CAA

Creative Director

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Full time

Job Description

THE AGENCY 

Creative Artists Agency (CAA) is the leading entertainment and sports agency, with global expertise in filmed and live entertainment, digital media, publishing, sponsorship sales and endorsements, licensing, media finance, consumer investing, fashion, trademark licensing, and philanthropy. Distinguished by its culture of collaboration and exceptional client service, CAA’s diverse workforce identifies, innovates, and amplifies opportunities for the people and organizations that shape culture and inspire the world. The trailblazer of the agency business, CAA was the first to build a sports business, create an investment bank, launch a venture fund, found technology start-up companies, establish a philanthropic arm, build a business in China, and form a brand marketing services division, among other innovations. 

CAA Brand Consulting 

CAA Brand Consulting is a strategy-led, full-service marketing agency with expertise in Cultural and Consumer Insights, Data and Analytics, Talent/Influencer and Property Partnership Advisory, Experiential, Social Impact, Creative Services, and Content and Digital Strategy. These integrated capabilities come together to offer solutions from planning through execution, and we pull in a collective perspective of expertise with each client brief to ensure we are tapping into diverse thinking and building strategies reflective of the marketplace and culture we work within. 

THE ROLE 

After a positive period of geographical growth we are seeking a dynamic and innovative Creative Director to join CAA Brand Consulting in Abu Dhabi as creative lead on one of our flagship accounts and spearhead the implementation of our creative offer in the region. 

The client is based in Abu Dhabi, but the account is led out of our UK office. Working in partnership with the London team, the UAE-based Creative Director will provide thought creative leadership, strategic creative advisory, hands-on creative thinking, in-market expertise and direct collaboration and communication with the client in real time. 

We’re looking for a special candidate who is strategic and creative in equal measures. The ideal candidate will have a passion for sports and entertainment, coupled with a proven track record in crafting integrated strategic creative partnership campaigns and building conceptual platforms that position brands at the forefront of cultural conversations across sports and entertainment partnerships. 

This is an exciting hands-on position for those who just love to shape culture. Working directly with one of the region’s biggest and most loved brands, you’ll be key to help connect them to the audiences and fandoms of their extensive global partnership portfolio, and propel them into the cultural conversation. You eat and

sleep culture and know what’s hot now and what’s coming next to drive impact through words, pictures, experiences and moving image. You’re a strategic thinker loving nothing more than being the architect and builder of compelling marketing and partnership campaigns. You’re a storyteller and born presenter who can capture the imagination of clients and colleagues alike. You’re a team player and a natural collaborator – you know the power of ‘We’. 

This is a key hands-on role for a hungry, confident, energetic and ambitious candidate with an entrepreneurial mindset who is excited by the opportunity of building and shaping compelling, culture-shaping marketing campaigns in the worlds of Sports and Entertainment. 

Main responsibilities to include, but not limited to 

  • A creative leader. Leading by example, shaping and directing creative campigns, experiential, brand activations and determining how our clients’ brand shows up across their sports and entertainment partnerships. 
  • A creative mentor. Inspire, guide and nurture a team of ambitious and dynamic creatives, art directors, copy writers, designers, and experiential specialists to bring their A-game each and every day. 
  • A creative practitioner. This is not a hands-off position. You’ll be working alongside teams to build out the very best-in-class creative solutions, visuals and copy for our client under the support and guidance of our Executive Creative Director team. 
  • A creative force. You’re ambitious, energetic and approach each day with a can-do attitude but your’e no prima-donna. You’re a team player that knows how to foster a positive creative culture getting the very best out of your team to delight our client. 
  • A creative councel. You’re a strategic thinker that has the ability to offer creative councel to our accounts teams and clients alike. 
  • A creative storyteller. You have the ability to craft creative solutions into compelling presentations that takes our client through your thought process in a way that is simple to understand and leaving them hanging on every word. 
  • A creative collaborator. Act as a primary creative contact for clients, presenting ideas and strategies, and fostering strong, collaborative relationships. 

What you’ll bring: 

  • You'll love building and leading BIG ideas and creative campaigns across the sports and entertainment landscape. 
  • You'll thrive on developing concepts into well rounded integrated campaigns and activations and all the way through to delivery of assets. 
  • You'll create not just what the brief asks for but what the campaign needs, producing beautifully designed decks that are in line with the project's objectives and requirements. 
  • You'll recognise the power of words and have the ability to write creative copy for campaigns, social posts and events. 
  • You'll have expert skills in 360 campaigns, partnerships, advertising; branding; customer comms, content and social media. 
  • You'll be a pro at presenting - effectively communicating and selling creative concepts and BIG ideas to colleagues, clients and stakeholders. 
  • You'll have expert design craft and technical awareness across Adobe CC and Microsoft software packages. 
  • You'll be able to quickly communicate your ideas through scamps, mood boards and storyboards. 
  • You’ll bring hands on knowledge and experience of art directing photography and film shoots. 
  • You'll love working collaboratively with other Creative Directors, Art Directors, Designers, Artworkers and other creative specialists across all global regions where needed. 
  • You'll have a keen eye for detail and are able to proofread, spell, edit and handle copy accurately. 
  • You'll have good commercial awareness, ensuring that the creative vision is relevant and achievable throughout all processes of project delivery. 
  • You'll have your finger on the pulse and have up-to-date knowledge of social, pop-cultural and industry trends. 
  • You'll be able to multi-task, seamlessly bringing your creativity to multiple projects at any one time. 
  • You’ll lead and inspire others to think creatively and build ideas. 

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS 

  • 5+ years Creative Director level experience within a fast-paced agency environment 
  • Experience working on partnership marketing business or at a partnership marketing agency 
  • A design practitioner who is inspired by the visual world around them, past and present. 
  • An impressive portfolio of work that demonstrates your creativity and ability to work across numerous marketing channels. 
  • Entrepreneurial self-starter with a proactive can-do attitude 
  • Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build new relationships quickly 
  • Must have an organised and detail-oriented approach with the ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines 
  • Team player with the ability to work autonomously 
  • Creative flair with a passion for ideas and innovative thinking 
  • Confident presentation skills, verbal and written, with a strong attention to detail 
  • Experience working with global brands 
  • Critical and strategic thinker 
  • You are eligible to work in Abu Dhabi 

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