Creative Lead

WHITEFISH CREDIT UNION ASSOCIATION•Kalispell, MT

16h

About The Position

The Creative Lead serves as a key creative contributor within the Marketing department and helps bring the Whitefish Credit Union brand to life across campaigns, branch environments, and member-facing communications. This role is responsible for developing and executing creative concepts, supporting brand consistency, guiding visual and messaging standards, and coordinating with internal stakeholders and third-party partners to deliver high-quality marketing materials. The Creative Lead plays an important role in translating marketing strategy into compelling creative work that supports awareness, engagement, and growth. Working in close partnership with the Senior Vice President of Marketing and the Strategic Marketing Manager, the Creative Lead helps shape campaign messaging and creative execution across channels, while ensuring the Whitefish Credit Union brand is represented clearly and consistently. This position is expected to contribute hands-on creative work, provide direction to external partners, and help maintain the organization’s visual identity, brand assets, and messaging standards. While this role does not directly supervise staff, it is expected to lead creative work through influence, collaboration, and strong professional judgment.

Requirements

Strong understanding of visual design, branding, and marketing communications principles.
Ability to develop compelling creative work across multiple formats and channels.
Strong design sensibility, attention to detail, and understanding of layout, typography, and visual storytelling.
Ability to contribute to messaging, tone, and campaign storytelling.
Ability to identify brand or creative issues and raise concerns appropriately.
Ability to communicate effectively in person, in writing and over the phone with all internal and external stakeholders. Courtesy and tact are essential.
Ability and willingness to interact calmly and professionally with people from all backgrounds.
Ability to follow oral and written instructions.
Ability to work with others in an effective manner, listen well, share work-related information and be tolerant of others’ work styles.
Ability to multitask, prioritize, and organize day-to-day responsibilities with attention to detail and timeliness.
Competent with Adobe Creative Cloud and Microsoft Office applications; ability and willingness to work with a variety of office equipment and software systems.
Ability to lift up to 15 lbs., with or without accommodation.
Complete mandatory annual BSA training that includes Red Flag, Identity Theft, OFAC, CTR, and SAR reporting and thresholds, as well as the safekeeping of member information, and pass any applicable tests.
Follow all Whitefish Credit Union, Montana, and Federal information privacy guidelines.
Adhere to all Whitefish Credit Union policies and procedures.
Protect Member and Whitefish Credit Union confidential information.
Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, design, public relations, or related field.
5–8 years of professional experience in marketing, branding, creative direction, or related roles.
Demonstrated experience developing creative campaigns and brand messaging.
Professional experience with Adobe Creative Cloud applications.
Strong portfolio demonstrating both campaign concept development and brand identity systems.

Nice To Haves

Experience leading video storytelling and production direction preferred.
Experience working with external creative vendors or agencies strongly preferred.
Financial services or regulated industry experience helpful but not required.
Portfolio of relevant work included with application and resume strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop creative concepts and marketing materials in support of campaigns, initiatives, and organizational priorities.
Execute design, layout, content, and visual storytelling work across a variety of channels, including print, digital, video, social media, presentations, and branch materials.
Translate marketing objectives into clear, compelling creative that supports campaign goals and member engagement.
Contribute hands-on design and creative production for key initiatives as needed.
Help maintain and apply Whitefish Credit Union brand standards across marketing materials, campaigns, and member-facing communications.
Support consistency in visual identity, messaging, and tone across channels and departments.
Assist in maintaining brand templates, asset libraries, and design standards.
Review creative materials and provide feedback to help ensure alignment with established brand expectations.
Support development of campaign themes, headlines, scripts, and storytelling approaches in partnership with department management.
Help shape messaging and tone for campaigns, brand initiatives, and member communications.
Contribute to storytelling efforts across video, multimedia, and campaign content.
Assist with script development, storyboard planning, and creative direction for video and multimedia projects.
Work with third-party creative partners, designers, printers, production vendors, and agencies to support project execution.
Communicate project needs, creative direction, and feedback clearly to outside partners.
Help ensure external creative work aligns with campaign objectives, deadlines, and brand expectations.
Coordinate production details and creative deliverables as needed.
Partner with the Strategic Marketing division to align creative execution with campaign strategy, targeting, and performance goals.
Collaborate with internal teams and stakeholders to understand marketing needs and translate them into effective creative solutions.
Support creative development for product campaigns, branch initiatives, community storytelling, and organizational priorities.
Participate in campaign planning and brief development as assigned.
Support creative consistency across branch signage, environmental branding, digital displays, printed collateral, and other member-facing materials.
Assist with creative needs related to new branches, branch updates, and in-branch marketing materials.
Model and reinforce a collaborative, team-oriented approach within assigned marketing activities.
Report to work on time and as scheduled.
Participate in Whitefish Credit Union-sponsored and community-centered events as needed.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Competitive starting wage
100% employer-paid health insurance
FSA (Flex plan) available
Telehealth available
3% employer 401k contribution (no matching requirement)
8% employer pension plan contribution (following first year of employment)
11 paid federal holidays (Saturday holidays excluded)
17 days of PTO annually, accrued monthly
Life and disability insurance
Wellness program
Social Responsibility Policy – 24 hours annually of paid time for non-profit volunteer efforts
Tuition Reimbursement Program – application-eligible following one year of employment