Creative Director

JobsCloseBy Editorial Insights

DEPT is hiring a Creative Director in Toronto to lead the Global Studios and nurture a team. You will steer creative direction across digital and integrated campaigns, ensure quality, guide clients from concept to delivery, and champion innovation including AI and design systems. You’ll mentor talent, foster collaboration, contribute to new business, and stay ahead of trends. The role requires leadership of integrated and paid social campaigns, a strong vision across branding, copy, and client relationships, and proficiency in Figma, Adobe, and AI tools. Hybrid or remote, 100k to 120k CAD; apply with a portfolio showing measurable impact, leadership, and systems, and align with DEPT values. If you don’t meet every criterion, apply anyway.

Toronto, hybrid

This role is part of our Global Studios team. We create emotive yet conversion-focused ideas, products and campaigns at scale and speed. Our specialty is hyper-personalised, digital communications that change perceptions, shape new behaviours, and shift market share for our clients.

JOB PURPOSE

The focus will be on getting the best work out and nurturing creatives and designers in your team to do the same. You will have the full support of Copywriters, Strategists, Technologists, and Designers. We work very much as a team.

As a People Manager, you are required to understand, organise, and motivate people to achieve extraordinary things: to guide thinking and behaviour in others and take counsel from within to thrive in a dynamic environment. Our People Managers are masters of their craft, demonstrate good judgement and emotional intelligence, and encourage self-development.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

• Lead the creative direction of projects, ensuring work meets and exceeds client briefs and business objectives.
• Develop and communicate compelling creative strategies and concepts across digital and integrated campaigns.
• Maintain oversight of creative output across assigned accounts, ensuring consistency, quality, and brand alignment.
• Guide clients through the creative process, from concept to production and delivery.
• Champion innovation, emerging technologies, AI, and creative automation to enhance efficiency and impact.
• Drive the development of scalable design systems and cross-channel creative frameworks.
• Foster a culture of creativity, collaboration, and continuous learning across the team.
• Lead, mentor, and develop creative talent, maintaining high standards and inspiring excellence.
• Collaborate across disciplines to deliver outstanding work and contribute to agency initiatives.
• Support new business through pitches, proposals, and growth opportunities within existing accounts.
• Stay ahead of industry trends and best practices, acting as a passionate advocate for DEPT and its creative capabilities.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• Extensive experience leading integrated and paid social creative campaigns; Meta Ads experience is a plus.
• Strong creative vision with expertise across branding, design, copy, and digital communications.
• Exceptional presentation, storytelling, and client relationship skills.
• Proven leadership and mentoring experience with the ability to inspire high-performing teams.
• Deep understanding of marketing, branding, and creative production processes.
• Proficiency in Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, AI-powered creative tools, and modern design workflows.
• Experience developing design systems, creative automation solutions, and scalable creative frameworks.
• Innovative, collaborative, commercially minded, and passionate about delivering exceptional creative work.

WE OFFER

• A flexible, hybrid/remote working policy
• An excellent salary based on experience and equal pay policies
• Mental health support, and company sick pay scheme.
• 15 days paid holiday annually (plus Public Holidays).
• Refreshments are provided in the office all week
• Enhanced family friendly policies to support new parents.
• Social and Cultural Events, plenty of opportunities to connect with colleagues through organised activities and celebrations.
• Inspirational Talks, bringing the outside in with regular guest speakers and events.
• Learning and Development, supporting your growth with continuous opportunities to learn and advance.
• Buddy Programme: You will be paired with a ‘Buddy’ to help you through your first weeks’ at DEPT®.
• A reputation for doing good. DEPT® has been a Certified B Corp® since 2021 and named ‘Agency of the Year’ at both The Lovies and The Webby Awards.
• Awesome clients. Whether big or small, local or global — at DEPT® you’ll get the opportunity to work with clients of all sizes and across all industries. And we celebrate all of our successes together!
• The opportunity for possibility. We want to enable you to do what you do best and help you develop your skills further with training, development and certifications.
• Global annual DEPT® Cares Month in which employees come together and donate their skills to support local charities.

The anticipated annual salary range for this position is $100,000 – $120,000 CAD. Salary is based on relevant experience, expertise, and organizational impact.

AI Disclosure: At DEPT®, we use AI-assisted technology (Metaview) to capture notes and summarize interview conversations, so our interviewers can stay fully focused. Using the AI is optional, just let us know if you’d prefer it not be used.

This posting reflects an existing vacancy at DEPT®.

WHY DEPT®?

We are a Growth Invention company built to help the world’s most ambitious brands grow faster. Operating at the intersection of technology and marketing, we create what is next by pioneering ideas, acting fast, and moving further because standing still just is not in our DNA.

We are drawn to people who stay curious, move with intent, and never stop inventing. Our culture runs on three values: better together, relentlessly curious, and get sh*t done. It is how we work, how we grow, and how we make things that matter.

At DEPT®, you will find the freedom to explore, the space to collaborate, and the trust to make a real impact for our clients, for each other, and for the world we are helping to build.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION 

At DEPT®, we take pride in creating an inclusive workplace where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive. We actively seek to recruit, develop, nurture, and retain talented individuals from diverse backgrounds, with varying skills and perspectives.

Not sure you meet all qualifications? Apply, and let us decide! Research shows that women and members of underrepresented groups tend not to apply for jobs when they think they may not meet every requirement, when in fact they do. We believe in giving everyone a fair chance to shine.

We also encourage you to reach out to us and discuss any reasonable adjustments we can make to support you throughout the recruitment process and your time with us.

Want to know more about our dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion? Check out our efforts here.