The Role
Lead visual strategy and artistic direction for client accounts and pitches. Develop and oversee multi-channel visual concepts and brand systems. Mentor and grow a design team, manage project timelines, budgets, and quality control, and present creative work to clients. Improve workflows, maintain brand consistency and compliance, and contribute to agency creative strategy and new business.
Summary Generated by Built In
About SmartCodes
SmartCodes is a leading pan-African hybrid marketing agency delivering creative innovation, media planning and buying, experiential activations, public relations, and integrated 360° campaigns. We forge new paths where technology meets consumer insight.
Key Responsibilities
1. Visual & Creative Leadership
- Lead the visual strategy and artistic direction for key client accounts and new business pitches.
- Develop compelling visual concepts, campaigns, and brand systems that align with client objectives and creative briefs.
- Oversee the end-to-end visual execution across all media—print, digital, social, video, experiential, and motion.
- Ensure all creative outputs are innovative, brand-consistent, and of the highest quality.
2. Team Mentorship & Development
- Mentor, coach, and inspire a team of designers, illustrators, and visual artists.
- Foster a collaborative, creative, and high-performance team culture.
- Conduct regular creative reviews, provide constructive feedback, and facilitate skill development.
- Identify training needs and organize workshops to elevate the team’s technical and conceptual abilities.
3. Client & Stakeholder Engagement
- Act as a key visual lead in client presentations, articulating creative rationale and strategic vision.
- Build strong, trust-based relationships with clients and internal stakeholders.
- Collaborate with Creative Directors, Strategists, and Account Leads to ensure creative alignment and client satisfaction.
- Present and defend creative work with confidence and clarity.
4. Project Oversight & Quality Assurance
- Oversee multiple projects from concept to delivery, ensuring they are on time, on budget, and on brand.
- Implement and enforce rigorous quality control processes for all visual deliverables.
- Manage resource allocation, workflow, and timelines in collaboration with project management teams.
- Troubleshoot creative and production challenges proactively.
5. Business & Creative Strategy
- Contribute to the creative vision and strategic direction of the agency.
- Support new business efforts by leading visual concepting and pitch development.
- Drive creative innovation that supports client growth and agency reputation.
- Stay informed on industry trends, competitor activity, and emerging visual technologies.
6. Operational Excellence
- Optimize design workflows, tools, and processes to improve efficiency and output quality.
- Manage the visual asset library and ensure brand consistency across all touchpoints.
- Uphold compliance with brand guidelines, legal standards, and accessibility requirements.
Performance Expectations & KPIs
- Achieve a client satisfaction score of 4.7/5 or higher on visual deliverables.
- Ensure 95%+ of projects are delivered on time and within budget.
- Lead visual contributions to at least 3 new business wins per year.
- Mentor and develop 4+ team members into more senior roles within 18 months.
- Secure regional or industry award recognition annually for visual excellence.
- Maintain 100% brand consistency across supervised projects.
Skills Required
- Lead visual strategy and artistic direction for client accounts and pitches
- Develop visual concepts, campaigns, and brand systems across media
- Oversee end-to-end visual execution across print, digital, social, video, experiential, and motion
- Mentor, coach, and develop a team of designers, illustrators, and visual artists
- Present and defend creative work to clients and collaborate with internal stakeholders
- Manage multiple projects to deliver on time, on budget, and on brand
- Implement quality control processes and maintain 100% brand consistency
- Optimize design workflows, tools, and manage visual asset library; ensure legal and accessibility compliance
Am I A Good Fit?
Get Personalized Job Insights.
Our AI-powered fit analysis compares your resume with a job listing so you know if your skills & experience align.
Success! Refresh the page to see how your skills align with this role.
The Company
What We Do
Our mission is to offer working hybrid solutions through integrated platforms, both online and offline, that foster development and sustainability across Africa and beyond.
