Creative Director, Brand & Digital

PetSmart•Phoenix, AZ

29d•Hybrid

About The Position

We're a powerhouse retail Creative Team driving bold brand transformation across digital and physical experiences. We think big, move fast, and deliver strategically inspired work that connects with pet parents and drives real business results. Our mission: to be an in-house creative force that blends storytelling, data, and innovation to grow PetSmart's brand and impact. The Role This is not a sit-back-and-direct role-it's a roll-up-your-sleeves, lead-from-the-front opportunity to reshape how a national brand thinks, works, and creates. You're a visionary and a doer-equal parts storyteller, strategist, and operator. You turn ambiguity into action, chaos into clarity, and big ideas into work that inspires. You'll translate complex business objectives into breakthrough creative across every channel-while motivating the creative team to dream bigger, work smarter, and execute flawlessly. You thrive in a fast-paced, constantly evolving environment where strategy, craft, and agility collide. You balance the high bar for creativity with operational discipline and strong cross-functional partnership. You're unafraid to reinvent the process, challenge assumptions, and lead change-because you know the best creative happens when boundaries are pushed.

Requirements

You're energized by challenge. This is a big, complex, high-visibility role-and you see that as an opportunity to make lasting impact.
You're a builder-someone who can design better systems, create and elevate consistent creative standards, and unite teams around a shared vision.
You're an incredibly kind and collaborative, ego-free leader who values relationships, accountability, and results in equal measure.
You have 10+ years of experience in retail or lifestyle creative environments, leading brand and digital work with deep expertise in photo and video production.
You've led creative teams for 8+ years-mentoring designers and art directors across multiple channels.
You're fluent in storytelling through imagery, typography, motion, and design, with an instinct for what resonates with modern audiences.
You embrace technology and innovation-comfortable with Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, and photography platforms and more importantly, you have experience in or are working to be fluent in AI-driven creative workflows.
You're experienced leading shoots-casting, styling, lighting, budgeting, editing-and thrive in the details that make creative shine.
You are budget-conscious and always looking for the scrappiest way to pull off great work.
You're methodical and organized-someone who brings structure, documentation, and process to the creative chaos.
And above all-you love pets. Deeply. You bring that same passion, empathy, and joy to every campaign, because you know when PetSmart wins, our furry friends do too.

Responsibilities

Lead and elevate the creative vision for PetSmart's omni-channel ecosystem-defining the look, feel, and storytelling that drive connection and conversion.
Translate complex business goals into clear, inspiring creative strategies and executions.
Direct, coach, and grow designers, art directors, and creative talent-balancing creative with accountability to deliver exceptional work.
Concept, oversee, and approve brand and seasonal campaigns, as well as photo and video content that brings brand campaigns and seasonal moments to life across store and digital channels.
In addition, you'll lead the Digital Creative team that creates content for Emails, Web, App, Mobile executions.
Champion and evolve PetSmart's brand identity-building distinctive creative systems while protecting brand integrity.
Partner across Creative, Marketing, Visual Merchandising, Product Merchandising, eCommerce, and Loyalty to build cohesive, high-performing campaigns.
Use insights and data to measure creative performance and continually optimize for impact.
Drive innovation-leveraging AI, automation, and new production models to build content faster, smarter, and more efficiently.
Present creative work confidently to senior leadership, connecting storytelling to strategy and results.
Professionally and positively collaborate closely with the Copy Lead, Store Creative Leads, and Creative Operations Lead to create seamless, integrated work.
Build and inspire an inclusive culture of curiosity, accountability, and creative courage-where great ideas thrive and people love coming to work. You connect teams and make everyone feel a part of something together.
Expect a lot from yourself and your team-and model the leadership, clarity, and drive that raise the bar for everyone.
Shape and structure your team for maximum impact, including hiring great talent and redefining how the team operates to meet the demands of a fast-moving retail brand.

Benefits

Pet-friendly environment, bring your pets to work and enjoy the on-site dog park!
On-Site Events & Adoptions, enjoy community-building opportunities, including pet adoption days, seasonal celebrations, family events, art events, & holiday festivals
"Top Dog" gym with equipment, fitness classes, massage therapists, personal trainers, and wellness spaces
"Sit & Stay" Café serving fresh breakfast and lunch options, snacks, & more
"Lil Paws" NAEYC-accredited onsite childcare facility providing high-quality early education
Paid Volunteer Opportunities to spend time doing good for causes close to heart
Print Center and Business Services, Dry Cleaning, Mother's Rooms, Sustainable Infrastructure & more

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