Creative Director (Remote US)

Directive • Irvine, CA

2d • $160,000 - $185,000 • Remote

About The Position

Directive Consulting is seeking a Creative Director to lead its Performance Design department, a team combining creative craft with performance marketing. The role has strategic and financial responsibility for the department as well as responsibility for developing its people and overseeing its work. The successful candidate will scale an established team, methodology, and market position while upholding creative quality and performance standards.

The Creative Director manages the full Performance Design team, including designers, project management, and motion contractors, and reports to senior leadership. The role partners with paid media, client success, and company leadership to deliver data-informed creative and strengthen the department’s role in the company’s DiscoverabilityOS methodology. Client contact is not day-to-day, but includes monthly leadership meetings focused on quality and results, as well as participation in new business pitches and cross-sell opportunities.

The position also owns the department’s P&L, budgeting, margins, resourcing, revenue targets, and direct margin goals. The Creative Director leads adoption of AI creative tools and integrates emerging technologies into production workflows. This is a 100% virtual, remote-first role performed from a home office. The US annual base salary range is $160,000–$185,000.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of creative experience in performance marketing, paid media, or growth-focused agency environments.
• Proven experience managing creative teams and balancing creative quality with business outcomes.
• Comfort presenting department strategy and financial projections to VPs and CMOs, as well as reviewing creative briefs.
• Strong understanding of how a creative department operates as a business.
• Direct experience managing or visibility into P&L, margins, and resourcing decisions.
• Ability to make decisions with financial impact in mind and take an ownership-oriented approach.
• Hands-on experience with AI creative tools, such as generative image, AI-powered video, or design analytics tools.
• Experience integrating AI into production workflows rather than only demonstrating it.
• Strong communication skills and executive presence, including the ability to translate creative thinking into business language.
• Track record of building trust with creative practitioners and senior leadership.
• Current, permanent work authorization in the country of employment; the posting identifies the US, Canada, Mexico, and the UK as markets where Directive has established operations.
• Ability to remain stationary for extended periods, operate design and video software on Mac or PC, and consistently observe and interpret written and verbal communication.
• Reliable home-office setup, high-speed internet, and a professional working environment capable of running Adobe Creative Suite and video production software without interruption.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with platforms such as EyeQuant, Creatify, or Superside.

Responsibilities

• Own the creative vision and quality standards for the Performance Design department.
• Ensure work meets creative craft and conversion benchmarks across paid social, display, video, and landing page formats.
• Build internal and external systems and workflows that support excellent client creative output.
• Ensure campaigns are designed and managed as campaigns rather than isolated ads, and that the team tests and learns.
• Partner with senior leadership to develop a distinctive creative process that supports DiscoverabilityOS.
• Lead, coach, and develop designers and motion contractors; set expectations, foster accountability, and support team members’ growth.
• Partner with paid media and client success teams to make creative data-informed from the start.
• Represent the department in new business pitches, cross-sell opportunities, and client discussions, including monthly leadership meetings with clients about quality and results.
• Communicate the strategic value of Performance Design beyond execution.
• Own the department P&L and budgeting decisions for staffing, technology, and other investments.
• Monitor margins, make financially informed resourcing decisions, and operate the department toward monthly revenue targets and direct margin goals.
• Lead adoption of AI creative tools and integrate emerging technology into production workflows to improve output and efficiency.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision plans, plus disability and life insurance coverage for employees and their families.
• A 100% employer-paid plan for the employee and a 50% employer contribution for dependents.
• Access to certified therapists through Spring Health and a Headspace membership.
• Physical therapy through Omada, fertility support through Carrott, Aaptiv virtual workouts, and a complimentary One Medical membership for primary and virtual care.
• Unlimited paid time off, with a two-week minimum.
• Paid company holidays, birthday off, and an end-of-year recharge closure from December 24 through January 1.
• Paid parental leave.
• Traditional and Roth 401(k) with a 3% company match.
• Annual bonus based on tenure that scales in total amount over time.

What This Job Offers

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