Creative Director

Employer

Job Description

Company Description

Company Description

The Mill is a global creative partner for agencies, production companies and brands, working across all media channels and platforms.

We are trusted specialists in visual effects, creative technologies and content production Our projects include the creation of digital products and virtual experiences, as well as world class visual effects and video production.

We are a vibrant network of talented artists, producers, directors and creative technologists from multinational backgrounds. We nurture innovation, flexibility and diverse ideas across our studios in London, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Berlin and Bangalore. We are all united by one single ambition: To create extraordinary and memorable work that captivates and excites audiences.

We are The Mill. We create the extraordinary.

Our global Visual Effects team combines talent with technology, artistry with rigor, the familiar with the fantastic. Our work can be inspiring or invisible, but always unforgettable. From the language of colour to the hand drawn and photo-real, we bring ideas to life through the use of movement, storytelling and timing.

About The Role  

Job Description

The Mill Experience Studio is looking for a Creative Director to join us. You are a critical observer of the world around you, you have a confident strategic point of view that is based on a wide spectrum of knowledge and interest. You understand that curiosity leads to creativity and innovation, and you actively expose yourself to new challenges.

You like to play outside your comfort zone and with this enthusiasm for forward thinking you inspire your colleagues and clients to follow you on these journeys to create astonishing work.

As a Creative Director with the Experience Studio of the Mill, you will be experienced across multiple verticals; this includes 3D Web, VR, AR, Experiential, Games, AI & Machine Learning.

Your Responsibilities

You are a leader and visionary, who can inspire your team to craft work at the highest quality possible, both visual aesthetic and from a UX and CX perspective. You can be ‘hands on’ when required and can collaborate with your team and client teams to push concepts into new exciting territories and shape emotional experiences that will captivate millions.

As a Creative Director You Are Expected To Pitch On New Business With a Designated Team Of Permanent Colleagues And Freelancers, Lead Projects Through Production And Explore New Opportunities And Ideas As Part Of Our Studio’s R&D Methodology

New Business

You are a storyteller at heart, confident with building narratives around your concepts that resonate with both the brand values and the target audience. You will be spearheading pitches, leading a team of creatives to structure and craft beautifully designed proposals which follow the client’s objectives, but pushes the envelope in regards to creative execution and innovation.

The pitch process starts with an inter-department brainstorm to digest and evaluate a brief, where you will work collaboratively to gather knowledge from individual specialists within the business. Followed by a call with the client and the core team to gather more insights and knowledge. Then you will lead the team to structure and visualise a response at the highest quality.

You will have frequent check-ins with the client as collaborative tissue meetings and internal standups to absorb constructive criticism to develop concepts to our high standards. The core team for each pitch consists of an Exec. Producer, a Technical Director, Biz Dev and yourself. With additional Stategists, copywriters, UI and UX Designers, 3D Designers & Technical Artists, Motion Designers, Storyboard Artist and Concept Artists at your disposal to bring your vision to life.

With your confidence and positivity, you will be presenting the work to the client either in person or in a video call. You will also maintain focus and provide support during negotiations that lead to the pitch being awarded.

Production

You will lead the pitches you win into production, building a team that can deliver your vision on time and to the high quality promised.

Direct projects from concept to completion with minimal oversight from ECDs, ensuring that our projects consistently maintain a high degree of innovation and quality.

Provide hands-on guidance to productions, providing animation guidance, pixel-pushing the final product and overall ensuring that the creative output has the sauce and enforcing accountability when creative standards are not met.

Lead presentations and guide clients through our production process with confidence and charisma. Take charge of client tissue sessions and walkthroughs to maintain their confidence in the creative vision and its success. Keep a cool head when changes, barriers and conflict arise… continue to support the client and the team, striking the perfect balance between ambition and facilitation.

You should have a global approach to working across time-zones, cultures, and work styles that are a strong part of such a big global company as The Mill.

R&D

We encourage everyone to explore personal projects and through an internal business opportunity review, we can support these projects with a designated team.

Exploring the creative application of new innovative technologies to use as part of our new business showcase, is what we like to see. Turning these ideas into opportunities and lead at the forefront of our industry.

We have monthly presentations where knowledge is shared across the department, driving our collaborative thinktank methodology.

Qualifications
  • 8+ years experience in a studio environment
  • Strong ability to grow client relationships
  • In depth understanding of immersive, VR, AR and tech-based experiences
  • Proven experience leading highly successful immersive/experiential projects
  • A breadth of experience and understanding covering UI, UX, visual design, strategy, concepting
  • Excellent written/verbal communication skills
  • Exceptional presentation skills with the ability to win a room over, clearly articulate and explain the creative work and your rationale behind it. Evoke excitement and passion with your recommendations
  • Ability to work collaboratively with multi-disciplinary teams on multiple projects
  • Strong leadership and organization skills
  • Sense of humor, we want the Experience Team here at The Mill to be a great place to work