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Creative Manager Jobs in San Rafael, CA (NOW HIRING)

You won't inherit a playbook or manage "the look"-you will have greenfield creative authority to shape the brand and business impact of every creative asset. This role requires someone comfortable ...

Creative Director

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$200 - $250/hr

You won't inherit a playbook or manage "the look"--you will have greenfield creative authority to shape the brand and business impact of every creative asset. This role requires someone comfortable ...

Creative Strategist

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$100 - $125/hr

Develop and manage a pipeline of paid creatives aligned to key marketing beats, evergreen campaigns, and UA testing roadmaps. * Manage external production partners for more complex creative ...

Presentation & Stakeholder Management * Present creative concepts and rationale clearly to internal teams and leadership. * Communicate creative vision and inspire stakeholder confidence.

Creative Strategist

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$80K - $120K/yr

Manage external production partners for more complex creative executions. What You'll Bring: * 2+ years of experience in creative strategy or content marketing, ideally in a role that involves use of ...

Presentation & Stakeholder Management * Present creative concepts and rationale clearly to internal teams and leadership. * Communicate creative vision and inspire stakeholder confidence.

Creative Designer

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$56K - $97K/yr

Join us on this journey to redefine resource management-and change lives along the way. The Role As a Creative Designer at Air Apps, you will play a crucial role in shaping our brand identity and ...

Head of Creative

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$150K - $200K/yr

Manage relationships with contract photographers, videographers, editors, and designers Desired Qualifications * 10+ years of experience in graphic design, creative direction, or brand design.

Partner within CX creative, design, marketing, product management teams to define GTM creative strategy, ensuring clarity of message, strong storytelling, and consistent brand expression across the ...

AI Creative Strategist

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$200 - $250/hr

Manage and elevate a distributed design team while collaborating with marketers on campaigns and brand initiatives. Hire new designers as the team grows * Drive AI-first creative production by ...

Associate Director, Creative

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$175K - $220K/yr

Agency Management * Own the day-to-day relationship with our external creative agency. * Write creative briefs that translate campaign goals and brand strategy into clear, actionable direction for ...

Showing results 21-40

Creative Manager information

See San Rafael, CA salary details

$25.6K

$96.3K

$163.9K

How much do creative manager jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for creative manager in San Rafael, CA is $96,256.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $66,900.00 and $121,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a creative manager?

Creative Managers are professionals who oversee the creative direction and output of a company or team, often within advertising, marketing, or design environments. They lead creative projects from concept to completion, manage creative teams, and ensure that visual, written, and multimedia content aligns with brand strategy and goals. Creative Managers collaborate with clients, stakeholders, and other departments to deliver effective and innovative campaigns. They are responsible for maintaining high-quality standards and meeting deadlines, often juggling multiple projects at once.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a creative manager?

To thrive as a Creative Manager, you need a strong background in design principles, project management, and marketing strategy, often supported by a degree in design, marketing, or a related field. Proficiency in creative software like Adobe Creative Suite, project management tools, and familiarity with digital marketing platforms is typically required. Exceptional leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills help Creative Managers inspire teams and articulate a clear vision. These skills are crucial for delivering innovative campaigns on time and ensuring the creative output aligns with business objectives.

How does a creative manager typically collaborate with cross-functional teams on large projects?

Creative Managers often serve as the bridge between creative teams and other departments, such as marketing, product development, and sales. They are responsible for translating project goals into actionable creative strategies, ensuring alignment with brand guidelines, and facilitating clear communication across teams. This involves regular meetings, feedback sessions, and collaborative planning to deliver cohesive campaigns or products. Effective Creative Managers are skilled at balancing creative vision with business objectives, making adaptability and strong interpersonal skills essential for success.

What is the difference between Creative Manager vs Graphic Designer?

AspectCreative ManagerGraphic Designer
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in marketing, advertising, or related field; experience in project managementBachelor's degree in graphic design, visual arts, or related field; portfolio showcasing design work
Work EnvironmentOversees creative teams, manages projects, collaborates with clientsCreates visual content, works independently or in small teams, often in design studios or agencies
Employer & Industry UsageAdvertising agencies, marketing departments, media companiesDesign firms, advertising agencies, in-house marketing teams

The main difference is that a Creative Manager oversees creative projects and teams, focusing on strategy and coordination, while a Graphic Designer primarily creates visual content. Both roles require relevant education and experience, but their responsibilities and work environments differ significantly.

How much does a creative manager earn?

A creative manager's average salary varies by location and experience but typically ranges from $70,000 to $120,000 annually. Factors such as industry, company size, and skill level in project management and creative tools influence earnings.
More about Creative Manager jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Creative jobs in San Rafael, CA?

The most popular types of Creative jobs in San Rafael, CA are:

What job categories do people searching Creative Manager jobs in San Rafael, CA look for?

The top searched job categories for Creative Manager jobs in San Rafael, CA are:

What cities near San Rafael, CA are hiring for Creative Manager jobs?

Cities near San Rafael, CA with the most Creative Manager job openings:

Infographic showing various Creative Manager job openings in San Rafael, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $96,256 per year, or $46.3 per hour.

Creative Director

San Francisco, CA โ€ข On-site

Navan
Traveler Accommodationย โ€ขย 1 - 5K employees

Full-time

Re-posted 17 days ago


Job description

At Navan, our mission is to power the in-person connections that move people, ideas, and businesses forward. We help our travelers focus on being there, not getting there.

Navan's Marketing team is looking for a Creative Director to lead a talented, high-output creative studio that balances the prestige of a world-class brand with the relentless speed of a social-first newsroom. You won't inherit a playbook or manage "the look"-you will have greenfield creative authority to shape the brand and business impact of every creative asset.

This role requires someone comfortable operating in a dual-audience world, possessing a consumer-grade storytelling sensibility. You understand that enterprise creative doesn't have to be boring, and you know how to switch registers to make both corporate buyers (CFOs, procurement) and end-users feel seen across their emotional and rational journeys.

What You'll Do

  • Own the Creative Vision: Drive the global creative strategy and brand consistency across all marketing assets, platforms, and physical experiences-from TV, OOH, Digital, and Social to flagships like our Navigate conference.
  • Lead a High-Output Engine: Oversee and scale our in-house design, copy, video, and animation team.ย 
  • Integrate Creative into the Business: Help writers and designers deeply understand Navan's business model, sales cycles, and customer pain points. You are fluent in the metrics of conversion and business impact, not just aesthetics.
  • Pioneer AI-Driven Efficiency: Act as a champion for generative innovation. You will operationalize AI tools to automate ideation, rapid prototyping, mood boarding, and asset generation-enabling your team to move 10x faster and stay focused on "big-rock" ideas.
  • Cross-Functional Partnership: Act as a strategic peer to Demand Generation, Sales, and regional teams to translate complex functionality into powerful, persona-centric campaigns.

What We're Looking For

  • Seniority & Growth Experience: 10+ years of creative leadership with a proven track record of building and mentoring high-performing design/creative teams. You have scaled creative operations through significant growth inflections (e.g., Series C+, rapid headcount expansions, or post-IPO environments).
  • The "Scrappy-Scale" Paradox: Big-brand pedigree leading multi-channel, integrated campaigns for global brands, paired with an infrastructure-agnostic mindset. You don't need a massive agency bench to scale; your formative years were spent in fast-paced environments like newsrooms, agencies, or social-first shops.
  • Transparent Culture: You thrive in an environment of candor and assertive leadership. You provide direct, objective feedback and expect the same from your peers and team.
  • Conviction + Flexibility: You hold a "strong opinion, loosely held". You will fiercely defend the best creative concept, but you possess the humility and speed to pivot instantly when stakeholder needs or business data dictate a new direction.
  • Target Industry Background: Ideally, you have run creative inside design-forward travel/hospitality brands (e.g., Airbnb, Away, Expedia), category-norm-breaking B2B SaaS spaces (e.g., Stripe, Figma, Brex), or consumer lifestyle brands with a distinct B2B reach (e.g., Squarespace, Notion).

What Will Excite You About Navan

  • A post-IPO company with real momentum and an internal culture that always asks "Can we go bigger?" rather than one that hedges.
  • Travel as a creative canvas: rich, emotional visual territory that most B2B corporate creative functions never get access to.
  • An execution-strong, capable team that is hungry to be pushed, elevated, and expanded.

Navan logo

About Navan

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Traveler accommodation

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Palo Alto, CA, US

Year founded

2015

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