Art Director

  • Location: Manchester
  • Salary: Dependent on experience
  • Closing date:

Ride Shotgun is a bit different. Not only are we one of the fastest growing strategic brand, activation and production agencies in the UK but we think big, go big creatively and deliver big in production to deliver fully joined-up brand journeys for clients of all shapes and sizes.

This role is an opportunity to undertake conceptual and creative projects for campaign, CGI/digital, motion and design. As an art director you will build creative pitches, ideate from briefs, and direct best-in-class creative content for our clients. You will be joining an established creative team and be supported by client services, production and a network of other international offices with a vast skillset across content creation and delivery.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

CREATIVE

  • Originate big ideas and implement creative campaigns for CGI, digital, motion and stills projects at the highest level. 
  • Ensure creative work and concepts are aligned with client strategies. 
  • A hands-on approach to the direction of CGI and traditional media projects.   
  • Liaise with production teams to ensure the best creative outputs. 
  • Develop a thorough understanding of all client products and services, and their business objectives, pressures and markets, to exceed client expectations. 
  • Manage allocated time and resource on projects to ensure deadlines are met. 
  • Work with the wider creative and strategic teams to uphold the integrity of concepts. 
  • Understand and work within brand and corporate guidelines where relevant. 
  • Use your experience and knowledge to identify and resolve design, art direction and production challenges. 
  • Work together with the creative and account management teams to exceed client expectations and drive-up standards of creativity. 
  • Communicate progress at every stage of the creative process to facilitate the smooth running of work and planning schedules. 
  • Produce outputs as required to a high level of finish for internal and external presentations. 
  • Ensure creative output is quality controlled and accurate. 
  • Keeping up to date with current design and digital trends and techniques. 
  • Researching new techniques for creative and production including the integration of AI. 
  • Undertaking of some additional duties if required. 

GENERAL

  • Act as a brand guardian for your clients, keeping their brand goals at the heart of everything you do.
  • Constructively challenge every brief.
  • Be a positive and inspiring team member.
  • Actively promote the culture and values of the business.
  • Take responsibility for continuous personal development and learning, identify objectives and opportunities for skills development.
  • Understand the company’s quality management and file management systems and employ a methodical approach to archiving and file organisation.

REQUIRED SKILLS

  • Clear experience in creative concepting from client and internal briefs.
  • Strength in campaign ideation across retail sectors.
  • A good understanding of motion/animation and CGI production.
  • Art direction curation and reference building for clear, concise visual direction.
  • Storyboarding and design/layout capability.
  • Strong project leadership and confident, constructive direction skills.
  • Presentation building and client-facing confidence.
  • Adobe suite competence (including Ps, Id, Pr, Ai).

LOCATION AND WORKING HOURS

Based in Manchester, you will be working from our Bonded Warehouse office, 9.00am- 5.30pm, Monday to Friday.

WHAT KIND OF PERSON ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

We expect all our team members to share the same behaviour and culture code as Ride Shotgun, check them out below!

WE MAKE IT HAPPEN

  • We own it – we want to feel proud of the work we do every day. So, we step up, we crack on and we take responsibility. And when we do that, our infectious and genuine passion for our work shines through.
  • We are on it – “that’ll do”, won’t do. We expect a lot more of ourselves and each other. As a result we’re a proactive, driven bunch with a “can do” attitude, who love nothing more than spotting a problem and sorting it.

WE RIDE AS ONE

  • No drama – we’re all in this together. We look out for, and after, each other. No questions asked. We understand each other and respect each other. We work brilliantly together. No drama. No egos. Nobody being a dick. I’ve got your back, you’ve got mine.
  • Know-how – we work as one team, recognising and respecting each other’s skills and capabilities. We trust each other and we know there’s always someone in the team that will know the answer. It’s in our nature to collaborate because we know that when we work together, amazing things happen.

QUESTION EVERYTHING

  • Be curious and creative – curiosity is our superpower. It drives us to dig deeper. To look at challenges from every angle using left and right brain thinking. Leave no stone unturned. There might be an idea or insight under it.
  • Have guts and glory – we’re fearless in challenging the accepted norms. Brave enough to do things differently. To take risks and try new things. And if that means challenging clients, ourselves and each other…So be it.

WHAT DO WE OFFER?

The opportunity to make a real impact and be instrumental in shaping the future of a new, ambitious, and exciting agency. Based in our Manchester office you’ll work with some of the world’s best brands and the region’s best talent to produce award winning creative work.

In addition, we offer a competitive salary and additional benefits including:

  • 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
  • Your birthday off
  • Additional holidays through salary sacrifice
  • Childcare salary sacrifice
  • Company Sick Pay
  • Cycle to work scheme
  • Tech & Home Scheme
  • Pension contribution
  • Westfield health cash plan
  • Profit share scheme
  • Discounts portal with access to thousands of retailers

DOES THIS SOUND GOOD TO YOU?

Applicants should be within commuting distance of the office location. Please apply to futureriders@rideshotgun.co.uk attaching your CV and portfolio.

No agencies please.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES STATEMENT

Ride Shotgun is committed to promoting equal opportunities in employment. All job applicants will receive equal treatment regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation (Protected Characteristics).

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