OluKai Sr. Creative Director

OluKai-Kaenon-melin-Roark • Irvine, CA

10h • $170,000 - $200,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

OluKai is looking for a Sr. Creative Director to lead the vision, voice, and execution of our brand creative. This role sits at the intersection of big-picture brand thinking and day-to-day craft — someone who can inspire a team, partner with creators and influencers, and move fast without sacrificing quality. You will report directly to the SVP of Creative and play a central role in shaping how OluKai shows up across every consumer touchpoint.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• 12+ years of creative experience, with at least 3 years in a Creative Director or senior creative leadership role.
• A portfolio that demonstrates both strong conceptual thinking and polished brand and campaign execution across all channels (digital, wholesale/retail, event, other activations).
• Proven experience managing and developing creative teams. At times you’ll lead by doing, not just directing. And at times you’ll teach, push and let the team fly.
• Deep expertise in digital content production across social, video, and editorial formats, including influencer and creator-led content.
• Experience with authentic, premium consumer brands — you understand the nuance of building emotional and rational brand equity.
• A bias for action and an ability to move quickly without sacrificing quality.
• Strong communicator who can sell a vision up and across the organization.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in footwear, apparel, outdoor, or lifestyle and/or coastal lifestyle categories.
• Familiarity with Hawaiian culture and OluKai's brand heritage.
• Experience building or scaling a creator / ambassador program.
• Experience using AI creative tools (as tools) to add some efficiencies to the team.

Responsibilities

• Drive the conceptual direction of brand and go-to-market campaigns, brand content in paid and organic channels, and other brand and marketing initiatives. You’ll ideate, create and direct content that is beautiful and story-rich, with reaching the Brand’s consumer both emotionally and functionally.
• Translate brand strategy into emotionally resonant, visually compelling creative that builds both rational and emotional connection. The balance of these two worlds will always be central to our creative choices as they grow brand consumer base while also strengthening the existing.
• Maintain a high bar for craft and consistency across all output, from hero campaigns to everyday social content. All design choices are thoughtful and intentional and no details, big or small, are left to chance.
• Share and present content plans, executions, and successes with broader teams. At project ideation to present and explain concepts, and at project completion to share with cross functional teams.
• Lead, inspire, and grow a talented team of creatives — fostering a culture of ambition, thoughtful creative risk taking, and continuous improvement.
• Mentor team members with clear feedback, creative mentorship, career development conversations, and stretch opportunities.
• Work with SVP Creative and Creative Project Manager with the project management function, ensuring a balance of resources, timelines, communication and presentation processes, and overall productivity.
• Recruit and retain top creative talent whether growing full-time or helping the team find and manage great freelance partners. Build a team that raises the bar every season.
• Support Digital team with direction of digital studio creative across all primary digital channels — paid and organic social, email, web, video, and emerging platforms.
• Bring fluency in format — understanding what performs in short-form video, static, editorial, and everything in between.
• Partner with the Marketing and Creative Content Studio teams to build a creator strategy that feels authentic to OluKai and reaches the right audiences.
• Support the creative direction of external content creators with clarity — giving them the latitude to be themselves while staying true to the brand.
• Evaluate creator content with a discerning eye for quality, alignment, and brand fit.
• Champion the OluKai brand in every creative decision — protecting its premium, authentic identity as we scale.
• Drive alignment across stakeholders; act as the connective tissue between creative vision and business objectives.
• Set and enforce creative standards for the team, holding work — including your own — to the highest expectations.

Benefits

• Complimentary chef prepared breakfast and lunch provided Monday - Thursday
• Generous product gift program and all brand discounts
• Company bonus program
• 5 year and 10 year Anniversary gifts to Hawaii and other desirable destinations
• Medical, Dental, Vision insurance in accordance with plan guidelines
• Company paid life insurance
• 401k with employer match in accordance with plan guidelines
• 15 Days of PTO plus one additional day of PTO every year on your anniversary and 3 Floating Holidays per year
• Paid beach and giveback days, bi annual team building events and other in person celebrations
• Work with talented and great people who share a love of the ocean lifestyle
• OluKai is a Certified B Corporation with paid company service days
• Dog friendly office

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior