Ogilvy

About Ogilvy 

Ogilvy has been creating impact for brands through iconic, culture-changing, value-driving ideas since the company was founded by David Ogilvy 75 years ago. It builds on that rich legacy through Borderless Creativity – innovating at the intersections of its advertising, public relations, relationship design, consulting, and health capabilities with experts collaborating seamlessly across over 120 offices in nearly 90 countries. Ogilvy currently ranks as the #1 global agency network for creative excellence and effectiveness by WARC, signifying its ability to deliver creative solutions that drive unreasonable impact for clients and communities. Ogilvy is a WPP company (NYSE: WPP). For more information, visit Ogilvy.com, and follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and Facebook.

Creative Director

Department: PR & Influence

Location: London

Full Time/Part time: Permanent 

Reporting into: Creative & Strategy Officer, UK & EMEA

About Ogilvy: 

Our vision is to inspire brands and people to impact the world. To create big ideas that make a significant contribution to the planet, society, and the bottom line. We believe in today’s world this is the best way for our clients to achieve sustainable growth. We achieve this by breaking down the barriers that restrict talent and ideas. 

Which is why our teams work fluidly across 5 capabilities: Advertising, Consulting, Experience, PR & Influencer, and Health. This allows us to not only operate but innovate at the intersection of capabilities and talent. We believe impact and magic lies at this intersection. Ogilvy scales this by seamlessly connecting and accessing the deep cultural expertise of 132 offices in 83 countries. 

The result is multifaceted ideas for our clients that drive impact and are born from the intersection of platform x culture x technology. 

We call this Borderless Creativity. 

Ogilvy was ranked the number one UK agency at D&AD and was the only UK agency to win a Glass Lions at Cannes. Ogilvy was also nominated network of the year in Cannes Lions, Campaign, Effie Awards EMEA, London International Awards, The One Show and WARC Rankings. 

In 2022, Ogilvy PR was named Large Agency of the Year at the PR Week Awards, following that up by winning Highly Commended Large Agency in 2023. Our proposition of “Ideas Others Can’t” stems from our unique place in the UK PR industry. By bringing together PR expertise, lived experience, data, behavioural science, the world’s most awarded influencer team and a department of 60+ creatives, we’re. able to bring a unique set of skills to bear on any project.

The Role:

We are seeking a Creative Director to lead the PR department, serving our biggest clients and delivering stand-out, award winning work. You will need to be a champion of earned first thinking, but have the skills and experience to move and evolve ideas across influence, social and other channels.

The ideal candidate should be a strategic thinker who can create and execute innovative ideas that deliver results for our clients.

They should be a natural leader who can inspire and motivate a team of creatives and be able to work collaboratively with other departments to deliver successful campaigns.

As a Creative Director, you will be responsible for setting a vision and direction for the business in your charge, developing creative earned-first ideas and continuously pushing for bolder creative work.

Responsibilities:

• Win awards for our roster of Tier 1 clients – including Google, Lego, Coca Cola, TK Maxx, Muller, Canon and many more
• Grow, lead and mentor a team
• Work alongside earned-first strategists to ensure briefs are insightful, creatively inspiring and commercially impactful
• Oversee the creative output of the PR team – ensuring responses to briefs and new business opportunities are solved creatively, beautifully and on-point strategically
• Champion earned first thinking – both for our clients and within the broader agency – with knowledge and experience of a modern, integrated communications landscape
• Ensure the team is billable, profitable and acts as a growth driver for the UK (and beyond)
• Build and maintain a culture of creative earned first excellence – spotting reactive opportunities, developing proactive ideas and continually surprising clients with new and interesting solutions to their business problems
• Concept and collaborate with other creatives, including art directors, copywriters, experience designers, technologists, and makers
• Pitch and win new clients – driving the continued growth of the UK PR& I business

Your previous experience

• Experience of problem-solving and expertise in how to come to creative solutions; thinking quickly and approaching issues with prefabricated solutions
• Experience of leading creative groups; advising and developing individuals skillsets and the quality of their work
• A strong commitment to delivering high impact work on time and on budget
• An understanding of multi-platform thinking and techniques as well as a desire to create innovative work

Requirements

• Strong Leadership: An exceptional Creative Director is a natural leader who can inspire and motivate a team of creatives, while also setting a clear vision and direction for their work. They are decisive, confident, and able to make tough decisions when necessary.
• Strategic Thinking: A great Creative Director has a deep understanding of the client's business, industry, and audience. They use this knowledge to develop creative strategies that deliver results and exceed expectations.
• Creative Excellence: An exceptional Creative Director is always pushing for creative excellence, constantly looking for ways to elevate the work and spot opportunities for braver, more innovative ideas. They are passionate about their craft and are always exploring new techniques and technologies to improve their work.
• Collaborative: An exceptional Creative Director can work collaboratively with other departments, including strategy, account management, and production, to deliver successful campaigns. They are great listeners who appreciate all creative input, regardless of where or from whom it originates.
• Results-Oriented: An exceptional Creative Director is results-oriented and always focused on delivering campaigns that exceed the client's expectations. They have a track record of building strong relationships with clients and delivering results that meet or exceed their goals.
• A portfolio showcasing your creativity and ability to think strategically
• A deep understanding of the latest trends and technologies in the industry
• Willingness to take risks and push creative boundaries
• A passion for developing and nurturing young talent
• A track record of building strong relationships with clients and delivering results.
• Broad knowledge of culture, niche and sub-communities – how different, diverse groups of consumers talk, interact and consume media
• Experience producing clever, low-cost, quick turnaround ideas as well as big brand activations, and long-term creative platforms

How we help you Thrive: 

• 25 days annual leave + 1 Volunteer Day 
• Bupa Healthcare
• Enhanced Maternity, Adoption and Shared Parental Leave
• We have a Flexible Working Model with core working hours: 10am – 4pm
• A 1.5:1 Matching Pension Structure
• Wellbeing and Health: Up to £25.00 per month towards physical or online exercise class membership, Unmind membership, LifeWorks tool and annual eye tests and development budgets and Wellbeing incentives and activities throughout the year 
• Season Ticket Loan and Cycle to Work Scheme
• Life Assurance

At Ogilvy, our people are at the heart of what we do: a creative agency that sparks game-changing ideas across culture and business through collaboration, integrity, and a celebration of self-expression. 

We believe in building powerful teams with purpose. This means hiring and nurturing talent across all races, ethnicities, religions, abilities, sexual orientation, and gender identities – and we relentlessly curate transformative initiatives that make our commitment to fairness, and equity a reality. 

Our ultimate mission is to leave a positive impact on the world, creating a better future for all, while supporting and uplifting the global communities we serve. This is central to our mantra of Borderless Creativity.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

If you require reasonable accommodation to complete a job application, pre-employment testing, or a job interview or to otherwise participate in the hiring process, please do not hesitate to let your recruiter know.