Creative Director, Motion - The Heist

Who We AreHi! We’re The Heist, the motion design, live action, and post production studio within Thinkingbox, the Brief-to-Built agency.We bring together directors, designers, animators, editors, and technologists to create work that moves. From brand films to broadcast spots to social campaigns and experiential content, our team blends craft and curiosity to push ideas further. Across our studios, collaboration is real, feedback is open, and culture matters. We take the work seriously. Ourselves, a little less so.The Opportunity The Heist is on the hunt for an exceptional, hands-on Creative Director, Motion, to join our team in Chicago. In this role, you’ll lead a tight-knit team of motion designers, crafting visually stunning 2D and 3D motion graphics and animation for high-impact marketing campaigns. Reporting to the Director of Animation, you will work on advertising projects for a diverse range of clients, ensuring each campaign’s creative vision aligns seamlessly with client goals. Your role includes hands-on creation, storyboarding, and collaboration with our animation team, as well as client-facing responsibilities.What You’ll Be DoingLead and inspire a nimble team of motion designers and guiding projects with a strong creative directionBe hands on and demonstrate intention when needed, be it in design or animationDevelop clear storyboards and polished styleframes that convey the narrative and aesthetic of each campaignOversee and participate in creating campaign assets, including 2D and 3D animation, ensuring all work aligns with brand guidelines and art directionProvide clear, actionable feedback to team members, fostering growth and maintaining the highest quality of workEngage directly with clients, interpreting their needs and providing creative insights throughout the project lifecycleCollaborate with the motion team to adopt new processes and workflows that meet the unique demands of each marketing campaignContribute to project budgeting and resource planning to ensure efficiencyWhat You’ll BringA portfolio showcasing a refined taste in motion design in 2D and 3D across varied marketing and campaign stylesA desire to further your skills driven by your own curiosity8+ years of experience in a motion design role, with 3+ years in a leadership or senior capacityStrong proficiency in Cinema 4D and RedshiftDemonstrated ability to create clear storyboards and refined styleframes that align with campaign goalsMastery of the Adobe Suite (After Effects, Premiere, Photoshop, Illustrator) and a thorough understanding of the animation pipelineStrong design sensibilities, demonstrating the ability to merge aesthetic and technical skillsWorking knowledge of FigmaStrong organizational skills, with a solution-oriented approach to creative and technical challengesBonus Points!Working knowledge of XParticles, Marvelous Designer, and/or Houdini is a big plusAdditional InfoMonday - Thursday in office (Fridays are remote optional)Flexible time off, including paid vacation and sick daysConsistent culture and team-building eventsEmployee recognition and incentive programsSeasonal celebrations and gatherings throughout the yearOffice lunchesBranded company swagAccess to industry events, learning opportunities, and non-profit outreachesUnlimited coffee, drinks, and snacksFlex work and travel optionsComprehensive extended health benefits401k matchingEqual OpportunityAt The Heist, we’re committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, heard, and empowered to thrive. We believe that diversity is our creative strength - it's the range of perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds that fuels our best ideas and most innovative solutions. We welcome and encourage applicants of all races, ethnicities, genders, identities, abilities, ages, sexual orientations, and backgrounds to apply. Your voice matters here.To ApplyThank you for your interest in joining our team. Please submit your resume along with links to your online portfolio as part of your application (if applicable). Due to the volume of applications we receive, we’re unable to respond to every submission. However, all applications are kept in our talent database and will be considered for future opportunities.We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.