Art Director

Job description

Role Overview
The Art Director at SPC is a creative leader responsible for shaping the visual language of campaigns, guiding design teams and ensuring the highest standards of creative excellence across all projects. This role demands a strong mix of hands-on design ability, conceptual thinking, leadership, and the ability to collaborate across teams to deliver work that is innovative, on-brand, and culturally relevant.
This role works closely with the creative Director and Design team to conceptualize and execute high quality creative solutions that meet our clients’ needs, based on their strategy within the allocated time and budgets

Key Responsibilities

• Stay abreast of the latest design trends. This will require continued research of marketing trends and strategies and the technologies used in ad practices.
• Receive design briefs from Creative Directors, Accounts or Traffic, estimate the time each project will require and agree on deadlines.
• Work with other disciplines (strategists, developers, media, accounts, etc.) to ensure cohesive team integration, and alignment with broader business objectives.
• Research and understand the client's marketing strategy and corporate identity to create unique designs that answer client’s brief and communication objectives / business problems.
• Maintain brand consistency through various channels and where applicable, according to the signed off brand plan.
• Craft and finish to the highest possible standard all artwork relating to a specific job or campaign, keeping in mind copy arrangement, size, style and related aesthetic concepts.
• Meet internal and external deadlines.
• Take part in brainstorms to offer creative and design input.
• Art direct projects to maintain and grow the brands identity and stature
• Mock up creative ideas and define the overall aesthetic of campaigns
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Review work and provide feedback to creative team members
• Liaise with the Traffic Department to ensure the job deadline is adhered to
• Reviewing work with the Creative Director & Strategy, followed by AM
• Train and mentor new staff members and the creative team.
• Ensure that work is saved in the correct folders and formats.
• Assist with new business initiatives as requested e.g. pitches, decks, client presentations.
• Present completed ideas to clients/team members
• Adhere to company performance and behaviour expectations, e.g. timekeeping, timeous completion of timesheets, general policies and procedures, etc. 

Requirements

• Proven experience (3–5 years) in art direction, design, or creative direction within an agency environment.
• Strong portfolio showcasing conceptual campaigns, digital-first design, and culturally resonant work.
• Expertise in Adobe Creative Suite and familiarity with motion graphics/video tools.
• Excellent visual, verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong leadership and mentoring skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Understanding of African pop culture, youth trends and digital platforms is a strong advantage

Key Attributes

• Creative Visionary: Constantly pushing boundaries and bringing bold ideas to life.
• Collaborator: Works seamlessly across departments and builds strong team energy.
• Detail-Oriented: Ensures all outputs meet the highest standard of craft.
• Culturally Connected: Draws inspiration from African and global trends to create meaningful work.
• Resilient and Accountable: Thrives under pressure, meets deadlines, and owns responsibilities fully.

Posted on 10 Mar 10:47, Closing date 9 May