Creative Director, Art and Design

<div class="content-intro"><h3><strong>Who We Are</strong></h3> <p>VML is a global creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce to create connected brands that drive growth. Guided by a <strong>Human First</strong> philosophy, VML is known for its innovative work for brands and consistently ranks among the world’s leading creative companies, including the WARC Creative 100. VML’s global network spans 55+ markets with principal offices in Buenos Aires, Kansas City, London, New York, São Paulo, Shanghai and Singapore. </p> <p>VML is part of WPP, the trusted growth partner for the world's leading brands. Powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform WPP Open, WPP unites cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, creativity, production, enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel. </p> <p>For more information, please visit <a href="http://www.vml.com/" data-outlook-id="d4b7d1c3-8ad6-4b6d-ab45-d3cb5a3aebe1">www.vml.com </a>and follow along on <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__urldefense.com_v3_-5F-5Fhttps-3A_www.linkedin.com_company_vml_-5F-5F-3B-21-21JboVxjCXSME-21OhlpCfbkl1UcWPwns1-2DGtvHOzFh0QwHV49fsPgGw-2DVCCU1bCg8aQFI9vN-2Dy-2DVwaQcITH2j2XKzGKBIFRLYf2AUWVYY1dFGK6-24&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=zouFnm4jZMgDFaYF1uVcRY3rbgHWPca_luUrBUkT6Yc&m=QzcCgXCAOjzj5hiU48_CKOdHRSJ4_YpuqfviT9yjlzH5VrkzySTZ-WaQXlYAnj4W&s=jJ7q5V70u9oUx7ONPm5jC3IK8y6vxDilX6BGTlqlWlA&e=" data-outlook-id="a3ef68bf-16fb-4ebc-9ca9-406007d6cefc">LinkedIn</a> #WeAreVML.</p></div><h3>Who We Are Looking For</h3> <p>Passport Brand Design, a VML company and part of the WPP network, is seeking a forward-thinking Creative Director of Art & Design to lead a talented, large-scale team of art directors and designers. As a globally respected premium brand agency, we rely on this senior leadership role to drive conceptual and design excellence across brand identity, packaging, and campaign design.</p> <p>As part of the WPP network, Passport Brand Design is committed to a Human First approach. You will bring this to life by deeply investing in the growth of your team, helping them translate technological and creative capabilities into meaningful, high-impact outcomes for our clients.</p> <p><em><strong>Please note</strong>: This role primarily supports creative work within the tobacco industry. We share this upfront to ensure transparency and alignment with your personal preferences and comfort level.</em></p> <h3>What You'll Do</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Lead and Inspire:</strong> Mentor, manage, and empower a team of art directors, designers, and copywriters, fostering a culture of creative excellence that elevates the agency's overall output.</li> <li><strong>Drive Creative Vision:</strong> Own the creative direction and execution across multiple simultaneous accounts, delivering premium brand identity, packaging, and integrated campaign designs that drive measurable brand growth.</li> <li><strong>Present with Confidence:</strong> Articulate and defend creative concepts to executive-level clients with clarity, conviction, and strategic grounding to build trust and consensus.</li> <li><strong>Collaborate Cross-Functionally:</strong> Partner closely with strategy, account management, and production teams to ensure all work is strategically sound, flawlessly executed, and aligned with business objectives.</li> <li><strong>Embrace Constraints:</strong> Navigate the nuances of a highly regulated industry, using parameters as a catalyst to deliver innovative, compliant, and standout creative solutions.</li> <li><strong>Champion Standards:</strong> Act as a steward of the agency's premium design standards, ensuring consistency, craft, and quality across all deliverables.</li> <li><strong>Execute Conceptually:</strong> Lead the creation of strong conceptual campaigns across print, out-of-home, digital, experiential, and activations to build cohesive brand experiences.</li> </ul> <h3>Who You Are</h3> <ul> <li>A strategic, curious problem-solver who can distill complex category rules into elegant, compelling design systems.</li> <li>An empathetic leader who builds trust, champions collaboration, and creates an inclusive space for creatives to do their best work.</li> <li>A bold idea-driver who is comfortable with ambiguity and has the conviction to push for exceptional, high-impact work, even within regulated spaces.</li> </ul> <h3>What You'll Need</h3> <ul> <li>Proven Creative Director experience within an agency environment, with a demonstrated ability to orchestrate and manage creative workflows.</li> <li>A compelling, high-caliber portfolio demonstrating exceptional craft in brand identity, packaging, and campaign design.</li> <li>A proven track record of managing, mentoring, and developing large creative teams.</li> <li>Exceptional client-facing skills, including experience presenting to and aligning with C-suite stakeholders.</li> <li>Comfort and willingness to work on tobacco industry accounts.</li> <li>Willingness and ability to accommodate occasional required travel. </li> </ul> <p> </p><div class="content-pay-transparency"><div class="pay-input"><div class="description"><p>The base salary range for this position at the time of this posting is indicated belo