Senior Art Director, Content (Film & Photography)

Burson is the global communications leader built to create value for clients through reputation. With highly specialized teams, industry-leading technologies and breakthrough creative, we help brands and businesses redefine reputation as a competitive advantage so they can lead today and into the future. Burson is part of WPP (LSE/NYSE: WPP), the creative transformation company. Learn more at www.bursonglobal.com.  

Senior Art Director, Content (Film & Photography): Studio – Burson Global

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A 3-MONTH FTC TO START IMMEDIATELY

ABOUT BURSON

Burson is the global communications leader built to create value for clients through reputation. With highly specialised teams, industry-leading technologies and breakthrough creative, we help brands and businesses redefine reputation as a competitive advantage so they can lead today and into the future. Burson operates under WPP (NYSE: WPP), the creative transformation company. Learn more at www.bursonglobal.com.

OUR TEAM

In Studio, we create ideas and bring them to life. We’re a multi-disciplined team, creating content for integrated marketing campaigns, brand experiences and brand identity. We currently have a team of around 40; a mix of Creatives, Brand and Digital Designers, Editors and Content Producers and Creative Project Managers, supplemented by freelancers when specialist skills are needed or workload dictates.

Everyone that succeeds here enjoys the diversity of clients and projects and is driven to do great work that will have a positive effect on our clients’ businesses.

THE ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES

You are a creative who strategically helps an artistic vision come to life, from concepting and brainstorming the idea all the way through crafting and executing it. You direct Designers, Photographers, Editors, etc to develop the work, overseeing the project from inception
to completion.

From initial brief you condense a client problem by providing a creative solution, understanding the issue that the brief is trying to solve and being able to present different creative options that answer the brief and are deliverable on budget and in time. Once a route is agreed on you will create a treatment that contains a storyboard, narrative and is brimming with visual references and techniques.

Throughout you collaborate with the Producer / Project Manager to determine how the film / photography will be shot; location, styling, cast, design, etc. You will brief the Editor / Photographer, making decisions and directing, and present the edit / images to the client, continually listening to feedback, pushing back gently when required, and actioning amends. The ability to take criticism is vital, whether this criticism is coming from the client or your own internal team. You have the experience and pragmatism to address feedback in a considered and solution focussed manner, ensuring that all involved feel listened to and considered.

You’ll be involved throughout the project up to its completion, acting as an overseer to the other Designers and Editors – you are responsible for ensuring all work is of a high quality and in keeping with the client’s vision, constantly communicating with people and providing
clear direction.

Both the Studio’s Art Director and Senior Editor report to you and you’ll be responsible for their development and growth as well as the work they deliver. You’ll inspire them and encourage them to be curious, innovative, dependable and accountable, and of course, to deliver amazing work.

You’ll have a thorough understanding and appreciation of the technical aspects of filming and photography which allows you to consider how your creative vision will be executed to deliver the best results.

DESIRED ATTRIBUTES

Client:

• Creatively have the artistic skill and imagination to produce original and high-quality work.
• Able to interrogate the brief. Feel confident to be able to challenge it and ask questions.
• Understand what the clients’ overall objective is and to not lose sight of that.
• From creative brief be able to come up with and develop your own ideas.
• To be an inspiring storyteller. When building a treatment or proposal of any kind, make sure you understand your audience and you are aware of their interests and motivations - that your creative approach will interest them.
• Understand what the client wants, be able to communicate clearly, explain ideas, give constructive feedback, have engaging presentation skills.
• Think about PR and its news worthiness - what’s the story and does your idea build on it.
• Can put together an engaging treatment or creative proposal from start to finish that references techniques and a cohesive narrative, and be able to sell it because you’re a natural presenter.
• Always be on the hunt for inspiration, outside of the immediate task in hand. Where do you get your references from? Look beyond the obvious, consult others and continue to educate yourself and your team on emerging trends and skills.
• Have a point of view on your work and be able to direct your team is a way that is positive and provides improvements.
• Lead the way in how we present concepts visually.

Commercial:

• Have outstanding management skills to lead a team and be able to communicate
  visual ideas.
• Always present ideas and treatments that are able to be delivered on budget and to hit the client’s deadline.
• Excellent understanding of production. Able to understand what is going to be achievable further down the line and how this is possible.
• Work to a schedule and budget, be able to prioritise, remain calm under pressure.
• Throughout the process you remain commercially aware and are accountable for helping to make sure everyone stays on budget and on schedule.
• Push yourself, and others. Try new approaches and be up on trends in film, photography, design and art direction.
• Constantly considering all aspects of content creation - imagery, tonality, pace, messaging, etc.
• Work at a good pace. The Producers have experience in assigning the right amount of time for the tasks - aim to work within that and if there are issues you’ll flag these early and help to educate them in understanding the amount of time required.
• Able to juggle projects, manage your line reports and utilise time when you are waiting for feedback for example.

People & Culture:

• Manage and develop your line reports in a structured and supportive way. Encourage them to stretch their talents, build their knowledge and reach their goals.
• Inspire and lead the teams in ideation and execution.
• Nurture talent within the teams and throughout the agency.
• Actively support and encourage people within the team to participate in the creative processes and to take pride in the work.
• Act as an Burson ambassador for creative internally and externally.
• An overall collaborative partner; works as an integral part of a dynamic team, as well
  as independently.
• Support Burson cultural initiatives such as Equall, Roots, Parent network and Big Night
  In etc.
• Inspire and coach junior members of the team as well as support senior members of
  the team.
• Act as a Burson ambassador internally and externally, network and promote the teams and the agency.
• Demonstrates the Burson cultural behaviours across all areas: culture creator, master storyteller, technology speculator, idea catcher and campaign architect.

OUR LONDON OFFICE

Burson employs over 450 people in the UK, and our stunning Southwark offices run over two floors as part of the larger WPP Campus, Rose Court. We have access to a beautiful roof terrace with panoramic views across London and a bar/restaurant area, which is a great spot for client meetings and socialising with the wider agency and other WPP OpCo’s. 

DE&I

At Burson, diversity, equity and inclusion are not just values; they are strategic imperatives that fuel our future in an industry built on the art of understanding, connecting, and developing relationships. We believe that a diverse workforce is essential for inspiring bold ideas, fostering constructive dialogue and cultivating meaningful experiences that drive innovation and creativity. It also enables our agency to thrive and deliver brilliant work.  For more information, visit www.bursonglobal.com. 

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