Meow Wolf

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Meow Wolf opens portals of possibility. Come as you are!

We are individuals who inspire creativity in people's lives through art and exploration, so that our combined imaginations can transform the world we live in. We create immersive and interactive experiences that transport audiences into fantastic realms of story and exploration. Our Vision is to be the world’s leading creative company, reimagining the paradigm of art and storytelling, to make a positive difference in the world.

We share a strong commitment to Belonging through our values of:

• Collaborative Creativity: We believe the act of creating together amplifies possibilities.
• Provocative Playfulness: We celebrate the unexpected because it is the doorway to discovery.
• Outsiders Welcome: We are all outsiders at heart, and we create space for everyone to feel like they belong.
• Authentic Compassion: We are “kind punks” - supportive to each other and standing up for what we believe in.
• Audacious Courage: We have the courage to radically reinvent ourselves to push the boundaries of art.

If this all sounds like YOU, read on….

Job Description:

Job Disclosures:

Project-Based Role: This is a project-based role with an anticipated duration of 12+ months.

Location: Santa Fe, NM

Purpose: To lead and bring to life the creative vision for a portion of Meow Wolf’s new exhibition space.

Job Summary:

Meow Wolf is seeking a dynamic and adventurous Creative Director to manage and execute the creative vision of a portion of a new exhibition space, working hand-in-hand with Project Leadership to balance the project’s ambition and resources. The ideal candidate is skilled at driving teams toward consensus and takes pride in supporting the creative vision of many contributors.

Working alongside the Senior Creative Director, the Creative Director upholds and guides the creative priorities within an exhibition, and is responsible for supervising artists and creative leaders through the execution of those priorities throughout the lifecycle of a project.

As a critical member of our cross-functional team, the Creative Director will serve as an intermediary between the project’s large creative teams by driving the vision and overseeing a significant portion of an exhibition’s creative experience. This person will, in partnership with the Senior Creative Director and Creative Producer, drive and lead a team of artists, creators and designers (such as Art Directors, Narrative Leads, Content Directors, Artists, contractors, etc.). A Creative Director is highly imaginative, effective at synthesizing and distilling creative vision for all the active disciplines in Meow Wolf, and is responsible for setting expectations and deadlines for the designated projects and people. They must be steadfast and strategic as they work within Meow Wolf’s highly ambitious and collaborative model. The Creative Director will assess how all aspects of the creative vision come together, and thus, will be accountable for the overall budget impact.

Key Responsibilities:

• CREATIVE STRATEGY
  • Budget & Schedule Management & Communication: Partner with your Senior Creative Director, fellow Creative Directors, Creative Producers, and Project Managers in budgeting and resource allocation for creative projects, ensuring efficient use of resources while maintaining high-quality standards. Develop and utilize communication tools (such as creative briefs, presentations, design documents, etc.) to effectively communicate those scope, schedule, and budget parameters to the larger team. This role will make decisions that impact scope, schedule, and budget responsibility for approximately 35% of an exhibition space.
  • Value Engineering: Make fast and definitive decisions while leaving room for input from other creatives and artists. The Creative Director will need to be able to react within the limitations given pertaining to the project resources in order to maintain the original creative vision of the project (limitations can include schedule, budget, resources, team availability, value engineering, vendor input, etc).
  • Quality Assurance: Maintain rigorous quality standards throughout the production process, conducting regular reviews and providing feedback to ensure the excellence of the final product.
  • Stakeholder Management: Build and maintain relationships with internal stakeholders, external partners, artists, and collaborators to foster a collaborative and supportive creative environment. Present updates to scope and creative vision to executive and leadership teams, as well as to other creative departments.
  • Market Research: Stay abreast of emerging trends, technologies, and innovations in the fields of art, technology, and immersive experiences, integrating new ideas and approaches into our creative work.
• LEADERSHIP
  • Creative Leadership: Serve as creative leader and subject matter expert ensuring strong alignment and articulation of Meow Wolf’s vision, strategy, and operational plans in partnership with executive leadership, creative counsel. Lead a collaborative team, allowing for multiple disciplines to contribute artistically to ideation and project execution.
  • Team Leadership: Lead, mentor, and inspire members of the creative team, fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and excellence. As the creative leader responsible for the executional aspects of the team, you will play a key leadership role in managing resource allocation, time/attendance, performance/productivity, and ensuring a healthy and collaborative work environment (i.e. uphold policy matters, safety, mitigation of ER matters, etc). Your ability to lead teams and make decisions in a matrixed environment is part of your leadership expertise in how we work together to deliver on an exhibition.
  • Artist curation: You will have the responsibility to establish the priorities of the project in order to select artists, guide them to participate, and provide ongoing feedback and coaching to project artists. Work with the team on the socially responsible curation of artists both in and out of house. Hold space for internal and external artist collaboration, and be comfortable with maintaining ambiguity.
• CREATIVE CONTENT
  • Artistic Vision: Under the guidance of your Senior Creative Director, define and articulate the creative vision for an immersive art exhibition, ensuring alignment with the company's overall artistic direction and objectives via our Blue Sky process..
  • Concept Development: Lead brainstorming sessions for the portion of scope you are developing, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to generate innovative concepts and ideas for immersive art experiences. Set Creative Guidelines with the various team members for the output of all Fabrication teams including Art, Fabrication and Tech.
  • Creative Direction: Provide clear direction and guidance to designers, artists, and technicians throughout the creative process, ensuring the realization of the artistic vision.
  • Experience Design: Drive the development of the mission and vision around how guests will experience the space (through aspects including but not limited to interactivity, lighting, sound, aesthetics, spatial design, etc). Create the priorities around experience design and ensure that the objectives are achieved throughout the life cycle of the project.
  • Content Curation: In partnership with your Senior Creative Director, curate content and select artists, designers, and collaborators whose work aligns with the thematic focus and aesthetic of the scope that you are driving. Ensure creative cohesion between your scope and the rest of the exhibit.
  • Technical Integration: Collaborate with technical teams to integrate cutting-edge technology, multimedia elements, and interactive components into immersive art installations.

Required Qualifications:

• 5+ years of Creative Direction experience in themed entertainment, immersive art or a directly related industry, shepherding project from ideation to execution
• Strong communication/collaboration skills and the ability to work and thrive in a team environment.
• An open mind to collaborate with individuals of varying personalities and artistic styles
• The ability to problem solve and ideate quickly with a host of project partners with varying levels of expertise.
• The ability to lead endeavors and facilitate meetings.
• Creative artistry and an illustrative capacity, along with an understanding of various fabrication techniques and materiality.
• Knowledge of interactive systems and technologies, as well as digital and physical installation standards for non-linear experiences.
• A solid knowledge of the following programs as they will be utilized on a daily basis:
  • G-Suite
  • Microsoft Office
  • Adobe Suite
  • 3D modeling programs

Work Environment and Physical Demands

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed must be representative of the knowledge, skills, minimum education, training, licensure, experience, and/or ability required.

Work Environment:

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and scanners. This position also works in an indoor setting with exposure to noisy environments, dim lighting, strong visual effects including strobing lights, special effects, fog machines and small and/ or enclosed spaces.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Physical ability to walk, stand, take stairs/slides/elevators, and navigate the elements during the day and night. Employee may be required to remain in a sitting or standing position for prolonged periods, and repeat motions that may include the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.

The employee will comply with company and OSHA standard workplace safety protocols. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Schedule:

This is a full-time position, and hours of work and days are Monday through Friday, 9a.m. to 5 p.m. or 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand.

Supervisor Responsibilities:

This position does not require supervisory responsibility.

Travel:

This position will require some travel (10%-25%)

This position will require temporary relocation during project installation.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

IMPACT: Meow Wolf is committed to our DIY roots and grassroots community support principles. To document that commitment, we converted our legal designation into a Delaware Public Benefit Corporation and have certified as a B Corporation. As a B Corp, we have a triple bottom line of supporting financial, social and environmental wellbeing in our community.

INCLUSION: Meow Wolf is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. We are committed to ensuring all employees enjoy and thrive in a work environment where differences make us the vibrant, wonderful community we are! All employment decisions at Meow Wolf are based on business need, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, results of genetic testing, veteran status, service in the military or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

BENEFITS:

The choices we make concerning our benefits during enrollment periods are among the most important we select for ourselves and our families. As part of the total compensation package for full-time employees, Meow Wolf offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes various options to meet individual healthcare and financial needs along with many perks.

• Medical Insurance options: PPO & HDHP*
• Dental and Vision Insurance*
• HSA, HRA, and FSA options*
• 401k Retirement Plan
• Company paid Life Insurance Policy and Disability Coverage(s)*
• Voluntary Critical Illness and Life Insurance Policies*
• Company Paid Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Parental Leave for 12 weeks
• Discount off Meow Wolf Gift Shop Merch and Cafes
• Admission to Meow Wolf attractions for employees and guests
• Regular or Project Based Full-time positions

Please visit www.meowwolf.com/careers for more information.

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