Art Director

Application deadline: 11:59 PM, June 21, 2024

Overview

This is a full-time, local staff position. We will not consider freelancers, recruiters or remote applicants.

Gard Communications is growing and we are looking for a talented designer/art director to add to our team. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with a background in branding and advertising, and experience developing concepts for a variety of mediums, such as print ads and collateral, TV, outdoor and digital. The duration of experience is less important than the quality of experience. You should be able to develop concepts and take them to a finished state. Creativity that flows from strategy and disciplined work habits are key attributes.

Established in 1979, Gard provides advertising, public relations, and digital services to clients primarily in the government, healthcare, transportation, education and energy sectors. The work we do has depth, and often the power to change public thinking. The writer will work with and report to the Creative Director but will interact with all team members and with clients.

Key Responsibilities

We encourage you to reach out if you feel at home with the following:

  • 5-7 years of experience in art design and creative execution – from concept to production to delivery – to create marketing campaigns across multiple channels
  • Translate creative briefs into compelling concepts
  • Proven ability to design for a variety of audiences, brands and industries
  • Collaborating with creative director and account leads on brand strategy
  • Digging into what makes a client unique and crafting materials that visually capture their essence
  • Synthesizing internal feedback to produce creative that’s clear, engaging and effective
  • Highly-proficient in the Adobe Creative Cloud and Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Experience with production lifecycle of various media, and competency in proofing and approving materials for delivery
  • Working knowledge of current interactive design trends, with a proactive learning attitude
  • Attention to detail, patience, strong communication, and organization skills
  • Serving as a guardian of the client’s brand standards

Nice to Have

  • Experience working with clients in similar industry sectors as Gard’s (health care, energy, manufacturing, higher education, foundation, transportation and more)
  • Extensive interpersonal and verbal communication skills, including via email, video calls, phone and in-person
  • Ability to present creative in person and in video meetings

How We Support You

  • We’re an established firm with a track record of retaining employees for many years. We’re well known, well respected and most of our work is by referral.
  • We are a helpful, responsive, collaborative lot, and we unfailingly support each other to bring the best to each client
  • We’ll help you grow professionally by providing an environment in which you can continue to explore and learn. We also offer professional development support such as for conference attendance, and membership to professional associations
  • Our structure is egalitarian and we value initiative and self-motivation
  • We are committed to work/life balance. We all have lives, families, sports and hobbies outside of work. We know they’re important and encourage a healthy work/life balance.
  • We practice a hybrid work model, combining working from home with office presence to foster mentorship and collaboration
  • You will be part of a team. Not only does the team provide support and learning opportunities, but also camaraderie, shared success and even a bit of fun.

Compensation and Benefits

  • Competitive salary commensurate with experience
  • Premium health and dental benefits
  • Employer-paid life insurance, and short- and long-term disability
  • Paid parking and/or commuter benefits
  • 401K with matching contributions

Equal Opportunity

We hold ourselves to high ethical standards at Gard. Part of our ethical practice includes the recognition that traditional hiring practices and operations disproportionately hurt the most marginalized people in society, including people of color, people from working class backgrounds, women and LGBTQ people. We are committed to making Gard a workplace that is both profitable and productive, and that advances the needs of both our clients and our employees. We strongly encourage all applications.

To Apply

Please click the Apply button below to email us your:

  • Resume
  • Cover letter, and
  • Three work samples you are proud of.