Executive Creative Director

Description:

Open to NY and LA candidates.

ABOUT MKG

Founded in 2003, MKG is a women-led creative agency specializing in brand experience. From moments to movements, our work breaks through culture by connecting brands with their people. We’re obsessively curious problem solvers who humanize brands through creative storytelling, purpose-driven engagement, beautiful design and impeccable production. We’re proud to be long-standing partners to brands like Google, Target, Netflix, Meta, HBO, Delta Air Lines, Béis and Spotify and have offices in NYC and LA, but work everywhere else, too.

WORKING AT MKG

We're in the business of experience. We aim to create incredible experiences for everyone – that includes consumers, our clients, and our teammates as well. We care deeply about the journey just as much as the final product. So while you’ll be working hard to check all the details (twice) to make sure the work is flawless, you’ll be shoulder to shoulder with some of the brightest, most compassionate and collaborative people in the industry.

We have offices in NYC and LA. Candidates should be within commuting distance of either office and will need to be available for in-person collaboration on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

This position will begin with a four month short term position before converting to full time.

OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE

MKG is looking for a talented and versatile Executive Creative Director to lead creative excellence across both new and active business. As a hands-on leader, you’ll drive impactful brand experiences from concept to execution, own a large volume of projects, and directly influence the quality and impact of the work and client relationships. You’ll partner closely with the CCO and VP, Creative to translate the agency’s creative vision into actionable initiatives, mentor and develop creative talent, and push for bold, results-driven work. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), you’ll play a key role in shaping the agency’s strategic direction, departmental goals, and business growth.

HOW THIS ROLE CONNECTS TO CREATIVE LEADERSHIP:

The ECD operates within a collaborative creative leadership structure alongside the Chief Creative Officer (CCO) and VP, Creative. Understanding how these roles intersect is key to success:

• Partnering with the CCO: The CCO is the chief architect of MKG’s overall creative philosophy and holds ultimate accountability for the agency’s creative output. The ECD partners with the CCO to synthesize agency business goals into creative work for our clients and serves as a key creative leader on new business pitching. The CCO provides strategic oversight while the ECD drives day-to-day creative excellence.
• Partnering with the VP, Creative: The VP, Creative leads departmental-level creative strategy, manages teams, and ensures alignment between creative vision and business objectives. The ECD works alongside the VP, Creative in leading creative output across projects, shares responsibility for mentoring and developing talent, and collaborates on maintaining high-quality creative standards across all active and pitch work. Together, these roles share responsibility for client relationships, ensuring creative trust is built and maintained.

WHAT YOU WILL DO IN THIS ROLE:

Creative Leadership & Oversight

• Own a large volume of new business pitches and active projects, actively leading creative output and/or overseeing project-based creative teams including strategists, creative directors, copywriters, art directors, and designers.
• Develop creative concepts that align with client objectives and strategy, ensuring ideas are tied to measurable impact and client KPIs, with concepts approved within 2–3 rounds
• Deliver original concepts and executions that are culturally relevant to the audience and on, or ahead of, trends - with a keen eye for taste level that elevates the agency’s reputation.
• Follow through on creative concepts sold-in with quality execution and delivery of results, driving high performance against client goals as measured by client sentiment, audience sentiment, and recognition through press and awards.
• Dissect and interpret client briefs, asking purposeful questions to uncover deeper insights and strategic direction.
• Lead brainstorms and creative strategy development, fostering innovative, Brand Action-driven ideas that align with client goals.
• Craft compelling creative and pitch decks, collaborating with Art Directors and Designers to ensure strong visual storytelling.
• Provide decisive creative leadership, making informed decisions that drive projects forward while maintaining high-quality output.
• Push for innovation and results-driven creativity, challenging the team to think bigger and improve work quality continuously.
• Deliver creative milestones according to timeline, targeting 90%+ of deliverables on or before deadline.

Design & Execution Excellence

• Maintain a high caliber of talent and output across all things visual creative - art direction, environmental design, branding and graphic design, motion graphics, and beyond.
• Maintain a high caliber of output across innovative marketing concepts and campaigns, copy and creative storytelling, and audience experiences.

Client Relationships & Growth

• Lead key client relationships from a creative standpoint, ensuring strategic alignment and identifying growth opportunities.
• Actively listen to and strategically interpret client feedback; collaborate through suggestions and flexibility to build client satisfaction and trust in the creative partnership.
• Build trusting relationships with key clients by maintaining high quality creative output (from concept to execution), delivering a credible POV, and fostering a positive collaborative partnership. Ownership of key client relationships to be split appropriately among Creative Leadership roles.

New Business & Pitches

• Serve as a key external-facing creative leader for new client relationships, making real-time adjustments to the creative team and output to ensure each pitch puts MKG’s best foot forward.
• Lead or support pitches with enthusiasm, organization, and creativity - with success reflected in quality of ideas, executions, collaboration, effective and efficient use of time, and win rates.
• Play a leadership role in the Business Growth Team (BGT), shaping MKG’s strategic direction and identifying new business opportunities.
• Represent MKG’s creative capabilities with confidence, leading client presentations and agency capability meetings.

Talent Development, Mentorship & Culture

• Mentor and develop direct reports, providing career guidance, constructive feedback, and leadership coaching. Model creative leadership by inspiring teams, giving clear direction and feedback, and empowering those under you.
• Conduct bi-annual performance reviews, setting clear development paths and fostering a culture of accountability.
• Offer additional mentorship and guidance to other team members through project work.

Staffing, Resourcing & Budget

• Offer support in assessing and determining project team structures, roles, and hour estimates for incoming work (in partnership with Accounts).
• Advise and approve resourcing plans (assembled by Resource Managers) for Creative roles across MKG work.
• Participate in the full-time talent acquisition interview process where necessary, providing valued perspective on potential new hires.
• Support the growth and maintenance of the freelance roster by interviewing new candidates, suggesting where to test them, and reviewing their performance for future use.
• Serve as a consultative voice on departmental budget decisions, working with the CCO, President, and Finance on annual Creative Department budgets.
• Advise the Executive Team on creative strategy and staffing needs, including recommendations for hiring and freelance resources.

Internal Collaboration & Communication

• Partner seamlessly and positively with team members from all departments to set up projects for success, with emphasis on active listening and cross-functional collaboration.
• Oversee team workloads, timelines, and proposals, ensuring efficiency and excellence in deliverables. Manage proper time management and attention to hour allocations; actively participate in hour tracking and forecasting to avoid overservicing.

Awards, Agency Marketing & Recognition

• Offer a first layer of support in ensuring that projects believed to have potential for press and awards are treated as such — pushing both the execution and the quality and format of capture. Support the assembly and oversight of award submissions.
• Oversee agency marketing and creative content, guiding social media, case study development, and website updates to showcase MKG’s work effectively

Requirements:

WHAT YOU WILL BRING TO THIS ROLE:

Given the nature of experiential work, this role may require occasional travel and flexibility to work non-traditional hours, including evenings and weekends, as business needs arise

• 10+ years of experience in creative leadership, ideally within experiential marketing, brand activations, or a related field.
• Proven track record of developing and executing innovative brand experiences that drive engagement and results.
• Cultural curiosity and awareness that allows your ideas to connect with the right people and communities in interesting ways.
• Strong strategic thinking skills, with the ability to translate business objectives into compelling creative solutions.
• Exceptional leadership and team management experience, including mentoring, coaching, and developing creative talent.
• Expertise in storytelling and concept development, with a strong portfolio showcasing creative campaigns and pitch work.
• Ability to confidently present creative ideas to clients, internal stakeholders, and executive leadership.
• Experience overseeing multiple projects at various stages, balancing hands-on creative direction with high-level strategy.
• Strong understanding of design, production, and emerging technologies that enhance experiential marketing.
• Ability to guide and inspire cross-functional teams, including designers, strategists, producers, and account leads.
• Experience in business development and pitching, with a track record of winning new clients and expanding accounts.
• Sharp communication and collaboration skills, ensuring alignment across teams and stakeholders.
• Ability to make decisive creative and strategic choices, while keeping projects on track and delivering high-quality work.
• Experience managing budgets and resources, ensuring projects are executed efficiently and profitably.
• Knowledge of social media and digital integration, leveraging content and storytelling to amplify experiential activations.
• Passion for innovation and staying ahead of industry trends, bringing fresh ideas and approaches to the team.

Salary Description

$200,000- $230,000 annually

***This is the minimum + maximum base salary that we, in good faith, are willing to pay at the time of the posting. Salary commensurate with experience.