Executive Creative Director

80Twenty is a boutique creative recruitment agency that connects high-growth companies with exceptional candidates

Our client, an independent B2B marketing and advertising agency is seeking an established Executive Creative Director. This creative leader will take ownership of everything the team produces, from the first concept in a pitch to the final execution that ships to a client. This person will be the final word on creative quality across every account, while also staying hands-on enough to jump into the work directly when it matters. Success in this role means being equally comfortable in a boardroom with a client’s CMO and at a desk shaping a specific layout or headline. The agency is looking for a strong, conceptual “player/coach” who wants to build out a creative department and lead, but still get their hands dirty.

Key Responsibilities

• Take full ownership of creative output across every client account, setting a high bar for what “great” looks like
• Turn dense, technical subject matter into ideas that actually move a B2B buyer
• Direct creative across every format the agency touches, including brand identity, campaigns, content, digital, and video
• Mentor and grow a creative team, giving direct and specific feedback rather than vague notes
• Sit inside the strategic process early, working alongside the strategy function so creative is built on a real business rationale
• Concept and pitch new clients and evolve creative recommendations at the executive level
• Take the lead creative role in new business pitches and help shape how the agency positions itself in the market
• Build out the shape and structure of the creative department as headcount grows, including decisions on freelance and outside production support
• Balance creative ambition with reality: timelines, budgets, and what a lean team can actually deliver

Qualifications

• Two decades or more in the creative side of the industry, with real, sustained time operating at the top creative seat (Executive Creative Director, Group Creative Director, or equivalent), not someone newly arrived at that level
• A career built on the agency side; this is not a fit for someone coming from a large internal, in-house creative team
• Genuine B2B experience with subject matter that is technically complex
• A design-oriented creative background, though strong conceptual range across both copy and visual work is expected regardless of specialty
• A track record of building and leading creative teams, and getting the best out of people, not just producing strong personal work
• Comfort and credibility presenting directly to senior client stakeholders and defending creative thinking under pressure
• A builder’s mentality: someone drawn to shaping something from an earlier stage rather than stepping into a fully mature, established operation
• Genuine willingness to be hands-on

Compensation & Benefits

• Full benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, and disability coverage, plus other savings accounts
• 401k plan with company match
• Flexible paid time off