Creative Development Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Creative Leadership & Brand Vision

• Develop and articulate the overarching creative vision and brand aesthetic for all consumer and professional touchpoints.
• Evolve and maintain brand guidelines that reflect ZO’s position at the intersection of science, technology, and luxury skincare.
• Lead conceptual development for integrated marketing campaigns across digital, social, e-commerce, PR, and global markets.

Creative Strategy & Execution

• Translate business objectives, consumer insights, and product innovations into breakthrough creative concepts that drive brand equity and awareness.
• Guide creative strategy for hero product launches, regimen storytelling, brand campaigns, and professional skincare education.
• Oversee creative across packaging design, ensuring premium, modern, and clinically driven aesthetics aligned with regulatory requirements.
• Partner with Product Marketing, R&D, Digital, and Education teams to create cohesive, high-impact storytelling across channels.

Team Leadership & Collaboration

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a multidisciplinary creative team across design, art direction, copywriting, and content production.
• Establish best-in-class processes that balance creativity with efficiency, speed, and quality.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional partners including R&D, Regulatory, and Global Marketing to ensure scientific accuracy and brand consistency.
• Manage relationships with external agencies, production partners, and freelance creative talent.

Digital-First Content Creation

• Lead development of social-first content strategy across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and other social media platforms as needed
• Oversee performance creative optimization using A/B testing and data insights
• Drive e-commerce creative excellence including product photography, lifestyle imagery, and conversion-focused assets
• Ensure video production capabilities meet modern content demands (short-form, long-form, educational)

Content & Digital Experience

• Drive creative direction for all digital platforms, including e-commerce, social media, CRM, educational portals, and paid media.
• Elevate the brand’s digital design systems, UX/UI consistency, and visual standards on global websites.
• Oversee photo and video production, including clinical imagery, after/after photography, product visuals, and campaign shoots.

Digital-First Content Creation

• Lead development of social-first content strategy across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and other social media platforms as needed
• Oversee performance creative optimization using A/B testing and data insights
• Drive e-commerce creative excellence including product photography, lifestyle imagery, and conversion-focused assets
• Ensure video production capabilities meet modern content demands (short-form, long-form, educational)

Professional Channel Support

• Guide creative development for the professional skincare channel, including dermatologist and med-spa materials, training resources, and scientific communication tools.
• Ensure all clinical and scientific claims are visually presented with accuracy and credibility.

Business & Operational Accountability

• Maintain creative budgets, optimize vendor partnerships, and oversee production timelines and deliverables.
• Use data, testing, and performance metrics to refine creative strategies and maximize impact.
• Ensure all creative remains compliant with medical-grade skincare regulations, global market requirements, and brand standards.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

Required Experience:

• 10+ years creative leadership in BEAUTY or SKINCARE (medical/clinical preferred)
• NOT fashion, NOT pure lifestyle—must understand product-focused beauty creative
• Portfolio demonstrating:
  • Premium skincare or beauty packaging design
  • Clinical after/after photography
  • Science-based storytelling that's visually compelling
  • Digital content that drives engagement AND conversion
  • E-commerce creative (not just brand campaigns)

Required Capabilities:

• Collaborative leadership: No egos, builds teams, welcomes strategic input
• Clinical storytelling: Translate complex science into beautiful visuals
• Digital fluency: Social platforms, performance creative, content production
• Process excellence: Implement creative briefs, review processes, brand standards
• Team development: Mentor designers, copywriters, and content creators
• Brand stewardship: Protect brand integrity while pushing creative boundaries

Technical Requirements:

• Expert knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, and modern design tools
• Understanding of medical/pharma creative regulations and claims requirements
• Experience with video production and social content creation
• Photography art direction (studio, lifestyle, clinical)

Preferred but Not Required:

• Medical device or pharmaceutical creative experience
• Physician/professional channel marketing
• Premium beauty brand experience (Estée Lauder, L'Oréal, Shiseido)
• Agency background (blend of in-house + agency experience ideal)

Work Environment: The work environment is indoors in a professional office environment. The floor surfaces are carpeted in office areas and conference rooms with vinyl floor covering typical in hallways, break rooms and computer rooms.

Work Hours: The work schedule is 5 days per week, 8 hours per day. Initial start time may vary, with work hours typically from 8am-5pm. Work hours and shifts are subject to change depending on operating business conditions and needs. The position resides in Orange County but is hybrid with 2 days being remote work.

Physical and Mental Demands: Sedentary, exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, or negligible amounts of force frequently, to move objects. This job also requires constant sitting. Constant use of the upper extremities is required to reach, handle, and position tools and equipment. The employee must know and follow proper safety protocols and maintain a professional and polished appearance. They must be able to efficiently use Microsoft Office Programs and Project Management systems to retrieve information, generate documents, organize project plans/schedules and coordinate meetings. The employee must also be able to maintain and preserve confidentiality of company information, exhibit strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with internal stakeholders, including international affiliates.

Supervisory Responsibilities: 3-4 Direct Reports