Creative Director

Creative Director 

The Role

Are you a creative designer that lives in Calgary and is looking to take the next step in your career? 

We’re looking for a Creative Director in the making. Our Co-Founder has acted as the Creative Director for the past decade, but as we grow he is looking to bring in someone that can partner with him in the interest of being handed the torch over the coming months. 

We’re looking for someone who has already built a strong foundation in designing websites, social assets, campaign ads and sales materials, understands how creativity connects to strategy, and is ready to step into a leadership role guiding ideas, shaping direction, and elevating the work we do for our clients. 

Moving forward, you’ll work alongside Brand Strategists and an Art Director who leads day-to-day design execution, while you focus on concepting, direction, and making sure the work actually solves the problem it’s meant to solve.

You’ll still be hands-on when needed, especially in the first few months as you learn about our business and clients, but your primary job will quickly shift to thinking, guiding, and pushing the work, and our team, forward.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the development of creative concepts across brands, campaigns, and content
• Translate strategic insight and brand goals into clear, actionable creative direction
• Guide designers, animators and content creators to produce stronger, more effective work that drives results
• Partner closely with the Art Director to ensure ideas are executed at a high level, on time and on budget
• Provide feedback that improves thinking, not just aesthetics
• Collaborate with strategists and account leads to align creative with business goals
• Present ideas internally and occasionally to clients with clarity and confidence
• Stay on top of trends and formats and know how to apply them appropriately
• Understand team strengths and client priorities, and guide each accordingly
• Jump into design when needed to develop or elevate key assets

What This Role Is (and Isn’t)

• Is: A step into leadership, focused on ideas, direction, and accountability
• Isn’t: A pure execution role or a fully hands-off executive position

• Is: An opportunity for an up-and-comer to catalyze their career 
• Isn’t: An opportunity for an established Creative Director to name their price.

• Is: An opportunity to help guide an existing team with existing clients within a fast-growing agency
• Isn’t: A “start-from-scratch” opportunity for someone looking to completely take over. 

The Ideal Candidate

Experience & Skillset

• 5+ years in design within an agency or similar fast-paced environment
• Strong portfolio showing both high-quality design and conceptual thinking
• Experience contributing to or leading creative direction on projects or campaigns, even if not from a place of defined leadership
• Some experience mentoring, guiding, or reviewing the work of others including websites, digital and print sales materials, social media assets and brand development. 
• Ability to connect business or brand strategy to creative output
• Proficiency in design tools (Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, etc.)

Leadership & Personality

• Clear thinker: you can explain why something works
• Confident but coachable: you’re ready to lead, but still learning
• Collaborative: you work well with strategists, designers, and content teams, as well as clients
• High standards: you care about the quality and effectiveness of all work, and can point out something that is off-brand or incomplete
• Accountable: you take ownership of the creative output and aren’t afraid to step into a leadership role

Mindset

• You want to move from “doing the work” to “owning the direction of the work”
• You understand that strong creative comes from strong thinking
• You’re motivated to grow into a senior leadership role over time

Working Relationship with the Art Director

• You lead creative direction, concepts, and strategic thinking
• The Art Director leads design execution and visual refinement
• Together, you ensure the work is both smart and well-crafted

What Success Looks Like

• Strong, clear creative direction across projects and clients
• Work that connects strategy to execution in a meaningful way
• A team that is improving because of your guidance
• Increasing confidence in presenting and owning creative decisions

Compensation and Extras

• Salary based on experience and readiness for leadership $80k-$100k+
• Clear path for growth into a senior Creative Director role as performance and leadership develop
• Robust benefits package after 90 days 
• End of year bonus opportunities
• Apple suite of products and other office needs
• Free parking, flexible scheduling, Fridays from home
• A great work culture with amazing people and fun clients