Creative Director, Certificates

MasterClass•California, CA

12d•$165,000 - $190,000•Hybrid

About The Position

MasterClass is seeking a Creative Director to lead the creative strategy and execution for MasterClass Certificates. This role involves bringing new courses to market in innovative ways and supporting the core brand as needed. The Creative Director will be a key creative leader on the marketing team, working closely with the Executive Creative Director to define the presence of MasterClass Certificates. This is a hybrid role requiring both strategic thinking and hands-on creation, focusing on positioning and launching a new product. The individual will lead a small, agile team of editors, designers, and writers, and will have creative authority, interact with senior stakeholders, and make decisions quickly, often with limited information. Success depends on building cross-team alignment and delivering impactful campaigns and executions. The core of the role is to identify the strongest ideas and bring them to life in compelling ways.

Requirements

8–12 years of experience in creative roles, with experience in both agency and in-house environments.
A portfolio showcasing strategic range and hands-on craft, not solely directorial work.
Proven track record of developing and enforcing brand voice and tone standards.
Experience presenting creative strategy directly to senior stakeholders.
Comfortable leading through matrixed or project-based team structures rather than direct reports.
Working fluency with AI creative tools in an active production workflow.
Versatility across copy, visual and art direction, video/trailer direction, and executive presentation materials.
Ability to translate strategy into a clear creative point of view.
Strong taste and original thinking that drives sales.
Comfortable directing editors, designers, and writers.
Ability to turn a product pitch into a compelling story.
Fluent in using AI as part of your process.
Confident making decisions with incomplete information.
Ability to work fast without sacrificing judgment.
Energized by cross-functional work and able to synthesize multiple perspectives into focused action.
Direct and discerning, able to elevate work while supporting the team.

Responsibilities

Shape creative strategy and lead execution for MasterClass Certificates, aligning with the GTM lead on strategy and briefs.
Concept and oversee creative work across various channels including trailers, course promos, statics, social media, lifecycle marketing, and executive presentations.
Lead creative direction for trailers, from conceptualizing on-set capture needs to final editing.
Develop innovative video content that attracts audiences to courses beyond traditional trailers.
Actively participate in the creative process by writing scripts and copy, shaping layouts or edits, building presentations, and staying closely involved in the work.
Establish and maintain the creative standard for MasterClass Certificates marketing, ensuring clear direction on tone, message, and craft for all course launches.
Collaborate with Content, Social, and Product teams to ensure creative output aligns with class production, organic social content, and user needs.
Lead video, design, and copy creative to produce distinctive work, maintaining visual identity and brand consistency across course launches and platform updates.
Utilize AI tools to enhance ideation and production speed while preserving brand voice and craft.
Present creative strategy and rationale with authority to senior leadership.