Who We Are Looking ForPassport Brand Design, a VML company and part of the WPP network, is seeking a forward-thinking Creative Director of Art & Design to lead a talented, large-scale team of art directors and designers. As a globally respected premium brand agency, we rely on this senior leadership role to drive conceptual vision and execution across packaging, print, out-of-home (OOH), direct mail, and more.
We need a design leader who thrives in a highly structured, production-forward environment where annual calendars and long-term timelines are the foundation of success. You will act as a champion of craft, ensuring that every design is anchored in a strong, strategic idea. As part of the WPP network, Passport Brand Design is committed to a Human First approach. You will bring this to life by deeply investing in the growth of your team, helping them translate technological and creative capabilities into meaningful, high-impact outcomes.
Please note: This role primarily supports creative work within the tobacco industry. We share this upfront to ensure transparency and alignment with your personal preferences and comfort level.
What Youll Do- Lead and Mentor: Manage, mentor, and empower a multidisciplinary team of art directors, designers, and copywriters, fostering a culture of creative excellence and continuous growth that strengthens the agencys production capabilities.
- Drive Conceptual Excellence: Oversee the conceptualization and execution of high-visibility packaging design, print, OOH, and direct mail - ensuring every deliverable is rooted in a strong strategic idea that delivers on client objectives.
- Navigate Structured Production: Lead seamlessly within a production-forward environment, managing long production timelines and annual calendars to ensure on-time, on-brief delivery across all accounts.
- Present with Purpose: Build and deliver compelling portfolio and case study presentations that clearly articulate creative rationale and strategic context to internal leadership and key stakeholders.
- Foster Collaboration: Travel periodically to collaborate directly with core stakeholders across locations, ensuring seamless creative integration and alignment on priorities.
Who You Are- A strategic, curious problem-solver who can distill complex category rules into elegant, compelling design systems.
- An empathetic leader who builds trust, champions collaboration, and creates an inclusive space for creatives to do their best work.
- A bold idea-driver who is comfortable with ambiguity and has the conviction to push for exceptional, high-impact work, even within regulated spaces.
What Youll Need- Proven Creative Director experience within an agency environment, with a demonstrated ability to orchestrate and manage creative workflows.
- Deep expertise and a strong portfolio in packaging design, supported by extensive experience across print, OOH, and direct mail.
- A track record of thriving in a structured, production-heavy environment with long-term schedules and established workflows.
- Exceptional presentation skills, with the ability to clearly 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.
The base salary range for this position at the time of this posting is indicated below. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package, click WPP Benefits for more details.
$100,000-$230,000 USD
We believe the best work happens when were together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. Thats why weve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.
