Marks, an sgsco company
Creative Director
Marks, an sgsco company, Toronto, ON
Who are we?
Marks is a consumer experience agency creating engaging moments across the entire brand spectrum - from brand design and packaging to content and consumer connections. Rooted in a deep understanding of human behaviour, we are uniquely constructed to enable brands to win in an age of constant change.
A super-charged experience powerhouse - 700 people strong, with subject matter experts working collaboratively across 12 studios and 8 countries - we have helped some of the world's biggest brands (Amazon, LEGO, PepsiCo, Target and AB InBev, to name a few) connect to their audiences and tackle the biggest challenges and opportunities of today's consumer landscape.
About the team
The Marks Marcom team is our agile and talented agency-with-an-agency. They create smart, insight- driven omni-channel campaigns, programs, and content - bringing them to life across multiple touchpoints and mediums, both digital and physical. A multidisciplinary group of problem-solvers, our team uncovers the truth behind client asks and needs, developing innovative and creative solutions that engage audiences, build brands, and drive sales.
About the Role
This position calls for a highly collaborative and experienced creative leader to lead the creative and strategic vision for a diverse range of clients, across a spectrum of marketing and communication channels.
You'll lead a team of creative professionals including ACD's, Design Directors, Art Directors, Copywriters and Designers - providing mentorship, guidance and inspiration - championing a culture of creativity and collaboration.
The Creative Director embodies Marks' vision of can-do positivity, agility in approach, and belief in the power of co-creation - ensuring we deliver the best solution against each brief and ask. The Creative Director uses their strong judgement and analytical skills to drive the creative process from early concepts to final execution, delivering beyond client expectations.
You have a keen eye for design and sharp ear for tone of voice, matched only by your clever conceptual and strategic thinking. You are omni-channel to the core - as comfortable playing in social and digital as you are with retail programs, instore communications, traditional media and beyond. You set and maintain the quality bar for the creative product of the company at a level that is amongst the top tier within the industry.
You'll work closely with the Group Creative Director and other Creative Leads to improve and sharpen our processes and practices, assess and grow our talent and identify areas of business growth and opportunity. You'll also work and consult with teams across our entire Marks ecosystem, on an exciting range of clients and categories, including toys, food & beverage, beer, wine, spirits, technology, personal care, beauty, retail, and many more.
On any given day you might
The ideal person
You Bring
Marks is a consumer experience agency creating engaging moments across the entire brand spectrum - from brand design and packaging to content and consumer connections. Rooted in a deep understanding of human behaviour, we are uniquely constructed to enable brands to win in an age of constant change.
A super-charged experience powerhouse - 700 people strong, with subject matter experts working collaboratively across 12 studios and 8 countries - we have helped some of the world's biggest brands (Amazon, LEGO, PepsiCo, Target and AB InBev, to name a few) connect to their audiences and tackle the biggest challenges and opportunities of today's consumer landscape.
About the team
The Marks Marcom team is our agile and talented agency-with-an-agency. They create smart, insight- driven omni-channel campaigns, programs, and content - bringing them to life across multiple touchpoints and mediums, both digital and physical. A multidisciplinary group of problem-solvers, our team uncovers the truth behind client asks and needs, developing innovative and creative solutions that engage audiences, build brands, and drive sales.
About the Role
This position calls for a highly collaborative and experienced creative leader to lead the creative and strategic vision for a diverse range of clients, across a spectrum of marketing and communication channels.
You'll lead a team of creative professionals including ACD's, Design Directors, Art Directors, Copywriters and Designers - providing mentorship, guidance and inspiration - championing a culture of creativity and collaboration.
The Creative Director embodies Marks' vision of can-do positivity, agility in approach, and belief in the power of co-creation - ensuring we deliver the best solution against each brief and ask. The Creative Director uses their strong judgement and analytical skills to drive the creative process from early concepts to final execution, delivering beyond client expectations.
You have a keen eye for design and sharp ear for tone of voice, matched only by your clever conceptual and strategic thinking. You are omni-channel to the core - as comfortable playing in social and digital as you are with retail programs, instore communications, traditional media and beyond. You set and maintain the quality bar for the creative product of the company at a level that is amongst the top tier within the industry.
You'll work closely with the Group Creative Director and other Creative Leads to improve and sharpen our processes and practices, assess and grow our talent and identify areas of business growth and opportunity. You'll also work and consult with teams across our entire Marks ecosystem, on an exciting range of clients and categories, including toys, food & beverage, beer, wine, spirits, technology, personal care, beauty, retail, and many more.
On any given day you might
- Work with our agency partners to identify project needs and determine the approach and resources needed to deliver on the ask.
- Work with, and guide, your creative team to develop creative ideas, campaign platforms and narratives.
- Work closely with our Strategy team to identify trends, hone insights and illuminate areas for creative to play.
- Act as the ultimate brand guardian for key clients and accounts.
- Lead and create compelling presentations to frame up and sell our creative ideas, design approaches and capabilities.
- Consult and collaborate with teams across our Marks ecosystem.
- Meet with clients to discuss their needs, present creative solutions and understand how to help them better.
- Partner with our internal and external productions partners (production artists, photographers, CGI, motion etc) to execute the creative vision.
- Conduct creative reviews and internals to assess the work and make it stronger and better.
- Lead and participate in brainstorming sessions.
- Lead and participate in internal initiatives, such as training and information sessions, to help elevate and upscale our talent
- Keep up to date with the latest trends and innovations - exploring ways to leverage AI tools to advance our work.
The ideal person
- Lives and breathes omni-channel marketing & advertising communications - gets excited to talk shop and always learn
- Has a strong creative vision and strategic thinking skills.
- Has a broad range of experience leading creative across a spectrum of channels and touchpoints.
- Loves leading, guiding and growing teams - fostering a positive climate of collaboration.
- Is a champion of creativity and good ideas - challenging and encouraging their team to rise to the occasion.
- Loves digging into problems and seeing beyond the "ask"
- Is innately curious, has an insight into human behavior, and an instinct for popular culture and trends.
- Embraces flexibility and agility and loves to roll up their sleeves and get things done.
- Takes a consumer-first approach to today's ever complex path to purchase
- Strong understanding of physical and digital channels and knows how to stretch ideas across the spectrum
- Is embedded in the digital ecosystem, with an intuitive understanding of all its forms.
- Is obsessed with improving processes, always looking for ways to sharpen and adapt.
- Has an excitement for their discipline that is contagious - with compelling storytelling skills that captivate clients and internal partners alike
- Is able to work across different groups, disciplines and projects to push work forward
- Has experience with 360 shopper and trade marketing programs across a wide range of clients (including CPG, food/beverage, wine/spirits, electronics and toys)
You Bring
- Degree or diploma in Graphic design/Advertising & Marketing, or related field
- 10+ years with previous creative leadership experience
- Well-rounded portfolio showcasing excellent understanding of campaign development in different communication spaces, mediums and approaches - including retail/trade marketing, digital and social, POS design, video content and more.
- Excellent leadership and team management abilities.
- Fluency in design software (Adobe Creative Cloud, Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign), Keynote and Microsoft Office.