Art Director Lead

Who We Are: At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration. With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse. Our global family now encompasses over 30,000 employees across 150+ offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences. Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, offering deep insights in communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work. Art Director (Retail Focus) Who we are looking for: We’re on the hunt for a versatile and innovative Art Director with a strong focus on retail to join our team. This role is ideal for a creative professional with exceptional visual design skills, outstanding communication abilities, and a passion for crafting compelling campaigns. You’ll be a driving force in shaping the visual identity of key campaigns that propel sales for a leading automotive brand. This is a hands‑on role that requires you to lead and execute, collaborating with internal teams and delivering impactful design solutions. What you’ll do: Ensure the creative quality and consistency of all deliverables. Supervise and guide the creative team’s work, fostering high standards of design. Confidently present concepts and design solutions to clients and internal stakeholders, managing feedback and ensuring alignment with project goals and brand guidelines. Develop innovative and effective visual concepts tailored specifically for the automotive retail industry. Maintain and apply a deep understanding of the brand’s visual identity across all creative outputs. Unify and enhance the visual communication across all products and assets, elevating creative quality. Take a holistic view to integrate team and client products seamlessly into creative solutions. Anticipate business needs beyond the immediate brief to deliver strategic creative solutions. Collaborate closely with cross‑functional teams, including strategy and operations, to ensure design integration across platforms. Define opportunities for brand guideline flexibility to strengthen visual proposals. Engage and maintain close collaboration with the client, proactively offering alternatives and fresh creative ideas. Train and mentor the creative team, introducing best practices, methodologies, and design techniques. What you’ll need: A strong portfolio showcasing a diverse range of high‑quality design work across digital and traditional media. Expert proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and Figma. Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to clearly articulate complex ideas. Proven ability to balance leadership and hands‑on execution in a fast‑paced environment. A deep understanding of branding principles and the ability to maintain consistency across campaigns. We believe the best work happens when we’re together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That’s why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process. WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers. VML is a WPP Agency. For more information, please visit our website, and follow VML on our social channels via Instagram, LinkedIn, and X. When you click "Submit Application", this will send any information you add below to VML. Before you do this, we think it’s a good idea to read through our Recruitment Privacy Policy. California residents should read our California Recruitment Notice. This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it. #J-18808-Ljbffr