[Hiring] Executive/Creative Director @Active Theory

Role Description

Active Theory is seeking an Executive / Creative Director (ECD) to lead creative vision and execution across high-profile client work and new business initiatives. This is a senior, highly visible role that sits at the intersection of hands-on creative leadership, strategic thinking, and studio-wide design excellence.

The ECD partners closely with other Executive / Creative Directors to uphold and evolve Active Theory’s creative standards across interactive, experiential, and digital projects. This role requires experience with deep digital craft, comfort with software and technology, and the ability to move fluidly between strategy, concept, execution, and client partnership.

What This Role Looks Like

Company-Level Responsibilities

• Partner with the other ECD to shape and evolve Active Theory’s design culture
• Maintain a high bar for creative quality across all projects you oversee
• Provide creative oversight and feedback to designers across multiple teams
• Participate in internal reviews, critiques, and creative forums
• Contribute to studio-wide creative initiatives, experimentation, and thought leadership

Project-Level Responsibilities

• Serve as Executive/Creative Director and project lead on assigned client work, from concept through launch
• Own creative vision, narrative, and execution across projects, ensuring work is visually striking, conceptually rigorous, and technically sound
• Lead creative discovery, ideation, design direction, and reviews
• Be hands-on when needed, contributing directly to design, motion, or visual systems
• Present work and creative rationale clearly and confidently to senior client stakeholders
• Partner closely with production and development to balance creative ambition with scope, timelines, and budget

Client & Account Leadership

• Act as Creative Lead for Clients, developing deep understanding of the brand, creative standards, and long-term vision
• Establish trusted client relationships through strong creative leadership and consistent delivery
• Lead pitches, concept presentations, and creative strategy discussions
• Provide creative leadership and client management in partnership with production and account leads

Leadership, Mentorship & Growth

• Mentor mid-level and junior designers through project feedback, creative guidance, and career development
• Support the growth and elevation of senior creatives ensuring they have the opportunity to grow in their craft and as leaders
• Participate in hiring by reviewing portfolios, interviewing candidates, and helping define role expectations
• Manage the North American Creative Team
• Represent Active Theory externally through public speaking, events, talks, and industry presence

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in digital design/creative production, ideally within a creative or digital agency
• Proven experience leading large-scale, highly interactive projects from concept to launch
• Strong conceptual thinking paired with excellent visual and design craft
• Deep familiarity with tools such as Figma, Adobe Suite, After Effects, C4D, and related creative workflows
• Strong understanding of interactive and WebGL-driven experiences (hands-on or through close collaboration)
• Excellent presentation, communication, and storytelling skills
• Ability to lead teams with clarity, empathy, and confidence
• Comfortable balancing creative ambition with practical constraints

What Success Looks Like

• New business efforts are elevated through clear, compelling creative vision
• Clients trust your leadership and see you as a long-term creative partner
• Projects consistently launch at a high creative bar
• Designers feel supported, challenged, and inspired by your feedback
• Active Theory’s design culture continues to mature, evolve, and strengthen
• Senior creatives, especially emerging leaders, grow alongside you