Executive Creative Director

Running with Sasquatch is more than just a clever marketing campaign. As a Jack Link’s team member, Running with Sasquatch means we roll up our buffalo plaid sleeves and do the hard work first. We don’t shy away from challenges. In fact, we push hard and take risks. True to our North Woods roots, we're a bunch of ordinary people who accomplish extraordinary things by driving results with innovation, creativity and a clear sense of urgency. Like our awesome protein products, we have an unwavering passion for quality, and you won’t find anything artificial here. What you see is what you get… authentic, humble and fun people who Run with Sasquatch!

Running with Sasquatch takes a team. We invite you to run with us, succeed with us, and celebrate with us. Most importantly, Feed Your Wild Side with us on our journey to be the dominant global leader of branded protein snacks!

Jack Link's Protein Snacks is a global leader in snacking and the No. 1 meat snack manufacturer worldwide. Still family-owned and operated with headquarters in Minong, Wisconsin, Jack Link’s also has a large corporate hub in Downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, and operates a total of 11 manufacturing and distribution facilities in four countries. Jack Link’s produces high-quality, great-tasting protein snacks that feed the wild sides of consumers around the world. Jack Link's Protein Snacks family of brands includes Jack Link's, Lorissa's Kitchen, World Kitchens Jerky, Bifi and Peperami.

If you are an innovative creative leader with a social-first and culturally tuned-in mindset, looking to elevate content creativity to new heights, this job might be right for you. We are looking for a creative mastermind, a multi-tasker to motivate, inspire, manage, create, and steward new content opportunities that stand out from the status quo, inspire engagement and spark conversation.

As the Executive Creative Director (ECD), you will be responsible for building, growing, and leading a team of content innovators that will support our full portfolio of brands including – Jack Link’s, Lorissa’s Kitchen, and Golden Island, as well as Licensed and Incubator brands as they are launched. You will be a champion for creative excellence, build exceptional cross-functional relationships, provide visionary leadership and inspiration while balancing strategic feedback and communicating actionable direction to the team to drive results. The Executive Creative Director reports to the Vice President of Integrated Marketing and will be a key member of the Marketing Leadership Team.

The responsibilities of this position shall consist of, but not be limited to, the following:

Creative Leadership

• Provide visionary leadership to the creative team, inspiring and guiding them to produce innovative, compelling, and effective content across our full portfolio of brands
• Build, manage and mentor a team of creative content professionals, including art directors, copywriters, designers, editors, videographers, and other creatives, with 5+ direct reports
• Inspire the creative team to create more modern and culturally relevant content using brainstorming sessions, team meetings, and other strategic tools
• Develop a strong team culture by attracting creative professionals and supporting their individual growth to build a talent pipeline that ensures the future success of the business and our brands
• Provide constructive feedback, conduct performance evaluations, and foster a collaborative and positive work environment. Inspire creative team members to be engaged, organized, and self-sufficient
• Build bridges between teams and nurture cross-functional relationships while contributing cohesive creative support to cross-functional initiatives
• Embody Link Snacks’ values and champion them to the creative team
• Participate as part of the Marketing Leadership Team to problem solve company challenges and to work toward the achievement of company growth goals

Creative Development

• Champion a culture of curiosity and innovation by staying ahead of industry trends, integrating emerging technologies like Generative AI, and continuously adapting to the evolving social media landscape.
• Lead in setting the vision for how our brands show up across every content touchpoint (social, digital, experiential, and more).
• Oversee and contribute to the development of ideas, concepts and content ensuring alignment with brand guidelines, industry regulations, and market trends
• Maintain high standards of creative excellence and accountability, using best practices to guide teams through the creative process and ensure accurate, error-free creative execution within agreed timelines
• Inspire teams to push creative boundaries – crafting and capturing content that help our brands make an impact in culture and create a connection with our consumers
• Act as a player-coach, working with teams to bring ideas to life

Planning, Strategizing, Evaluating & Optimizing

• Partner with Brand teams to develop workable project budgets, plans, and realistic timelines in addition to defining content scope
• Work with cross functional team to develop content strategies and opportunities
• Review, analyze and evaluate creative briefs and creative deliverables relative to the brand’s needs and objectives
• Gain a deep knowledge of our brands’ businesses and goals to develop unique creative concepts that will maintain their brand’s voice and build consumer engagement and affinity.
• Act as a key point of contact for the brand teams, building strong relationships and understanding their content needs.
• Oversee deadlines and budgets as they relate to creative projects to contribute to fiscal responsibility of the brand(s) and overall business

Required Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design, Art Direction, Digital Marketing, Writing, Journalism or creative content-related equivalent

Required Experience:    

• 15+ years of experience in advertising/content development, including at least five years in leading a creative team. Proven ability to manage a diverse portfolio of brands. 
• Proven track record in overseeing the development of creative work across social media, with specific experience working on big idea campaign platforms, as well as with short-form video content and emerging platforms
• Significant leadership experience in agency settings or with large brands, capable of leading by example, fostering a positive work environment, and encouraging a culture of innovation and collaboration
• Experience attracting, mentoring, and developing creative talent
• Willingness to take on all types of projects, big and small
• Ability to lead by example – you are a maker and a manager
• A deep understanding of social platforms and their creative formats
• Experience taking a moment in culture and reacting quickly to create a social activation
• Ability to socialize and present creative work in a compelling and persuasive way to cross-functional partners and senior leadership – has excellent people skills
• Clear and concise written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence and motivate others
• Sound decision-making and problem-solving skills based on brand, consumer, and industry knowledge
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and circumstances
• Strong capability to multitask and prioritize multiple demands
• Proficiency in Adobe software
• Willingness and ability to occasionally work nonstandard work hours and weekends, and travel as required (30%)

Preferred:

• CPG/food experience

The salary range for this role is $193,000 - $265,760 (Annually). Actual salaries will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to external market data, internal equity, location, and candidate skill set and experience. Base pay is just one component of Jack Link’s Total Rewards package for Team Members. Other rewards may include annual incentive and program-specific awards. Jack Link’s provides a variety of benefits to eligible Team Members, including medical, dental and vision benefits, life and disability insurance, 401k participation, paid holidays, and paid time off.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:
Jack Link’s provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic that is protected by federal, state or local law.

E-VERIFY:
Jack Link’s is participant in the federal E-Verify program to confirm the identity and employment authorization of all newly hired employees.  For information about the E-Verify program, please visit:  http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify/employees

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.