**Overview**
At Pearson, we’re committed to a world that’s always learning and to our talented team who makes it all possible. From bringing lectures vividly to life to turning textbooks into laptop lessons, we are always reexamining the way people learn best, whether it’s one child in our own backyard or an education community across the globe.
We are bold thinkers and standout innovators who motivate each other to explore new frontiers in an environment that supports and inspires us to always be better. By pushing the boundaries of technology — and each other to surpass these boundaries — we create seeds of learning that become the catalyst for the world’s innovations, personal and global, large and small.
Pearson is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer and a member of E-Verify. All qualified applicants, including minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
The Creative Director ("CD") provides leadership in design direction to the in-house agency and content development business. The CD is responsible for supporting his or her peers in managing complex client relationships, creating workflow efficiencies, driving strategy in moving the client from print to digital for their educational and creative services programs, and providing full-service support to clients. The Creative Director must exhibit outstanding creative judgment and guide the Creative team in achieving the highest possible standards for all materials regardless of medium. The Creative Director obtains a working knowledge of clients’ business challenges, and leads innovative and conceptual solutions to address those challenges, getting personally involved on highly complex creative initiatives.
Position is full time and based in Irving, Texas.
**Responsibilities**
*SCOPE*
This position currently has 5-8 direct reports with the likelihood of increased direct reports and/or contractors/freelancers. The role has does include direct budget responsibilities.
Complexity of this role is high, as creative functional skills as well as leadership, communication and strategic decision making are required. The relationship between the Creative Director and his/her direct manager is one of strategic partnership in which they have a shared vision for the business strategy and how Brand and Creative Services support that business strategy.
**
*MAJOR FUNCTIONS*
*Approx.*
*% of Time*
*Team Leadership:* Works harmoniously with others to get a job done and leads the team in a collaborative fashion.
* Shares critical information with everyone involved in a project
* Helps to set a tone of cooperation within the creative group and across the organization; promotes a “be of service” mentality across creative team
* Finds common ground with clients when debating creative or strategic opinions
* Encourages individuals to take on specific roles to help provide exposure to the broader organization
* Give the team proper recognition and credit for their contributions
* Builds a collective team vision and defines goals and objectives
35%
*Creative Direction, Leadership and Execution:* Directs and partners with staff to accomplish creative objectives
* Directs complex, large-scale projects.
* Leads execution of Tier 1 design on select projects including development of sketches/prototypes and imagery selection
* Provides brand guidance and direction to ensure consistent alignment with brand standards
* Manages team to a consistent high-level of quality
35%
*Staff development:* Works to improve the team’s performance by pursuing opportunities for continuous learning/feedback.
* Constructively helps and coaches direct reports in their professional development through informal and formal feedback sessions (i.e., performance reviews)
* Demonstrates a real sense of caring for the team’s professional and personal well being
* Plans regularly scheduled one-on-one time for personal coaching and mentoring of direct reports
* Exhibits a “can-do” approach and inspires and motivates others to excel
* Fosters a team spirit that is reflective of their collective personalities
* Nurtures a culture that is fun to work in and helps build an open creative community
* Proactively deals with performance issues to address them with staff
15%
*Client Service:* Partners with clients to achieve effective outcomes in an efficient manner
* Works with clients to articulate creative needs concisely, yet in a complete fashion
* Appropriately balances client desires, business requires and marketing standards
* Builds strong relationships with clients; perceived as credible, trusted advisor
15%
*TECHNICAL/FUNCTIONAL SKILLS*
*Job Knowledge:* Demonstrates broad knowledge of techniques, skills, tools, procedures and media.
* Demonstrates expertise in applicable applications and tools such as the Adobe Creative Suite
* Exhibits broad understanding of traditional and emerging channels
* Exhibits expertise in the move to digital in the elearning market, ideally has extensive educational technology knowledge and expertise. Start-up/emerging company experience positive as well as success in highly complex organizations.
*Creative Conceptualization*
* Develops initial creative strategies to address business objectives
* Directs and develops illustrative drafts of core concepts through imagery and copy
* Articulates the creative rationale that drives the concept’s execution and tactics
* Leads and mentors team in the ideation process leveraging research, analytics and customer-driven insights
*Communication:* Writes and speaks effectively and is able to clearly articulate conceptual ideas.
* States opinions clearly but encourages team to respectively challenge (is not looking for “yes men”)
* Is open and honest about the team’s quality of work with the goal of striving to be the best
* Does not create an adverse (us vs. them) mentality regarding client/creative points of view
* Eager to share ideas with team or clients early in the process to gain alignment on strategic directions
* Demonstrates ability to confidently and persuasively present to senior leaders
*Strategic Thinking and Analysis:* Offers advice and creates plans based on analysis of data, trends and the competitive landscape
* Reviews and “owns” the briefs ensuring the team fully understands the objectives and questions ambiguity
* Recommends research or seeks data to support assumptions or fill gaps in briefs
* Is pragmatic with creative strategies always keeping eye on the objectives of the assignment
* Listens well and incorporates others viewpoints into decision making
*Brand Advocacy:* Supports and respects the BSA brand
* Conveys marketing department objectives and point of view on The BSA brand and it’s verbal and visual identity with clients and internal team members
* Directs designers and writers to produce collateral within brand standards, but also encourages and develops new interpretations of the brand standards and out-of-the-box approaches to grow the verbal and visual identity of the brand
*Quality of Work:* Maintains high standards despite pressing deadlines and always strives to do work right the first time.
* Instills a sense that every project is an opportunity to make an impact
* Balances level of effort with expectations of assignment and knows when to “wrap it up”
* Acts as the last line of defense to ensure quality of work
* Lives by “it’s never to late for a good idea” and is always looking for the best solution
* Uses competitive beacons or relevant historical creative to set the bar for great work vs. good work
* Finds nuggets of opportunity even when presented subpar work and gives specific feedback for improvement
*COMPETENCIES*
*Support of Diversity:* Treats all people with respect and values diverse perspectives.
* Encourages unique ways to approach creative solutions
* Does not expect team to conform to CD’s individual style
* Allows others to own ideas and foster them
* Promotes mixing team with diverse skills from various professional backgrounds
*Leadership:* Inspires and motivates team members to achieve their highest potential individually and as a team
* Leads with passion that energizes the team to over-deliver against expectations and results in high employee engagement and overall job satisfaction
* Sets a tone within the team that encourages collaboration and a team mindset
* Celebrates team and individual successes and creates a safe environment for constructive feedback
* Coaches team members to reach their highest potential by capitalizing on their strengths and helping them meet expectations on development opportunities
*Reliability:* Takes personal responsibility and accountability for the team’s work.
* Always meets deadlines under normal circumstances
* Willing to “roll up sleeves” and work with team even after hours as needed
*Problem Solving:* Anticipates problems and sees how a problem and its solution will affect other projects, people or processes.
* Adapts well to changing priorities, deadlines and directions
* Is willing to take action and informed risks to meet objectives
* Is creative at problem solving and engages team to help collectively solve
* Does not wilt under pressure and can be counted on to persevere through challenging situations
* Proactively puts tough issues on the table, and surfaces them to leadership
*Attention to Detail:* Pays attention to all details of a project and ensures all roles and accountabilities are assigned and understood.
* Understands that all projects require attention to detail so that work is on-time, on-budget and on-strategy
* Delegates properly and does not get caught up in being a production or process manager
* Prideful and diligent in the final preparation of work including production and presentation details
* Allows team to work autonomously without micro-direction
*Innovation:* Able to challenge conventional practices and adapts established methods for new uses.
* Expects team to push new thinking and will challenge cliché or rerun ideas
* Confidently and diplomatically stewards new ideas through the organization on behalf of the team
* Knows how to be persuasive and/or negotiate when selling in ideas
* Enables the team to be innovative by providing the right tools, training, processes and environment
* Knows when to call off the troops, re-circle the wagons and move forward without pushing too hard
**Qualifications**
*EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE*
* Bachelor’s degree required; MFA preferred.
* External agency experience desired.
* In-House agency experience strongly preferred.
* Demonstrated creative conceptualization skills
* Print to digital expertise in the elearning, educational technology space a plus
* Customer “experience transformation” initiatives desired.
* Minimum of fifteen years professional level experience required; five as an art director or creative director preferred.
**Job ID:** 2014-29409
**# of Positions:** 1
**Position Type:** Regular Full Time
**Category:** Publishing