Creative Director, Design

About Us

There's a reason HUNTER is recognized as a PRWeek Best Place To Work and has been named PRovoke "Consumer Agency of the Year" not once, but twice: At HUNTER, we EARN IT --- consumer attention, the trust and loyalty of clients, and the dedication of our staff, currently 350 strong and counting.

Overview

The Creative Director of Design is the keeper of design excellence across Hunter's brand portfolio, guiding the creative vision for visual identity, brand design, and design systems. You are a design strategist and people leader who translates strategic intent into compelling visual narratives, elevates team craft through clear direction and constructive feedback, and inspires designers to deliver work that is both creatively brilliant and commercially effective.

Reporting to the Executive Creative Director and working closely with the Sr. Integrated Creative Director, you ensure design vision aligns with broader creative strategy while pushing the boundaries of what's possible through innovation, new design methodologies, and emerging technologies like AI.

Responsibilities

Design Leadership & Creative Excellence

• Guide the creative vision across assigned brands and accounts, acting as custodian of design excellence.
• Establish and uphold design standards across visual identity, brand design, packaging, environmental design, and design systems.
• Translate complex creative strategies and briefs into clear, compelling visual narratives.
• Provide precise, actionable creative feedback that elevates design work and strengthens craft.
• Lead design concepting, strategy sessions, and creative brainstorms.
• Deliver compelling design presentations and pitch concepts.
• Ensure design execution matches creative vision; drive projects toward flawless delivery.

Team Leadership & Mentorship

• Lead, inspire, and develop a team of Designers, setting clear expectations and providing regular coaching.
• Take an active role in identifying and recruiting top design talent.
• Model strong design leadership through clear direction, decisive creative judgment, and empowerment.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive team culture.
• Conduct project-based performance feedback and contribute to formal performance review processes.

Design Innovation & Strategic Direction

• Drive innovation within the design team, fostering new design methodologies and forward-thinking solutions.
• Leverage deep expertise in consumer insights, cultural trends, and market shifts to shape brand design direction.
• Stay ahead of design trends and industry innovation.
• Collaborate closely with Strategy and Account teams, defining design vision and ensuring cohesive brand experiences.

Design Systems, Craft & Production

• Champion excellence in typography, conceptual design, design systems, and visual identity.
• Guide the team through design production processes, ensuring quality control.
• Demonstrate extreme competence in Adobe Firefly and Adobe Express; leverage these tools strategically to enhance efficiency.
• Train and mentor the design team on advanced Adobe Firefly and Express workflows.
• Support the integration of design into broader creative workflows.

Internal and Client Relationships, Awards & Agency Growth

• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with Managing Directors and Business Units.
• Lead key client relationships from a design standpoint, building trust through consistent quality.
• Actively listen to and interpret client feedback.
• Spearhead impactful case studies and award submissions.
• Support new business initiatives by leading design concepting and pitch presentations.

Budgeting and Finance

• Track team members hours/rates and OOP costs against budget.
• Establish a clear line of communication with account teams, ECD and COO with respect to scoping and pricing.
• Work with account/HR/Finance team on all vendor agreements.
• Manage all vendor contracts and insurance.

Qualifications

Design Expertise & Track Record

• 10--12 years of design leadership experience, with proven success leading design teams.
• Exceptional design portfolio demonstrating extraordinary design taste and strong conceptual thinking.
• Deep knowledge of brand design, identity systems, typography, and scalable design frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute innovative design solutions.
• Track record of winning new business and expanding existing client relationships.

Leadership & People Development

• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and develop designers at various levels.
• Strong ability to inspire and galvanize creative teams.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills.
• Sharp collaboration skills across Strategy, Account, and other creative disciplines.
• Genuine investment in growing design talent and fostering an inclusive culture.

Strategic & Creative Mindset

• Strong design vision paired with exceptional craft.
• Strategic thinker who can dissect briefs and leverage cultural/market trends.
• Hands-on expertise overseeing multiple complex design projects.
• Persistent and driven; comfortable pushing creative boundaries.
• Comfort working in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments.

Design Craft, Production & AI Expertise

• Mastery of design production processes and proficiency across print, digital, motion, and emerging tools.
• Strong understanding of design systems and scalability.
• Understanding of vendor management, material costs, and pricing.
• Extreme competence in Adobe Firefly and Adobe Express.
• Demonstrated ability to strategically integrate AI-assisted design tools into creative workflows.
• Cultural curiosity and awareness.

Compensation & Benefits

The target range of base compensation for this role is $150,000 - $175,000.

We offer competitive health and dental insurance, 401K company match, generous PTO, a hybrid work model, "work from anywhere" policy, staff training, and a DEI Action Group. Perks include volunteer days, mixers, and holiday parties.