Microsoft

Principal Director, Creative Brand & Advertising

Microsoft • $165K — $296K *
Mountain View, CA 94040In-Person
Media
5 - 7 years of experience
Today
Be an Early Applicant
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Master's Degree in design, marketing, advertising, communications, or related field + 7+ years of relevant experience, or equivalent qualifications and 9+ years of experience.
  • 5+ years of experience in people management.
  • A portfolio showcasing impactful creative work across branding, content, and digital.
  • 12+ years of experience in creative leadership within an in-house or agency environment preferred.
  • Experience integrating AI tools into creative workflows.

Responsibilities

  • Define and champion the creative vision for the Global Creative team, ensuring quality and innovation.
  • Build and scale the creative team, establishing culture and standards.
  • Lead brand and advertising decisions that drive business impact.
  • Oversee end-to-end production for diverse digital and experiential campaigns.
  • Attract and develop top creative talent, fostering a culture of excellence.
  • Manage relationships with external creative agencies and vendors efficiently.
  • Stay informed on creative technologies and trends to maintain a competitive edge.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health benefits including medical, dental, and vision.
  • Retirement plans with matching contributions.
  • Generous paid time off and holiday leave.
  • Employee stock purchase plan and stock options.
  • Access to professional development and learning resources.
Full Job Description
Responsibilities

Creative Leadership & Creative Direction
  • Define and champion the creative vision for the Global Creative team, setting standards for quality, craft, innovation, and cultural relevance across all output
  • Build and scale the team from the ground up - establishing its operating model, team structure, culture, ways of working, and quality benchmarks
  • Serve as the senior creative voice in brand and advertising decisions, ensuring all work reflects Microsoft's brand ambition and drives measurable business impact
  • Own end-to-end creative production across brand campaigns, advertising content, digital, social, video, and experiential touchpoints Talent & People Leadership
  • Attract, hire, develop, and retain world-class creative talent - including creative directors, art directors, and writers
  • Build a team culture of creative excellence, psychological safety, inclusion, and continuous growth
  • Invest in the long-term development of your team, creating clear career paths and coaching

Stakeholder Management
  • Manage relationships with agency partners and external creative vendors, defining the right blend of in-house and external resources
  • Build accountability structures, creative KPIs, and processes that balance creative ambition with delivery efficiency Innovation & AI
  • Champion the responsible integration of AI-powered tools and workflows into creative production - setting a standard for what AI-enabled creative looks like at Microsoft's scale
  • Stay ahead of emerging creative technologies, platforms, and cultural trends, ensuring the team is always operating at the frontier

Executive Partnership
  • Represent the team at the senior leadership level, communicating strategy, creative direction, and performance to executive stakeholders
  • Partner with the VP, Brand & Global Advertising and peers to ensure creative coherence, resource alignment, and shared priorities across the Brand & Advertising organization


Qualifications

Required Qualifications:
  • Master's Degree in design, marketing, advertising, communications, or related field AND 7+ years experience working in product or service design.
    • OR Bachelor's Degree in design, marketing, advertising, communications, or related field AND 9+ years experience working in product or service design.
    • OR equivalent experience.
  • 5+ years of people management experience.


Additional Requirements:
  • Application must include a portfolio demonstrating breakthrough creative work across brand advertising, content, and digital - with clear evidence of range, craft, and impact at scale


Preferred Qualifications:
  • 12+ years of experience in creative leadership at an in-house creative organization, top-tier advertising agency, or comparable organization
  • 6+ years of demonstrated experience building and leading high-performing creative campaigns
  • Proven ability to build or significantly scale a creative organization, including operating model design, process development, and culture-building
  • Executive communication and influencing skills, with experience partnering effectively with senior marketing, brand, and business leaders
  • Deep understanding of the relationship between brand strategy and creative execution across integrated campaigns
  • Demonstrated experience integrating AI tools into creative workflows in a meaningful and responsible way
  • Background spanning both brand marketing and advertising creative disciplines
  • Experience managing hybrid internal/external creative team models alongside agency partners
  • Familiarity with large-scale global brand portfolios spanning consumer software, hardware, or cloud-connected products


Product Design M6 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $165,600 - $296,400 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $220,800 - $331,200 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

About Microsoft

Microsoft is an American multinational corporation that develops, manufactures, licenses, supports, and sells a range of software products and services. Microsoft’s devices and consumer (D&C) licensing segment licenses the Windows operating system and related software, Microsoft Office for consumers, and the Windows Phone operating system. The company’s computing and gaming hardware segment provides Xbox gaming and entertainment consoles and accessories, second-party and third-party video games, and Xbox Live subscriptions; surface devices and accessories; and Microsoft PC accessories. Its phone hardware segment offers Lumia smartphones and other non-Lumia phones. Its D&C segment provides Windows Store, Xbox Live transactions, and Windows phone store; search advertising; display advertising; Office 365 Home and Office 365 Personal; first-party video games; and other consumer products and services as well as operating retail stores. Microsoft’s commercial licensing segments license server products, including Windows Server, Microsoft SQL Server, Visual Studio, System Center, and related Client Access Licenses (CALs); Windows Embedded; Windows operating system; Microsoft Office for business, including Office, Exchange, SharePoint, Lync, and related CALs; Microsoft Dynamics business solutions; and Skype. Its commercial segment offers enterprise services, including premier support services and Microsoft consulting services; commercial cloud comprising Office 365 Commercial, other Microsoft Office online offerings, Dynamics CRM Online, and Microsoft Azure; and other commercial products and online services. The company markets and distributes its products through original equipment manufacturers, distributors, and resellers, as well as online.

Microsoft Careers

Join Microsoft today and be part of a company that values innovation, leadership, and diversity in its workforce. As a global leader in technology and digital transformation, Microsoft offers unparalleled job opportunities that propel your career to new heights.

Explore Career Opportunities at Microsoft

Whether you're a seasoned professional looking for your next challenge or a recent graduate eager to start your career, Microsoft has a position that suits your skills and ambitions. We are committed to fostering a culture of growth and learning, where every team member is supported in expanding their horizons.

Internship Programs

Kickstart your career with a Microsoft internship. Our internships provide invaluable workplace experience and networking opportunities in a supportive and dynamic environment. You'll work on real projects, learn from industry leaders, and gain the skills necessary for a successful career in technology.

Employment Benefits

Choosing a career at Microsoft means more than just a job. Our employees enjoy a range of benefits designed to empower them both professionally and personally. These include comprehensive health benefits, flexible working conditions, and opportunities for career advancement through professional development and diversity training.

Inclusive Culture and Diversity

At Microsoft, we believe that innovation comes from diversity of thought and inclusion. We are committed to a workplace where everyone feels valued and inspired. Our leadership is dedicated to fostering an environment where diverse perspectives lead to breakthrough innovations and a competitive edge.

Grow with Us

Career growth at Microsoft is about more than climbing the corporate ladder; it's about continuous learning, expanding your skills, and improving your capabilities. With access to various leadership and training programs, you can evolve as a professional and make a significant impact within the company and on the global stage.

Hiring Process

Our hiring process is designed to identify true potential. Starting with a review of your resume, followed by interviews that assess your problem-solving abilities and cultural fit, we ensure that all candidates have a fair chance to demonstrate their strengths and potential to contribute to our team.

Networking and Professional Development

Microsoft is a place where you can build a professional network that spans the globe. Our employees benefit from connections with top-tier professionals and industry leaders, which opens doors to innovative projects and collaborative opportunities that are second to none.

Join Our Team

If you're ready to take on exciting challenges and make a difference in the world of technology, explore the job opportunities at Microsoft. Search for open positions that match your skills and interests, and prepare to embark on a rewarding career path filled with innovation and opportunities for personal and professional growth.

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SEARCH MICROSOFT JOBS

At Microsoft, your future is limitless. Join us in our mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Your journey with Microsoft starts here.
Learn more about Microsoft
Size
181,000 employees
Market Cap
$1,762.4 billion
Industry
Enterprise Technology
Net Income
$51.3 billion
Founded
1975
5 Year Trend
+15.5%
Revenue
$153.2 billion
NASDAQ
MSFT
* Ladders Estimates

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