Creative Director/Senior Graphic Designer for Lifestyle Client

Market Connections is a full-service branding, advertising, and public relations agency in Asheville, North Carolina. For over 30 years, we have provided our clients with distinctive campaigns tailored to serve their strategic needs with brand development, web design, graphic design, and much more. We seek an experienced Creative Director/Senior Graphic Designer to join our award-winning team of talented professionals. Our candidate will possess leadership and strong relationship skills that will inspire and deliver high quality, effective creative solutions with meticulous attention to detail. All candidates should be well-versed in branding and designing visuals for digital, web and print production, as well as direction and production for film and photoshoots. This position reports to the company president and is a full-time position based out of our Asheville, North Carolina office. The position will: • Guide the artistic and conceptual direction of a marketing campaign. • Oversee the entire creative process—from brainstorming initial ideas to directing copywriters and art directors—ensuring all deliverables align with the client’s brand strategy, budget, and deadlines. • Maintain strong, collaborative relationships with clients to ensure brand and creative direction for all materials in support of client promotions and marketing goals. • Possess a strong grasp of branding strategy and development. • Translate clients’ brand into compelling, original, and persuasive creative concepts across various media (TV, digital, print, and social). • Manage and mentor a team of creatives, including copywriters, art directors, designers, and account executives by providing feedback, nurturing talent, and ensuring collaboration and team cohesion. • Pitch creative concepts to clients, articulating why the messaging will drive success and securing project buy-in. • Act as the final filter for the agency's output by ensuring consistency and making sure the work is both effective and on brand. • Provide and oversee creative concept/direction for integrated print, digital, and broadcast campaigns, and/or directly design and produce materials. • Assist in selecting agency partners to assist with execution of creative vision of each project, including photographers, videographers, web developers, illustrators, motion graphics artists, and printers, etc. • Participate in day-to-day account management directly with clients including meetings, creative planning, timelines, production schedules, on-site photo and video shoots. Requirements: • 5+ years experience as creative or graphic designer • Experience working in an advertising or creative agency environment • Bachelor of Fine Arts, Visual Communication Design, Graphic Design or related degree • Deep knowledge of traditional, digital, video, and design tools, trends and styles • Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, and Acrobat • Portfolio of personal work that demonstrates strong art direction and design skills in a variety of mediums • Understanding of integrated communications, including advertising, marketing and public relations • Website design experience required, proficiency in Wordpress, Squarespace, and similar dashboard-based editors • Video experience working in Final Cut Pro X, Adobe Premiere Pro, or similar is a bonus • Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills Market Connections would prefer this position to work in our corporate office in Asheville but will consider working remotely. This is a full-time position. Salary negotiable. Please send a resume, cover letter, and a link to your portfolio to President Alison Fields at [email protected] and copy [email protected]. Benefits: • Dental insurance • Flexible schedule • Flexible spending account • Health insurance • Paid time off • Vision insurance Education: • Bachelor's (Preferred) Experience: • Adobe Creative Suite: 5 years (Preferred) Location: • Asheville, NC 28801 (Preferred) Work Location: Hybrid remote in Asheville, NC 28801