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About the Role

Highwire's creative team, part of the Innovation practice, leads creative strategy, design, and execution to drive business impact for clients. We combine insights with multidimensional creativity and strategic storytelling to help clients stand out. As the Associate Creative Director, Motion & Design, you will be a driving creative force for Fortune 500 clients, bridging conceptual thinking with visual execution, specifically spearheading motion graphics, video, and digital design. This role involves leading creative development for multi-channel campaigns, brand visual identities, and immersive digital experiences. You will set visual standards, lead pitches, and inspire a team of designers and animators across various platforms. You will collaborate with Creative Directors, Digital Strategy Leads, Project Managers, and Account teams to transform complex tech and B2B narratives into visual stories, reporting to the VP, Creative Director. You will co-lead high-visibility account engagements, contribute to AI-integrated production workflows, and build a record of expanding scope and responsibility.

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 motion design standards and best practices, including building scalable motion asset systems.
Own and continuously refine end-to-end motion design workflows, including capacity forecasting, escalation protocols, and bottleneck prediction.
Operate within AI-supported creative production workflows, partnering with technical and AI-focused team members under human-in-the-loop guardrails.
Own creative presentations for major client accounts and high-stakes new business pitches, articulating the strategic rationale behind creative choices.
Manage friction points between creative timelines and account or client demands, protecting production quality and team capacity.
Directly manage and mentor 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 while maintaining delivery and craft standards.
Act as the primary guardian of Highwire’s visual brand and ensure 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

Demonstrate creative vision and motion mastery with a portfolio showcasing modern digital design and dynamic motion graphics.
Deep understanding of pacing, rhythm, and visual storytelling.
Empathetic and inspiring leadership with direct management experience, including performance feedback and development conversations.
Exceptional presentation and storytelling skills, confidently selling creative concepts to C-suite clients and defending creative direction.
Operational excellence in owning delivery timelines, forecasting capacity, flagging bottlenecks, and escalating risks.
8+ years of professional design and motion experience.
3+ years in a dedicated creative leadership or player-coach role (agency experience preferred).
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, alongside 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.

Skills

Creative Vision
Motion Mastery
Pacing, rhythm, and visual storytelling
Leadership
Mentorship
Constructive creative feedback
Strategic Communication
Presentation
Storytelling
Operational Excellence
Capacity forecasting
Bottleneck identification
Typography
Layout
UI/UX fundamentals
Adobe Creative Suite (After Effects, Premiere, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
Figma
3D software (Cinema 4D or Blender)
Final Cut Pro
DaVinci Resolve
Digital and motion design systems
UX/UI principles
Digital accessibility standards
Multi-platform social media optimization
AI-integrated creative workflows

Location

New York, NY (Hybrid)
San Francisco, CA (Hybrid)
California (Remote)
Colorado (Remote)
Connecticut (Remote)
Florida (Remote)
Georgia (Remote)
Illinois (Remote)
Iowa (Remote)
Kansas (Remote)
Maryland (Remote)
Massachusetts (Remote)
Michigan (Remote)
New Hampshire (Remote)
New Jersey (Remote)
New York (Remote)
North Carolina (Remote)
Ohio (Remote)
Oregon (Remote)
Pennsylvania (Remote)
Rhode Island (Remote)
South Carolina (Remote)
Tennessee (Remote)
Texas (Remote)
Utah (Remote)
Virginia (Remote)
Washington (Remote)
Washington, D.C. (Remote)

Work Type

Hybrid
Remote

Experience Level

8+ years of professional design and motion experience
3+ years in a dedicated creative leadership or player-coach role

Salary/Compensations

$110,000 - $150,000

Benefits

Competitive salary with merit-based opportunities for growth
Flexible hybrid work model
Generous vacation policy, including extended summer and winter breaks
Early log-off on Fridays through Empower Hours program
401(k) plan with employer matching
Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
FSA options
Paid parental leave benefits
Commuter benefits
Annual Growth Mindset stipend for books, events, or learning experiences
Monthly technology reimbursement
Wellness benefit program for mental and physical health
501c3 donation matching program
Mentorship and ongoing professional development opportunities
Monthly recognition and team celebrations
Employee referral and new business referral bonuses
Quarterly Highwire events and team gatherings
Dog-friendly office environment
Supportive, inclusive, and collaborative workplace

About the Company

Highwire is a strategic marketing communications agency at the intersection of innovation and industry.
We partner with ambitious companies and established brands to navigate complexity, lead markets, and grow with purpose.
Integrated expertise in strategic marketing and communications, corporate reputation, creative, and insights.
Delivers bold ideas and measurable impact across B2B technology, healthcare, cybersecurity, energy, professional and financial services, and more.
Believes storytelling fuels transformation and that impactful stories represent all voices and perspectives.
A values-driven agency fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can feel safe, celebrated, and worthy.
Ensures every Highwire Walker has the requisite support to soar in their careers.
Commitment to diversity, inclusion, and belonging is foundational and embedded in business and culture.
Aims to change the industry and build a better future for all.
People-first culture driven by four core values: Team Empowerment, Growth Mindset, Inclusion Always, Fierce Distinction.
Seeks individuals with big ideas, strong opinions, and the energy to bring them to life.
Values personal accountability, high standards, and boundless motivation.
Award-winning culture where employees can make a real impact.

Equal Opportunity

At Highwire, we believe that storytelling fuels transformation. We know that the most impactful stories represent all voices and perspectives. As a values-driven agency, we foster an inclusive environment where everyone—regardless of age, race/ethnicity, size, shape, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion and different abilities–can feel safe, celebrated and worthy. We ensure that every Highwire Walker has the requisite support to soar in their careers. Our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging is foundational and embedded in our business and culture. We aspire to change our industry and build a better future for all.