Associate Creative Director / Art Director

At Hiebing, opportunities like this don’t come around very often. That’s because as an independent, employee-owned full-service marketing communications agency with offices in Madison, WI and Austin, TX our best folks tend to stick around awhile. We’re looking for a strong creative leader with proven concepting, art direction and design talent and passion for turning big ideas into breakthrough marketing. Ours is a collaborative culture where insights, strategy, creativity and data all go hand in hand to drive real-world business growth. It’s what has fueled Hiebing’s success over the past 40 years, while earning us an enviable roster of clients that continues to grow. Our Creative team is as strong as you’ll find anywhere (but without all the egos). If this sounds like your kind of agency, you just might be our kind of Associate Creative Director / Art Director.

Summary Description
Responsible for the creative performance of the team. Overseeing and contributing to creative output, managing overall team efficiency, conducting one-on-ones with direct reports, meeting project objectives and making personnel recommendations. 

Most important job functions are as follows: 

• Working directly on key accounts and/or assignments
• Managing direct reports: Art Directors and Copywriters
• Setting a high creative standard
• Assigning work, then monitoring progress and helping teams overcome challenges
• Making key presentations to clients
• Support recruiting efforts on all Creative Department positions

Duties/Responsibilities

• Embody our core values (integrity, creativity, we before me, excellence) and brand nature (passionate, curious, kind, courageous)
• Learn our Soul Purpose and Story Strategy process and use it to unlock highly effective creative
• Participate in staffing decisions as well as assigning workload and managing freelance resources when necessary
• Championing work that is both on strategy and within budget, always pushing for excellence while being pragmatic
• Communicating with account leads about work projections, client news and personnel issues
• Coaching, motivating, challenging and leading others—building up the team while making work fun. 
• Meet regularly with direct reports

How We Will Know This is Working
When the Create team is delivering on the following: 

• When we are producing highest quality creative with greater consistency
• When our billable time and efficiency align with agency expectations
• When long-term deadlines are not derailed by quick-turn rush jobs
• When creative opportunities are shared across the department
• When creative talent is developed
• When people have fun and are proud of their work