Executive Creative Director

80Twenty is a boutique creative recruitment agency that connects high-growth companies with exceptional candidatesOur client, an independent B2B marketing and advertising agency, is looking for an experienced Executive Creative Director to lead the agency’s creative vision and output.This is a senior creative leadership role with responsibility across the full lifecycle of the work—from developing ideas for new business and strategic initiatives through to ensuring the quality of final client deliverables. The ECD will work closely with strategy, account leadership, and clients to develop creative that is both highly compelling and grounded in business objectives.The ideal candidate is an experienced agency creative leader who can operate comfortably at both the strategic and executional levels: setting a strong creative vision, presenting to senior clients, and remaining close enough to the work to meaningfully shape it.Key ResponsibilitiesLead the creative vision and quality of work across the agency’s client portfolioDevelop creative platforms and ideas that translate complex B2B subject matter into clear, compelling communicationsProvide creative direction across a broad range of disciplines, including brand identity, integrated campaigns, content, digital experiences, and videoPartner closely with strategy and other agency disciplines from the outset of an engagement to ensure creative thinking is informed by meaningful business and audience insightsReview, develop, and elevate creative work throughout the process, providing clear and actionable direction to the teamBuild strong relationships with senior client stakeholders and confidently present, explain, and defend creative recommendationsLead the creative function on new business opportunities, including contributing to agency positioning, pitches, presentations, and creative conceptsDevelop and mentor creative talent, helping establish a high-performing team and strong creative cultureCollaborate with agency leadership to evolve creative capabilities, processes, and team structure in line with client and business needsDetermine when freelance talent, production partners, or other external resources are appropriate to support project requirementsBalance creative ambition with practical considerations including budgets, timelines, resources, and client expectationsRemain actively involved in the work and contribute directly when the project or opportunity calls for senior creative involvementQualifications20+ years of professional experience in advertising, marketing, branding, or a related creative discipline, including significant time in a senior creative leadership position (e.g., Executive Creative Director, Group Creative Director, Creative Director, or equivalent)A substantial agency background; experience should primarily come from working with external clients rather than exclusively within an in-house creative organizationDemonstrated experience developing creative for B2B audiences, particularly within technically complex or specialized industriesA strong design-oriented background with the ability to lead and evaluate conceptual work across both visual and verbal disciplinesProven experience building, managing, and developing creative teamsStrong conceptual and strategic thinking, with the ability to connect creative ideas to business objectivesDemonstrated ability to present creative work and build credibility with senior client and executive stakeholdersExperience contributing to and leading new business effortsStrong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across strategy, account management, and other agency disciplinesA hands-on approach and willingness to remain closely connected to the creative workA collaborative, thoughtful approach to creative leadership and a genuine interest in producing high-quality work for sophisticated B2B audiences