Creative Director - WNBA

WORK OPTION: 4 days/week in the New York, NY office

The NBA is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace.  To safeguard our employees and their families, our visitors, and the broader community from COVID-19, and in consideration of recommendations from health authorities and the NBA’s own advisors, any individual working onsite in our New York and New Jersey offices must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The NBA will discuss accommodations for individuals who cannot be vaccinated due to a medical reason or sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance.

Group Summary:
The WNBA is the hottest sports league on the planet. It has evolved to be the epitome of sport performance, cultural influence and depth of purpose. Featuring 15 teams (soon to be 16), the WNBA is a unique sports property that combines competition and entertainment with a commitment to diversity and inclusion and social responsibility. Through its world-class athletes, the in-game fan experience, TV and digital broadcasts, digital and social content and community outreach programs, the league celebrates and elevates the game of basketball and the culture around it.

WNBA Marketing is in constant evolution and rapid growth mode as the league, its teams, players, partners and fans demand more from the function.

Job Summary:

The Creative Director is responsible for the overall creative direction of the Brand. The WNBA is looking for a Creative Director to spearhead the creative development process and help establish a consistent, distinctive brand vision and voice for the league. This hands-on role will oversee internal design projects and external experiential efforts from concept to completion. Responsibilities will cover design, video, copy and experiential work, with the support of agencies, a design team and functional peer groups. 

The Creative Director will be a key part of the broader Marketing organization that is working to define and refine the WNBA brand in today’s cluttered sports and pop culture landscape. 

But this isn’t just about the great work you’ll make. It’s about how you inspire others to make the best work of their lives. How you build teams and help them develop and thrive. And ultimately how you can help make the WNBA the most admired sports brand in the world.

Major Responsibilities:

• Oversee the development and execution of creative and content assets for use across experiential, digital, social, CRM and broadcast channels at the national and local level.
• Lead your team of creatives and encourage them to make the best work of their lives. Guiding them to make good decisions but giving them the space to develop their own creative instincts (letting them fail from time to time).
• Work collaboratively with Brand, Strategic and Production leads on your team, ensuring that everyone is pulling in the same direction to make amazing work.
• Try Stuff – Sports is one of the most dynamic platforms for Brands. Our fans expect more from us every day, driving us to rethink their experience all the time. That gives us some ability to think differently and take creative risks. Not only in what we make but how we do it. And we’ll be fully supportive of it.
• Handle quality control of all creative assets and social media.
• The ability to operate strategically by providing creative oversight across channels to go-to-market with a cohesive WNBA brand expression
• Ensure brand standards are evolving and implemented throughout the organization and in team markets.
• Constantly hone the WNBA brand look and voice in distinct and innovative (and fun) ways.
• Collaborate closely with Content Strategy and Marketing to set direction for content and creative year-round and to manage daily workflow of creative/copy
• Provide copy and creative support for teams, ensuring consistent voice and brand across local assets
• Oversee hiring and/or work of freelancers for creative and copy development throughout the year

Required Skills/Knowledge Attributes:

• 5-8 years of design as a creative with a Brand and/or at an Agency
• Ability to submit a reel and/or portfolio of creative work
• A proven track record of gaining trust and respect by consistently demonstrating sound critical-thinking skills and maintaining composure in stressful situations
• A fluency in sports and specifically, the WNBA.
• Extremely creative, with a distinct voice and portfolio that shows an aesthetic that aligns with the WNBA brand!
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate with all levels of employees including Executive Leadership
• Exceptional initiative, attention to detail and follow-through skills!
• Knowledge of design best practices, particularly for social media, understanding of what it takes to create effective, engaging creative for each platform
• Successful history within the world of experiential design, bringing a brand to life for live event experiences.
• Ability to thrive in a high-pressure environment, juggling multiple projects on overlapping deadlines
• A great sense of patience, grit, calm, self-motivation and eagerness to push the league’s creative boundaries

Salary Range: [[$140,000 - $175,000]] 

Job Posting Title: [[Director]] 

We Consider Applicants For All Positions On The Basis Of Merit, Qualifications And Business Needs, And Without Regard To Race, Color, National Origin, Religion, Sex, Gender Identity, Age, Disability, Alienage Or Citizenship Status, Ancestry, Marital Status, Creed, Genetic Predisposition Or Carrier Status, Sexual Orientation, Veteran Status, Familial Status, Status As A Victim Of Domestic Violence Or Any Other Status Or Characteristic Protected By Applicable Federal, State, Or Local Law.