Associate Creative Director at Publicis Groupe · Dubai

Company Description

Founded in London in 1970, Saatchi & Saatchi has evolved into a global creative powerhouse with 114 offices in 67 countries and over 6,500 employees. As part of Publicis Groupe, we excel in integrated communications, working with top global brands to create unforgettable campaigns.

Our mantra, ‘Nothing is Impossible’, drives us to drive positive change through creativity. We pride ourselves on our unshakeable spirit and dedication to nurturing talent, ensuring your journey with us is one of continuous growth. Located across the UAE and KSA, Saatchi & Saatchi services the whole MEA region and consistently collects prestigious awards, namely ‘#2 Network of The Year’ at Dubai Lynx 2024, reflecting our commitment to leaving a positive impact.

Our culture is what sets us apart. Join our fun traditions that drive creativity and bring everyone together while keeping spirits high. We love our office parties and the collaborative environment that helps us create outstanding work.

Overview

The Associate Creative Director (art) is involved in the development of creative concepts, working with all disciplines in the agency including copywriters and designers to build cohesive and effective campaigns.

Their focus is on the visual design and art direction of advertising campaigns. They ensure the visual design aligns with the overall creative direction and strategy of the campaign, and that it effectively communicates the desired message to the target audience.

As a close ally of the Creative Director, they are stepping into a managerial role to mentor team members, especially art directors and designers. In addition, they oversee the production of the visual elements of the campaign, ensuring they are executed to the highest standards.

The Associate Creative Director, Art is responsible for leading the creative work. This leadership role includes assigning teams, inspiring those teams to consistently produce exceptional concepts and final work, and working closely with account management to ensure that our clients are satisfied with the quality of our creative work.

• Works with the Creative Director to address performance, workflow, and quality issues and develop long-range plans for the team.

• Helps develop and review creative briefs that provide strategic insight(s) and creative inspiration

• Promote a culture of creative quality and accountability and ensure creative deliverables meet both our clients’ expectations and our own standards of excellence

Responsibilities

Innovative & Analytical Mindset

• Develops and reviews creative briefs that provide strategic insight(s) and creative inspiration

• Demonstrates to clients that an understanding of their marketing challenges and is responsive to their strategic needs in proposing creative solutions.

• Trains new employees on responsibilities and agency procedures, and works with current creative staff to help them achieve professional and personal goals.

• Works with the upper management team to plan and pursue continuing strategic growth of agency billings and participate in new business pitch opportunities.

• Develops and evaluates creative concepts, copy and art, at pre-determined points and providing direction prior to review by account management.

• Sets high creative standards that lead to a body of work that creates enthusiastic customers and clients, and is consistently recognized by agency management as on strategy and unique.

• Leads the creative efforts on new business assignments, as needed.

• Ensures that creative presentations to the client meet the highest professional standards.

• Manages the workload for assigned book of business to maximize the productivity and quality of work from the creative staff.

• Imparts outdoor industry expertise and experience to the team.

• Conceives and create experience design solutions that meet client objectives

• Effectively communicate creative concepts and strategies to both clients and our internal team.

• Designing comps, storyboards, initial graphic concepts, and final deliverables

• Brainstorms and developing campaigns while working with clients on multiple projects at once

• Assists the Creative Director to improve the Creative group’s technical and creative performance.

• Help ensure that deadlines and budgets are met.

• Ideates, writes and executes original and iconic creative concepts in response to client briefs, objectives or goals.

• Extends client relationships and explore new ways to deliver value.

• Presents, shares and reviews creative work with Executive Creative Director/s, Account Management and Planning Leads as well as members of the Management Team

• Manages multiple projects from concept through to completion, working with both in-house resources and third-party vendors

• Collaborates effectively with Account Management, Planning and the broader creative team to develop disruptive and iconic work

• Provides leadership and professional development to department staff

• Mentors and trains team members, write performance reviews, and allocate work

• Set goals and KPIs for each team member, and works with them to achieve these.

People & Leadership

• Seeks others' feedback to develop self-awareness, strengths and address development area.
• Is able to proactively raise issues to improve effective team working and collaboration.
• Is able to communicate confidently in a clear, concise and articulate manner.
• Collaborates with stakeholders and embraces an inclusive based environment.
• Is able to make valuable contributions to discussions and brainstorming sessions, providing insight and point of view.
• Able to build relationships quickly with others and engages personally with peers and clients.
• Treats others with respect, listens to other perspectives, especially when they are different from own.
• Able to tackle problems in a timely manner and develop contingency plans that focus on problem resolution.
• Drives a culture of trust with Peers, clients and all other stakeholders.

Self

• Is able to take ownership for actions and deals with consequences in a mature manner.
• Able to adjust performance based on experiences and feedback and showcases agility and flexibility.
• Displays openness to the ideas of others and leverages them when beneficial for the business.
• Showcases curiosity and open mindset towards new ways of doing things.
• Is able to set high impact objectives and goes above and beyond to exceed performance.
• Demonstrates the Growth Mindset and is able to take ownership of personal development and growth.
• Capable of constructively challenging the status-quo and takes risks to challenge internal and external perspectives.
• Approaches situations and individuals with honesty, integrity and humbleness.
• Displays resilience and maintains drives and a positive outlook when faced with challenges.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of agency experience with primarily an Art background

• A proven track record of conceptual creative ability and judgment

• Successful client contact experience and ability to grow business organically

• The ability to work collaboratively with account management

• Excellent presentation skills

• Successful experience in managing creatives

• The availability and commitment to work extra hours as needed to ensure client satisfaction

• Demonstrated experience in events (client/brand)

• Understanding of consumer behaviours and industry trends

Additional Information

R-4433P-5018