Vice President, Executive Creative Director

Vice President, Executive Creative Director

MSM is woman-owned, experiential agency bringing brands to life through strategy, award-winning experience design, and flawless execution for trade shows, events, environments, and customer engagements. We deliver with genuine passion and a commitment to exceeding customer expectations and creating exceptional customer experiences. Our employees support, promote, live, and breathe a service culture, where we:

• Thrive in a demanding environment

• Build meaningful relationships

• Demonstrate a positive attitude and adapt to change

• Set high standards and strive to exceed

The Vice President, Executive Creative Director is a key member of the Creative Team, reporting to the CEO. This is a leadership position, responsible for the creative strategy, as well as the management of the Creative Team including employee mentorship, training, accountability, and development.

As a key leader in the organization, the Vice President, Executive Creative Director will:

• Develop and articulate a clear, compelling vision
• Inspire others with authentic enthusiasm and passion
• Cultivate the highest performance standards and not settle for mediocracy
• Have an unwavering commitment to the company’s success

JOB ACCOUNTABILITIES:

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP: STRATEGY & GOALS

• Develop and execute a creative strategy that aligns with the corporate goals
• Execution of quarterly goals (Rocks)
• Elevate all areas of design, ensure the necessary expertise is in place for graphic design, art direction, and visual storytelling
• Support sales/marketing by developing creative strategies and compelling brand narratives that align with the objectives and brand identity for the company’s clients

OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE: PROCESS IMPROVEMENT & INNOVATION

• Enhance the creative department’s performance, deliver high quality work, increase sales, and contribute significantly to the company's success in the competitive tradeshow industry.
• Streamline workflows to reduce bottlenecks and improve project completion times

PERFORMANCE & DEVELOPMENT: PERSONAL & TEAM:

Team Development:

• Achieve positive employee satisfaction scores in annual surveys
• Develop and lead a high performing Creative Team
• Help build the Creative Team’s industry knowledge of trade show trends, best practices, and emerging technologies

Personal Leadership Development:

• Pursue continuous learning, set and achieve personal leadership growth goals each quarter

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Set the creative vision and deliver innovative, groundbreaking creative work that increases client engagement and generates industry attention
• Expand the company’s experiential offerings
• Lead creative concepts for new business, developing innovative ideas that align with prospective clients’ objectives and push creative boundaries
• Play a pivotal role in new and existing client presentations, showcasing the company’s creative expertise
• Oversee all creative aspects of projects from conception to delivery, keeping within timelines and budget
• Implement creative automation tools to accelerate repetitive tasks, allowing team members to focus on strategic and creative aspects
• Develop and lead a high-performing Creative Team and foster effective communication by implementing regular team meetings, soliciting and providing regular feedback, and encouraging open and honest dialogue
• Optimize resource allocation to ensure team members' skills and expertise are fully utilized
• Regularly assess processes and implement changes to optimize performance

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• 15 years of creative experience in either 2D (Graphic Design, Digital Media, Motion Graphics) or 3D (Environmental Design – tradeshow exhibits, retail, events)
• 10 years of leadership Experience
• Demonstrated business acumen and thought leadership
• Proficiency in creative tools and platforms
• Proven track record of successfully managing large-scale, complex projects in a matrix organization
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to oversee and improve the performance of team members
• Ability to organize people & resources to achieve objectives
• Thrives under pressure and manages multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced industry
• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field; MBA or advanced degree preferred

This role offers significant potential for growth in strategic leadership and compensation. The salary range for this position is $125,000 - $150,000, with the final offer dependent on factors such as knowledge, skills, and experience.