Job Description

As Associate Creative Director, you are a senior creative leader responsible for elevating the conceptual and visual standard of creative work, as well as executing and producing all assets in a project, campaign or account. Our ideal candidate will be curious and inventive, with the ability to multi-task and collaborate with client and agency partners. You must be able to create (and review others in creating) audience-centric assets, inclusive of concepting, art direction, execution of design across all mediums, video, and social media content for all channels, and more. You will bring deep expertise in visual storytelling and producing exceptional, award-worthy art, that goes beyond the expected. Your work doesn't just meet expectations - it sets new benchmarks.

Qualified candidates will have recent experience leading creative work and managing client feedback for a Fortune 100. This role required a hands-on creative leader who can concept at a high level while executing and consistently pushing the work to a "wow" level across every touchpoint.

*Note: To be considered for this role you must submit work samples and/or a link to an online portfolio.

We are currently looking for candidates in the following states -- NC, FL, GA, ME, MI, NJ, NY, SC, TN, TX, VT

• North Carolina applicants--Please note, employees living within 50 miles of Pace HQ will be expected to comply with our hybrid policy (In office on Tuesdays/Wednesdays). Employees living between 50-100 miles of Pace HQ are required to come into the office once a month.

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING

• Elevate the creative production across campaigns to produce award-worthy work
• Ensure all creative work Is strategically sound, conceptually breakthrough, and flawlessly executed
• Present creative work internally and externally
• Manage the day-to-day production of creative work, pushing teams beyond "good"
• Manage and mentor Art Directors
• Give clear constructive feedback to the team that Improves both the work and the talent
• Elevate the creative bar across the team through example and guidance
• Lead ideation and brainstorming sessions
• Responsible for informing creative hour estimates and deadlines in collaboration with the project manager
• Work with the Creative Resourcing Manager to identify opportunities for the cross-pollination of talent from one program to another to ensure energized creative team members and better creative
• Adhere to the creative process
• Work with PM to prioritize work for the team
• Maintain good rapport and strong, trusted relationships with key client contacts (on designated work streams or projects)
• Serve as proxy for Creative Director in certain internal and client meetings
• Ensure the work adheres to brand guidelines for assigned client work
• Collaborate and share ideas and best practices with ACDs across the organization

WHAT WE’D LIKE TO SEE

Education:

Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design or a related field

Experience:

7-10 years of experience in an art-focused creative role in a fast-paced agency environment

Skills:

• Be excited about your work and know how to spread that enthusiasm
• Translate ideas into content for motion, video, and still creative assets
• Create audience-centric assets across all mediums

• Ability to model strong leadership skills

• Use clients’ design guidelines and existing visual framework to produce designs and, where appropriate, bring new ideas to the table that are visually cohesive with the rest of our clients’ visual language
• Maintain, suggest, and advocate for evolutions of design elements and existing style guides with a holistic consideration for our clients’ brands

• Must be able to articulate the solve for the "The Strategic Why" presented by the strategy team and how the creative uniquely addresses the strategic insight and helps meet business objectives
• Deep understanding of the emotional and tactical needs for target audiences, channels and platforms
• Able to give clear constructive feedback to the team

• Not only listen to, but also anticipate the needs, concerns, and input from teammates and clients alike
• Open to feedback but knows how and when to defend design choices

• Communicate effectively and collaborate with the Account/PM/Strategy/Creative teams
• Proficient in: InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, Figma, PowerPoint

WHAT WE OFFER

• The salary for this position will range from $63,000-85,000 ($85,050-114,70 in major metros) depending on experience, education, geographical location, and other factors.
• A full suite of benefits is available following one full month of employment including medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with profit sharing, and other ancillary benefits. We even have a Life Balanced Account where you can get reimbursed for things like groceries or a haircut (yes, really!)
• PTO: Vacation, Recharge, Safe & Sick Time, Flexible Holidays + 10 standard paid holidays and a paid Day of Service
• Free financial wellness and planning and a robust EAP
• Additional fun perks for local employees to NC, like free tickets to the NC Zoo, Greensboro Grasshoppers baseball games, Greensboro Gargoyles hockey games, food trucks, and more!

ABOUT PACE

Pace is a leading content marketing agency & digital storytelling powerhouse. We specialize in brand storytelling and deliver results by continually creating better customer and employee experiences for our clients. We connect the dots across an integrated marketing ecosystem using our six key service areas: strategy, creative, media, social, technology, and analytics.

We Create With Heart. We believe everyone is part of creating something wonderful every day. We lead with purpose and empathy. We cultivate a sense of belonging and celebrate diversity in both mind and experience. And we succeed through collaboration. At Pace, everyone has a seat at the table, and unique perspectives are welcomed. Everyone’s voice carries the same tenor, and inclusivity is in our DNA.

Pace is an equal employment opportunity employer is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants. Pace does not discriminate against employees or job applicants based on age, ancestry, color, religious creed, race, sex, genetics, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, national origin, marital status, disability status, military or veteran status or any other status or condition protected by applicable federal or state statutes.