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Group Head Art Director

Publicis Groupe

Group Head Art Director

full-timePosted: Jan 21, 2026

Job Description

Company description

Publicis Groupe is a global leader in communication.

The Groupe is positioned at every step of the value chain, from consulting to execution, combining marketing transformation and digital business transformation.

 

COMPANY VALUES

 

TRUST

Trust is the cornerstone upon which we build our relationships. We hold ourselves to the highest standards of how a partner should behave. We treat our people and our clients with respect, transparency and honesty

TALENT

This is first and foremost a people business. We are committed to ensuring Publicis Groupe is a destination for the best talent in our industry. We value people as individuals, growing ourselves as we grow our client’s business

TRANSFORMATION

True transformation comes when we stop managing change, and instead initiate change. We believe in our purpose to be the admired force for business transformation. We believe that focusing on performance and results has the power to transform client business

 


Overview

As a Creative Group Head specialising in Art Direction, you will assist in leading our passionate and multi-talented studio, guiding junior and midweight members to deliver exceptional, integrated concepts that exceed client briefs and expectations. You will embrace modern marketing principles and be a proactive self-starter who is not afraid to challenge the norm, embodying our philosophy of divine discontent.

You are expected to be a craft-led, platform-neutral conceptual thinker, with a strong understanding of all major social platforms. Your goal is to transform brands by creating exceptional, intuitive, and human-centred products and experiences.

You will be attuned to all aspects of South African popular culture and the platforms and media it engages with. You should have a strong point of view on what it takes to succeed in this space, backed by your experience. Immaculate art direction ability is paramount.

You will work closely with the Creative Director and the creative team to develop and execute visual concepts for various projects. This role requires a keen eye for design, strong communication skills, and the ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.


Responsibilities

Your duties will include but are not limited to:

 

Lead the development and execution of visual concepts for advertising campaigns, branding projects, and other creative initiatives.
Conceptualising and optimising campaign creative for TTL campaigns keeping in mind media channels and retargeting objectives across verticals, such as SEM, display advertising, social media, affiliate marketing, content discovery platforms, and CRM etc.
Mentor and guide junior creatives, designers and art directors, fostering a collaborative and inspiring work environment.
Be a champion for digital innovation on every project you touch.
Collaborate with copywriters, designers, and other team members to ensure cohesive and compelling visual storytelling.
Work with other disciplines (Strategists, Developers, Media, Accounts, etc.) to ensure cohesive team integration, and alignment with broader business objectives.
Present creative concepts and design solutions to clients, articulating the strategic thinking behind the work.
Ensure all visual materials align with brand guidelines and project objectives.
Stay updated on industry trends, design techniques, and emerging technologies to bring fresh perspectives to the team.
Lead brainstorms, conceptualisation as well as the craft, art direction and design of an idea.
Stay attuned to all aspects of South African popular culture and the platforms and media it engages with, leveraging this knowledge to use cultural insights to create relevant and impactful work.
Manage multiple projects simultaneously, meeting deadlines and maintaining high-quality standards.
Participate in pitches for new business opportunities, contributing innovative ideas and concepts.
Attend client briefings and workshops.
Oversee the creative process from concept to final execution, ensuring consistency and excellence in all deliverables.
Source inspirational material and references to push creativity and innovation within the team.

Qualifications

Tertiary qualification in Graphic Design, Art Direction, Fine Arts, or a related field.
8 years+ of experience in an agency setting, a minimum of 2 years in a senior art direction role, preferably in an agency setting.
Proven track record of leading successful creative projects and campaigns.
Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign).
Strong portfolio showcasing a range of design work and conceptual ATL and digital creative projects.
Award shortlists and awards at local and international awards (i.e. Cannes, One Show, Loeries, Clios, Bookmarks etc.)
A minimum of one gold award at a local or international award show.
Excellent communication and presentation skills.
Demonstrate exceptional strategic and highly conceptual thinking.
Good understanding of influencer, Mobile, Podcast, out-of-home, guerrilla, activations, and direct marketing.
An in-depth understanding of new and existing digital platforms.
Track record of leading the conceptualisation and execution of campaigns.
Ability to work collaboratively and take constructive feedback.
Exceptional problem solving and leadership skills.

SOFTWARE & TOOLS

 

Must have a working knowledge of the following tools:

 

Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe InDesign
Keynote
Microsoft PowerPoint
Adobe After Effects (advantageous)

OPERATIONAL KPI’S

These KPIs will help ensure that you are aligned with your performance expectations in order to set yourself and the team up for success.

Project Completion Rate & Timelines:

Complete projects on time and within the agreed upon deadline.
Target: 95% of projects delivered on schedule.

Quality of Work:

Should be able to produce quality work and manage time effectively.
Keep attention to detail top of mind to ensure that reverts are kept to a minimum.
Ensure that work has been QA’d and approved by the Creative Director before it is sent to clients.
Target: Average of 1 or fewer revisions per project.

Efficiency:

Ensure that time spent on each project phase (conceptualisation, design, revisions) is spent effectively.
Proactively flag when information on a brief is not included or necessary reviews are not scheduled.
Target: Maintain efficient workflow with minimal delays.

Creative Contribution & Innovation:

Consistently contribute with innovative ideas and concepts during brainstorming sessions.
Must attend at all weekly proactive sessions and workshops.
Must have a strong understanding of concept driven work, design craft and the brands you work on.
Progress and execute approved proactive ideas within the given time frame.
Target: Implement at least 3 innovative projects per year.
Target: Bring a minimum of 3 new ideas to reviews per project.
Target: Contribute a minimum of 1 idea in proactive sessions.

 

Awards and Recognition:

Produce work for industry awards or recognitions received for copy work.
Target: Develop or contribute to a minimum of 2 awards pieces annually.
Target: Partake in local and international awards with a goal to win at least 3 awards.

Creative Output:

Completing allocated design pieces (e.g., mock-ups, prototypes, final designs) should be a priority.
Must be able to provide creative rationales for creative choices made.
Must have a strong understanding of best practice interaction and visual design principles.
Deliver highly conceptual ideas and work that are on brief and aligned to the strategic objectives outlined.
Must be able to propose creative solutions based on “Audience First” thinking.
Develop unique, powerful and engaging ideas that are successfully implemented and recognised.
Demonstrate exceptional strategic thinking and digital understanding.
Develop insightful and on-brief ideas against the agreed upon budget.
Propose work that works across agreed upon contact points.
Oversee and run creative projects.
Target: Consistently meet or exceed monthly creative output goals.
Target: Must be able to work on two sizable and two small size projects or three sizable and 1 small size project at any given time.
Target: Develop presentation and communication skills by presenting work internally and to clients.
Target: Collect and file artwork work correctly for archiving and handovers.

Brand Consistency:

Adherence to brand guidelines in all visual materials.
Target: 100% compliance with brand standards.

Professional Development:

Participation in training sessions, workshops, and industry events.
Target: Attend at least 2 professional development activities per year.

Collaboration and Leadership:

Endeavour to build strong relationships with your team and be a team player.
Encourage feedback from team members on collaboration and communication.
Mentor more junior members of the creative team.
Target: Positive feedback from at least 95% of team members.

 

Adaptability:

Ability to quickly adapt to changes in project scope or client feedback.
Target: Successfully manage changes with minimal disruption to project timelines.
Target: Develop problem solving skills by being solutions orientated.

Business Growth:

Contribution to new business pitches and successful client acquisitions.
Target: Contribute to at least 2 successful new business pitches per year.              

 

BUSINESS KPI’s

These KPIs will help ensure that the team is aligned with the business objectives and contributing effectively to the success of NestléOne part of Publicis Groupe Africa.

Client Satisfaction:

Maintain high client feedback scores on bi-annual Aprais scoring.
Target: Average client satisfaction rating of 80% or higher.

Campaign Effectiveness:

Consistently measure the success of campaigns in terms of reach, engagement, and conversion rates in order to improve future campaigns.
Target: Achieve a minimum of 80% of campaign goals.

Client Retention:

Track the retention rate of clients based on the quality of creative work delivered.
Target: Maintain a client retention rate of 90% or higher.

Creative Innovation:

Develop unique, powerful and engaging ideas that are successfully implemented and recognized.
Develop insightful and on-brief ideas against the agreed upon budget.
Propose work that works across agreed upon contact points.
Target: Implement at least 3 innovative projects per year.
Target: Achieve a positive creative impact score of 80% or higher in client surveys.

 

Brand Impact:

Create impactful work that improves brand perception and market positioning.
Target: Achieve a positive creative brand impact score of 80% or higher in client surveys.

Collaboration and Teamwork:

Evaluate the effectiveness of collaboration with other departments and team members.
Target: Receive positive feedback from 95% of team members and stakeholders.

Locations

  • Johannesburg, South Africa

Salary

Estimated Salary Rangelow confidence

150,000 - 250,000 USD / yearly

Source: AI Estimation

* This is an estimated range based on market data and may vary based on experience and qualifications.

Skills Required

  • art directionintermediate
  • visual designintermediate
  • creative leadershipintermediate
  • brand developmentintermediate

Required Qualifications

  • senior art direction experience (experience)
  • leadership skills (experience)

Responsibilities

  • lead art direction team
  • develop visual concepts
  • execute creative campaigns
  • collaborate on production

Benefits

  • general: trust
  • general: talent development
  • general: transformation focus

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Publicis Groupe logo

Group Head Art Director

Publicis Groupe

Group Head Art Director

full-timePosted: Jan 21, 2026

Job Description

Company description

Publicis Groupe is a global leader in communication.

The Groupe is positioned at every step of the value chain, from consulting to execution, combining marketing transformation and digital business transformation.

 

COMPANY VALUES

 

TRUST

Trust is the cornerstone upon which we build our relationships. We hold ourselves to the highest standards of how a partner should behave. We treat our people and our clients with respect, transparency and honesty

TALENT

This is first and foremost a people business. We are committed to ensuring Publicis Groupe is a destination for the best talent in our industry. We value people as individuals, growing ourselves as we grow our client’s business

TRANSFORMATION

True transformation comes when we stop managing change, and instead initiate change. We believe in our purpose to be the admired force for business transformation. We believe that focusing on performance and results has the power to transform client business

 


Overview

As a Creative Group Head specialising in Art Direction, you will assist in leading our passionate and multi-talented studio, guiding junior and midweight members to deliver exceptional, integrated concepts that exceed client briefs and expectations. You will embrace modern marketing principles and be a proactive self-starter who is not afraid to challenge the norm, embodying our philosophy of divine discontent.

You are expected to be a craft-led, platform-neutral conceptual thinker, with a strong understanding of all major social platforms. Your goal is to transform brands by creating exceptional, intuitive, and human-centred products and experiences.

You will be attuned to all aspects of South African popular culture and the platforms and media it engages with. You should have a strong point of view on what it takes to succeed in this space, backed by your experience. Immaculate art direction ability is paramount.

You will work closely with the Creative Director and the creative team to develop and execute visual concepts for various projects. This role requires a keen eye for design, strong communication skills, and the ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.


Responsibilities

Your duties will include but are not limited to:

 

Lead the development and execution of visual concepts for advertising campaigns, branding projects, and other creative initiatives.
Conceptualising and optimising campaign creative for TTL campaigns keeping in mind media channels and retargeting objectives across verticals, such as SEM, display advertising, social media, affiliate marketing, content discovery platforms, and CRM etc.
Mentor and guide junior creatives, designers and art directors, fostering a collaborative and inspiring work environment.
Be a champion for digital innovation on every project you touch.
Collaborate with copywriters, designers, and other team members to ensure cohesive and compelling visual storytelling.
Work with other disciplines (Strategists, Developers, Media, Accounts, etc.) to ensure cohesive team integration, and alignment with broader business objectives.
Present creative concepts and design solutions to clients, articulating the strategic thinking behind the work.
Ensure all visual materials align with brand guidelines and project objectives.
Stay updated on industry trends, design techniques, and emerging technologies to bring fresh perspectives to the team.
Lead brainstorms, conceptualisation as well as the craft, art direction and design of an idea.
Stay attuned to all aspects of South African popular culture and the platforms and media it engages with, leveraging this knowledge to use cultural insights to create relevant and impactful work.
Manage multiple projects simultaneously, meeting deadlines and maintaining high-quality standards.
Participate in pitches for new business opportunities, contributing innovative ideas and concepts.
Attend client briefings and workshops.
Oversee the creative process from concept to final execution, ensuring consistency and excellence in all deliverables.
Source inspirational material and references to push creativity and innovation within the team.

Qualifications

Tertiary qualification in Graphic Design, Art Direction, Fine Arts, or a related field.
8 years+ of experience in an agency setting, a minimum of 2 years in a senior art direction role, preferably in an agency setting.
Proven track record of leading successful creative projects and campaigns.
Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign).
Strong portfolio showcasing a range of design work and conceptual ATL and digital creative projects.
Award shortlists and awards at local and international awards (i.e. Cannes, One Show, Loeries, Clios, Bookmarks etc.)
A minimum of one gold award at a local or international award show.
Excellent communication and presentation skills.
Demonstrate exceptional strategic and highly conceptual thinking.
Good understanding of influencer, Mobile, Podcast, out-of-home, guerrilla, activations, and direct marketing.
An in-depth understanding of new and existing digital platforms.
Track record of leading the conceptualisation and execution of campaigns.
Ability to work collaboratively and take constructive feedback.
Exceptional problem solving and leadership skills.

SOFTWARE & TOOLS

 

Must have a working knowledge of the following tools:

 

Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe InDesign
Keynote
Microsoft PowerPoint
Adobe After Effects (advantageous)

OPERATIONAL KPI’S

These KPIs will help ensure that you are aligned with your performance expectations in order to set yourself and the team up for success.

Project Completion Rate & Timelines:

Complete projects on time and within the agreed upon deadline.
Target: 95% of projects delivered on schedule.

Quality of Work:

Should be able to produce quality work and manage time effectively.
Keep attention to detail top of mind to ensure that reverts are kept to a minimum.
Ensure that work has been QA’d and approved by the Creative Director before it is sent to clients.
Target: Average of 1 or fewer revisions per project.

Efficiency:

Ensure that time spent on each project phase (conceptualisation, design, revisions) is spent effectively.
Proactively flag when information on a brief is not included or necessary reviews are not scheduled.
Target: Maintain efficient workflow with minimal delays.

Creative Contribution & Innovation:

Consistently contribute with innovative ideas and concepts during brainstorming sessions.
Must attend at all weekly proactive sessions and workshops.
Must have a strong understanding of concept driven work, design craft and the brands you work on.
Progress and execute approved proactive ideas within the given time frame.
Target: Implement at least 3 innovative projects per year.
Target: Bring a minimum of 3 new ideas to reviews per project.
Target: Contribute a minimum of 1 idea in proactive sessions.

 

Awards and Recognition:

Produce work for industry awards or recognitions received for copy work.
Target: Develop or contribute to a minimum of 2 awards pieces annually.
Target: Partake in local and international awards with a goal to win at least 3 awards.

Creative Output:

Completing allocated design pieces (e.g., mock-ups, prototypes, final designs) should be a priority.
Must be able to provide creative rationales for creative choices made.
Must have a strong understanding of best practice interaction and visual design principles.
Deliver highly conceptual ideas and work that are on brief and aligned to the strategic objectives outlined.
Must be able to propose creative solutions based on “Audience First” thinking.
Develop unique, powerful and engaging ideas that are successfully implemented and recognised.
Demonstrate exceptional strategic thinking and digital understanding.
Develop insightful and on-brief ideas against the agreed upon budget.
Propose work that works across agreed upon contact points.
Oversee and run creative projects.
Target: Consistently meet or exceed monthly creative output goals.
Target: Must be able to work on two sizable and two small size projects or three sizable and 1 small size project at any given time.
Target: Develop presentation and communication skills by presenting work internally and to clients.
Target: Collect and file artwork work correctly for archiving and handovers.

Brand Consistency:

Adherence to brand guidelines in all visual materials.
Target: 100% compliance with brand standards.

Professional Development:

Participation in training sessions, workshops, and industry events.
Target: Attend at least 2 professional development activities per year.

Collaboration and Leadership:

Endeavour to build strong relationships with your team and be a team player.
Encourage feedback from team members on collaboration and communication.
Mentor more junior members of the creative team.
Target: Positive feedback from at least 95% of team members.

 

Adaptability:

Ability to quickly adapt to changes in project scope or client feedback.
Target: Successfully manage changes with minimal disruption to project timelines.
Target: Develop problem solving skills by being solutions orientated.

Business Growth:

Contribution to new business pitches and successful client acquisitions.
Target: Contribute to at least 2 successful new business pitches per year.              

 

BUSINESS KPI’s

These KPIs will help ensure that the team is aligned with the business objectives and contributing effectively to the success of NestléOne part of Publicis Groupe Africa.

Client Satisfaction:

Maintain high client feedback scores on bi-annual Aprais scoring.
Target: Average client satisfaction rating of 80% or higher.

Campaign Effectiveness:

Consistently measure the success of campaigns in terms of reach, engagement, and conversion rates in order to improve future campaigns.
Target: Achieve a minimum of 80% of campaign goals.

Client Retention:

Track the retention rate of clients based on the quality of creative work delivered.
Target: Maintain a client retention rate of 90% or higher.

Creative Innovation:

Develop unique, powerful and engaging ideas that are successfully implemented and recognized.
Develop insightful and on-brief ideas against the agreed upon budget.
Propose work that works across agreed upon contact points.
Target: Implement at least 3 innovative projects per year.
Target: Achieve a positive creative impact score of 80% or higher in client surveys.

 

Brand Impact:

Create impactful work that improves brand perception and market positioning.
Target: Achieve a positive creative brand impact score of 80% or higher in client surveys.

Collaboration and Teamwork:

Evaluate the effectiveness of collaboration with other departments and team members.
Target: Receive positive feedback from 95% of team members and stakeholders.

Locations

  • Johannesburg, South Africa

Salary

Estimated Salary Rangelow confidence

150,000 - 250,000 USD / yearly

Source: AI Estimation

* This is an estimated range based on market data and may vary based on experience and qualifications.

Skills Required

  • art directionintermediate
  • visual designintermediate
  • creative leadershipintermediate
  • brand developmentintermediate

Required Qualifications

  • senior art direction experience (experience)
  • leadership skills (experience)

Responsibilities

  • lead art direction team
  • develop visual concepts
  • execute creative campaigns
  • collaborate on production

Benefits

  • general: trust
  • general: talent development
  • general: transformation focus

Target Your Resume for "Group Head Art Director" , Publicis Groupe

Get personalized recommendations to optimize your resume specifically for Group Head Art Director. Takes only 15 seconds!

AI-powered keyword optimization
Skills matching & gap analysis
Experience alignment suggestions

Check Your ATS Score for "Group Head Art Director" , Publicis Groupe

Find out how well your resume matches this job's requirements. Get comprehensive analysis including ATS compatibility, keyword matching, skill gaps, and personalized recommendations.

ATS compatibility check
Keyword optimization analysis
Skill matching & gap identification
Format & readability score

Answer 10 quick questions to check your fit for Group Head Art Director @ Publicis Groupe.

Quiz Challenge
10 Questions
~2 Minutes
Instant Score

Related Books and Jobs

No related jobs found at the moment.