Upwork ($UPWK) is the leading tech solution for companies looking to hire the best talent, maintain flexibility, and get more done. We’re passionate about our mission to create economic opportunities so people have better lives. Every year, more than $2 billion of work is done through Upwork by skilled professionals who want the freedom of working anytime, anywhere. Top companies connecting with extraordinary talent around the globe? Upwork is how.

The Creative Team at Upwork is a tight-knit group that believes in not taking ourselves too seriously, creating awesome stuff, and having fun. We get the opportunity to work on a wide range of interesting projects including advertising, environmental design, video, motion graphics, print collateral, event graphics and interactive design.

We are looking for an outstanding Art Director to join our team. You will manage a team of full-time employees and freelancers to craft innovative designs across advertising, brand, and video projects at a rapidly growing company. This role reports to our Executive Creative Director.

Your Responsibilities:

• You lead design thinking workshops and project definition activities.
• You work with a project manager to estimate project timeframes and balance great design with meeting deadlines.
• You bring a positive and can-do approach to solving large, strategic, and complex problems with simple and elegant design solutions that address project goals & requirements.
• You utilize business and customer insights to create original, innovative, and meticulous designs that demonstrate excellent typographic and layout skills while adhering to our brand guidelines.
• You autonomously run all aspects of assigned projects with minimal direction and collaborate with and present directly to project owners.
• You manage other disciplines involved in the development of projects including illustrators, photographers, and printers.
• You clearly and confidently communicate and present design decisions, gather and implement feedback from project owners and other designers, and manage project owner's expectations.
• You direct the work of one or more junior and/or freelance designers.
• You are an expert in design tools such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.

What it takes to catch our eye:

• 4+ years of experience as a practicing graphic designer or similar role.
• An outstanding portfolio demonstrating the skills above. Please include a link to your portfolio; designers without a portfolio will not be considered.

How to really knock our socks off:

• Illustration skills.
• Motion graphics and video skills.
• Interactive skills.
• Clear ability to understand business goals and strategy, and develop creative that helps accomplish them.