Lead creative direction for client projects, manage and mentor designers, and advance the agency's brand position.
Key Highlights
Technical Skills Required
Benefits & Perks
Job Description
Date posted: December 2, 2025
Pay: Starts at $42/hour and is dependent on experience (DOE).
About the Role
At The Marketing Dept. Colorado, we craft bold brands with a mix of smarts, guts, and good vibes.
We give our team the freedom to take chances, dive into learning, and always chase their best work. We deliver standout results for our clients—and have a blast doing it.
We’re looking for an Art Director who leads with vision, raises the bar, and still loves to get their hands dirty. You’ll be responsible for every piece of creative work that leaves our office—ensuring it’s not just beautiful, but strategic, purposeful, and effective.
As part of TMD’s leadership team, you’ll help advance and continually refine our agency’s brand position, guiding how we show up in the market, attract the right clients, and grow our impact. You’ll lead a multidisciplinary team of designers and collaborate with strategy, copy, and account leadership to turn complex ideas into clear, compelling visuals and stories that audiences instantly connect with.
Public speaking and some travel are part of the role—whether presenting to clients, joining industry events, or representing The Marketing Dept. beyond Colorado.
What You’ll Do
- Oversee all creative output across brand, campaign, and digital work—nothing leaves the office without your approval
- Lead creative direction for client projects, turning complex topics into visuals and stories that connect, clarify, and convert
- Manage, mentor, and inspire a cross-disciplinary team of designers at every level
- Collaborate with agency leadership to advance The Marketing Dept’s brand, refine its creative standards, and strengthen its position in key industries
- Present creative concepts and rationale to clients and stakeholders with clarity and confidence
- Partner closely with strategy, copy, and account teams to deliver unified campaigns that drive measurable results
- Represent The Marketing Dept. through public speaking, client workshops, and occasional travel
- Maintain expert awareness of design trends, emerging tools, and evolving creative technologies
What You Bring
- 12+ years of professional design or art direction experience—agency experience required
- 7+ years managing and mentoring creative teams
- Proven record leading brand identity systems, integrated campaigns, and multi-channel creative
- Expert-level command of Adobe Creative Suite and Figma
- Experience applying UX/UI design principles (SXO) across digital platforms
- Deep understanding of how creative translates across mediums—including web, social, print, email, and environmental
- Strong grasp of engaging social media design and how it differs from other creative formats
- Familiarity with AI tools and agents, including formulating effective prompts to enhance creative capabilities and workflow efficiency
- Proficiency in the Google Suite and familiarity with Basecamp or similar project management platforms
- Ability to balance hands-on design work with strategic leadership
- Exceptional conceptual thinking, taste, and storytelling ability
- Strong client presentation skills and the confidence to lead feedback conversations with diplomacy and clarity
- Collaborative spirit and the ability to mentor creatives of all levels
Location
Montrose, CO | Full-Time, Onsite
This is an in-person leadership role. Relocation to the Montrose area is required to collaborate closely with our creative and executive teams.
Why The Marketing Dept. Colorado?
People-Driven Culture: We create standout work for our clients with wisdom, heart, and a little bit of sass
Creative Ownership: You’ll have full influence over the creative output and direction of the agency
Colorado Vibes: We work hard, play hard, and love our Colorado roots
Equal Opportunity & Pay Transparency (CO Law Compliant)
The Marketing Dept Colorado is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all collaborators. We comply with Colorado’s Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, C.R.S. § 8-5-101 et seq., and all other applicable employment laws.
Ready to get to work?
Please attach your resume, cover letter and portfolio.
Let's build bold brands together.