Group Creative Director, Art and Design

Passport Brand Design is hiring a Group Creative Director, Art and Design to lead a production-forward creative organization and set the conceptual direction for high-visibility brand work.

Responsibilities

• Manage, mentor, and empower a multidisciplinary team of art directors, designers, and copywriters to strengthen agency production capabilities through creative excellence and continuous growth.
• Oversee concepting and delivery for packaging design, print, OOH, and direct mail, with each deliverable tied to a clear strategic idea and client objectives.
• Operate confidently in a production-forward environment by managing long production timelines and annual calendars for on-time, on-brief delivery across accounts.
• Create and deliver portfolio and case study presentations that explain creative rationale and strategic context to internal leadership and key stakeholders.
• Travel periodically to collaborate directly with core stakeholders across locations to maintain creative integration and alignment on priorities.

Requirements

• Proven Group Creative Director experience in an agency environment, with demonstrated ability to orchestrate and manage creative workflows.
• Strong packaging design background, with extensive experience spanning print, OOH, and direct mail.
• Track record of succeeding in a structured, production-heavy setting with long-term schedules and established workflows.
• Exceptional presentation skills, including the ability to articulate strategic context, craft rationale, and case studies to internal and external stakeholders.
• Comfort and willingness to work on tobacco industry accounts.
• Willingness and ability to accommodate occasional required travel.

What You’ll Do

• Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary creative team to build creative excellence and strengthen production capability.
• Drive conceptual excellence across packaging design, print, OOH, and direct mail with strategy-led creative direction.
• Navigate structured production by managing long timelines and annual calendars to deliver on time and on brief.
• Present with purpose through portfolio and case study presentations covering rationale and strategic context.
• Foster collaboration via periodic travel to align creative priorities with key stakeholders.

Role Fit

• Strategic, curious problem-solver able to translate complex category rules into compelling design systems.
• Empathetic leader who builds trust, supports collaboration, and creates an inclusive environment for creatives.
• Idea-driven and comfortable with ambiguity, with confidence to push for high-impact work in regulated spaces.

Additional Information

• Tobacco industry focus: This role primarily supports creative work within the tobacco industry.
• Hybrid approach: Teams are in the office an average of four days a week.
• Accommodations or flexibility: Discuss with the hiring team during the interview process.

Location: Costa Mesa, CA (hybrid)
Salary: USD 125,000 - 295,000 per yearly