Location: Hybrid - 3 days/wk onsite in LA
Type: W2 Contract
Duration: Through end of January 2027
Compensation Range: $100-130/HR depending on experience
We are seeking a Manager, Brand Creative (Art Director): a conceptual, visually driven art director who builds brands that shape culture. This is a hands-on individual contributor role with no direct reports. The ideal candidate comes from an in-house brand team or an ad agency, and combines creative ambition with strategic discipline to generate impactful outcomes.
In this role, you will define the visual and conceptual expression of our client's Ads business: what it stands for, how it looks and feels, and why advertisers should want to be a part of it. Although the role is based in Los Angeles, CA you will partner closely with various teams across the business and the globe, including Ads leadership, Marketing, Brand Partnerships, Product and Product Marketing, Measurement, Sales and Comms, to ensure our client's Ads business isn't just understood, but desired.
Candidates should have a proven portfolio of conceptual, idea-led brand work, particularly in B2B and on a global scale. Beyond expertise, the ideal candidate possesses a true passion for brand building, design, marketing, and the evolving media landscape. Success in this role will require global perspective, strategic insight, and collaboration with teams across different markets.
Responsibilities:
● Lead the art direction and visual concepting of the Ads brand. Translate the positioning into big ideas and distinctive visual systems across sales materials, presentations, events, marketing and PR.
● Concept and art direct campaigns, event experiences and brand moments from first idea to final execution. Hands-on craft in layout, typography, imagery, motion and design systems is expected.
● Raise the bar on creative and creative ambition across Ads Marketing through strong creative POV, thoughtful critique and excellent craft.
● Partner with the Ads Marketing team to differentiate Ads's presence at key tentpole events (e.g. Upfront, Cannes, CES, and more), developing event concepts and the visual worlds around them.
● Partner with Ads Marketing in developing how we tell our story about our Ads offering, turning complex business solutions into simple, compelling visual narratives through outputs like creative briefs, concept decks, event concepts, presentations, etc.
● Help bridge the gap, creatively, between "what we're building" and "why it matters to advertisers", with a willingness to revisit and sharpen this the more we continue to evolve.
● Think with a global-first mindset, with the ability to uncover and activate globally resonant insights to help translate the Ads positioning and core narrative, as well as scale some of the tentpole events (e.g. Upfront) to non-US markets.
● Act as the internal guardian of the Ads brand, ensuring visual and conceptual integrity across multiple touchpoints and as the business scales.
● Shape the relationship and elements that should be shared across our consumer-facing brand and B2B brand.
● Collaborate with and direct internal producers, designers, and external agency and production partners to bring work to life, without people-management responsibilities.
Qualifications:
● 8-12 years of experience as an Art Director, Senior Art Director or Associate Creative Director, working in-house at a brand or at an ad/creative agency.
● A strong portfolio of conceptual, idea-led visual work that shows both big-picture thinking and executional craft.
● Proven experience developing and art directing brand campaigns, identities or visual systems.
● Some B2B brand and marketing experience is a must.
● Executive-level presentation and storytelling: comfortable presenting concepts to senior leaders, including the C-Suite, with strong exec presence.
● Strong visual communication skills and a clear, confident POV on creative work, with the ability to articulate the "why" behind the idea.
● Clear and articulate writer, who is comfortable crafting a narrative and developing points of view, despite ambiguity or uncertainty.
● Experience collaborating with global stakeholders and cross-functional partners.
● Confident in leveraging research, insights, and analytics to inform strategic and creative decisions.
● Believe in the power of great creative thinking solving business issues.
● Experience in building impactful and scalable creative programs and systems.
● Demonstrated ability to prioritize and drive results.
● Comfortable working in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment.
● Proficiency with industry-standard design and presentation tools (e.g. Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, Keynote).
● Experiential and live-event experience is a plus.
● Familiarity with CTV, OTT, or the streaming landscape is a plus.
● Global travel will be required 15% of the time.
Personality Attributes
● Passionate and curious about creativity, brands, marketing (including B2B), and entertainment.
● A conceptual thinker with a strong visual eye and a forward-looking perspective.
● Extremely organized, effective communicator, and thrives in a fast-paced environment.
● Capable of working independently, as well as part of a broader team.
● Confident without ego.
● Able to quickly organize, clarify, and communicate complex ideas in simple and compelling ways.
● High-level of intellectual curiosity with the ability to demonstrate strong judgment in the face of ambiguity.
● Can flourish in our unique company culture.
Job ID: JN -102026-164160
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Equal Opportunity Employer: Race, Color, Religion, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, National Origin, Age, Genetic Information, Disability, Protected Veteran Status, or any other legally protected group status.
At Cella, a randstad digital company, we welcome people of all abilities and want to ensure that our hiring and interview process meets the needs of all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation to make your application or interview experience a great one, please contact HRsupport@randstadusa.com.
Pay offered to a successful candidate will be based on several factors including the candidate's education, work experience, work location, specific job duties, certifications, etc. In addition, Cella by randstad digital offers a comprehensive benefits package, including: medical, prescription, dental, vision, AD&D, and life insurance offerings, short-term disability, and a 401K plan (all benefits are based on eligibility).
This posting is open for thirty (30) days.
Qualified applicants in San Francisco with criminal histories will be considered for employment in accordance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.
Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.
We will consider for employment all qualified Applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.
