Creative Director, Direct-to-Consumer Marketing

Creative Director, Direct-to-Consumer Marketing

HarperCollins Publishers is seeking a Creative Director to lead its Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) creative team. This role is responsible for managing day-to-day operations, overseeing both internal and external resources, and executing all creative for HarperCollins US DTC marketing channels. You will collaborate closely with Brand, Platform, and Publishing teams to develop visual communications that support and grow our DTC businesses. The Creative Director will guide the creative development process, offering direction and constructive feedback to deliver consistent, high-performing creative.

Responsibilities

• Lead the creative function for Direct-to-Consumer brands and channels, acting as both an individual contributor and a manager of resources.
• Ensure a high standard of quality and consistency in brand look, feel, and experience, providing creative quality control over concepts and execution.
• Assign work to appropriate resources based on project needs and inspire excellence through direction and constructive feedback.
• Lead the creation, execution, and evolution of brand guidelines.
• Identify opportunities for creative output and process improvement, recommending strategies to develop the creative team for future demands.
• Balance creative vision with business objectives and priorities, working closely with Brand and Platform teams to develop a clear creative vision.
• Attend meetings, manage cross-team interactions, pitch concepts compellingly, and monitor project progress.
• Stay updated on new innovations and industry trends.
• Train and support team members in developing technical skills and contribute to organizational learnings and process improvement.
• Lead with passion, guiding and coaching the team on career direction, development, growth, and performance.

Qualifications

• Portfolio demonstrating performance-driven digital and e-commerce creative is required.
• 8+ years of experience in graphic design and/or interactive design, with at least 3 years focused on e-commerce and/or performance marketing design.
• 3+ years of experience managing internal and external resources to meet quality, budget, and timeline requirements.
• Expertise with Adobe and Canva’s full suite of creative tools (or similar).
• Expertise with and enthusiasm for leveraging AI creative tools (e.g., Sora, Nano Banana) for concepting and refining designs.
• Proven ability to influence stakeholders and align creative strategy with business goals.
• Understanding of best practices for performance-focused digital marketing creative.
• Knowledge of industry trends in UI/UX and design performance drivers (e.g., CTR, CVR, ROAS) in a direct-to-consumer environment.
• Empathy for the end consumer, with a focus on design as a visual communication medium.
• Ability to both create and evaluate design and copy.
• Solutions-oriented and collaborative approach.

About HarperCollins Publishers

HarperCollins Publishers is a company filled with people passionate about books. We encourage applicants to explain why they are interested in working here and for this specific role. Cover letters are strongly preferred.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $90,000-$125,000 annually. We offer competitive compensation tailored to the selected candidate's experience, industry knowledge, and skills. In addition to salary, HarperCollins Publishers provides a comprehensive and highly competitive benefits package covering health, retirement, emotional well-being, and more.

Equal Opportunity Employer

HarperCollins Publishers is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities during the application and interview process. For assistance, email TalentManagement@harpercollins.com.

Key skills/competency

• Creative Direction
• Direct-to-Consumer Marketing
• E-commerce Design
• Performance Marketing
• Graphic Design
• Interactive Design
• Team Management
• Brand Guidelines
• Adobe Creative Suite
• AI Creative Tools