Creative Director / Head of Brand Management & Creative Services, Executive Director

The Creative Director and head of Brand Management & Creative Services, will have a strong track record for delivering world-class user experiences. Reporting to the Chief Communications & Marketing Officer of the Americas, you will work closely with other team leads in the Corporate Communications and Marketing department as well as business leaders throughout the firm to develop the creative strategy and manage the execution of campaigns across print, digital, and social channels.

As a designer-by-training and practiced strategic leader, the Creative Director will contribute to setting the standards for the vision, craft, and creative output of the Corporate Communications & Marketing department.

You will inspire and mentor our talented team of designers to produce top-notch creative assets, while focusing on cultivating a culture of collaboration and growth. As a leader across design disciplines, you should be an expert in visual and experience design—spanning the ecosystems of web, social, mobile, app, email, and print.

Your expertise in brand strategy, visual identity, style, and design systems, as well as knowledge of industry best practices, advancements in trends and emerging patterns, is paramount to maintaining and continuing to push our brand forward in the Americas. The ideal candidate would be an effective team leader with executive presence and the ability to comfortably present comprehensive concepts to senior management and decision makers.

We are looking for someone who

• has a knack for cracking complex problems and crafting them into elegantly simple, intuitive designs with an eye for detail


• has a positive attitude with a balanced approach in order to collaborate with all types of people and personalities


• understands the importance of brand creative strategy and use it to produce powerful work


• has deep expertise with style guides and design systems


• can handle multiple projects at once and meet aggressive deadlines


• can effectively manage a creative team locally as well as remotely


• is a composed and professional leader with the ability to present to senior executive audiences


• can work effectively with and influence teams in Tokyo who may not be as familiar with the nuances of branding and design


• can easily and successfully navigate matrixed global organizations, processes. and culture

Responsibilities:  

• Responsible for branding, creative direction, and management of the creative services team.


• Manage the creative strategy and process from concept to completion, including a wide range of projects spanning print, video, UI/UX, animation, and infographics.


• Translate business/marketing objectives into clear creative strategies.


• Manage all brand-related initiatives, including naming architecture, design systems, brand guidelines, trademarks, specification documentation, etc.


• Facilitate the creation of the conceptual framework for all projects.


• Ensure visual communication and brand standards are met.


• Collaborate with marketing team to develop and maintain our brand identity standards.


• Meet with business leaders and stakeholders to ensure clear and effective communication of creative ideas and strategies.


• Oversee deliverables, timelines and budgets. Utilize design tools for tracking and allocation.


• Lead the global creative team in the production of all assets, collaborating with team members in Tokyo and London as necessary


• Oversee broadcast/media/video production studio, including studio manager


• Manage ad agencies, freelancers, printers and other vendors as needed


• Review work, troubleshoot and provide feedback to creative teams


• Attract, retain, develop, coach and mentor staff

Knowledge and skills requirements: 

• The ideal candidate will have a mixture of experience in graphic/web design, illustration, photography, animation, and video production


• A deep understanding of branding and the user experience around all touch points


• Proven ability to lead a team while building consensus across disciplines, internally and externally


• Proficiency with InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, Premiere


• Proficiency with MS Office: Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint (advanced knowledge)


• Video production, sound editing, UI/UX, motion graphics (After Effects) experience preferred


• HTML, JavaScript, CSS a plus


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with high attention to detail


• Strong project/time management and multi-tasking abilities


• Ability to effectively engage with senior leadership and navigate a matrixed environment


• Flexible and open operating style that gains the trust and respect of individuals at all levels


• Can “hit the ground running” with strong operational execution skills


• Team player with collegial style; high energy, drive and enthusiasm


• Financial services industry experience preferred

Qualifications:

• 10+ years of related experience in creative services


• 5+ years of managerial experience


• Bachelor's degree in graphic design, communications, or related field preferred.

Company Overview

Mizuho Americas is a leading financial institution comprising several legal entities, which together offer clients corporate and investment banking, financing, securities, treasury services, asset management, research and more. Mizuho’s operations in the Americas connect a broad client base of major corporations, financial institutions and public sector groups to local markets and a vast global network. Mizuho Americas is an integral part of the Japan-based Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: MFG), which is comprised of offices in nearly 40 countries, approximately 60,000 employees, and assets of more than USD 1.8 trillion. Learn more at mizuhoamericas.com.

Mizuho Bank Ltd. offers a competitive total rewards package.

We are an EEO/AA Employer - M/F/Disability/Veteran.

We participate in the E-Verify program.

We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing.

#LI-MIZUHO