Senior Art Director

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.

Who we are looking for :

VML is seeking a Senior Art Director for our Chicago office. The Senior Art Director is a visual storyteller who works closely with copywriters and brand strategists to conceive and create concepts for digital, social and traditional channels.

The entire creative team will work together to translate these ideas from the written tone into a finished ad to meet our clients' business objectives.

Our creative teams always strive to create boundary pushing, award-winning work.

What you'll do :

Manage Provide creative leadership as well as vision and inspiration to creative staff. Own assigned projects and manage all aspects of the assignment, team, creative work, budget, and presenting.

Work with Creative Directors to work closely with the Creative team in ensuring quality and accuracy on all creative products.

Make recommendations to senior leadership and other team members on how to improve process and product.

Create Demonstrate creativity through efficiently conceptualizing, planning, producing, refining, and leading a diverse range of creative ideas and concepts.

Work in a Copywriter capacity and performs the duties of the position when in this role. Present creative rationale during internal and client presentations.

Drive the creative solution for new business pitches. Offer proactive solutions and ensure successful progression.

Collaborate Communicate with client service Account Director(s) regarding business scopes, financials, schedules, and planning.

Collaborate with creative leaders with interviewing, hiring, training and the evaluation of junior Creative staff.

Who you are :

Leader Entrepreneurial attitude. Ability and appetite to create bring people together. Posses an Innate knack to marshal people and create gravity around ideas.

Prioritize, organize and multi-task effectively. exhibit client service approach with results-driven performance. Effectively solve marketing problems with creative solutions.

Open and collaborative Our team is close-knit and supportive and we're working with a lot of unknowns - you must be a champion of team environments that are comfortable with ambiguity and encourage collaboration.

Accept constructive internal and client comments with regard to concepts and copy.

An experimenter Embrace the unknown and ready to break process. You'll be excited by opportunities to create new rather than default to plugging-in to existing ones, while leaning towards experimentation.

You see technology as a tool for creativity. Provide guidance across departments in a team and matrix environment.

Ego-less We all wear the hats that need wearing, it's a mentality that makes the team successful.

What you'll need :

• Bachelor's degree plus 4 or more years of copy experience in an advertising, marketing or experiential, creative agency environment
• Experience within the Healthcare / Pharma and / or Consumer spheres are especially relevant for this role
• Knowledge of CX based campaigns will be extremely helpful
• Advanced competencies in Microsoft Office, Internet environments and industry-standard software programs
• Understanding of both the art and copy side and the ability to evaluate both
• Diverse account and industry experience
• Experience in and ability to evaluate all mediums to develop fully integrated marketing campaigns
• Strong portfolio of work that demonstrates strategic, conceptual and creative thinking
• Excellent presentation skills

VML is proud to be a WPP agency. This will be a hybrid role based in our Chicago office, we have a truly global reach with over 30,000 people in 90 markets.

For more information, please visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

VML is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and to attracting and retaining the most qualified employees regardless of race, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, age or disability.

We rely on legitimate interest as a legal basis for processing personal information under the GDPR for purposes of recruitment and applications for employment.

The base salary range for this position at the time of this posting is indicated below. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications.

We offer a competitive benefits package, click WPP Benefits for more details.

$60,000-$140,000 USD

At VML, we are committed to fostering an all-inclusive work environment that is both rewarding and career-forward. Our Inclusion, Equity & Belonging initiatives, alongside the VML Foundation, reflect our dedication to giving back and making a positive impact in our communities and beyond.

Our people are the heartbeat of our organization-creators, doers, innovators, makers, and thinkers-who drive not just marketing, but meaningful experiences that resonate in every action and interaction.

VML is a WPP Agency. For more information, please visit our website, and follow VML on our social channels via Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.

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