Creative Director - Studio Lead (South Africa)

Creative Director/Studio Lead Role at Magnetic Creative:

We’re at an inflection point.

Our South African studio has long been home to talented thinkers, makers, and collaborators. As our previous Creative Lead moves on, we’re entering a new chapter.

This isn’t a backfill role.
This is a build, shape, and lead role.

We’re looking for someone who sees change not as instability, but as opportunity. Someone who can step in as a creative force, cultural leader, and unifying presence.

If you’re energized by the idea of shaping a team, influencing its direction, and leaving a lasting mark on both the work and the people behind it, then this role is for you.

Role Overview

The Creative Director / Studio Lead will oversee the creative output, team development, and studio culture of our South African office.

You’ll be responsible for:

• Elevating the quality of ideas and execution
• Building a strong, collaborative, and inspired team environment
• Establishing creative authority and direction
• Partnering with leadership and department heads to align creative with business growth

This is a hands-on leadership role, equal parts visionary, mentor, and maker.

What You’ll Do

Creative Leadership

• Uphold Magnetic's creative standards across all South African/European projects and clients
• Lead concept development across campaigns, branding, and content
• Push for original, strategically sound, and culturally relevant ideas
• Provide clear, constructive creative direction to the team
• Stay close enough to the work to elevate it, not just review it.

Team & Culture Building

• Act as a visible, approachable leader within the SA studio
• Foster a culture of energy, optimism, and creative confidence
• Create an environment where people feel inspired, supported, and challenged
• Help strengthen team morale
• Champion collaboration over silos (no closed doors, no egos)

Studio Leadership

• Partner with growth and account teams to ensure smooth delivery
• Play a key role in hiring and shaping the future team
• Help define what this studio becomes over the next 1–3 years

Client & Business Impact

• Present and sell creative work with clarity and confidence
• Build trust with clients as a creative authority and strategic partner
• Contribute to new business pitches and growth initiatives
• Ensure creative output drives real business results

Who You Are

A Creative Leader, Not Just a Creative

You have a strong portfolio, but more importantly, you’ve led teams, shaped work, and influenced outcomes.

A Culture Builder

You bring presence. People gravitate toward your energy.
You’re not the quiet genius in the corner, you’re the one who brings the room with you.

A Builder

You’re excited by opportunity, not intimidated by gaps.
You see a shifting team as a chance to rebuild something better.

A Mentor

You care about people as much as the work.
You know how to push, support, and unlock potential in others.

A Doer

You’re hands-on when needed. You can concept, write, direct, and refine, not just delegate.

A Positive Force

You lead with optimism, resilience, and clarity, especially during change.
You create momentum

What Success Looks Like

• The work gets noticeably better, sharper, and more consistent
• The team feels energized, supported, and proud
• The SA studio develops a clear creative identity and reputation
• Clients see us as indispensable partners
• New talent is attracted to the team you’re building

Why This Role Matters

This role will define the next chapter of our South African studio. You'll be working as a counterpart with our US based Executive Creative Director. You’ll have the ability to shape the agency future. You’ll become a center of gravity for both creativity and culture within our South African presence.

Compensation

A competitive salary, supplemented by a generous performance-based bonus structure, is on offer, depending on your level of experience.  

Location

Ideally this role should be office based(Knysna) but we will consider remote candidates that are a strong fit. Preference will be given to remote candidates residing in the Cape Town, Somerset West, or Stellenbosch regions. The role would require remote workers to travel to the Knysna office on occasion.