Creative Manager, Hospitality

Kohler Co.•Kohler, WI

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Creative Manager is a high-level strategic leader and hands-on visionary responsible for defining and driving the visual tone, brand narrative, and creative excellence for Kohler Hospitality. This role requires a sophisticated aesthetic sense, business acumen, and the ability to lead a diverse ecosystem of internal and external talent. The Creative Manager will lead a multidisciplinary team to deliver Omni-channel experiences—from high-end digital content and social journeys to traditional print and video—ensuring every touchpoint is executed to a world-class standard. You are a "student of the industry" who balances creative risk-taking with the operational rigor required to align resources against the company’s highest-performing business units.

Requirements

8+ years of experience in an advertising agency or in-house creative department, with at least 5 years in a formal leadership/management role.
BS, BA, or BFA in Design, Fine Arts, or a related field.
A world-class portfolio demonstrating mastery in graphic design, art direction, and high-end production across TV, Digital, and Social platforms.
Expert understanding of digital-first strategies, social platform nuances, and the "content creator" mindset.
Proven ability to translate complex business strategies into measurable creative results and manage large-scale departmental budgets.
Exceptional presentation skills; able to "command a room" and influence executive-level stakeholders.
Quality and consistency of global brand identity.
Efficiency of the production pipeline and third-party agency performance.
Applicants must be authorized to work in the US without requiring sponsorship now or in the future.

Responsibilities

Act as the primary creative guardian, ensuring cohesive brand strategy and "luxury-level" aesthetics across all mediums (Digital, Video, Social, Print, and Experiential).
Expertly direct all stages of video and photography production; provide "on-set" direction and high-level feedback to retouches and editors to ensure the final product exceeds industry standards.
Cultivate a culture of excellence and accountability, pushing the boundaries of digital storytelling and emerging technologies to keep the brand on the leading edge.
Nimbly deploy the team and external resources against the highest-priority items and highest-performing business segments to maximize ROI.
Manage the department budget and project-specific spending; ensure all creative output is delivered on time and strictly aligned with budgeted hours.
Continuously streamline creative workflows and production pipelines to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality.
Manage and mentor a direct team of 6 (including Designers, Copywriters and Production), fostering their career development and elevating their output.
Oversee dedicated resources, contract services, and an extensive roster of third-party agencies and freelancers.
Serve as a trusted advisor to the Head of Marketing and internal stakeholders; defend creative points of view while remaining a collaborative, solution-oriented problem solver.