Senior Art Director

VML is hiring a full-time Senior Art Director for our Kansas City office, located in Jackson County. You'll lead visual strategy and creative direction for major campaigns serving clients like Microsoft, Ford, Nestlé, and Coca-Cola—creating meaningful brand experiences that drive business growth for world-class companies.

About the Role

As Senior Art Director at VML's Kansas City location, you'll be a creative strategist and visual leader guiding how premium brands are experienced by their audiences. You'll work on integrated, multi-channel campaigns that combine brand storytelling, customer experience design, and commerce strategy—partnering with strategists, copywriters, and technologists to deliver work that resonates and performs.

What You'll Do

• Define and lead the visual direction for campaigns across digital, broadcast, print, and emerging media channels
• Lead and mentor a team of designers and art directors, fostering a culture of creative excellence and growth
• Collaborate with creative directors, copywriters, strategists, and product teams to develop integrated campaign concepts
• Create compelling visual concepts, design systems, and brand expressions that strengthen client positioning
• Manage the design process from strategy through final execution, ensuring consistent quality and brand alignment
• Present creative work to clients and stakeholders, explaining both the strategic rationale and emotional impact
• Stay current with design trends, tools, and industry innovations to elevate your team's capabilities

What We're Looking For

• 8+ years of art direction experience in advertising, creative agencies, or brand-focused environments
• Proven track record managing and mentoring creative teams and developing junior talent
• Expert proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite and modern design software
• Exceptional portfolio demonstrating strategic thinking and distinctive visual problem-solving
• Strong grasp of brand positioning, consumer psychology, and design fundamentals
• Outstanding communication and presentation abilities
• Ability to manage competing deadlines and multiple complex projects simultaneously
• Collaborative mindset with ability to influence and inspire cross-functional teams

About VML

VML, part of the WPP family, is a creative company specializing in integrated brand experiences, customer-focused design, and commerce solutions. We partner with leading global brands to create work that connects people with the products and companies they care about, delivering both creative recognition and measurable business results.

How to Apply

If you're ready to bring your creative leadership to Kansas City, apply now through this posting and share your resume and portfolio.