Creative Director

Kaizen Labs•New York, NY

1d•$150,000 - $200,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Government technology has failed the public for decades, and Americans have been conditioned to expect websites from the 90s for essential public services. Kaizen exists to strengthen trust in American public services by building technology that residents and public servants are proud to use. We partner with local, state, and federal agencies to replace legacy systems with modern, AI-native software that is worthy of the people they serve. We started in outdoor recreation, and now we're building toward something much larger — the software layer that powers how Americans access any government service. Our platform already reaches 40 million residents across 50+ agencies in 17 states. Founded in 2022 and based in New York City, Kaizen has raised $35 million from NEA, a16z, Accel, 776, and Carpenter Capital. We're builders, designers, and operators who believe that beautifully designed software shouldn’t be a luxury in government. It’s how you earn trust back.

Requirements

5 -10 years of brand and content design experience at a scaling tech company, ideally selling into regulated industries
You are a content creator at heart, and scrappily getting content while hopping on multiple flights a week with your gear doesn’t scare you. It gives you energy.
Extremely sharp written and communication skills
A portfolio that demonstrates range across video, brand systems, marketing collateral, and digital touch-points (a portfolio link is required as part of your application)
Hands-on fluency with video and content production, not just static design or art direction
Brand strategy chops: you think about positioning and narrative, not just execution
AI-native instincts: you are constantly experimenting with new tools and using them to scale your own output
Self-direction in white space: you are energized by a blank canvas and do not need a playbook to move

Nice To Haves

Have worked in GovTech, defense tech, or frontier tech, or sold into government, healthcare, or other regulated buyers
Have stood up a brand or content function from scratch at an earlier-stage company
Have produced creative work that traveled beyond marketing channels, into recruiting, investor materials, or executive comms

Responsibilities

Own Kaizen's content engine end-to-end across video, podcast, written, and visual formats for employer brand, investor brand, and customer-facing channels
Define and document the brand strategy, voice, and visual guidelines that scale across every team and touchpoint
Produce video and podcast content that brings the mission, our customers, and our team to life
Design and beautify sales assets, proposals, case studies, and one-pagers in close partnership with sales, customer success, and proposals
Lead website overhauls, marketing collateral, swag, and event presence so Kaizen shows up with intention at every conference, board meeting, and recruiting moment
Partner with product designers to weave Kaizen's brand identity seamlessly into the resident and public servant experience
Support executive leadership with engaging communications for internal and external audiences, including board meetings, investor updates, and customer on-sites
Quarterback third-party PR firms, video production vendors, and freelance creatives to extend your output without expanding the team
Use AI tools across the workflow to scale a team of 1 into the output of a full creative department

Benefits

Comprehensive medical through Oxford/United — Gold and Platinum PPO plans, with 85% of premiums covered on the Platinum plan and a $0 employee premium option.
Dental through Guardian PPO and vision through Beam, with 99% of employee premiums covered and 50% for dependents.
$100,000 in fully paid life insurance.
FSA and Dependent Care FSA.
401(k) access through Guideline.
16 weeks of fully paid parental leave for birthing parents.
10 weeks fully paid for non-birthing parents.
Unlimited PTO, closed for all federal holidays, and company-wide winter break the week of Christmas.
Up to $750 one-time home office or desk setup stipend for NYC-based employees. $500 for remote employees.
$50/month commuter benefit (company contribution).
Expensed lunch 3x a week while in the office.
Company-provided laptop.
Fully covered gym membership at Grindhouse — right across the street from our office at 47 W 17th St (and in Williamsburg). A $225/month value, on us. For remote employees, $100/month dedicated to gym or physical fitness reimbursement.
$300/quarter pet care stipend.
$100/month utility stipend.
$500/year professional development.
$250/year recreation.