Ovative / group is hiring : Senior Director, Creative Lab in Chicago

About Ovative Group Ovative Group is an independent, full-funnel media, measurement, and creative firm. Leveraging our deep industry expertise, we help brands like Best Buy, Domino's, American Eagle, The Home Depot, Post, Disney, Tumi, Michael Kors, Boost Mobile, and UnitedHealth Group transform their media and measurement programs, driving profitable growth.

Do you have the following skills, experience and drive to succeed in this role Find out below.

At Ovative, we don't just track data, we redefine success. Our proprietary MarTech platform, EMRge, helps businesses transform marketing into a driver of sustainable growth. Powered by Enterprise Marketing Return (EMR), our approach to holistic media buying, planning, and measurement is designed to measure businesses holistically. Our work has been recognized by Digiday, Google, Inc. 5000, USA Today, and Search Engine Land.

About The Role Ovative Group's Creative Director role invites a visionary creator to drive our next wave of evolution, shaping creative direction and inspiring a talented team at a growth-focused organization. You’ll champion fresh ideas, creative excellence, and breakthrough storytelling, leveraging technology and collaboration to make a meaningful impact for client brands. We seek a leader with sharp critical thinking, a deep understanding of the digital and media landscape, and an inspired approach to creative leadership.

Responsibilities

Lead a dynamic, multidisciplinary creative team including designers, motion graphics specialists, copywriters, project managers, and strategists.

Architect the talent and partnership strategy to blend creative, technical, and production expertise across internal resources, freelance partnerships, and third-party collaborations.

Foster a culture of modern making where great ideas, technology and culturally relevant content transform brands and drive client results.

Drive organizational evolution through thought leadership, coaching, and inspiring new creative capabilities.

Recruit, mentor, and grow high-impact talent, cultivating a network of creative partners and solution providers as the creative offering expands.

Manage P&L and financial accountability for the team.

Creative Leadership

Lead and advise strategic client relationships, helping them embrace strategically focused ideas that expand their understanding of what they believe is possible for them as a brand.

Lead creative thinking that breaks boundaries by embracing insightful strategy and modern making to reflect cultural relevance, business objectives, and brand strategies.

Drive the entire creative lifecycle from ideation and concept development to writing and designing for today’s varied production contexts (TV, influencers, social media, AI video, etc.) and seamless client delivery.

Engage clients and stakeholders through a narrative that showcases Ovative's integrated creative, media and measurement capabilities.

Spearhead integration of AI and creative technology, driving workflow transformation, proprietary tool development, and seamless tech adoption to accelerate innovation.

Collaborate with the team to bring ideas and the work to life, blending visionary leadership with hands-on creativity.

Oversee processes for the team, updating outdated practices and driving change to ensure great work is not hindered by inefficiency or tooling gaps.

Business Development & Thought Leadership

Represent Ovative as a thought leader in creative, contributing to industry trends, best practices, and novel approaches to client challenges.

Collaborate with business development, client services, and internal teams to identify and pursue new business opportunities, leading unified, innovative pitches that demonstrate growth potential for both new and existing clients.

Requirements

10+ years leading creative teams and driving integrated creative direction across advertising types, with a solid understanding of the digital landscape.

Proven ability to manage direct reports and cross-functional collaboration, with experience building high-value teams and evolving service offerings.

Demonstrated ability to drive business impact through unified creative solutions, AI / technology integration, and modern creative practices.

Advanced communication skills and client management experience, including driving alignment with external partners.

Deep passion for innovative creative practices including social, video, AI-driven workflows and creator strategy.

Benefits We provide strong, competitive, holistic benefits that understand the importance of your life inside and out of work. Culture matters and Ovative has been recognized as a Top Workplace for ten years running. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can participate and thrive, with policies supporting families.

Access to all office spaces in MSP, NYC, and CHI

Frequent, paid travel to Minneapolis headquarters for company events and collaboration

Flexible paid vacation policy

401k match program

Top-notch health insurance options, inclusive of same-sex partners

Family formation benefits including fertility, pregnancy, and parenting support

Monthly stipend for mobile phone and data plan

Sabbatical program

Charitable giving with time and monetary matching

Shenanigans Day

Working at Ovative wont be easy, but it can be highly rewarding for those who like getting results and collaborating with strong talent. We want to hear from you if you can help us improve.

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