Art Director (1 Year Contract)

This job posting is available in English and Canadian French. Please scroll down for the French version.Cette offre d’emploi est disponible en anglais et en français (Canada). Veuillez faire défiler pour la version française.Remote - U.S. & Canada Only | Full-TimeCompensation:$80K - $90K USD (U.S.-based candidates)$85K - $95K CAD (Canada-based candidates)Our creative team needs a leader for a year, not a placeholder.We're looking for an Art Director who can step into an established creative team on day one and lead like they've been here for years. This is a one-year contract, and it comes with real ownership: real campaigns, real clients, real creative decisions that matter from week one. This Isn't for EveryoneThis role is for someone who wants to lead, not just execute. You'll be setting creative direction, giving feedback that shapes final work, and holding the line on quality when deadlines get tight. There's ambiguity built into stepping into someone else's seat, and you'll need to bring clarity to it fast rather than wait for it to be handed to you. You'll juggle multiple clients and projects at once, work closely with writers, designers, media, and strategy, and be expected to translate performance data into sharper creative, not just prettier creative. If you need a fully mapped-out process before you can move, this isn't the seat. If you find your footing by taking ownership and figuring it out with the team, keep reading About LevelLevel Agency is a performance marketing agency built on one belief: good enough isn't. We partner with brands in complex, high-consideration markets who need more than a vendor. They need a team that integrates deeply, reads signals early, and keeps performance climbing long after most agencies would call it a win.We're remote-first, over 250 people strong across the US and Canada, and built around three specialized brands covering higher education, performance media, SEO and content, creative, and CRM-led growth. AI runs through everything we do, powering research, creative, and optimization at a pace legacy agencies can't match. We move fast, we tell the truth, and we build a team where people do their best work because they're trusted to own it.Your Role (and Impact)As Art Director, you'll lead visual direction across client campaigns from concept through final delivery, working independently and in close partnership with copywriters, designers, and the strategy and media teams. You'll be the person who keeps creative work strategically grounded and visually sharp, and who makes sure it performs, not just looks good in a deck.You'll own:Leading visual development across campaigns, from concepting through execution, ensuring every asset is strategically sound and built to the highest creative barDeveloping campaign concepts, visual systems, and social-first creative independently or alongside copywritersDefining look, feel, and tone across every brand touchpoint, keeping consistency and quality tight across platformsPresenting creative work confidently to internal teams and clients, and refining ideas through feedback without losing the point of view that got you thereDesigning with performance in mind. Understanding how visual decisions move CTR, engagement, and conversion, not just aestheticsBringing a working understanding of the broader marketing landscape (CRM, lifecycle, paid social, programmatic) into sharper creative decisions across the funnelPartnering with media and strategy to turn data insights into stronger creative iterations, including versioning for A/B testingUsing AI tools daily as part of how you ideate, produce, and move faster, and helping the team get sharper with them tooGiving designers and writers clear direction and actionable feedback throughout executionBringing a solution-first mindset to every project, every deadline, every curveballRequirementsMust-Haves3 to 5 years of art direction experience, ideally within an agency or performance marketing environmentA strong conceptual thinker who generates original ideas, not just polished executions of someone else'sA portfolio that shows range, from brand storytelling to high-performing paid social and performance creativeWorking knowledge of performance creative principles: testing, iteration, platform best practices, and creative optimizationAI tools already built into how you ideate, produce, and execute, not something you're bolting onProficiency in Figma and Adobe Creative SuiteStrong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain creative decisions to creative and non-creative stakeholders alikeSharp eye for typography, layout, composition, and visual hierarchyComfort managing multiple priorities and shipping high-quality work on tight timelinesA collaborative, adaptable, proactive approach, with a willingness to jump in wherever the work needs youNice-to-HavesExperience with Premiere Pro, After Effects, CapCut, or other video editing toolsBasic French proficiencyAI Ex