CGI / 3D Associate Creative Director

Who are we?

Marks is a global brand design and experience agency, uniquely constructed to enable brands to win in an age of constant change. Marks is part of the Propelis Group, a brand impact group that enables its household-name clients to get there first – empowering acceleration on a global scale. From vision-building to detailed execution, we enable brands to move faster and shift impact. (www.makemarks.com)

We are the next-gen creative platform, working at the collision of people, commerce, creativity and technology – purpose-built for the world’s most ambitious brands, delivering content at the speed of culture.

About the team

Our Content Solutions team is the CGI and content engine of the agency – a specialist group of art directors, CGI artists, retouchers and producers who create photorealistic 3D product and packaging imagery for the world’s biggest CPG brands. We turn physical products into pixel-perfect renders, building the assets, systems and libraries that power campaigns across retail, ecommerce, social, digital and beyond. A multidisciplinary group of makers and problem-solvers, we pair technical craft with sharp creative judgement to deliver work at the top tier of the industry.

Position Overview

As the Associate Creative Director, 3D / CGI, you will report to the Creative Director, Innovation as part of the Content Solutions team. You’ll lead CGI Art Directors and artists to creatively solve clients’ business problems, ensuring that photorealistic product and packaging work brings the strategy to life – successfully, on brief and on time. You will need to showcase an ability to work within teams, as well as demonstrate the independence and resourcefulness demanded by an agile and highly dynamic agency environment. A strong communicator, you are able to present and sell ideas internally and to clients with passion and energy.

The ACD embodies Marks’ vision of can-do positivity, agility in approach, and belief in the power of co-creation – ensuring we deliver the best solution against each brief. You use strong judgement and analytical skills to drive the creative process from early concepts to final photoreal render, delivering beyond client expectations while owning the CGI quality bar across your accounts.

You are responsible for building and growing your team to deliver against increasing client needs and demand – staffing, structuring, and empowering CGI project teams to deliver high-caliber work. You partner with client services and operations teams to establish workflow processes, schedule resources across the CGI pipeline, and ensure timelines are met.

Critical Skills and Behaviours

Strategic and conceptual skills

• Takes responsibility for the success of the Content Solutions CGI/art direction teams and the clients they serve.
• Acts as a creative and quality guardian for key account(s), owning the photoreal standard from concept to final delivery.
• Ensures the team is consistently developing ideas and CGI work, from concept to execution, that deliver on a strategic framework.
• Is an expert in producing photorealistic 3D product and packaging imagery and integrated content across retail, in-store, ecommerce, digital, social and out-of-home channels.
• Has deep command of the CGI pipeline – modelling, texturing, look-dev, lighting, rendering, compositing and retouching – and can direct artists across all of it.
• Experience concepting and developing motion and video content, including online video, social content and broadcast, alongside still CGI.
• Is as comfortable leading as jumping into a project to support the team through execution and hands-on look-dev.
• Leads and oversees the development of presentation deck narratives that frame and sell CGI approaches.
• Has a keen eye for detail and is thorough in reviewing the work of the team, from junior artists upward.
• Works with speed and agility while maintaining a high photoreal quality bar through execution.

Leadership

With clients:

• Presents themselves as a trusted expert, collaborative partner and seamless extension of the client’s team.
• Demonstrates empathy for and prioritizes the client’s specific business objectives.
• Supports new business and new work streams by attending kick-offs and planning for CGI ingestion and resourcing.

Within the broader agency:

• Collaborates with Marks global offices to support CGI and content production across the agency at large.
• Partners with the leadership team to establish best practices, methods, tools and pipeline standards leveraged by the Marks collective.
• Acts as a consultant, extending CGI subject-matter expertise across the collective.

Within the team:

• Plans for and mobilizes teams to deliver across various streams of CGI work.
• Provides direction and guidance to team members to ensure efficient and high-quality delivery.
• Manages and supports the growth and development of CGI Art Directors and artists.
• Works with recruiting partners to staff a balanced team of full-time and freelance CGI talent.
• Partners with scheduling departments and operations teams to resource work and manage overhead costs.

Collaboration and culture

• Is a cultural ambassador and “lightning rod” for Marks.
• Upholds a culture that values teamwork over egos.
• Actively leads effective internal review meetings and team sessions.
• Leads by example – working constructively and demonstrating respect for each team, discipline, and business partner.
• Creates strong internal partnerships at every level, from juniors to senior leaders, across the Marks agency at large.
• Lives and breathes CGI, content and design – gets excited to share and talk shop.

Agility and improvement

• Possesses an open mindset and is focused on continuous improvement of craft and pipeline.
• Demonstrates a roll-up-your-sleeves-and-get-it-done attitude.
• Is un-phased by change and proactively seeks solutions to problems and challenges.
• Can pivot and prioritize multiple streams of work so the team can meet assigned deadlines.
• Thrives in a fast-paced work environment and continually creates efficiencies and improves processes.
• Explores emerging technologies, including AI-assisted CGI workflows, to advance the team’s output.

Minimum Requirements

• Diploma / degree in CGI, Advertising & Marketing, or a related field is recommended, but not required.
• 5+ years of experience in CGI / content production, with a strong focus on photorealistic CPG product and packaging work.
• Experience leading teams and managing people within a CGI or content production environment.
• Expert fluency across the CGI pipeline and its tools – DCCs such as Houdini, Maya & C4D, rendering in a mix of V-Ray, Redshift and Karma, plus strong command of the Adobe and Substance suites. Fluency in Keynote / PowerPoint.
• A well-rounded portfolio showcasing strong, innovative creative ideas, photoreal execution, presentation skills and an excellent understanding of different communication spaces, mediums and approaches.

About Propelis: Propelis is a portfolio of global marketing services and technology companies with a combined legacy of 150+ years, 2,000+ clients, 9,000 employees, and operations across 30 countries. Propelis provides the scale and support of a global organization while preserving the unique culture and identity of each company in its portfolio.

For more information visit: www.MakeMarks.com

EEO Statement: We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need. We offer equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetic information, age, disability or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled.

We strive to make our employment website and application process accessible to all users and applicants. In doing so, we provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you have a disability and require a reasonable accommodation or assistance completing the application process, please contact a member of our Human Resource Team.

The Ontario pay range for this position is $130,000 CAD to $140,000 CAD annually. Ultimately, in determining pay, we will consider the successful candidate's experience, skills, knowledge, and other job-related factors.

We remain committed to ensuring equal opportunity in all aspects of employment, including recruitment. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals, particularly those who may contribute to the further diversification of our organization. If you require any form of accommodation during the recruitment process, please do not hesitate to let us know. Together, we strive to foster an environment where everyone can thrive and be their authentic selves.