Associate Creative Director - Graphics

Career Area:

Marketing

Job Description:

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other.  We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.

At Caterpillar, we work to help our customers build a better world. Without our team of talented, bright and driven individuals, we wouldn’t be the Caterpillar we are today. Now, this is your chance to join our team and do work that matters. We want you to help us enable customer success, make progress possible around the world and help our communities grow and thrive.

Ironworks, the in-house creative agency for Caterpillar Inc. is seeking an experienced Associate Creative Director (ACD), Graphics to join our team. The ideal candidate is a dynamic, collaborative leader who possesses a well-rounded creative skillset, omnichannel marketing experience, and a proven track record of strategic thinking, conceptual development, and delivery of best-in-class solutions.

The ACD, Graphics is responsible for managing the development of creative concepts, working with all functions within the Creative group at Ironworks—developing and delivering compelling content that consistently meets business objectives while exceeding client expectations. The right person is also expected to confidently present compelling ideas to colleagues and clients internally, influencing decision-making, fostering creative talent development, and promoting cross-functional collaboration within Ironworks.

The ACD, Graphics is heavily involved in creative strategy, scoping, and brief writing as well as all stages of creative development, review, and approval—from concept to QC to completion. If being a “doer,” “creator,” and “influencer” sounds like you and you have a killer portfolio that showcases your ability to deliver best-in-class copywriting and creative solutions, then we want to hear from you!

Job duties include, but are not limited to the following:

Business Contribution

• Leverage understanding of assigned clients/lines of business and Caterpillar overall to develop innovative concepts and holistic, data-driven solutions that deliver results.

• Effectively translate business partner needs into smart, measurable, creative approaches.

• Consistently demonstrate strategic thinking with informed ideas that yield best-in-class solutions.

• Partner with Creative Director, as well as fellow ACDs and account management colleagues to ensure creative content complies with corporate business and brand standards.

Creative Output

• Ensure consistent high levels of quality creative output and productivity from team members while complying with project schedules and workflow processes.

• Review creative work developed by Art Directors and graphic team members (from concept to completion) for strategic integrity and to ensure that creative quality and brand standards are consistently met.

• Deliver objective feedback to creative team members—regularly offering guidance, coaching,
  and opportunities for growth.

• Exercise independent thinking and creative judgment, with minimal oversight by Creative Director
  in the development of concepts, campaigns, and daily project-related decision making.

• Responsible for content development on your own set of assigned projects—effectively managing your own workload, distinguishing priorities, and driving deliverables to timely completion.

• Review new concepts and ideas with Creative Director, working in close collaboration with the project team to ensure materials are “client ready” in advance of presentations and/or reviews.

• Participate in and sometimes lead creative presentations—effectively representing concepts and recommendations to influence sell-through to internal clients.

• Manage workflow and delivery of materials executed by Art Directors and graphic team members
  so project timelines and budgets are consistently met.

• Keep account and project management colleagues informed regarding the status of creative output—particularly as it affects client project schedules, budgets, commitments, and outcomes.

• Play an active role in supporting project initiation including work proposals, brief development, forecasting of hours and expenses, and pitching of proposals to clients.

Resource Management

• Responsible for day-to-day oversight of Art Directors and contractors as needed.

• Estimate and ensure the timely availability of resources for successful project execution; keep Creative Directors, Account Management, and Creative Operations colleagues informed regarding the availability of resources as it relates to forecasting for future projects.

• Regularly monitor performance, providing objective feedback to team members regarding their effectiveness in compliance with Caterpillar’s performance management practices.

• Provide steady management, mentoring, and talent-development opportunities to direct reports:

  • Consider employees’ interests and development needs when determining work assignments.

  • Be accessible to them to help address issues and resolve problems.

  • Inspire individuals and the team overall to achieve higher levels of performance.

• Ensure accurate, timely submission of weekly timesheets from every individual within the editorial/copy and video functions.

Candidates should include a link to online examples of their work in their resume.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree combined with 10+ years of relevant experience working in a creative position with an external agency, or in-house, corporate environment

• Proven track record developing integrated content across multiple channels including print, digital, social, video, photography, and live events

• Expertise in brand development, including a strong understanding of how to integrate the corporate brand and brand voice throughout all aspects of the work

• An impressive portfolio that demonstrates originality, innovation, and multi-disciplinary thinking

Top Candidates will also have:

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and guide others under pressure, maintaining quality and attention to detail while managing multiple concurrent projects—keeping all balls in the air

• Strong attention to detail, combined with excellent communication and the ability to prepare and deliver compelling presentations

• A natural team player who prioritizes the performance and success of the team ahead of personal success

• Experience managing direct reports, fostering talent development and growth is preferred—minimally, management of assorted creative freelancers and/or contract resources

• Expert knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud programs

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Additional Information:

• This position can be located in Chicago, IL or Peoria, IL.

This employer is not currently hiring foreign national applicants that require or will require sponsorship tied to a specific employer, such as H, L, TN, F, J, E, O.  As a global company, Caterpillar offers many job opportunities outside of the U.S. which can be found through our employment website at  www.caterpillar.com/careers

#Li

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position. This employer is not currently hiring foreign national applicants that require or will require sponsorship tied to a specific employer, such as, H, L, TN, F, J, E, O. As a global company, Caterpillar offers many job opportunities outside of the U.S which can be found through our employment website at www.caterpillar.com/careers.

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.   

EEO/AA Employer.  All qualified individuals - Including minorities, females, veterans and individuals with disabilities - are encouraged to apply.

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