DIRECTOR, CREATIVE SERVICES (ART/DESIGN)

Metro’s mission is to provide a world-class transportation system that enhances the quality of life for all who live, work, and play within LA County.

Description

Directs, motivates, oversees and provides final sign-off of the conceptualization, development, design, and production of all advertising, communications, and information materials for Metro, to initiate and maintain an engaging and cohesive communications program for everything visual, and most messaging, that the agency puts forth county-wide. The Director, Creative Services will lead the creative team and drive the development of impactful and engaging content that aligns with the brand’s strategic objectives.

Recruitment Timeline: Interviews are projected to be scheduled for the week of June 2, 2025. These dates are subject to change . We encourage you to monitor your governmentjobs.com profile and emails for the latest updates.

Examples of Duties

• Generates initial creative strategies in a team environment and leads creative efforts for all Metro communications, including advertising, marketing collaterals, television/radio/video, fleet design, signage, fare media, maps, and timetables
• Oversees the Metro Design Studio, including assigning projects to staff and evaluating their work, ensuring smooth workflow and quality of work, and refining production systems to ensure projects are delivered on time
• Directs and approves design for all marketing projects; approves creative products
• Motivates Marketing team and supports assigned staff in combining content with design
• Evaluates and supervises the acquisition of necessary technology
• Oversees and evaluates the work of agency and contracted staff to effectively translate the agency vision into visual communication
• Brainstorms ideas and concepts with executive management, department heads, and other internal clients
• Oversees large-scale, highly visible advertising and communication projects
• Leads or attends progress meetings on multiple projects
• Serves as agency's principal copywriter and writes or edits most short-form copy
• Manages social media, advertising, and marketing research staff and vendors
• Provides creative direction of Metro's website
• Conceptualizes, develops, and executes creative strategies and solutions for Metro client departments, effectively communicates these strategies to staff, and advocates for high quality in all communications projects
• Develops advertising graphics and various collateral materials for the wide range of Metro services within schedule and budgetary constraints
• Provides technical design guidance and oversees the design of innovative and effective visual communications, including print advertising, information and map design, and various collateral materials for a wide range of customers
• Establishes policies, procedures, and guidelines to promote quality graphic design throughout the agency and plays a key role in the development of the agency's advertising strategies and campaigns
• Facilitates, oversees, and improves information flow between Design Studio staff, Marketing staff, and internal clients
• Reviews workflow, equipment, and staffing levels to ensure deadlines and cost requirements are met; resolves scheduling conflicts and prioritizes competing projects
• Develops and writes Scopes of Work for consultants, prepares cost estimates, identifies specialized graphic designer needs, and sits on selection panels
• Oversees work of outside advertising and design consultants when necessary
• Develops annual department budget and workplans
• Prepares and reviews written and oral reports and recommendations to management and the Board of Directors
• Supervises, trains, and evaluates assigned staff; provides direct reports with individual performance feedback
• Communicates and implements safety rules, policies, and procedures in support of the agency's safety vision and goals; and maintains accountability for the safety performance of all assigned employees
• Contributes to ensuring that the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies and programs of Metro are carried out
  
  May be required to perform other related job duties
  

Minimum Qualifications

A combination of education and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position. Additional experience, as outlined below, may be substituted for required education on a year-for-year basis. A typical combination includes:

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Visual Communications, Graphic Design, or a related field; Master's Degree in a related field preferred
  

Experience

• Five years of relevant management-level experience managing staff engaged in advertising, design, marketing, communications, or related field, and overseeing large scale, highly complex, multi-faceted communications projects with strong design and copywriting background
  

Certifications/Licenses/Special Requirements

• A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions
  

Preferred Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications (PQs) are used to identify relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) as determined by business necessity. These criteria are considered preferred qualifications and are not intended to serve as minimum requirements for the position. PQs will help support selection decisions throughout the recruitment. In addition, applicants who possess these PQs will not automatically be selected.

The following are the preferred qualifications:

• Experience producing innovative creative solutions in the public or transportation sector
  
• Experience developing and aligning creative output with business goals, ensuring campaigns drive results while maintaining artistic integrity
  
• Experience leading and managing teams to inspire creativity, foster collaboration, and support team members in achieving professional growth
  
• Experience managing large-scale creative projects, including budget reporting and timeline development for multiple stakeholders
  
• Experience presenting integrated creative and marketing plans to senior-level executives
  

Essential Knowledge

Knowledge of (defined as a learned body of information that is required for and applied in the performance of job tasks):

• Current theories, principles, and practices of graphic design, environmental design, corporate identity, branding, typography, and signage
  
• Graphic design in all forms, i.e., print, web, mobile, environmental, merchandise, etc.
  
• Strategic design concepts and ability to lead development of creative design concepts that work across multiple media platforms and target audience messaging needs
  
• Persuasive messaging and marketing
  
• Applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules and regulations governing funding sources for a public agency
  
• Applicable software programs such as Adobe Creative Cloud suite, QuarkXpress, Macromedia Flash, Filemaker Pro, File Transfer Protocol software utilities, compression software utilities, font management software utilities, Final Cut Pro, and applicable business software applications
  
• Macintosh hardware
  
• Image resolution, offset printing processes, and digital color printer processes
  
• Appropriate applications of computer color designations
  
• Preparation of digital graphic computer files for printing
  
• Various file formats and when to use each, file compression, and file and asset management including backup systems
  
• Reproduction of black and white and color photography, and illustration
  
• Basic math as it relates to proportion, perspective, and type specification
  
• Artwork translation into large outdoor formats
  
• Qualities and properties of printing papers and inks
  
• Other production processes including silk screening, embroidery, holograms, electronic fare media technologies, and other applied materials
  
• Project management
  
• Copywriting and editing
  
• Theories, principles, and practices of project planning, budgeting, cost estimating, and time management
  
• Financial and analytical methods and processes
  
• Copyright issues
  
• Modern management theories
  

Skill in (defined as the proficient manual, verbal, or mental utilization of data, people, or things):

• Creative design and marketing
  
• Art direction and creative interplay with designers
  
• Making presentations
  
• Establishing and implementing relevant policies and procedures
  
• Identifying priorities and allocating resources
  
• Basic budget management
  
• Exercising sound judgment and creativity in making decisions
  
• Communicating effectively verbally and in writing
  
• Interacting professionally with all levels of Metro employees, contractors, and the public
  
• Communicating design concepts effectively to non-design professionals
  
• Utilizing Adobe Creative Suite software applications
  

Ability to (defined as a present competence to perform an observable behavior or produce an observable result):

• Demonstrate and communicate an overall appreciation and understanding of the creative fields, and advertising
  
• Create systems to manage heavy creative workflow
  
• Establish solid, trust-based relationships with internal staff and clients
  
• Negotiate consensus solutions
  
• Prepare finished electronic files for a variety of projects in a variety of software programs
  
• Be innovative in leveraging limited resources
  
• Make financial decisions within a budget
  
• Supervise, train, and motivate assigned staff
  
• Read, write, speak, and understand English
  

Special Conditions

The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Metro provides reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Working Conditions

• Typical office situation
  
• Close exposure to computer monitors and video screen
  

Physical Effort Required

• Sitting at a desk or table
  
• Operate a telephone or other telecommunications device and communicate through the medium
  
• Type and use a keyboard and mouse to perform necessary computer-based functions
  
• Standing
  
• Walking (distance 5' to 100')
  
• Communicating through speech in the English language required
  
• Good distance vision and/or depth perception to judge distances
  
• Color recognition (e.g., distinguishing wires, resistors, containers, light signals, etc.)
  

(RW)

Metro is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, age, veteran status, or disability. Learn more about Metro’s Equal Employment Opportunity Program . Metro does not deny participation in the application process to anyone with prior justice system involvement, in line with Fair Chance hiring practices.

Selection Procedure

Applicants who best meet job-related qualifications will be invited to participate in the examination process that may consist of any combination of written, performance, or oral appraisal to further evaluate job-related experience, knowledge, skills and abilities.

Application Procedure

To apply, visit Metro's website at www.metro.net and complete an online Employment Application.

Computers are available to complete online Employment Applications at the following Metro location:

METRO Headquarters, Employment Office
One Gateway Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Telephone: (213) 922-6217 or persons with hearing or speech impairments can use California Relay Service 711 to contact Metro.

All completed online Employment Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the closing date. Late applications will not be considered.

*Open to the public and all Metro employees

This job bulletin is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. Employees may be required to perform other related job duties.

*Please refer to the applicable benefit type (Regular or Temporary)*

BENEFITS FOR REGULAR EMPLOYEES

Benefits cover probationary or regular full-time (working at least 40 hrs/week) employees of Metro.

We offer a range of high-quality medical, dental and vision plan options as well as health care spending accounts for you and your family. Metro will cover a significant portion of your health care premiums.

Medical/Dental/Vision Plan- Employee has the choice of 3 separate medical plans and 3 dental plans. A separate vision plan is included in each medical plan.

Group Life Insurance- PTSC pays for an amount equal to your annual salary, rounded up to the nearest $1,000. Minimum amount of life insurance is $30,000.

Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance- PTSC provides $50,000 coverage for each employee. Additional voluntary coverage in amounts up to $500,000 is available at favorable premium rates.

Long-Term Disability Insurance- 100% employer paid. Provides employees with a minimum income of 60% of earnings after six months of disability. Buy up or buy down options available.

Holidays- 12 days a year: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans' Day, Cesar E Chavez, Juneteenth,Thanksgiving Day, Day After Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.

Time off with Pay (TOWP)- Compensates employees who are on approved absence from work for reasons such as illness, injury, medical and dental appointments, personal business, vacation, or observance of (a) religious holiday.
Years of Service Annual Accrual
Hire date - 5 years20 days
Beginning of 6th - 10th year25 days
Beginning of 11th - 15th year30 days
Beginning of 16th + years35 days

Pension Plan- PTSC retirement plan is the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). Vesting is five (5) years. Minimum retirement age is 52, based on the 2% at 62 formula.

Other Benefits: Transportation passes for employees and/or eligible dependents; Medicare; Tuition reimbursement; credit union membership; SDI; Deferred Compensation Plan; 401(K) Thrift plan; EAP; Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts; Flexible work schedules; and Jury Duty Pay.

BENEFITS FOR TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES

Temporary (Contingent) employees are eligible for the following benefits only:

• Kaiser medical insurance
• Public Pension Plan
• 457/401K Plan
• Flex Spending
• Paid Sick Time
• Fare Media
• Rideshare Subsidies
• Metro One Fitness membership

For more information on the Benefits Enrollment for Contingent Employees, please visit LA Metro’s Pension & Benefits website at www.benefits.metro.net .

Closing Date/Time: 5/13/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

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• Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority - LA Metro

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