Creative Director

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Creative Director is a senior leader responsible for owning the vision and direction of brand and product campaigns and content programs across formats, including written, visual, experiential, and multimedia storytelling. This role centers on creative leadership, big ideas and subject-matter expertise rather than executional production, specifically for the financial industry.

The Creative Director is both brand visionary and brand "editor-in-chief", and brings big-picture creative thinking and a strong, holistic point of view to storytelling across channels and platforms. This individual shapes how brands show up in campaigns and content programs that include a wide array of content, from thought leadership to social, as well as a visual storytelling with an emphasis on video. They ensure that all work is grounded in strategy, insight, and long-term brand value.

This person is a high-profile leader who guides internal teams and external specialists and is trusted to own the room and persuasively present to senior clients and stakeholders.

The Creative Director is accountable for developing big ideas that are original, purposeful, credible, and differentiated - especially within complex and regulated industries. Financial industry experience is required.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serve as the creative leader for a financial brand, with a strong understanding of regulatory considerations, risk sensitivity, and the importance of trust-based storytelling.
• Own the overall vision for creative and content across disciplines, channels, and formats.
• Support high-level storytelling concepts rooted in business objectives, audience insight, and brand strategy.
• Lead the creation of thought leadership platforms, multimedia narratives, and content ecosystems that extend beyond individual campaigns.
• Translate complex financial, economic, and regulatory topics into clear, compelling, and authoritative storytelling.
• Ensure all creative approaches are idea-led, insight-driven, and designed to deliver long-term brand and business impact.

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP & SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE:

• Serve as a content subject-matter expert, with a demonstrated depth of knowledge in financial services, including industry dynamics, regulatory constraints, and audience expectations.
• Guide the development of POVs, frameworks, and editorial theses that elevate clients as leaders in their category.
• Push beyond promotional thinking to create content that informs, inspires, and adds real value.
• Balance creativity with accuracy, nuance, and responsibility, particularly in financial services environments where compliance, reputational risk, and trust are paramount.

CLIENT LEADERSHIP & EXECUTIVE PRESENCE:

• Serve as a senior creative and content authority in client engagements.
• Confidently present creative concepts and strategies to executive audiences.
• Lead conversations that shape direction, manage feedback, and drive alignment across stakeholders.
• Partner closely with strategy and account leadership to ensure content supports broader business goals and KPIs.

PROGRAM DIRECTION & QUALITY OVERSIGHT:

• Direct creative and content across multiple programs and levels of complexity, from flagship initiatives to ongoing content platforms.
• Provide high-level guidance to designers, editors, strategists, and other creatives without micromanaging execution.
• Ensure consistency, quality, and clarity across all outputs while allowing flexibility for different audiences and channels.
• Maintain strong editorial standards, voice consistency, and brand integrity.

LEADERSHIP & COLLABORATION:

• Mentor and elevate creative teams, setting a high bar for thinking and craft.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with strategy, account, media, and production partners.
• Establish and reinforce creative best practices, workflows, and ways of working.
• Stay current on trends in creative, storytelling, and audience behavior to continually evolve approach and thinking.

WHAT THIS ROLE IS & IS NOT:

This role is:

• Big-idea driven
• Thought leadership–focused
• Strategy-led and insight-driven
• Client-facing and presentation-heavy
• Focused on narrative, direction, and authority

This role is not:

• A production manager
• A channel-specific specialist
• An execution-only art director or copywriter

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in journalism, graphic design, communications, marketing, English, or a related field (or equivalent experience).

Experience:

• 8–12+ years of senior-level creative leadership experience specifically within financial services brands.
• Proven success leading creative direction, content strategy and storytelling for financial brands.
• Demonstrated ability to develop the big ideas that power brand and product campaigns and content programs.
• Extensive experience presenting to senior clients and stakeholders.

SKILLS:

• Exceptional conceptual thinker and storyteller.

• Strong creative judgment and narrative instincts across art and edit.

• Commanding communicator with executive presence.

• Able to synthesize strategy, insight, and creativity into clear direction.

• Comfortable delegating execution while maintaining accountability for quality.

• Deep respect for craft across writing, design, and storytelling disciplines.

WHAT WE OFFER:

• The salary for this position will range from $130,000-$180,000 ($150,000-$200,000 in NYC and other major metros) depending on experience, education, geographical location, and other factors.
• A full suite of benefits is available following one full month of employment including medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with profit sharing, and other ancillary benefits. We even have a Life Balanced Account where you can get reimbursed for things like groceries or a haircut (yes, really!)
• PTO: Vacation, Recharge, Safe & Sick Time, Flexible Holidays + 10 standard paid holidays and a paid Day of Service
• Free financial wellness and planning and a robust EAP

ABOUT PACE:

Pace is a leading content marketing agency & digital storytelling powerhouse. We specialize in brand storytelling and deliver results by continually creating better customer and employee experiences for our clients. We connect the dots across an integrated marketing ecosystem using our six key service areas: strategy, creative, media, social, technology, and analytics.

We Create With Heart. We believe everyone is part of creating something wonderful every day. We lead with purpose and empathy. We cultivate a sense of belonging and celebrate diversity in both mind and experience. And we succeed through collaboration. At Pace, everyone has a seat at the table, and unique perspectives are welcomed. Everyone’s voice carries the same tenor, and inclusivity is in our DNA.