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Creative Director Startup Jobs in New York (NOW HIRING)

Misfits Market

Creative Director

New York, NY · On-site

Misfits Market is a mission-driven, high-growth startup dedicated to reducing food waste and making ... Foster a collaborative, inclusive creative culture; mentor direct reports and product design team ...

Misfits Market

Creative Director

New York, NY · On-site

Misfits Market is a mission-driven, high-growth startup dedicated to reducing food waste and making ... Foster a collaborative, inclusive creative culture; mentor direct reports and product design team ...

Sesame

Creative Director

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$180 - $260/hr

About the Role We're looking for a Creative Director to define what Sesame looks, sounds, and feels ... with comfort operating at startup pace. * 0 to 1 experience launching a brand or product.

Sesame

Creative Director

New York, NY · On-site

$200K - $280K/yr

About the Role We're looking for a Creative Director to define what Sesame looks, sounds, and feels ... with comfort operating at startup pace. * 0→1 experience launching a brand or product.

Baba

Creative Director

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$140 - $190/hr

As Creative Director, you'll make Baba's video and story content in two registers. First, cinematic ... You have 5+ years producing video and content in an agency, editorial, brand, or startup setting ...

Baba Care, Inc

Creative Director

New York, NY · On-site

As Creative Director, you'll make Baba's video and story content in two registers. First, cinematic ... You have 5+ years producing video and content in an agency, editorial, brand, or startup setting ...

Baba

Creative Director

New York, NY · On-site

As Creative Director, you'll make Baba's video and story content in two registers. First, cinematic ... You have 5+ years producing video and content in an agency, editorial, brand, or startup setting ...

Runlayer

Creative Director

New York, NY · On-site +1

About the Role As our Creative Director, you'll own video, motion, and visual storytelling across ... Experience at a high-craft consumer brand (Nike, Apple, etc.) or design-forward startup * Web ...

BETCHES MEDIA

Director, Creative Solutions

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$130 - $150/hr

Betches Media is seeking a Director, Creative Solutions to serve as a team lead for integrated ... Ability to thrive in a startup environment--highly motivated with an entrepreneurial spirit

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Creative Director Startup information

What does a creative director do at a startup?

A Creative Director at a startup is responsible for shaping the overall visual and creative strategy of the company. They lead branding, design, and marketing efforts to ensure a cohesive and compelling brand identity across all channels. This role often involves collaborating with product, marketing, and engineering teams to develop innovative campaigns and user experiences that support business goals. In a startup environment, Creative Directors may also take on hands-on design tasks and help build or mentor a creative team as the company grows.

How does a creative director at a startup typically collaborate with cross-functional teams?

As a Creative Director in a startup environment, you'll frequently collaborate with marketing, product, and engineering teams to ensure cohesive brand messaging and visual identity across all channels. This often involves leading brainstorming sessions, providing creative direction during product development, and aligning design concepts with business goals. Open communication and adaptability are key, as priorities can shift rapidly. You can expect to play a hands-on role in both high-level strategy and day-to-day creative execution, fostering a collaborative and innovative atmosphere.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a creative director at a startup, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Creative Director at a startup, you need a strong background in visual design, branding, and creative strategy, often supported by a degree in design or related fields and a robust portfolio. Familiarity with industry-standard tools like Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, and project management platforms, as well as experience leading creative teams, is essential. Outstanding communication, adaptability, and leadership skills help manage rapid changes and inspire innovative thinking across multidisciplinary teams. These competencies enable the Creative Director to drive cohesive brand identities and agile creative solutions that are vital for a startup’s growth and differentiation.

How much money can you make as a creative director startup?

A creative director at a startup can earn a salary ranging from $70,000 to over $150,000 annually, depending on the company's size, location, and funding stage. Compensation may also include equity or stock options, especially in early-stage startups, and requires strong leadership, branding, and project management skills.

How to start off as a creative director startup?

To start as a creative director in a startup, develop a strong portfolio showcasing your creative work, gain experience in relevant fields such as design or advertising, and build leadership skills. Networking with industry professionals and understanding the startup environment can also help you secure a leadership role in a new company.

Is there a demand for creative directors?

Creative directors are in demand across industries such as advertising, media, and technology, as companies seek strong leadership in branding and visual communication. The role often requires skills in project management, design, and strategic thinking, with employment growth driven by the need for innovative marketing and content creation.

What are popular job titles related to Creative Director Startup jobs in New York?

For Creative Director Startup jobs in New York, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Creative Director Startup jobs in New York look for?

The top searched job categories for Creative Director Startup jobs in New York are:

What cities in New York are hiring for Creative Director Startup jobs?

Cities in New York with the most Creative Director Startup job openings:

Creative Director Startup jobs near you
Infographic showing various Creative Director Startup job openings in New York as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 87% Full Time, 10% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution.

Creative Director

Misfits Market

New York, NY • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 20 days ago

Job description

About Misfits Market:
Misfits Market is a mission-driven, high-growth startup dedicated to reducing food waste and making shopping for sustainable, high-quality groceries easier and more affordable. We deliver organic produce, high-quality meats and seafood, plant-based proteins, dairy, bakery, wine, and other grocery items to nearly every zip code in 48 states at up to 30 percent off traditional grocery store prices. In 2022, Misfits Market acquired sustainable e-grocer Imperfect Foods and now leverages its in-house transportation network to deliver directly to consumers with one of the most carbon-efficient grocery delivery models on the market. By tackling inefficiencies in the food system, our passionate and motivated team of problem solvers helps save an average of 500,000 pounds of food per week from waste or lesser outcomes, with an all-time savings of 190+ million pounds of food.
As Misfits we support our customers and mission by embracing our core values of
Prioritizing our Customers
Doing more with less
Thinking Differently
Respecting one another
Moving deliberately and quickly
Taking initiative and delivering
About the Role:
We're seeking a Creative Director with a strong track record of strategic brand stewardship and hands-on creative leadership. You will own and evolve our visual identity, lead a small internal studio (designer, video producer, and contract photographer) and supervise an external agency for private-label packaging. This role blends strategic vision with execution across digital/physical touchpoints, including paid and organic social, email design systems, motion graphics, landing pages, photography, and packaging. You'll partner cross-functional teams to define and elevate a cohesive brand vision, foster team growth, and ensure consistent delivery at scale. Weekly presence in our Bushwick photo studio is expected, with a focus on mentorship and scalable processes in a fast-paced startup environment.
Responsibilities:
  • People Leadership and Career Development
    • Directly manage a creative team, overseeing performance, growth, and workloads.
    • Coach for career development, provide ongoing feedback, set objectives, and create development plans aligned with company goals.
    • Foster a collaborative, inclusive creative culture; mentor direct reports and product design team members (dotted line relationship) and elevate overall design craft and storytelling.
  • Brand Stewardship and Creative Leadership
    • Own and evolve the visual identity system: brand guidelines, typography, color, grids, imagery, iconography, and motion language; ensure brand consistency across all channels.
    • Lead and supervise external creative production partners (including agencies freelancers for TV, OOH and other activations) for private-label packaging, including briefs, milestones, QA, and final approvals.
    • Translate brand strategy into compelling concepts and executions that drive business outcomes.
  • Creative Direction and Oversight
    • Set strategic direction for digital campaigns (organic and paid), email design systems, landing pages, and motion assets; align with Product, Marketing, Merchandising, and overall business goals and collaborate closely with UX designers on the Product team.
    • Review, critique, and approve concepts and deliverables across formats; uphold a high standard of polish and consistency.
  • Packaging Leadership (Scaled Emphasis)
    • Oversee private-label packaging projects as part of a broader brand program; collaborate with external partners and internal teams to ensure packaging aligns with brand narrative and production requirements.
    • Ensure package design balances quality shelf impact with the creative needs of a digital first business.
  • Visual Design and Execution
    • Create and curate high-quality visual assets across digital campaigns, social, storefront, internal comms, and photography.
    • Plan and direct photo shoots, including shot lists, prop sourcing, and on-set direction; tell compelling brand stories through imagery.
  • Digital and Interactive Design
    • Lead design for email systems, landing pages, and motion graphics; collaborate with Product on performance considerations for landing pages (conversion, accessibility, responsive design).
    • Maintain consistent design language across motion assets and interactive experiences.
  • Collaboration and Leadership
    • Partner with the Content Director and other brand marketing team members to develop integrated campaigns and maintain unified branding.
    • Lead design reviews, provide actionable feedback, and mentor the design and video team; foster a proactive, collaborative environment.
  • Production and Process
    • Define and optimize workflows, timelines, and quality controls for internal work and external agencies.
    • Maintain asset libraries, version control, and documentation of brand standards.

Skills & Qualifications:
  • 8-10 years of experience in visual design/creative leadership, with direct-to-consumer brand experience (agency or in-house) and packaging-focused work.
  • A standout portfolio demonstrating leadership-level visual design across digital, email, motion, and editorial formats, with a proven track record of elevating brand systems.
  • Deep expertise in typography, layout, grids, color theory, and visual storytelling.
  • Proven experience designing for paid and organic social, email design systems, landing pages, out-of-home, and motion graphics; interest or experience with packaging regulations, print production, and private label branding is a plus.
  • Experience planning and directing photo/food shoots.
  • Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Figma; After Effects or equivalent motion design skills strongly preferred.
  • Substantial experience leading and managing external agencies/freelancers, with excellent briefing, milestone management, and QA.
  • Excellent collaboration and communication skills; capable of leading cross-functional initiatives and providing/receiving constructive feedback.
  • Ability to manage multiple, complex projects with tight timelines in a fast-paced startup environment.
  • Motion design fluency (basic to advanced) for social and product storytelling and TV experience is a plus.
  • Knowledge of design systems and scalable component libraries for web and email.

What We Offer:
  • High-impact role shaping the brand's visual identity and production quality across digital surfaces, print and OOH, and packaging, with a clear path to broader leadership.
  • Collaborative, purpose-driven culture with opportunities to influence product and brand strategy.
  • Competitive compensation, benefits, and room to grow into senior leadership responsibilities.

Details of Position & Benefits:
  • Salary range: $160k - $170k
  • Full-time exempt position
  • Salary and employee stock options commensurate with experience
  • Unlimited PTO
  • Multiple health, dental, and vision plan options
  • Life Insurance
  • 401K plan

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