Director, Emerging Technologies / Creative Technologist (AI)

Onward Search is a specialized staffing and talent solutions company that helps professionals find top jobs with the nation’s leading brands. We’re looking to hire a Director, Emerging Technologies for a creative marketing agency. This agency is launching its Office of Innovation to future-proof its creative excellence, blending creativity, emerging tech, and storytelling across entertainment and brand marketing.

You’ll join the Office of Innovation team to lead AI and immersive technology initiatives that redefine workflows, services, and storytelling tools. This is:

• A full-time opportunity.
• Located in Los Angeles, CA, and is hybrid.
• Salary: $200-300K

Director, Emerging Technologies Responsibilities:

• Act as the creative-technical engine within the Office of Innovation, driving new ideas, experiments, and workflows across departments.
• Lead AI and creative tech initiatives from pitch to prototype, identifying meaningful use cases and guiding real-world implementation.
• Collaborate with Creative Directors, Strategists, and Production teams to translate concepts into executable solutions.
• Prototype and refine internal tools that enhance creative development, visual ideation, scripting, storyboarding, editing, and delivery.
• Evaluate and integrate emerging platforms (e.g., Midjourney, Runway, Firefly, ChatGPT, Unity, WebGL, Figma) into the creative pipeline.
• Partner with AI/immersive media SMEs to ensure the organization stays on the cutting edge of technology and creativity.
• Serve as a consultant and translator—making complex technologies approachable through workshops and knowledge shares.
• Contribute to new business development with innovation-driven pitches and proof-of-concept assets.
• Play a leadership role in shaping the creative culture around experimentation, future-readiness, and intelligent risk-taking.

Director, Emerging Technologies Requirements:

• 6+ years in creative innovation roles at agencies, studios, entertainment marketing, or digital production.
• Hands-on experience with AI and immersive tech: generative visual tools (Midjourney, Runway, Firefly), creative automation (ChatGPT, ElevenLabs, Synthesia), and real-time environments (Unity, Unreal Engine, WebGL).
• Strong prototyping skills—able to build, test, connect APIs, and streamline workflows.
• Proficiency in design/prototyping tools: Figma, Adobe Suite, C4D.
• Strong conceptual ability to reimagine how platforms and tools intersect with storytelling.
• Natural collaborator who thrives in cross-disciplinary environments and communicates fluently with creative and technical teams.
• Comfortable with ambiguity and skilled at helping others embrace experimentation.
• Bonus: Background in entertainment marketing, social listening/AI strategy tools, or experience leading internal labs/workshops.

Perks & Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• 401k Program
• Commuter Benefit
• eLearning
• Education Reimbursement
• Ongoing Training & Development

To qualify for our benefits package, you must work over 30 hours per week and the length of assignment must be a minimum of 10 weeks.