Group Creative Director

Who We Are  Translation is an award-winning independent creative agency that aspires to be the most culturally influential company in the world.

We help ambitious brands harness the power of culture to solve their biggest challenges - at our best, we make what was once invisible unmissable.

As a unique mix of experts in culture, technology, and storytelling, we are united by a passion to grow brands in ways that advertising alone never could. What makes Translation’s work stand out is our ability to collaborate and create with individuals who don’t just consume “culture”, they’re a part of making it and living it every day.

We are an entrepreneurial business - not a traditional “ad agency.” That means we value resourcefulness and tenacity just as much as we value creativity and intelligence. 

What's the role? 

The Group Creative Director manages the creative direction of multiple projects/accounts, ensuring the work is always the best the agency can produce. (S)he is responsible for ensuring creative development occurs in a timely manner and the work is in line with not only the client brief but the creative standards and point of view of the agency.  (S)he presents original concepts for campaigns that run across multiple mediums directly to the agency’s leadership and clients. (S)he oversees the creative staff, playing a key role in developing our creative talent.

Essential Responsibilities You’ll Own

• Ensure the timely development and execution of multiple plans, campaigns, and projects that not only meet client objectives but are breakthrough ideas for the creative industry.
• Develop creative solutions that defend budget recommendations and measurement objectives to provide both profitable and quality work to our current and prospective clients.
• Serve as the final decision-making authority on copy, text and art for creative assignments for internal executive and external client review.
• Consistently provide leadership and motivation, conveying the vision and values of the agency to staff.
• Facilitate and promote agency initiatives and values throughout each creative opportunity.
• Execute assignments as directed in compliance with agency and client guidelines and objectives.
• Train and supervise assigned staff of writers and art directors; oversee their execution of all creative efforts to ensure they are on strategy, on budget, and on schedule.
• Collaborate with the core leadership team on all accounts and projects to ensure alignment on creative recommendations and client opportunities. Work to resolve any internal differences that could potentially lead to discord in the office.
• Maintain external professional relationships with production partners, freelance networks, agency partners and others to ensure we’re sharing the agency POV across the industry and recruiting the right talent and partners
• Participate in the creation and presentation of client pitches / new business efforts, as required.
• Possess and maintain a clear and current awareness of the competitive creative environment and work being done by other agencies.

Who are we looking for?

You are results and bottom-line oriented, yet will possess deep appreciation and sensitivity towards people, culture, and values. You are thick-skinned and persistent, but at the same time diplomatic and politically aware. You are personable, smart, passionate, and optimistic. You possess a deeply pro-active, hands-on mentality. You hold yourself accountable and take great pride in your work - just like us. We’re proudly diverse in our backgrounds, our accents, and our fiercely held personal passions. We are, in every sense of the word, independent, and not beholden to anyone else’s agenda. So are you.

What will set you up for success

• A robust background with extensive experience in a client facing, creative leadership role in an agency environment.
• Proven leadership and people management skills, having the confirmed ability to successfully lead, motivate and mentor teams of creative talent.
• Strong aptitude for providing clear creative direction, career path guidance, and timely and helpful feedback that will improve creative processes, as well as keep work on budget and schedule.
• Possess an exceptional ability to prioritize work and resources across engagements based on short- and long-term need; timelines, budgets, and work that moves at the speed of culture.
• Consistently exhibit an unwavering commitment to creativity and fresh approaches to client work.
• Demonstrate, evangelize and live the core values of the agency. 
• Incorporate the passion, excitement and experience of one’s MINOR in relevant ways that inform the quality and output of agencies deliverables.
• Empathy and the ability to see clearly the perspectives and views of others are integral, as is the ability to take creative criticism and move the work forward.
• Possess and encourage high degrees of initiative, drive, energy, accountability, creativity and maturity.
• Be able to work under pressure and move with the storms of pitches, brainstorming sessions, and tight deadlines with flexible agility, a good sense of humor, and solid focus.
• Be highly motivated and well organized. Keen eyes for the details are a must.
• Possess and demonstrate impeccable interpersonal, presentation, and communication skills across all levels of both internal and client organizations.
• 10+ years of professional experience at an agency or similar creative organization
• Bachelor's degree in a directly related field, such as advertising, art / design, or journalism / script writing, preferred.
• Digitally savvy; MUST be proficient in Google Workspace and Microsoft Office suite.

Salary Range: $255,000.00 - $300,000.00

About UnitedMasters, Inc. 

UnitedMasters Inc. represents the creative solutions company, Translation, and the leading software and services platform for independent creators, UnitedMasters. UnitedMasters enables ownership, exposure, and new paths for financial return for independent creators, while Translation helps brands leverage the power of contemporary culture to achieve transformational growth. Combined, UnitedMasters, Inc. is the world’s leading marketplace for cultural capital, connecting independent artists and brands to realize a future in which all creators own their future. Backed by Alphabet, Andreessen Horowitz, and Apple, UnitedMasters, Inc. is reimagining how brands and artists come together to tell their stories, build profitable growth, and push culture forward.Our salary ranges are based on paying competitively for our size and industry, and are one part of many compensation, benefits and other reward opportunities we provide (e.g. in some cases that may include bonus, stock options, 401k match).

Individual pay rate decisions are based on a number of factors, including qualifications for the role, experience level, skillset, and balancing internal equity relative to peers at the company.  

We expect the majority of the candidates who are offered roles at our company to fall healthily throughout the range based on these factors. 

The range above is for the expectations as laid out in the job description, however we are often open to a wide variety of profiles, and recognize that the person we hire may be less experienced (or more senior) than this job description as posted.  If that ends up being the case, the updated salary range will be communicated with you as a candidate.

The salary range above is for NY/CA.  As a company, we have a location based strategy, which means the salary range could be lower or higher than this if the role is hired in another location.