Job Information
Conagra Brands Executive Creative Director in Chicago, Illinois
Conagra is building a modern, in‑house creative agency designed to create powerful, insight‑led brand ideas that drive growth, consistently across all executional touchpoints.
We’re looking for an Executive Creative Director to lead this agency—someone who can generate, shape, and execute big ideas across a diverse portfolio of iconic brands, while also building the culture, systems, and creative muscle that make great work repeatable. You will report directly to the VP / Head of Marketing and will be responsible for creative excellence, operational discipline, and the development of next‑generation creative talent inside Conagra.
This leader partners closely with Brand Management, Media, Agencies, and Enterprise stakeholders to drive growth, optimize investment, and continuously evolve how Conagra activates brands across the portfolio.
A Taste of Your Responsibilities:
Lead Big‑Idea Brand Building
Originate and lead breakthrough, insight‑driven creative platforms across the Conagra portfolio.
Translate data into sharp consumer truths and compelling ideas.
Work comfortably with data, performance signals, and market inputs—and turn them into human stories, truths and compelling ideas.
Ensure ideas are on‑brand, insight‑led, and connected to real consumer tensions that drive business objectives.
Champion work that’s both creatively ambitious and commercially effective.
Content Creation & Studio Management
Own end‑to‑end content creation across key brands, from big‑idea platforms to high‑velocity, always‑on execution across paid, owned, retail, commerce, social, and emerging channels.
Establish and lead a modern in‑house studio model that consistently delivers high‑quality work at speed , managing timelines, budget, production, and decision-making frameworks.
Personally lead and/or elevate development of ideas, scripts, copy, visual systems, and creative platforms , ensuring that work is properly prioritized & resourced to minimize bottlenecks.
Translate brand strategy, consumer insight, and performance data into clear creative direction and actionable briefs that drive better work, faster.
Set and enforce creative standards, quality bars, and design excellence across all content types and brands, establishing a learning-oriented culture that values craft, curiosity, & constructive feedback.
Partner across Enterprise
Act as both creative leader and senior “account” partner, able to manage stakeholders, expectations, and trade‑offs.
Balance creative ambition with speed, prioritization, and operational discipline across the in-house creative team.
Ensure high‑quality work is delivered quickly, consistently, and efficiently – in collaboration with brand leaders.
Collaborate deeply with Brand, Media, Sales, Analytics, and external agency partners to drive ROI-led marketing.
Represent creative thinking credibly across the organization, able to sell ideas, explain tradeoffs, and build confidence in the work.
External Partnerships, Influence & Investment Confidence
Own enterprise brand partnerships, studios, creators, and licensing relationships and respective GTM.
Lead management, guardrails and performance expectations for studio, licensors, agencies and partner engagements.
Ensure partnerships deliver measurable brand growth, ROI/ROAS, and sustained effectiveness.
Translate Studio performance into credible investment narratives that build leadership confidence.
Ingredients Required for Your Success:
Bachelor’s degree required; MBA preferred
10-15+ years of progressive leadership experience in marketing activation, content, production, or agency environments at a leading Creative agency (BBDO, Grey Midwest, Publicis Group or others) and/or in-house CPG creative environment.
Track record of leading big‑idea campaigns from insight through execution, not just one‑off hits.
Deep comfort developing consumer insight without perfect data—you know how to think, not wait.
The ability to write, conceive, and shape work yourself, not just manage others who do.
High emotional intelligence—people trust you, follow you, and get better working with you.
Strong operational instincts: you respect timelines, budgets, and process without letting them neuter creativity.
A sharp design eye, strong cultural fluency, and an instinct for what will endure—not just what’s trending.
Proven experience operating at enterprise and portfolio scale
Demonstrated success leading complex organizations and cross‑functional team
Strong financial acumen with experience managing large budgets and ROI‑driven investment decisions
Number of Days in Office: 4
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Compensation
Pay Range:$153,000-$236,000
The annual salary listed above is the expected offering for this position. An employee’s actual annual salary will be based on but not limited to: location, relevant experience/level and skillset, while balancing internal Conagra employees’ equity. Conagra Brands will comply with applicable law regarding minimum salaries for exempt employees.
Our Benefits
We care about your total well-being and will support you with the following, subject to your location and role:
Health: Comprehensive healthcare plans, wellness incentive program, mental wellbeing support and fitness reimbursement
Wealth: Great pay, bonus incentive opportunity, matching 401(k) and stock purchase plan
Growth: Career development opportunities, employee resource groups, on-demand learning and tuition reimbursement
Balance: Paid-time off, parental leave, flexible work-schedules (subject to your location and role) and volunteer opportunities
Our Company
At Conagra Brands, we have a rich heritage of making great food. We aspire to have the most impactful, energized and inclusive culture in food. As a member of our 18,000+ person team across 40+ locations, you are empowered to reach your potential, make an impact and own your career. We're in the business of building champions – within our people and our iconic brands like Birds Eye®, Slim Jim® and Reddi-Wip®.
Our focus on innovation extends beyond making great food, it also reflects our commitment to embracing new solutions that positively impact our team, the communities we serve and the health of our planet. Foodies Welcome.
Conagra Brands is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, pregnancy, leave status, disability, veteran status, genetic information and/or any other characteristic or status protected by national, federal, state or local law. Reasonable accommodation may be made upon request.