The Manager, Creative is responsible for leading an internal team of designers and copywriters and overseeing third-party creative services to develop engaging and innovative creative experiences that align with business objectives. This role involves translating business and marketing goals into creative campaigns, promoting problem-solving through creative solutions, and ensuring high performance and growth of creative personnel. The Manager, Creative will work closely with brand leads to foster collaboration with internal stakeholders, manage relationships with vendors and freelancers, and lead and participate in the execution of creative projects. Additionally, they will support departmental resourcing, strategic planning, and process improvement initiatives. The ideal candidate for this position is committed to promoting VEIC's mission, vision, and values.

We are committed to building an inclusive work community that represents a vibrant diversity of background, experience, perspective, and thought. Climate change impacts all of us; however, we are impacted differently based on our identities and experiences. We all deserve a place at the table to make decisions about our collective future – we hope you’ll consider joining us as we work towards our vision for a healthy planet, thriving people, and energy justice.

Qualified candidates located in the states where VEIC conducts business will also be considered: CA, CT, DC, DE, HI, MA, MD, ME, MI, MT, NJ, NY, PA, OH, RI, VA, VT, and WI.  Candidates across all markers of identity (age, race, gender, ability, veteran status, communication style, etc.) are highly encouraged to apply. #LI-Hybrid

• Leadership:
• Encourage a culture of innovation and creativity within the team and the organization, fostering an environment where new ideas are welcomed and explored.
• Proactively coach employees, colleagues, and partners on the best creative practices.
• Cultivate a culture of talent development.
• Balance team, stakeholder, and company needs, prioritizing effectively.
• Build influential relationships with brand teams.
• Creative Direction:
• Direct a cross-functional creative team of designers and copywriters in understanding organizational and brand-specific goals and translating them into innovative creative executions.
• Establish a clear vision and overarching creative direction for projects, ensuring objectives align.
• Lead brainstorming sessions and creative workshops to generate innovative ideas and concepts, guiding team members in translating ideas into actionable plans.
• Provide specific direction and feedback on visual and written elements to maintain consistency and achieve desired outcomes.
• Direct narrative and storytelling elements of creative projects, ensuring cohesive storytelling across various media channels and platforms to engage audiences effectively.
• Maintain your own portfolio of hands-on design or copywriting projects, showcasing expertise in concept development, execution, and problem-solving.
• Strategy and Team Planning:
• Review brand team strategies to ensure the necessary marketing insights are provided to deliver top-notch creative solutions.
• Troubleshoot bottlenecks and resourcing gaps and identify the need for additional internal and external resources.
• Collaborate with the Director, Creative and Digital to manage team recruitment and oversight of third-party creative service providers.
• Collaborate with the Director, Creative and Digital and the Creative and Digital Project Manager to create long-term roadmaps and strategic plans for the creative team, outlining priorities, milestones, and resource requirements to support achieving organizational goals and growth objectives.
• Collaboration and Communication:
• Address project requirements, align the creative vision with business goals, and keep stakeholders informed to ensure effective project implementation.
• Manage and allocate team resources effectively, coordinating with other internal teams or external vendors as needed.
• Address challenges and resolve conflicts during the creative process or project execution.
• Collaborate closely with web development team to translate design concepts into functional web interfaces that adhere to UX/UI standards.
• Quality Assurance:
• Ensure deliverables meet quality standards and client expectations by conducting regular reviews and providing constructive feedback.
• Manage team review process for creative deliverables, including comprehensive checks for accuracy, consistency, and adherence to project requirements and brand standards.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Strong personal commitment to the mission, vision, goals and values of VEIC.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, plus 8+ years of design, copywriting, or senior creative lead experience or a similar combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills were acquired.
• An existing creative portfolio that displays taste and style, showcasing the capability to craft strategically grounded creative solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire creative teams, fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment.
• Extensive knowledge of creative development practices and processes.
• Proven track record of successful creative projects across various mediums, with a deep understanding of design principles, storytelling, and brand identity.
• Ability to develop and execute creative campaigns.
• Proficiency in project management methodologies, with experience overseeing multiple projects on time and within budget from conception to completion.
• Experience mentoring, and developing creative talent, fostering team skill development and career growth.
• Strong time management and prioritization skills, as well as the ability to identify and implement the best allocation of resources to ensure the successful completion of projects.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate creative concepts, provide constructive feedback, and present ideas effectively to internal and external stakeholders.
• Working knowledge of basic UX/UI standards and designing and writing for the web.
• Proficient with Adobe Creative Suite and Figma.
• Experience with both Mac and PC environments.
• Comfortable in fast-paced, growing environments.