Senior Creative Director

Overview

Ketchum is looking for a Senior Creative Director with a proven passion for smart ideas anchored in human truths, consumer behaviors and cultural connections; a person who champions clever, unexpected and – when warranted – risky thinking that guarantees earned media, consumer excitement and social engagement.
In this role you’ll be an important leader on a dynamic team, giving and receiving inspiration, sharing best practices, contributing thought leadership, evolving creative processes and tools, and creating visibility and awareness for Ketchum’s creative reputation among current and prospective clients.

With Ketchum’s strong belief in cross collaboration, this role requires the ability to partner a wide range of specialty functions: work with Analytics to identify insight-based strategies; partner with Strategists and other Creatives across North America and beyond to generate exciting concepts within a range of budgets; and partner with others in influencer, content design, social strategy, earned media and more to evolve those concepts from idea to award-winning activations.

The ideal candidate will have experience in creating and selling programs of all shapes and sizes in categories including: CPG, food and beverage, lifestyle, retail, health & wellness, technology and beyond.

Salary or compensation considerations are described in the eligibility/offer details section of this job description. The salary range is provided for budgeting purposes and may vary based on factors including education, experience, and location.

• Partner with account leaders to develop programs for current clients and win new clients applying strategic rigor to creative concept development
• Act as a catalyst to generate and embrace diversity of ideas and thinking across the team/client networks
• Support planned creative needs and keep the creative dialed up with unsolicited ideas that delight clients
• Lead solo and group creative ideation for client opportunities; develop/vet ideas generated in brainstorm sessions
• Originate, source and write concepts
• Present creative concepts confidently to colleagues, inter-agency teams and clients/prospects
• Be a creative leader, who is integral to the planning process from table read to presentation

• Work collaboratively with Ketchum Analytics & Strategy to develop true insights and creative briefs that drive creative programming
• Welcome debate and encourage constructive criticism. Communicate clear, progressive direction
• Contribute to the development of engaged and dynamic teams. Foster respect and collaboration within the team and/or agency partners. Identify issues within the team and drive to resolution
• Act as brand and talent ambassador internally and externally, participate in development of special practice areas

• Work closely with select Ketchum’s industry leaders in the industries mentioned above as a dedicated creative resource, helping to build those industries and invigorate client growth
• Develop and maintain excellent relationships with multiple clients, agency partners and internal stakeholders
• Share relevant trends, industry insights and inspiration to promote creative thinking across Ketchum clients
• Work with account team to identify growth opportunities with client via creative ideation

• Any combination of education and experience providing the required skills and knowledge for successful performance would qualify. Typical qualifications would be equivalent to:
• At least 12+ years of experience of agency and/or corporate public relations experience
• Proven track record in growing business through insight-led strategy and/or concept development
• Deep understanding of earned media and how to develop earned-led creative concepts
• Excellent facilitation and negotiation skills required to lead a room (virtually and IRL) of people and diverse teams to align around a clear and singular point of view
• Agency experience required:
  Public Relations (priority), Social Media, Advertising, Experiential
• Proven experience in working with clients at the brand manager and CMO and other C-Suite levels
• Ability to lead and drive to the best client solutions through ambiguity,…