Creative Director Jobs in Illinois

INTRODUCTION

Colle McVoy is a full-service, certified B Corp agency building enduring relationships between forward-thinking brands and consumers. From sparking a national movement to ban airplane seat reclining with La-Z-Boy to hosting a fully improvised “Big Game” sketch show powered by fan suggestions for Perdue Chicken Wings, our work shapes how people shop, what they notice, and what they crave. Recognized as a Fast Company Most Innovative Company, Adweek Midsize Agency of the Year, Ad Age A-List honoree, and SABRE Disruptive Agency of the Year, Colle McVoy brings a nimble talent model that unlocks holistic creative problem-solving across the entire marketing ecosystem. Our capabilities span brand and influencer strategy, design, experiential, social, content, media, and earned creative/PR. Backed by an award-winning culture and 15 consecutive Best Place to Work honors, Colle McVoy is part of DonerCollePartners — a strategic alliance built to help brands win between the coasts through integrated strategy, creative, media, and AI-powered innovation.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Creative Director (Art Director)

As a Creative Director, you are poised to create truly transformational work. Why? Because you are an amphibian. A hybrid. A superhero and alter ego. You are a skilled maker — a senior go-to Creative who sets the bar and the example for the entire creative department. But more importantly, you are a manager, running the day to day of certain brands, campaigns, or assignments. You know how to make great work and you will show others how to do this as well. This role will require the building of trusting relationships among your creative team, a larger agency team, and a strong relationship with clients.

Responsibilities

- Direct and inspire teams and lead the selling and executing of great work
- Conceive and create exceptional work with your own hands at the highest level
- Lead the selling and execution of exceptional work with the Group Creative Directors/Executive Creative Director
- Contribute to new biz pitches and bring high-caliber ideas to the table
- Create strong and effective internal partnerships, leading collaboration across integrated teams
- Exhibit a positive, constructive, and collaborative attitude, even under pressure
- Push yourself and others out of comfort zones to think differently and be innovative in what we deliver and how we deliver it
- Understand strategic intent of projects and audience/customer goals
- Actively coach and mentor creative talent, helping develop their skills and performance

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

- Exceptional creative chops
- Food brands experience
- Ability to see the big picture and drive ideas through to specific tactics
- T-shaped expertise of the changing landscape of advertising/marketing; have a basic understanding of how brands are built using social, traditional, experiential, etc.
- Willingness to mentor
- Proven leadership
- Strategic thinking
- Persuasive and effective communication
- Strong relationship building
- Optimistic mindset
- Comfort with the uncomfortable
- Ability to concept and produce social assets with minimal oversight
- Experience with social first campaigns
- Ability to craft international-level case study videos and entries

QUALIFICATIONS

- Bachelor’s degree in a related field and/or ad school credentials or equivalent industry experience
- Eight or more years of agency or relevant experience at creatively renowned agencies
- Experience with QSR and/or food brands
- Experience leading account(s) and creative teams from start to finish of assignments
- Video/TV production experience required
- 360 campaign understanding/experience preferred
- Exceptional portfolio with demonstrated versatility across all media
- Strong experience in production craft across all media
- Must be located in or willing to relocate to Chicago.
- Ability to travel as needed

COMPENSATION

- The base salary for this position, at the time of this posting, ranges from $120,000 to $150,000. Compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set and level of experience. In addition to base salary, we offer medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D, short-term and long-term disability, generous PTO, 401k, comprehensive family planning benefits (including paid parental leave), tuition reimbursement and numerous supplemental benefits and agency perks.

ABOUT COLLE MCVOY

Colle McVoy is a full-service, certified B Corp agency that builds enduring relationships between forward-thinking brands and people through integrated strategy, creative, media, and communications. Recognized as an Adweek Agency of the Year honoree, an Ad Age A-List Standout Agency, and a Fast Company Most Innovative Company, the agency partners with iconic brands including 3M, Dairy Queen, Perdue Farms, McCormick & Company, Revlon, Target, U.S. Bank, and more. Colle McVoy is part of DonerCollePartners, a strategic alliance built to help brands that move America go further through integrated, AI-enhanced creativity and production.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.