Senior Art Director

Who we are:Founded in 1978, GS&F is an award-winning, fully integrated marketing and communications agency. GS&F delivers proven results for clients providing experienced marketing, creative, interactive, media, public relations and production specialists under one roof. Our client roster includes major regional, national and global clients. A fiercely independent agency, GS&F takes an audience-first approach to determine the path to each client’s most dramatic business potential. We expose the truth and create an experience around it with this approach.Most importantly, GS&F is a fully employed-owned company. As a team member, you become an owner in the company.Who we are looking for:Our team is made up of makers, strategists, creatives, analysts, and big thinkers who believe great ideas can come from anywhere. If you’re a conceptual thinker who thrives on turning insights into powerful, integrated creative, and elevating the work of those around you, we want to meet you.We’re looking for a Senior Art Director who combines strong design craft with strategic thinking and proven creative leadership. In this role, you’ll lead the development of big ideas, guide cross-functional teams, and help shape campaigns from concept through execution. You’re as comfortable creating the work as you are directing it, and you know how to push ideas further while bringing clients along in the process.Key ResponsibilitiesLead the development and execution of integrated creative concepts across print, digital, social, OOH, broadcast, web, and emerging platformsEstablish and lead visual systems, brand frameworks, and design consistency across campaigns and channelsDevelop guidelines, toolkits, and scalable design systems to ensure cohesive execution across all touchpointsPartner closely with copywriters, strategists, account management, and production to deliver cohesive, insight-driven campaignsProvide clear creative direction and actionable feedback to designers and junior team members to elevate the overall quality of workMentor and support the growth of junior and mid-level creatives, fostering a collaborative and high-performing team environmentOwn and improve creative workflow processes to drive efficiency, clarity, and quality across projectsPartner with creative production and account management to plan resourcing, manage timelines, and ensure smooth project deliveryEnsure work is delivered on time, on budget, and to the highest standard of craft and accuracyPresent creative work to clients with confidence, articulating the strategy and thinking behind ideasBuild strong relationships with clients and act as a trusted creative partner, helping them see and achieve their brand’s full potentialOversee production across photo, video, audio, and digital executions to ensure work is executed at the highest standardContribute to and lead brainstorms, generating original ideas while building on and refining the ideas of othersManage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment while maintaining attention to detail and craftStay current on industry trends, emerging platforms, AI tools, and cultural insights to inspire innovative, forward-thinking workQualifications6–8+ years of art direction, design, or related experience, ideally within an advertising or design agencyProven ability to lead campaigns from concept through execution across multiple channels and mediumsA strong portfolio demonstrating conceptual thinking, integrated campaign work, and high-level design craftExperience leading and mentoring creative teams, with a passion for developing othersConfidence presenting to and collaborating with senior client stakeholdersStrong understanding of how different disciplines contribute to integrated work and a “best idea wins” mindsetAbility to manage multiple projects, timelines, and priorities effectivelyExperience working cross-functionally to deliver work efficiently and at a high standardTechnical SkillsProficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator)Familiarity with presentation tools such as PowerPoint, Keynote, and Google SlidesStrong understanding of digital design, social content, and platform-specific best practicesWorking knowledge of web design principles (HTML/CSS basics preferred)Experience with motion design, video, and/or animation tools (e.g., After Effects)Familiarity with AI-powered creative tools (e.g., Midjourney, Firefly, Runway, etc.) and an openness to integrating them into the creative processWhat Sets You ApartYou’re a big-picture thinker who can connect creative ideas to business objectivesYou balance concept and craft, pushing both to be best-in-classYou’re a natural collaborator who inspires teams and builds strong partnershipsYou’re curious, culturally aware, and always looking for new ways to create impactYou’re confident in your point of view, but open to others, and know when to push and when to adaptAdditional information:Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:There is power in celebrating who we are. GS&F is committed to embracing and welcoming past, current and future employees’ differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status and other characteristics that make our employees unique. After all, diversity feeds the best friendships because what makes you, you…makes us, us.Because of this commitment and our commitment to improve, we have set important DE&I milestones and goals for our agency. To that end, you may be asked a question about your gender, ethnicity, disability or veteran status as you submit your online application. Rest assured we don’t have the ability to track your responses to these questions back to you and it’s never considered as part of your candidacy for a position at GS&F. If we say we want to improve, we simply want to know we are actually improving.Location:Given the nature of this role our preference is for someone to ultimately relocate and/or live in the Nashville community within the first 90 days.As a full-time member of the GS&F team, we offer the following benefits:Competitive salaryHealth, dental, vision coverage401K matchESOP OwnershipShort-term and long-term disability coverageLife insuranceGenerous PTOProfessional development opportunities and growth-oriented toolsSupport for mental and physical healthGenerous parental leave