Project Hire – Senior Creative Director

Mission and Summary

The successful candidate will be an experienced creative leader, who has the demonstrated skills to advocate for the creative vision and story, provide solutions, communicate clearly and confidently, and act as a strong strategic thinker in guiding the project internally and in collaboration with a large, complex client team.

Functions and Responsibilities

• The Senior Creative Director is responsible for representing the creative work of the team to the client team and their associated consultants/project partners.
  • Successfully guide the client through the creative process, bearing in mind the experiential, financial, and operational goals of the client Lead creative discussions with clients, vendors, and partners
  • Indicate challenges in development, communicate to broader team, and propose solutions
  • Anticipate client needs and concerns and lead project team in effectively mitigating issues.
  • Lead client and stakeholder work sessions and presentations, including participating in developing presentation materials.
  • Work with vendors to ensure fulfillment of creative intent, and help develop solutions when challenges arise
• Lead the creative work of the internal team and consultants
  • Participate in the creative process, including the multidisciplinary approach to the project’s guest experiences (i.e., show and ride attractions, museum exhibits, interactives, etc.) from concept development, design, tender, and production phases through installation/programming
    • Ensure the work of creative directors, writers, and artists is in sync and appropriately adheres to agreed-upon overarching creative vision in support of client goals
  • Work with and inspire artists, technical directors, and the entire project team to shepherd development and meet deliverable goals
  • Have a deep understanding of multiple modes of guest engagement, and how they interconnect in complex projects
  • Work closely with internal and external SMEs to ensure creative concepts are operationally, financially, and experientially achievable within project parameters
  • Express creative intent and direction, largely via written means such as creative briefs, narratives, and/or scripts
    • Oversee the work of the team to augment concepts and pitches with mood boards, storyboards, photo and video references, and team-produced art, and participate in the generation of materials as appropriate
  • Research industry, trends, and client/project information as directed
• Collaborate closely with the Project Manager or Director and Project Executive to:
  • Ensure that all assigned projects are designed and executed with an emphasis on delivering on time, on budget, within scope, and maintaining a strong positive client relationship
  • Proactively identify potential challenges and develop strategies to mitigate them
  • Respond to client requests and feedback promptly, thoroughly, and in a manner that is healthy for the project workflow and budget
• Ensure creative and design quality control and confirm its implementation throughout the life of the project per Thinkwell’s standard operating procedures. This includes understanding and allowing time for internal creative reviews with Thinkwell’s Chief Creative Officer and Project Executive as required
• Ensure compliance with company policies & procedures
• Identify critical issues and milestones and communicate them promptly to the client, team, and upper management
• Willing to travel domestically and internationally as needed

Knowledge and Skills

• Excellent collaboration skills, and comfortable working as part of several teams simultaneously

• Strong computer skills: Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Keynote
• Proven communication and presentation skills: written and verbal
• Understanding of the entertainment industry
• Participating in or leading a creative process
• Basic understanding of construction process and methods within themed entertainment
• Proven experience in constantly multitasking and handling competing priorities between client business needs, organizational issues, and sound customer relations
• Possess judgment to know when to appropriately escalate issues up the chain of command
• Excellent diplomatic listening and communication skills, able to handle and resolve conflicts effectively in a firm but fair manner
• Able to work both collaboratively and independently while maintaining a high level of productivity in a remote or hybrid setting
• Able to work under tight timetables and high-pressure situations
• Thrive in a fast-paced environment and able to juggle, shift gears, and maintain a sense of humor; deliver under extreme deadlines and intense business environment
• Proactive and solution-oriented when managing issues

Education and Experience

This is a mid to senior career position. The successful applicant will have 5 to 15 years of previous experience in creative leadership and project execution (construction and installation) at a high level of responsibility, with a focus on themed entertainment, leisure or hospitality development, or related field.

A bachelor’s Degree in an applicable field is a plus, but not required. A degree plus years in the field or longer tenure in the field will be considered appropriate experience.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Thinkwell Group LLC. is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex, or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, pregnancy-related conditions, and lactation), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances. Thinkwell Group LLC.’s management team is dedicated to this policy with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, access to facilities and programs, and general treatment during employment.

Any employees with questions or concerns about equal employment opportunities in the workplace are encouraged to bring these issues to the attention of the Head of Human Resources. Thinkwell Group LLC. will not allow any form of retaliation against employees who raise issues of equal employment opportunity. If employees feel they have been subjected to any such retaliation, they should contact the Head of Human Resources. To ensure the workplace is free of artificial barriers, violation of this policy including any improper retaliatory conduct will lead to discipline, up to and including discharge. All employees must cooperate with all investigations conducted pursuant to this policy.