Creative Studio Director – Digital Advertising

GumGum is the contextual-first technology leader transforming digital advertising with AI-powered, non-invasive data and media solutions. We champion effective advertising that uplifts and respects consumers. Our proprietary Contextual, Attention, and Creative solutions create the perfect match between a brand and a consumer in the right moment and mindset. Founded in 2008, GumGum is headquartered in Santa Monica, California, and operates in 19+ markets.

To be a part of this next phase of digital advertising that prioritizes data privacy, please visit www.gumgum.com/careers

The Creative Studio Director – Digital Advertising is a key member of the regional leadership team, responsible for driving client growth and retention through strategic creative leadership. This role serves as the commercial design partner to our Sales and Account Management teams, transforming creative services from a delivery function into a significant revenue and relationship driver. The Creative Studio Director – Digital Advertising will own the commercial success of our creative output in North America, pioneer new ways to deliver value to clients, and lead the studio to achieve new levels of strategic influence and operational excellence.

Note: GumGum fosters a flexible work environment, offering GumGummers the ability to work either in-office or remotely/from home. However, for occasional in-person collaboration, we kindly ask that this position be located within a 'commutable' distance to our office.

What You'll Achieve

• Commercial Strategy & Client Growth
  • Partner with Sales and Commercial Leads to build and execute a creative strategy that drives account growth, client retention, and upsell opportunities
  • Originate and develop proactive, revenue-generating creative proposals for high-value clients, moving beyond reactive campaign execution
  • Own the commercial narrative for design; confidently present creative concepts, performance data, and strategic recommendations in client pitches and executive business reviews
  • Develop and package new scalable creative offerings and consultative services (e.g., design workshops, A/B testing packages) that can be sold to clients
  • Lead, mentor, and develop the regional team of Design Project Managers, evolving their skills from project coordination to strategic client consultation
• Strategic Leadership & Operational Excellence
  • Establish and own the vision for the North American studio, ensuring it has the structure, talent, and workflows to manage high-volume, complex campaign loads effectively. This includes overseeing all campaign traffic to in-house and outsourced resources
  • Develop and oversee regional KPIs that measure not only efficiency but also the commercial impact and quality of creative on client business goals
  • Act as the senior-most design authority in North America, representing the creative team in regional leadership meetings and providing strategic input on business planning
  • Serve as the senior creative escalation point for key North American clients, building trusted advisor relationships at senior levels
• Client Partnership and Creative Vision 
  • Be the face of Design and GumGum's creative ambassador in high-stakes client meetings and communications
  • Spearhead the creative development for key accounts, defining industry-leading standards in creativity and ensuring all design work effectively communicates the brief to the intended audience
  • Establish and maintain a network of high-quality freelancers and vendors to support the ad design process

Skills You'll Bring

• BFA in graphic design, web design, interactive design or similar discipline or equivalent years of design experience
• 10+ years of progressive experience in a creative or media agency environment
• Minimum of 4-6 years in a direct, client-facing commercial role with demonstrable experience in account growth, consultative selling, or creative strategy
• Proven track record of developing and presenting strategic creative solutions that have directly led to new business, client upsells, or significant revenue growth
• 5+ years in a direct management role, leading creative production, project management, or client service teams
• Strong business and commercial acumen with a focus on achieving revenue targets.
• Exceptional client-facing communication, consultative selling, and presentation skills.
• Financial literacy (experience with P&L, budget management, or other financial KPIs).
• Expertise in stakeholder alignment and the ability to sell through creative concepts to senior clients and internal