Overview:
We are seeking a strategic and innovative Creative Director to lead the creative efforts for packaging, merchandising, videos, photography, and digital product detail pages within the kitchen housewares and consumer cleaning categories. This role is responsible for translating consumer insights into creative design strategies, ensuring cohesive brand representation across physical and digital channels. The Creative Director will also ensure all projects are delivered on time, on budget, on cost, and within the company’s phase gate process, while managing the briefing and design review cycles.

Responsibilities:

Creative Leadership: Drive the creative vision for packaging design, merchandising, in-store displays, videos, copywriting, photography, and digital product detail pages, ensuring all outputs align with brand goals and resonate with consumers.
Consumer Insights Translation: Leverage consumer insights and market research to inform and shape creative strategies for both physical and digital touchpoints, including packaging and product detail pages.
Digital Product Detail Pages: Oversee the creative development and execution of digital product detail pages (PDPs) that showcase packaging and product attributes in a compelling and informative way - including videos, photography, infographics, & more. Ensure consistency across e-commerce platforms, aligning with brand standards and packaging design.
Briefing & Design Review Process: Lead the creative briefing process, ensuring clear objectives and alignment across stakeholders. Manage regular design reviews, providing direction and feedback to ensure projects meet strategic and creative goals.
On Time, On Budget, On Cost Delivery: Ensure all creative projects, including packaging, merchandising, and digital assets, are delivered within budget, on schedule, and at the agreed cost targets. Utilize project management skills to monitor progress and mitigate potential risks.
Phase Gate Process Adherence: Oversee the creative process through the company’s phase gate system, ensuring that all milestones are achieved, and approvals are obtained before moving to the next phase.
Team Leadership & Development: Inspire and mentor a team of designers, copywriters, and external creative partners, fostering a collaborative environment that pushes creative boundaries and innovation.
Packaging & Merchandising Design: Lead the design and execution of packaging and merchandising initiatives, ensuring designs are visually compelling, functional for production, and consistent across physical and digital formats.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with marketing, product development, sales, e-commerce, and procurement teams to ensure a seamless integration of creative efforts across both physical and digital platforms.
Vendor & Partner Management: Collaborate with external agencies, packaging suppliers, merchandising vendors, and digital platform teams to ensure high-quality execution of all creative work.
Trend Analysis & Innovation: Stay ahead of design, packaging, merchandising, and digital content trends to continuously evolve the brand’s creative approach and maintain competitiveness in the market.
Budget & Resource Management: Oversee the creative department’s budget, ensuring efficient allocation of resources across physical and digital projects.

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, Marketing, or a related field.
8+ years of experience in creative leadership roles, ideally within the CPG and/or durable goods industry.
Proven ability to translate consumer insights into impactful creative strategies that drive engagement across both physical and digital platforms.
Experience leading the creative development of digital product detail pages (PDPs) and integrating them with packaging and merchandising efforts.
Strong experience managing creative briefing processes and leading design reviews to ensure project alignment with business and brand goals.
Demonstrated success in managing complex projects across packaging, merchandising, and digital channels, ensuring on-time, on-budget, and on-cost delivery.
Knowledge of phase gate processes and experience navigating key milestones and approvals.
Deep understanding of brand strategy, consumer behavior, and visual communication across CPG, retail, and digital environments.
Strong leadership and team management skills, with experience guiding creative teams and external partners.
Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign) and other relevant design software.
Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey creative concepts to both creative and non-creative stakeholders.
Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience in retail environments or direct-to-consumer packaging, merchandising, and digital product displays.
Knowledge of sustainable packaging solutions, CPG packaging regulations, and digital content standards for e-commerce.