Associate Creative Director, Art (Experiential)

Who we are looking for:

VML Live is seeking an experienced Associate Creative Director (Art) to join our creative team. Someone who is a strong leader and collaborator with experiential expertise. An Associate Creative Director for VML Live is responsible for concepting and executing compelling brand experiences and live events across a variety of client projects touching almost every industry.

In this role, you must work closely with Creative leadership while leading a mix of full-time and freelance, mid-level and junior-level creatives. This position is open to a candidate with an art director background but with the expectation that this person can provide guidance and direction across art and copy.

What you'll do:

• Concept and collaborate on brand activations, live events and immersive setups that can be executed in markets across the globe
• Oversee the translation of the client's vision into a roadmap that guides our agency — not only to achieve client goals but also to generate work that is creatively brilliant, measurable and impactful
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across the agency and network to ensure timely deliverables
• Anticipate team and client needs, project risks and participate in driving resolution
• Inspire clients and co-workers through strong work, a collaborative spirit and excellent communication

Who you are:

• A Builder | Process-oriented innovator with an ability and appetite to create and bring people together. Innate ability to marshal people (team and client) and create gravity around ideas.
• Open and collaborative | Our team is close-knit and supportive and we’re working with a lot of unknowns – you must be a champion of team environments that are comfortable and encouraging, especially working cross-discipline.
• Optimistic and resilient | Dig in and figure out how to work around problems. Provide a balance needed to maintain stamina and positivity.
• Ego-less | We all wear the hats that need wearing, it’s a mentality that makes the team successful.

What you’ll need:

• A minimum of 5 years of agency experience, preferably at an experiential agency or from within an experiential division
• A portfolio of work that heavily features experiential and live event projects
• Demonstrates strong, strategic concepting
• Proven track record of delivering a creative project from beginning to end
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines in a fast-paced creative environment
• A well-rounded understanding of the roles & responsibilities needed to a get a job done
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate with all levels of employees
• Ability to effectively and appropriately interact with co-workers, clients, partners and vendors at a variety of levels, across many disciplines
• Comfortable working with production partners and fabrication vendors to execute the vision
• An eye for design and an ability to translate aesthetic ideas into powerful storytelling
• At least one hard design skill – graphic design, 3D design, retail design, etc. – required
• Reliable, highly organized with strong attention to detail
• Exceptional initiative and follow-through skills
• Willingness to travel for work

What we offer:

• Passionate, driven people | We champion a culture of people that do extraordinary work.
• Consciously cultivated culture | We aim to embody the behaviors to build an inclusive community that is in it together, bringing both positivity and active listening into the workplace as we simultaneously strive to empower creative bravery.
• Competitive benefits | What we offer full time hires ranges from the full spectrum of group health coverage options (medical, dental, vision) to a generous 401k match (100% dollar-for-dollar match, up to 5% of salary contribution), and a variety of paid time off offerings that reflect our investment in all aspects of your overall life balance and wellness.
• Growth-minded opportunities | We aim to nurture a culture of real-time feedback, growth-oriented mindset and plenty of training opportunities through VML and WPP, so you can continue to grow personally and professionally.