Fanatics

Director, Creative Development & Strategy

Fanatics$173K — $216K *
Media
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10+ years of creative leadership experience in brand, agency, or entertainment settings with a strong portfolio.
  • Deep understanding of brand identity and integrated campaign strategies.
  • Experience inspiring and leading multi-disciplinary creative teams.
  • Expertise with licensed brands and familiarity with approval processes, especially in sports or entertainment.
  • Strong visual storytelling skills across various media formats.
  • Proven ability in leading strategic presentations and creative reviews with senior stakeholders.
  • Experience managing external creative partners and freelancers.
  • Passion for culture, fandom, and collectibles.

Responsibilities

  • Define and drive the long-term creative strategy for the Topps brand.
  • Produce high-quality creative work across digital, print, and social platforms.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align creative execution with business goals.
  • Develop storytelling strategies for major product launches and brand initiatives.
  • Guide creative for licensed properties spanning sports, entertainment, and pop culture.
  • Encourage innovation and creative experimentation within the brand.
  • Present concepts to executive leadership and partners with strategic insight.

Benefits

  • Inclusive and collaborative workplace fostering creativity and teamwork.
  • Opportunities to shape a storied brand in sports and entertainment with Fanatics.
  • Support for your ideas making a tangible impact in the creative space.
Full Job Description
WHAT YOU'LL DO

As the Director of Creative Development & Strategy, you will lead the creative vision for the Topps brand, overseeing the development of campaigns, brand narratives, and visual identity across platforms. This strategic role combines brand storytelling, creative leadership, and cross-functional partnership to drive brand resonance, cultural relevance, and collector engagement. This position will be responsible for handling a wide variety of duties, which include, but are not limited to the ones listed below.

You will:
  • Define and drive the long-term creative strategy for the Topps brand, balancing legacy with innovation.
  • Produce world-class work creative across digital, print, social, and content.
  • Collaborate with Marketing, Product, and Brand teams to ensure creative execution aligns with business goals and collector insights.
  • Develop campaign platforms and storytelling strategies for major product launches, partnerships, and brand initiatives.
  • Guide creative development for licensed properties across sports, entertainment, and pop culture.
  • Champion creative experimentation and innovation-pushing the brand into new visual and cultural territory.
  • Present concepts to executive leadership and licensing partners with clarity, inspiration, and strategic rationale.
  • Maintain brand consistency and creative excellence across all consumer touchpoints.
  • Build and mentor a high-performing creative team, fostering a culture of collaboration, feedback, and growth.

WHAT YOU BRING
  • 10+ years of creative leadership experience in brand, agency, or entertainment environments, with a strong portfolio demonstrating strategic thinking and impactful creative work.
  • Deep understanding of brand identity, narrative development, and integrated campaign strategy.
  • Proven success leading and inspiring creative teams across multiple disciplines (design, copy, content).
  • Expertise in working with licensed brands and navigating partner approval processes (experience in sports or entertainment licensing is a plus).
  • Strong visual sensibility and storytelling skills, with experience across digital, print, packaging, and social.
  • Comfortable leading strategic presentations and creative reviews with senior leadership and stakeholders.
  • Experience managing external creative partners, agencies, and freelancers.
  • Passion for culture, fandom, and collectibles-a deep appreciation of what makes brands meaningful to consumers.
  • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment that values innovation and experimentation.

WHY JOIN US

At Topps, you'll be part of a creative-forward team reshaping one of the most storied brands in sports and entertainment. Backed by Fanatics, we're scaling a creative vision that honors the past while building the future. We are committed to creating an inclusive, collaborative workplace where your ideas-and your design-can make an impact.

The salary range represents base pay only and does not include short-term or long-term incentive compensation. This salary range is specific to Los Angeles and may not be applicable to other locations. When determining base pay, as part of a final compensation package, we consider several factors such as location, experience, qualifications, and training. For information about our benefits, please visit https://benefitsatfanatics.com/

Los Angeles Salary Range

$173,650-$216,200 USD

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About Fanatics

Fanatics is a leading retailer of licensed sports merchandise. The company was founded in 1995 and has grown to become the largest online retailer of officially licensed sports merchandise in the world. Fanatics offers a wide range of products, including jerseys, hats, and other apparel, as well as collectibles and memorabilia. The company has partnerships with all major sports leagues and teams, as well as with individual athletes. Fanatics is committed to providing a seamless shopping experience for its customers and has invested heavily in technology and logistics to ensure fast and reliable delivery.
Learn more about Fanatics
Size
5,000 employees
Industry
Founded
1995

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