The Role:

Dotdash Meredith Travel Marketing is looking for an Associate Creative Director to lead design on a robust, well-established print and digital client base. Based in Des Moines and reporting to the Editorial Content Director, this position will lead a small team of visual creators in building award-winning travel-focused branded content programs. This role is a member of our senior staff and is instrumental in keeping projects on trend, on track and on budget. The person that lands this opportunity will lead with a collaborative spirit and an energetic but professional demeanor. They will guide the team in creative brainstorms and have a bit of a competitive edge. They will always strive to over-deliver, both internally and externally. (Comfort with being client-facing is a bonus but not a must.) As a part of a growing team, the Associate Creative Director should be prepared to continuously inspire colleagues and direct reports, as well as oversee a bench of reliable, immensely talented freelance designers and photographers. This role is a hands-on position, actively designing issues and digital experiences, as well as helping craft new business pitches as requested. We are looking for someone with stand-out creative, technical and professional skills who is also prepared to get their hands dirty in every step as needed.

You Will:

• Thrive in a fast-paced environment
• Be accountable, organized and goal-oriented
• Have respect for budgets and co-leaders and be flexible to client needs, with an open mind and level-headed perspective
• Communicate directly, thoroughly and transparently with the team, including editorial counterparts
• Establish and maintain timelines
• Lead the design for print and digital destination travel clients, maintaining cohesive visual and thematic styles for a large variety of projects and campaigns
• Be a positive force for Dotdash Meredith Travel Marketing internally and externally in client-facing opportunities
• Build branded content programs that align with DDM’s portfolio of brands and custom content programs that support client needs
• Proactively engage in tourism marketing trends, technology and design packaging, never settling for the same
• Track internal and external successes.
• Assist in creating visually arresting pitches for clients and agencies

You Should Have:

• Experience with branded content and direct-to-client creative
• Lifestyle photography production experience; within the travel and tourism vertical is a bonus
• Management experience in print and digital publishing
• Video experience is a bonus
• Experience pitching to clients is a bonus
• Impeccable attention to detail and rad organization skills
• A curiosity to learn about and showcase a variety of destinations
• A desire to share in both the hard work and the success
• Experience reinventing and developing multi- or cross-platform brands

   

You Can Expect:

• A direct environment that respects your contributions and a hard work ethic
• A small but immensely talented team
• A variety of creative challenges to tackle, spanning the design of industry-leading print travel guides, photo direction, video production, social content, brand evolution and reinvention, digital branded content and more
• To dive in wherever needed, regardless of job description, with a willingness to learn, grow and pivot