Creative Manager

Yakkety Yak is looking for a Creative Manager to assist us as we shift our verticals to develop our first-ever official art department with YOU at the helm. As a leading Chicago-based, purpose-driven digital marketing agency, this is an exciting, newly-created role for an experienced Art Director who wants a leadership track, and the ability to make an impact. The right individual will be confident and skilled in graphic design, but also be willing to get in the trenches and help our team perform to its greater potential. This small but mighty team will contribute to the day-to-day support for cross-functional teams, by creating graphics for websites, social media, video, digital ads, print material and more. Tasked with creative review, process management, managing budget, scoping projects AND creative asset development, you are well-rounded and ready to help contribute to overall business function, while moving our Art Department forward by leaps and bounds! 

Working alongside our account managers, content editors, UI/UX designers and video team, your projects will range from creating social media graphics for the agency’s variety of clients, to designing custom marketing materials, branding assets, title designs for video content, website imagery and more. 

We’re looking for an enthusiastic, creative team player with a “no job is too big or too small” mentality, who is eager to learn, grow, and actively contribute to our fast-paced, agency environment.

Creative Manager Responsibilities

• Accountable for innovative visual strategies and graphic design production for each client with the ultimate goal of delivering on deadline and exceeding expectations
• Collaborate with cross functional teams to brainstorm and align on innovative visual storytelling concepts 
• Oversee success of art department
• Contribute to scoping work and budget development, working alongside VP of Accounts
• Delegate assignments to internal and freelance art directors and graphic designers to serve multiple departments
• Provide meaningful and insightful feedback to advance the team
• Contribute to client pitches
• Help guide art direction and create design elements for client projects from concept to completion
• Collaborate with Writers, Content Strategists, Video Producers, Web Developers and Account Managers to ensure all assignments are on-brand and client deadlines are met
• Incorporate current design trends into each unique layout to produce an up-to-date style for custom content that is optimized for each platform
• Contribute ideas to drive the agency forward
• Complete select design projects for social media, branding, print materials, website styling and more

Job Description

We’d love for the right person to show off with the following skills:

• 7-10+ years of design or agency experience
• Demonstrated ability to manage a team
• Experience creating design project scopes and budgets
• Proficient knowledge of the Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, and Acrobat. (Premiere is a Plus)
• Organized and detail-oriented
• Ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects and tasks simultaneously
• Meticulous at project file organization, use of project management software, and time tracking, and getting compliance from team members in these areas.
• Able to take your own initiative, own your work, but also work collaboratively with teammates in all departments of the agency

Technical Skills

• Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Premier, Acrobat)
• Knowledge of basic UI design principles

Job Requirements

What You Will Love About Us

We believe in taking care of our team. Our market-leading benefits include:

• Healthcare benefits, including medical, dental, vision–and pet insurance! Staying happy and healthy is a top priority.
• Unlimited PTO. We work hard and deliver for our clients, but we also have families and lives outside the office.
• Market-leading parental leave policy. Who says you can’t grow your family while growing an agency.
• Competitive compensation. We’re looking for top talent.
• Loft-style office in West Loop Gate. Steps from Union Station, multiple CTA stops, and all that West Loop has to offer.

About Yakkety Yak

Yakkety Yak is a full-service digital agency in growth mode. We fuse strategy and content production to craft high-impact stories for brands and businesses that care about doing good. Our full-service marketing team expertly combines multi-channel digital marketing to ignite empathy and inspire action. Curious, accountable, authentic, committed and kind- we are building an environment where we can thrive together. 

Yakkety Yak is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Yakkety Yak recruits qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, ethnic or national origin, protected veteran status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or citizenship status.

To Apply:

• Upload a copy of your resume
• Include a cover letter outlining 5 reasons why you are a good fit for our team
• Submit a link to relevant work product or professional website

https://www.yakketyyak.com/jobs/creative-manager/