Art Director – SmartCodes

Location: Dar es Salaam
Employment Type: Full-Time
Company: SmartCodes

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About SmartCodes

SmartCodes is a leading pan-African hybrid marketing agency specializing in:

• Creative innovation
• Media planning and buying
• Experiential marketing activations
• Public relations
• Integrated 360° marketing campaigns

The agency combines technology, creativity, and consumer insights to deliver impactful marketing solutions for clients across Africa.

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Position Summary

The Art Director is responsible for leading the visual design and artistic direction of client projects, ensuring all creative outputs are:

• Visually compelling
• Strategically effective
• Brand-aligned
• High quality and innovative

The role involves managing visual teams, mentoring designers, collaborating with creative and strategy teams, and ensuring successful delivery of campaigns across multiple platforms.

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Key Responsibilities

1. Visual Leadership & Creative Execution

Creative Direction

• Lead visual development of campaigns from concept through final delivery.
• Ensure all creative work aligns with:
  • Client briefs
  • Brand guidelines
  • Strategic objectives

Design Oversight

• Direct and supervise:
  • Graphic Designers
  • Illustrators
  • Multimedia Artists
• Ensure high-quality outputs across:
  • Print media
  • Digital platforms
  • Motion graphics

Concept Presentation

• Present visual concepts internally and to clients.
• Clearly communicate creative rationale and strategic value.
• Provide constructive feedback throughout the design process.

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2. Collaboration & Client Engagement

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Work closely with:

• Creative Director
• Copywriters
• Strategists
• Account Managers

To ensure integrated and effective campaign execution.

Client Interaction

• Participate in client meetings.
• Explain design concepts and visual strategies.
• Address client feedback professionally.
• Build strong client relationships and confidence.

Business Development

• Support agency pitches and proposals.
• Create:
  • Mockups
  • Prototypes
  • Visual presentations
  • Campaign concepts

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3. Team Mentorship & Development

Leadership

• Mentor junior and mid-level designers.
• Encourage innovation and creative growth.
• Foster collaboration within the creative team.

Skills Development

• Conduct regular creative reviews.
• Organize training and coaching sessions.
• Improve technical and conceptual capabilities of team members.

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4. Project Management & Quality Assurance

Project Oversight

• Manage multiple creative projects simultaneously.
• Ensure projects are delivered:
  • On time
  • Within budget
  • To agency standards

Quality Control

• Review and approve visual assets before client submission.
• Implement quality assurance procedures.
• Maintain consistency across deliverables.

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5. Technology & Innovation

Industry Trends

• Stay updated on:
  • Design trends
  • Creative technologies
  • Industry best practices

Digital Innovation

• Promote efficient workflows.
• Introduce new design technologies.
• Explore AI-powered creative tools and solutions.

Asset Management

• Improve digital asset organization and management practices.

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6. Brand Consistency & Compliance

Brand Management

• Ensure brand consistency across all client projects.
• Protect and maintain brand integrity.

Compliance

Ensure all visual materials comply with:

• Legal requirements
• Regulatory standards
• Accessibility guidelines

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Performance Indicators (KPIs)

The successful candidate will be expected to achieve:

KPI	Target
Project Delivery	95%+ delivered on time and within budget
Client Satisfaction	4.5/5 or higher
Industry Recognition	At least one local/regional creative award annually
Team Development	Minimum 2 training sessions per quarter
Brand Consistency	100% compliance across assigned projects

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Essential Skills & Competencies

Creative Skills

• Art Direction
• Graphic Design
• Visual Storytelling
• Brand Development
• Creative Concept Development
• Typography and Layout Design

Technical Skills

Proficiency in:

• Adobe Creative Suite
  • Photoshop
  • Illustrator
  • InDesign
  • After Effects
• Motion Graphics Tools
• Digital Design Platforms
• AI-Assisted Design Tools

Leadership Skills

• Team management
• Coaching and mentoring
• Project coordination
• Decision-making
• Stakeholder management

Soft Skills

• Excellent communication
• Presentation skills
• Creativity and innovation
• Problem-solving
• Time management
• Attention to detail

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Ideal Candidate Profile

This position is best suited for professionals with experience as:

• Art Director
• Senior Graphic Designer
• Creative Lead
• Visual Design Manager
• Brand Design Manager
• Creative Strategist

Strong candidates will demonstrate:

✔ Exceptional design portfolio

✔ Leadership experience managing creative teams

✔ Agency or marketing industry experience

✔ Client presentation and stakeholder management skills

✔ Expertise in digital, print, and multimedia design

✔ Passion for innovation and emerging creative technologies

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Career Value

This role offers an opportunity to:

• Lead high-profile marketing campaigns.
• Work with diverse brands across Africa.
• Shape the creative direction of a leading marketing agency.
• Mentor and develop future creative talent.
• Gain recognition through award-winning creative work.
• Drive innovation through modern design and AI-powered creative solutions.

The position is ideal for a highly creative professional who combines strong artistic vision with leadership, business awareness, and strategic thinking.

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