Creative Director
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Nov 12, 2026. First seen by Alion on Nov 12, 2026. Monks scores B on the Alion truth index.
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The Role
We are looking for an exceptional art-based Creative Director to join our Shanghai office at .monks. Based in Shanghai, this role will spearhead visual innovation, lead high-stakes pitches, and deliver industry-defining 360 campaigns that connect iconic global brands with Chinese and APAC youth audiences.
The successful candidate will report to the Executive Creative Director, and work within the Creative team, guiding multidisciplinary talent and collaborating closely with creative leaders across the regional .monks network. This is a full-time, permanent position.
What You'll Do
- Set the visual benchmark and creative vision across all accounts, mentoring art directors and designers while fostering creative ambition and technical craftsmanship.
- Own the creative direction and visual execution of complex projects from initial pitch through to final production across digital, social, and physical touchpoints.
- Partner seamlessly with copywriters, technologists, data specialists, and producers across the global .monks network to integrate cutting-edge craft with innovative technology.
- Translate client objectives into inspiring, visually stunning presentation decks and creative frameworks that challenge industry standards and elevate brand ambition.
- Oversee art direction across multiple concurrent briefs, balancing rapid turnarounds with exceptional aesthetic and conceptual standards.
- Present and champion groundbreaking creative concepts directly to senior client executives, clearly articulating the visual strategy and commercial impact.
What You'll Bring
- 12+ years of creative agency experience, with 3-4+ years in a senior creative leadership role (CD/ACD) directing copy-driven teams and campaigns.
- Substantial background leading creative campaigns within the Luxury, Lifestyle and FMCG sectors, with a nuanced grasp of youth culture and subcultures across APAC.
- Full professional proficiency in both English and Chinese (Mandarin), with the ability to articulate and present creative concepts seamlessly in both languages.
- Exceptional ability to craft compelling, beautifully designed pitch decks and independently lead high-pressure client presentations.
- Demonstrated strength in inspiring creative teams, establishing clear artistic direction, and fostering accountability across project lifecycles.
- Proven track record of directing complex creative work remotely across distributed global teams and varied time zones.
About Monks
Monks is the global, digital-first, data-driven, unitary operating brand of S4Capital plc, where our culture centers on how we show up for the work and for one another. That begins with the commitment to strive for mastery-taking deep pride in our craft and creating work that sets the bar. In everyday execution, we drive momentum by choosing bold action rather than waiting for certainty. Above all, our teams are stronger together, bringing diverse perspectives into a unified team that communicates with clarity, trust, and mutual respect.
This commitment to craft and innovation translates directly into widespread industry acclaim: Monks was named a Contender in The Forrester Wave™: Global Marketing Services and a leader in the 2026 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Global Digital Marketing Agencies. It ranks among Cannes Lions' Top 10 Creative Companies (2022-25) and remains the only partner featured in AdExchanger’s Programmatic Power Players list every year (2020-24). Named Adweek’s first AI Agency of the Year (2023) and The One Show’s inaugural AI Pioneer Organization (2025), Monks was also awarded Business Intelligence Group’s 2026 Excellence in Artificial Intelligence Award in the Human-Machine Interaction Team category. Additionally, Monks.Flow earned AI-based Marketing Solution of the Year at the 2026 AI Breakthrough Awards and a 2026 Global Generative AI Award in the Agentic Marketing Innovation category. Finally, Monks achieved a record-breaking number of FWAs and continues to hold the most of any partner.
We are an equal-opportunity employer committed to building a respectful and empowering work environment for all people to freely express themselves amongst colleagues who embrace diversity in all respects. Including fresh voices and unique points of view in all aspects of our business not only creates an environment where we can all grow and thrive but also increases our potential to produce work that better represents-and resonates with-the world around us.