Associate Creative Director, Lifecycle

Canva • San Francisco, CA

2d • $166,000 - $214,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Join the team redefining how the world experiences design. Hello, g'day, mabuhay, kia ora, 你好, hallo, vítejte! Thanks for stopping by. We know job hunting can be a little time consuming and you're probably keen to find out what's on offer, so we'll get straight to the point. Where and how you can work Our flagship office is in Sydney, Australia, but we've made our way from down under, to a hub in San Francisco, which is now home to our US operations. We offer flexibility in how and where you work. We trust our Canvanauts to choose the balance that empowers them and their team to achieve their goals. What you’d be doing in this role As Canva scales, change continues to be part of our DNA. But we like to think that's all part of the fun. So this will give you the flavor of the type of things you'll be working on when you start, but this will likely evolve. Lifecycle isn't a back-channel. It's one of the most powerful creative canvases in marketing, and at Canva, it reaches over 250 million users. That's hundreds of millions of real people, and every message is a chance to surprise them, inspire them, and deliver genuine value. We're looking for an Associate Creative Director who wants to redefine what Lifecycle can be. Someone who sees email, in-app messaging, and every touchpoint across the customer journey not as templates to fill, but as formats to reinvent. You'll push the boundaries of what this channel looks like, sounds like, and feels like, bringing bold, imaginative ideas to a space that's long been underestimated. Reporting to the Executive Creative Director, you'll shape how Canva shows up across onboarding, feature education, re-engagement, and loyalty. But more than that, you'll lead the charge in evolving Lifecycle into a true creative frontier, one where performance and craft aren't at odds, they fuel each other. You'll lead a cross-functional team of designers and copywriters, and collaborate closely with marketing, product, data, and engineering partners to bring ambitious ideas to life at incredible scale. If you want to be at the forefront of a marketing channel most people overlook, and prove just how creative it can be, this is the role. Canva is a world-leading design platform that empowers millions of people to design anything and publish anywhere. Our mission is to empower the world to design, and we’re looking for a creative leader to help us take our lifecycle growth creative to the next level. Canva’s in-house creative team is on a mission to make Canva the one of the most locally loved brand in the world. We work from concept to creation on world-class creative across brand communications, marketing campaigns, editorial content and production. We believe in attracting and nurturing world-class talent with a focus on diversity, community, career development, and doing the best work of our lives.

Requirements

• 10+ years in creative leadership roles, with strong experience in lifecycle or CRM marketing
• Proven success creating effective, high-volume campaigns that balance brand and performance
• Experience managing and mentoring creative teams
• Deep understanding of customer journeys, audience segmentation, and personalisation
• Experience working across channels including email, in-app, and push
• A strong portfolio that shows excellence in lifecycle storytelling and creative craft
• Conceptual thinker who’s also able to execute consistently at scale
• Comfortable translating strategy and data into smart, creative ideas
• Empathetic leader who builds team culture and creative confidence
• Strong communicator and collaborator, comfortable working with technical and non-technical teams
• Curious, adaptable, and energised by fast-paced environments

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in SaaS, tech, or growth-focused digital brands
• Familiarity with global markets and how to tailor creative by region
• Award-winning lifecycle work or creative recognised for performance impact

Responsibilities

• Lead Lifecycle Campaigns Own the creative development of Canva’s lifecycle campaigns, from idea to execution Deliver bold, personalised campaigns across email, in-app, and beyond Balance magical thinking with data-driven precision to engage new and returning users Bring fresh creative approaches while scaling high-volume production
• Creative Strategy & Vision Translate lifecycle marketing goals into clear briefs and standout creative Elevate how the Canva brand shows up across our lifecycle channels Partner with stakeholders to shape strategy and drive creative consistency
• Team Culture & Leadership Lead, mentor, and inspire a multidisciplinary creative team Create a safe, inclusive, and high-performing team culture Provide guidance, feedback, and clarity to ensure creative excellence
• Design, Storytelling & Performance Bring Canva’s brand identity to life through compelling storytelling and craft Use narrative, design, and messaging to drive instant engagement Collaborate with data teams to test, learn, and optimize campaign performance Stay on top of trends and innovations across lifecycle and CRM channels

Benefits

• Equity packages - we want our success to be yours too
• Health benefits plans to support you and your wellbeing
• 401(k) retirement plan with company contribution
• Inclusive parental leave policy that supports all parents & carers
• An annual Vibe & Thrive allowance to support your wellbeing, social connection, office setup & more
• Flexible leave options that empower you to be a force for good, take time to recharge and supports you personally

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed