Group Creative Director, Art and Design

Passport Brand Design•Newport Beach, CA

5d•$125,000 - $295,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Passport Brand Design, a VML company within the WPP network, is seeking a Group Creative Director of Art & Design to lead a large multidisciplinary team of art directors, designers, and copywriters. This senior creative leadership role guides conceptual vision and execution across packaging, print, out-of-home, direct mail, and other creative work. The role primarily supports tobacco industry accounts. The Group Creative Director will champion craft and ensure that design is built on strong strategic ideas and meets client objectives. Success requires comfort in a structured, production-forward environment, where annual calendars, long timelines, and established workflows are central to delivering work on time and on brief. The role also focuses on developing team members and translating creative and technological capabilities into meaningful outcomes. The position is hybrid, with teams working in the office an average of four days per week. Occasional travel to collaborate with stakeholders across locations is required. The posted base salary range is $125,000–$295,000 USD; individual compensation varies according to job-related factors. The company offers a competitive benefits package, with further details available through WPP Benefits.

Requirements

Proven Group Creative Director experience in an agency environment, including the ability to orchestrate and manage creative workflows.
Deep expertise and a strong portfolio in packaging design, with extensive experience across print, out-of-home, and direct mail.
A track record of success in a structured, production-heavy environment with long-term schedules and established workflows.
Exceptional presentation skills and the ability to explain strategic context, craft rationale, and case studies to internal and external stakeholders.
Comfort and willingness to work on tobacco industry accounts.
Willingness and ability to accommodate occasional required travel.
Ability to distill complex category rules into compelling design systems.
Empathetic leadership skills, including building trust, fostering collaboration, and creating an inclusive environment.
Comfort with ambiguity and the conviction to advocate for high-impact creative work, including in regulated spaces.

Responsibilities

Manage, mentor, and empower a multidisciplinary team of art directors, designers, and copywriters, fostering creative excellence and continuous growth.
Oversee the conceptualization and execution of packaging design, print, out-of-home, and direct mail work, ensuring deliverables are grounded in strategic ideas and meet client objectives.
Lead creative work within a production-forward environment, managing long production timelines and annual calendars to deliver on time and on brief across accounts.
Build and deliver portfolio and case study presentations that explain creative rationale and strategic context to internal leadership and key stakeholders.
Travel periodically to collaborate with stakeholders across locations and align creative work and priorities.