Edelman is a voice synonymous with trust, reimagining a future where the currency of communication is action. Our culture thrives on three promises: boldness is possibility, empathy is progress, and curiosity is momentum.
At Edelman, we understand diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) transform our colleagues, our company, our clients, and our communities. We are in relentless pursuit of an equitable and inspiring workplace that is respectful of all, reflects and represents the world in which we live, and fosters trust, collaboration and belonging.
We are looking for an experienced, talented, and proactive Executive Creative Director to work alongside a multidisciplinary, high-performing team.
Edelman sits at the crossroads of PR, Advertising, Social, Digital, and Experiential. We create smart, innovative, and powerful work that gets people talking.
In this role, the Executive Creative Director will work closely with the Chief Creative Officer, Canada and Global Partner Anthony Chelvanathan helping to shape the agency’s creative vision in Canada while nurturing and growing our creative talent and teams. You’ll be accountable for ensuring the delivery of consistent, exceptional work that meets client expectations and business objectives across Canadian and global accounts.
You bring a deep passion for advertising, complemented by strong digital and social expertise, and a love for smart, beautiful, culturally relevant work. You’ve built and grown teams before — and you’re excited to do it again.
You’ll thrive in a highly collaborative, fast-paced environment — think creative startup energy with the support and scale of a large, privately owned global agency.
The Executive Creative Director is responsible for developing groundbreaking, multi-channel creative work for leading global and regional brands, working closely with both Canadian teams and the broader Edelman global network.
To succeed in this role, you’ll bring a genuine passion for people and for solving complex problems together. Our culture is what sets us apart from traditional ad agencies — and it’s why so many people build long careers here. At Edelman, our most valuable resource is our people: diverse in background, perspective, and experience, united by curiosity, generosity, and heart. We support one another, push each other forward, and look for leaders who actively contribute to that culture.
Responsibilities
Develop and deliver culturally fluent and social first creative concepts and ideas grounded in strong, relevant insights and designed for a variety of platforms and audiences
Demonstrate a strong understanding of today's social platforms and the user behaviours that engage consumers and help stories travel
Ensure creative work is consistent with brand personality and clearly differentiates clients from the competition
Guide and elevate creative expression across a diverse client portfolio, including tech, lifestyle, entertainment, tourism, and more
Deliver fresh thinking, innovative creative solutions, and impactful storytelling
Identify opportunities to take smart creative risks and successfully move great ideas from concept to execution
Partner closely with strategy and planning teams to strengthen creative briefs and define clear success parameters
Collaborate with production teams to bring ideas to life at the highest level of craft
Build strong client relationships by deeply understanding business objectives and ensuring work is on-brief and on-brand
Work with account leads and integrated teams to see projects through from idea to activation, delivering high-quality work on time and on budget
Lead client presentations with clarity, confidence, and a strong point of view
Foster a culture of creativity, collaboration, accountability, and mentorship across creative teams at all levels
Serve as a senior client leader, with the ability to read the room, galvanize stakeholders, and confidently engage C-suite audiences
Basic Qualifications
Minimum of 12 years of relevant experience, ideally within an integrated agency environment
Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Fine Arts, Advertising, or another creative discipline
Proven track record of high-caliber creative work, demonstrating the ability to translate strategic thinking into best-in-class creative execution
Preferred Qualifications
Agency experience in concept development, art direction, and/or copywriting within integrated marketing, advertising, creative, or PR environments
Strong understanding of production processes across multiple platforms, formats, and scales
Expertise and experience developing integrated campaigns leveraging social first behavioral insights
Ability to craft and deliver compelling presentations that sell ideas and deepen client relationships
Experience building, leading, and mentoring teams of art directors, copywriters, and designers, while collaborating effectively across disciplines
Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment
Grounded understanding of the role PR and social media play within the broader communications and marketing ecosystem
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We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t perfectly align with every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.
