Responsibilities
- Lead the conceptualization and execution of high-impact design and motion concepts for web, social campaigns, event experiences, brand video, and digital products.
- Establish and optimize the agency's motion design standards and best practices, including building scalable motion asset systems (templates, modular components, reusable frameworks).
- Own and continuously refine motion design workflows end to end (from storyboarding to final post-production), including capacity forecasting, escalation protocols, and bottleneck prediction.
- Operate within AI-supported creative production workflows, partnering with technical and AI-focused team members under established human-in-the-loop guardrails.
- Own creative presentations for major client accounts and high-stakes new business pitches.
- Effectively articulate the strategic 'why' behind creative and motion-driven choices to non-creative stakeholders.
- Manage friction points between creative timelines and account or client demands, protecting production quality and team capacity.
- Directly manage a team of motion designers and brand designers, including formal performance reviews and development planning.
- Foster a culture of continuous learning, creative experimentation, and technical growth.
- Act as the primary guardian of Highwire’s own visual brand, while ensuring clients' visual systems remain cohesive and forward-thinking.
- Partner with Digital Strategy and Copy leads to ensure copy and visuals work in harmony to drive measurable business results.
Requirements
- 8+ years of professional design and motion experience
- At least 3+ years in a dedicated creative leadership or player-coach role
- Demonstrated direct people management experience, including conducting formal performance evaluations
- Portfolio demonstrating ownership of brand, motion, and video storytelling at a campaign or systems level
- Strong typography, layout, and UI/UX fundamentals
- Expert proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (After Effects, Premiere, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and Figma
- Deep experience creating, scaling, and maintaining comprehensive digital and motion design systems
- Strong understanding of UX/UI principles, digital accessibility standards, and multi-platform social media optimization
- Thriving-under-pressure mentality with strong judgment for managing competing priorities across multiple concurrent projects
- Working knowledge of AI-integrated creative workflows, including comfort operating within human-in-the-loop guardrails
Nice to Have
- Agency experience
- Experience with 3D software (Cinema 4D or Blender)
- Experience with Final Cut Pro and DaVinci Resolve
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage
- 401(k) matching
- Generous paid time off
- Additional perks designed to support overall well-being and growth
Work Arrangement
Hybrid
Additional Information
- Hybrid work mode (#LI-Hybrid)
