Art Director at Publicis Groupe in Accra, Greater Accra Region, Ghana

Company Description

Publicis West Africa (PWA) serves as a regional hub office for its client operations in the Central & West Africa region, encompassing around 22 markets. Among these, approximately 10 markets are actively engaged and act as sub-regional hubs for neighboring markets. Campaign work is predominantly crafted in English, French, and Portuguese, with various local dialects also prevalent in the markets we operate in. Collaborations with partner agencies in Francophone markets, Angola, and Nigeria, are essential to ensure impactful local delivery. Notably, communication within the Publicis network agencies is conducted in English, both in spoken conversations and via email.

Overview

The Art Director is responsible for delivering visually compelling, insight-driven creative ideas and design execution of a consistently high standard that meet client briefs and uphold both local and international creative standards. Working in close partnership with Copywriters, Creative Directors, strategy, client service, production, and external partners, the role conceptualises and crafts ideas across all channels—ATL, BTL, digital, social, and activation—while protecting brand identity, meeting deadlines, and proactively contributing to the agency's creative excellence and collaborative culture.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities (including but not limited to):

• Conceive, develop, and execute consistently high-quality, insight-driven visual ideas that respond accurately to client briefs, brand objectives, and agency creative standards.
• Generate strong creative concepts by interpreting briefs and partnering closely with Copywriters on integrated, through-the-line campaigns across television, print, outdoor, radio, ambient, activation, digital, and social.
• Art-direct photo and video shoots, illustration, design, and animation, providing clear creative direction to photographers, directors, illustrators, designers, and post-production partners.
• Present well-conceived layouts, storyboards, mood boards, and design concepts in a clear, professional manner to internal stakeholders and clients.
• Prepare clear, well-researched production briefs for suppliers and the Prodigious / Content Studio team, demonstrating thoughtful and meticulous follow-through on supplier output.
• Ensure global-standard executions, designing and finishing artwork across all channels to high local and international standards.
• Protect and uphold each brand's visual identity, tone, and personality in line with approved brand guidelines.
• Adapt and trans-create campaign visuals to suit different markets, including English and Francophone executions.
• Collaborate effectively with strategy, client service, traffic, production, and external partners, contributing as a strong team player and creative lead where required.
• Lead and actively participate in brainstorming sessions and creative development discussions.
• Manage workload efficiently, working under pressure and meeting deadlines without compromising creative quality.
• Proactively anticipate challenges and identify solutions throughout the creative and production process.
• Champion craft, typography, composition, colour, and brand consistency across every deliverable.
• Stay current on design, advertising, technology, and cultural trends, and bring fresh thinking into the agency.
• Ensure all creative work receives Creative Director approval prior to client presentation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic design, Visual Communication, Advertising, or a related field
• 5–7 years’ experience in an advertising agency or creative environment
• Proven experience developing and executing integrated, through-the-line campaigns
• Strong portfolio demonstrating conceptual thinking and high-quality design execution
• Experience collaborating with copywriters, creative directors, and production teams
• Ability to art-direct shoots and manage production processes
• Excellent communication and presentation skills

Additional Information

Behavioural Competencies

• Leadership: Ability to lead, motivate, and inspire creative teams and partners.
• Communication: Strong interpersonal, presentation, and visual communication skills.
• Strategic & Conceptual Thinking: Ability to interpret briefs, analyse insights, and translate strategic thinking into compelling visual ideas and design solutions.
• Problem-Solving: Proactive in identifying creative, production, or delivery challenges and developing practical, creative solutions under pressure.
• Organization & Workflow Management: Strong organizational skills to manage multiple briefs, priorities, and revisions efficiently in a fast-paced agency environment.
• Attention to Detail & Craft: High level of attention to detail in design, typography, finishing, and execution, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and high creative quality.
• Time Management & Deadline Discipline: Ability to manage time effectively, prioritize tasks, and deliver high-quality work within tight deadlines.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Ability to work collaboratively with multiple stakeholders, including Copywriters, Creative Directors, strategy, client service, and external production partners.

Personality Attributes

• Adaptable: Thrives in a fast-paced agency environment, responding positively to changing briefs, feedback, and priorities.
• Resilient: Maintains creative quality and composure under pressure, tight deadlines, and multiple rounds of feedback.
• Collaborative: Works effectively with Copywriters, Creative Directors, strategy, client service, and production partners.
• Creatively Curious & Innovative: Brings originality, curiosity, and fresh thinking to idea generation, design craft, and problem-solving.
• Detail-Oriented: Demonstrates strong attention to detail in design, brand consistency, and final execution.
• Organized: Manages multiple briefs, revisions, and deliverables efficiently without compromising creative standards.

Key Performance Indicators

• Creative Quality & Ideas: Consistently delivers insight-driven, high-quality visual ideas and concepts that meet briefs, uphold brand standards, and achieve strong internal approval with minimal rework.
• Execution & Delivery Discipline: Delivers artwork and design on time, within scope, and production-ready, managing multiple briefs efficiently without compromising creative quality.
• Collaboration & Stakeholder Effectiveness: Works seamlessly with Copywriters, Creative Directors, strategy, client service, traffic, and production partners; contributes meaningfully to brainstorms and team outcomes.
• Brand Stewardship & Attention to Detail: Protects brand visual identity and guidelines across all outputs, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and zero-defect final delivery.
• Proactivity, Presentation & Growth: Proactively identifies challenges and solutions, presents and sells ideas confidently, and demonstrates creative curiosity, adaptability, and continuous skill development.