Executive Director, Motion Design

WHY DEPT®?

We are a Growth Invention company built to help the world’s most ambitious brands grow faster. Operating at the intersection of technology and marketing, we create what is next by pioneering ideas, acting fast, and moving further because standing still just is not in our DNA.

We are drawn to people who stay curious, move with intent, and never stop inventing. Our culture runs on three values: better together, relentlessly curious, and get sh*t done. It is how we work, how we grow, and how we make things that matter.

At DEPT®, you will find the freedom to explore, the space to collaborate, and the trust to make a real impact for our clients, for each other, and for the world we are helping to build.

THE ROLE:

We are looking for an Executive Director, Motion Design, to lead and grow our Motion practice at the highest level. This is a senior leadership role for a visionary creative executive who combines exceptional motion craft with the strategic and operational ability to build, scale, and sustain a world-class discipline.

As the executive leader, you will own the creative direction, team development, business performance, and client relationships that define the practice. You are equally at home presenting a motion vision to a C-suite client as you are reviewing a frame-by-frame animation with your team.

You have built a career at the intersection of motion craft and creative leadership — owning P&L, growing teams, and operating at an executive level without losing your instincts as a maker. You understand that motion is a business-critical creative discipline, and you have the track record to prove it.

This is not a purely managerial role. While your primary responsibility is leading and growing the Motion Design discipline, you remain closely connected to the craft. You bring a strong creative point of view to the work, provide hands-on guidance during critical moments, and are willing to jump into projects when needed to help teams solve problems, elevate quality, or unlock new creative opportunities.

Your credibility as a practitioner is what makes you effective as a leader. You understand the realities of the work because you have done it yourself, and you use that experience to inspire teams, challenge thinking, and raise the creative bar across the organization.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

Practice & Discipline Leadership

• Define and own the strategic direction, creative standards, and long-term vision for Motion Design across DEPT®.
• Build and scale the Motion Design practice — including org structure, hiring roadmap, capability development, and tooling strategy.
• Establish motion systems, creative frameworks, and quality benchmarks that elevate execution across all accounts and channels.
• Champion innovation, AI-assisted workflows, and emerging motion technologies that expand what is creatively and operationally possible.

Client & Business Ownership

• Own P&L for the Motion Design practice, including resourcing, utilization, margin performance, and growth targets.
• Serve as executive creative partner to key clients — including senior stakeholders at accounts like OpenAI — bringing both vision and executional credibility to every engagement.
• Drive new business and organic growth by positioning DEPT®'s motion capabilities in pitches, proposals, and client conversations.
• Collaborate with Client Partners and cross-functional leadership to embed motion into broader creative and campaign strategies.

Team Development & Culture

• Recruit, develop, and retain a high-performing team of Motion Designers, Senior Motion Designers, and Principals across the organization.
• Create a culture of craft excellence, continuous learning, and creative ambition within the Motion Design team.
• Mentor senior practitioners, helping them grow into leadership roles and expand their creative and strategic range.
• Partner with People & Talent teams to build scalable hiring practices, onboarding frameworks, and career progression paths for the discipline.

Creative Execution & Standards

• Develop and maintain a high standard of motion craft — ensuring all work demonstrates strong storytelling, technical excellence, and creative originality.
• Collaborate on music selection, sound design, and audio direction to enhance storytelling, reinforce brand expression, and elevate motion quality.
• Contribute to creative reviews, pitches, and innovation initiatives, helping define the future direction of motion within the organization.
• Stay at the forefront of motion design, animation, filmmaking, AI, sound design, and emerging technologies to continually push the work forward.

WHAT YOU BRING:

• 12+ years of professional experience in motion design, animation, or a related creative discipline, with significant time in senior leadership roles.
• Demonstrated experience owning a creative practice or studio P&L, including responsibility for revenue, margin, and team growth.
• A track record of building and scaling motion design teams — hiring, developing, and retaining top creative talent.
• Executive-level client relationship skills, with experience presenting to and partnering with senior marketing and creative stakeholders.
• A strong, diverse portfolio showcasing outstanding motion design, animation direction, and a deep understanding of design principles (typography, color, layout, pacing).
• Expert knowledge of Figma, Adobe After Effects, and Frame.io. Cinema 4D a plus.
• Deep fluency in AI-assisted motion workflows, tools, and emerging creative technologies.
• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Animation, Film, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

WHAT DO WE OFFER?

We are a collaborative, open-door, best-idea-wins environment that fosters personal and company growth and has fun doing it. Here is a snapshot of our benefits package:

• Healthcare, Dental, and Vision coverage
• 401k plan, plus matching
• PTO
• Paid Company Holidays
• Parental Leave

WE SUPPORT YOU BEING YOU:

DEPT® is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We believe our work is its best when our people feel safe and free to be themselves. We’re committed to an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment and selection process and workplace, regardless of anyone’s identity, background, beliefs, lifestyle or disabilities. So tell us about any accommodations you need. It’s totally confidential and only used to make sure you feel fully supported at every step.

DEPT® participates in E-Verify, meaning your Form I-9 information will be sent to the federal government to confirm you are authorized to work in the U.S.

We are a B Corp-certified company passionate about purpose-driven work. Our hope is that you can feel good about the contributions DEPT® is making to the world and we always have an open door for your ideas in making the world a better place.

DEPT® is a Growth Invention company built to help the world’s most ambitious brands grow faster. Operating at the intersection of technology and marketing, our 4,000+ specialists deliver growth invention across Brand & Media, Experience, Commerce, CRM, and Technology & Data. We’re 50|50 tech and marketing, partner-led, and first to move. Clients include Google, Lufthansa, Coach, eBay, and OpenAI.

Learn more about DEPT®

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION

At DEPT®, we take pride in creating an inclusive workplace where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive. We actively seek to recruit, develop, nurture, and retain talented individuals from diverse backgrounds, with varying skills and perspectives.

Not sure you meet all qualifications? Apply, and let us decide! Research shows that women and members of underrepresented groups tend not to apply for jobs when they think they may not meet every requirement, when in fact they do. We believe in giving everyone a fair chance to shine.

We also encourage you to reach out to us and discuss any reasonable adjustments we can make to support you throughout the recruitment process and your time with us.

Want to know more about our dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion? Check out our efforts here.

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