellent communication and presentation skills

• Strong attention to detail and organizational ability

• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines

• Passion for creativity and a commitment to delivering exceptional results

• Ability to balance working personally on projects, as well as overseeing campaign development within your teams

• Need to be able to work with Adobe Creative Suite software (Acrobat, InDesign, Photoshop, After Effects, etc.)

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 Suite (MS Word, MS PowerPoint, etc.)

• Team player with the ability to work independently, as well as collaborate with broader teams

• Resilient, with ability to remain calm in a highly pressurized, fast-paced environment

• Creative, out-of-the-box thinker with both a strategic and creative mind-set

• People-focused, approachable, dependable, emotionally intelligent, empathetic and compassionate

• Proactive and resilient, assertive, accountable and proactive

• Problem-solver, deadline and solution driven

• Meticulous with excellent attention to detail

• May be required to work on alcohol brands and/or alcohol-related material

Posted on 19 Jan 15:05, Closing date 17 Feb