Who We Are
Bennett Creative is a video-forward marketing agency based in Austin, Texas. Founded in 2018 by Andrew and Dorothy Bennett, we specialize in producing exceptional visual content, from TV commercials to social media content, and running high-performance campaigns for small to medium-sized businesses. We help our clients stand out and achieve measurable growth.
Our Culture
We are looking for people who are professional, helpful, cheerful, and eager to grow in their career and skill set. Our office is a place where creative folks can flourish and have fun. It's a gentle environment. No one will ever yell at you. We don't curse much. We're not very edgy. We just like making nice, creative marketing campaigns with nice, creative people.
About the Role
We are looking for a leadership-oriented Commercial Director who can seamlessly transition between six-figure TV commercials and social media content. You are someone who balances creative "blue-sky" thinking with the technical precision of a DP and the logistical mind of a producer. Crucially, you possess the ability and enthusiasm to scale your leadership style, feeling equally at home running a lean crew of 4 as you do leading a large-scale production of 40 people.
Requirements
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Creative Strategy & Pitching
Client Research: Deep-dive into client brands, past production styles, and core messaging before prospective client meetings.
The Pitch: Attend prospective client meetings to "sell our creativity." You should be able to offer high-level ideas on the fly to win trust.
Writing & Development: Craft initial concepts, scripts, and treatments. Assemble visually stunning pitch decks with curated video and frame references.
2. Pre-Production Leadership
Finalization: Once a project is secured, lead the agency through pre-production by finalizing scripts, treatments, shot lists, and schedules (collaborating with the AD).
Logistics: Assist the Producer in coordinating and reserving crew.
Technical Prep: Coordinate gear prep and rentals with DPs and PAs to ensure everything is ready for "action."
3. On-Set Direction & Production
Directing/DPing: Lead the set with total preparation. You should know the script, shot list, and talent inside and out.
Protect the Scope: Ensure we always deliver exactly what is asked. Be vigilant in managing "scope creep," ensuring that we fulfill our promises to the client without letting the project drift beyond the agreed-upon parameters.
Efficiency: "Make your day." Manage time effectively to avoid unnecessary overtime while maintaining high production value.
Morale Management: Act as an uplifting leader. One of your most important performance metrics is the feedback from the crew and clients regarding the environment you create on set.
4. Post-Production & Agency Growth
Editing Oversight: Oversee the post-production process, providing timely, cohesive, and constructive notes to editors to ensure the final product matches the initial vision.
Mentorship: Actively train and mentor junior staff and freelancers on the job, fostering a culture of continuous learning.
Brand Presence: Participate in Bennett Creative’s own social media by creating behind-the-scenes content and sharing insights about the spots you direct.
5. Team Management & Asset Oversight
Direct Reports: Directly manage and mentor at least two Junior Directors. You are responsible for their professional growth, project performance, and day-to-day oversight.
Gear & Fleet Management: Take responsibility for the maintenance, organization, and readiness of all agency production gear and the production van. You will lead this effort with assistance from the crew to ensure our equipment is always field-ready and safe.
PERFORMANCE & SUCCESS
The Challenger Mindset: We are a small agency with big agency aspirations, growing quickly and intentionally. We have no desire to follow the traditional agency path. Having watched the old model disintegrate as budgets lean out and AI disrupts everything, we want someone who can innovate a new agency model with us. You should bring a challenger mindset: finding smarter, more efficient ways to deliver world-class results.
Creative Evolution: You are expected to not only match our existing portfolio but to actively push it forward. We measure success by your ability to elevate our writing, art direction, and cinematography toward a National Ad Agency caliber. We have already produced regional Super Bowl ads. We want to be producing national Super Bowl ads.
Entrepreneurial Leadership: Because we are a growing business, working with other growing businesses, you must have an entrepreneurial spirit. You understand the big picture of business growth and can lead your team and our clients with that shared drive for success.
Client Trust & Satisfaction: The greatest compliment you can receive is a client requesting to work with you specifically for their next project. We want our clients to feel so supported and impressed that they view you as their primary creative partner.
Crew Integration & Leadership: We have a very tight-knit crew. Success means being recognized as a servant-leader on set while maintaining the Bennett Creative culture, meaning our crew enjoys working with you as much as the clients do.
The "North Star" Metric: We evaluate every project by one simple question: Can we confidently ask this client for a 5-star Google review? This indicates that they were impressed by the final product and delighted by the process from start to finish, so much so that they will be a cheer leader for us.
AI-Forward, With Integrity: We are tech-forward and AI-curious. We currently use AI in every aspect of pre-production and are expanding its use in post-production. We view AI as a powerful tool while maintaining an unwavering dedication to quality. If AI can get us to a beautiful end-product faster, we use it; if it falls short of our standards, we trash it and do it the old-school way. We take a "time will tell" approach to generative video, staying open to future innovations while protecting our creative integrity.
REQUIREMENTS
Experience: 5+ years in professional video production with at least 2 years in a Directing or DP capacity.
Portfolio: A robust commercial portfolio focusing on products and services. We are specifically looking for commercial polish with indoor lighting rather than documentary-style work. We are also looking for experience writing scripts, working with talent, art direction and an eye for graphic design.
Full-Time, Fully On-Board: This is a full-time commitment. We expect the Director to view this job as their main outlet for creativity, not just their day-job while they pursue other endeavours. You will be under a non-compete while employed with us.
Communication: Exceptional writing skills for treatments and scripts, and confident public speaking skills for client pitches.
Attitude: A joyful, uplifting personality. You must be someone who handles the pressures of production with grace and positivity.
Technical Proficiency: Deep understanding of modern cinema cameras, lighting techniques, post-production workflow and coloring.
Flexible schedule: We are not the hardest grinding agency, but we also can’t always adhere to a strict 9 to 5, Mon-Fri. You will be required to occasionally work outside of business hours, on the weekends, and sometimes 10+ hours for a shoot day. Because you are in a creative leadership role, no overtime is paid. However, there is unlimited PTO and the expectation that you will take time off after heavy stretches and have more chill in-office days in between productions.
Travel: you will be required to travel out of town on occasion. On average, we go out of town 1 to 2 times per month.
SALARY & BENEFITS
Salary: $85k - $115k/year
Time Off: Unlimited PTO for 2026 (we're trying it out) + 10 paid bank holidays.
Hybrid Work: Up to 2 days/week allowed for remote work
Health: 50% employer-paid health insurance
Retirement: 401k program with 3-4% matching (after 12 months).
Paychecks: Weekly direct deposit paychecks
Outings: Monthly company-paid outings/happy hours.