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Creative Startup Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

... demands of a small startup. Do they have taste, with receipts? We don't mean taste as an ... Great creative leaders have a point of view on where the brand should go, not just how to execute ...

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... startup or high-growth environments. This person will manage the full recruiting lifecycle and ... creative outbound approaches. * Build strong candidate pipelines for both immediate and future ...

... startup or high-growth environments. This person will manage the full recruiting lifecycle and ... creative outbound approaches. * Build strong candidate pipelines for both immediate and future ...

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Creative Startup information

See California salary details

$39.5K

$89.1K

$136.2K

How much do creative startup jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for creative startup in California is $89,094.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $49,800.00 and $128,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a creative startup?

A Creative Startup is a new business venture focused on innovative ideas in creative industries such as design, media, technology, fashion, art, or entertainment. These startups combine creativity and entrepreneurship to develop unique products, services, or experiences that stand out in the market. Their goal is often to disrupt traditional industries or introduce entirely new concepts, leveraging creativity as a core competitive advantage. Creative Startups typically thrive in dynamic environments and may use technology to scale their impact and reach wider audiences.

What are some common challenges faced when working in a creative startup environment?

Working in a creative startup often means embracing a fast-paced, dynamic atmosphere where roles and responsibilities can shift rapidly as the company grows. Team members may face challenges such as managing tight deadlines, adapting to frequent changes in project direction, and balancing creativity with the need to deliver tangible results. However, these challenges are often offset by a collaborative culture, opportunities to contribute ideas, and the potential for rapid career growth as the startup scales. It's important to be flexible, proactive, and open to wearing multiple hats while thriving in this environment.

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

To thrive as a Creative Startup Founder, you need a blend of entrepreneurial mindset, creative problem-solving abilities, and a solid understanding of business fundamentals, often supported by experience or education in entrepreneurship or design. Familiarity with digital design tools, project management software, and startup accelerators is highly valuable. Excellent communication, resilience, and leadership are crucial soft skills for inspiring teams and networking with stakeholders. These competencies are important because they drive innovation, enable efficient business operations, and help navigate the challenges of launching and scaling a creative venture.

What is the difference between Creative Startup vs Graphic Designer?

AspectCreative StartupGraphic Designer
Required CredentialsPortfolio, relevant design skills, sometimes a degree in design or related fieldPortfolio, design software proficiency, degree or certification often preferred
Work EnvironmentFast-paced, innovative, often small teams or freelance settingsDesign studios, agencies, corporate in-house teams, freelance
Employer & Industry UsageStartups, creative agencies, entrepreneurial venturesAdvertising, marketing, media, corporate branding

While both roles involve creative skills, a Creative Startup typically refers to working within or founding a new business focused on innovation and branding, often in a flexible environment. A Graphic Designer specializes in visual communication, working on specific design projects across various industries. The main difference lies in scope: Creative Startup roles often encompass broader responsibilities including branding, marketing, and business development, whereas Graphic Designers focus primarily on visual design tasks.

What are the most commonly searched types of Creative Startup jobs in California? The most popular types of Creative Startup jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Creative Startup jobs in California? For Creative Startup jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Creative Startup jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Creative Startup jobs in California are:
Infographic showing various Creative Startup job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 77% Full Time, 18% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $89,094 per year, or $42.8 per hour.

Project Manager - Beauty & Personal Care

Everything HR

Santa Monica, CA

$90K - $110K/yr

Full-time

Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 9 days ago


Job description

Company Description

Club Kuma is a creative studio that partners with clients and creators to brand, design, and manufacture award-winning hero products. Built on a heritage of creativity and innovation, we are one team, in-house.

With headquarters in sunny Santa Monica and a creative workplace culture, Club Kuma is designed to have fun. We're committed to building lasting partnerships with all our collaborators, from the creators who inspire our products and brands, to the people we hire to make them. You'll find competitive salaries and benefits with every full-time position, because our team believes in rewarding a job well done.

Job Description

We are looking for a highly organized, detail-driven Project Manager to oversee the development and execution of packaging and turnkey projects for multiple clients-including a core group of key accounts. This role is both client-facing and internal-facing, requiring strong communication, structured project management, and the ability to keep complex timelines, vendors, and cross-functional teams aligned. The ideal candidate excels at managing many moving parts, thrives in a fast-paced creative environment, and brings a practical, solutions-oriented mindset to every challenge.

What You'll Do

  • Project Planning and Execution: Develop project plans, create timelines, coordinate to ensure successful project completion. Monitor project progress, identify risks, and offer solutions to mitigate risks.
  • Client Relationship Management: Serve as day-to-day point of contact for clients, maintaining regular communication to understand their needs, address concerns, and provide project updates. Lead client meetings and provide clear recaps outlining decisions, action items, owners, and deadlines.
  • Sourcing & Vendor Coordination: Manage the sourcing process by requesting samples, gathering pricing, reviewing specifications, and communicating updates with approved vendors. Track sample statuses, lead times, and revisions to support accurate and timely decision-making.
  • Quoting & Proposal Support: Assist the sales team by compiling pricing, updating cost sheets, and preparing quote details as project scopes evolve. Ensure all costing information is accurate, current, and aligned with project requirements.
  • Cost Management: Assist in identifying cost-saving opportunities and implement strategies to optimize project profitability.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with internal teams including design, engineering, purchasing, logistics, and regulatory to ensure seamless project execution. Foster effective communication and coordination among team members to meet project objectives.
  • Quality Control and Compliance: Ensure manufacturing processes comply with industry standards, regulatory requirements, and client specifications with necessary stakeholders. Conduct inspections and address any non-conformance issues to maintain product quality and customer satisfaction.
  • Project documentation: Create and maintain project documentation, including project plans, progress reports, change orders, and other relevant records. Ensure accurate and timely documentation to support project tracking, reporting, and analysis
  • Continuous Improvement: Implement best practices and drive initiatives to optimize project management and client account management processes.
Qualifications

What You Bring

  • 2 plus years of project management experience in CPG, beauty, packaging, or a related manufacturing or production environment.
  • Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple high-volume, deadline-driven projects simultaneously.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills; confident interacting with clients, vendors, and internal teams.
  • Demonstrates strong ownership and independent work style, paired with sound judgment on when to escalate or seek support.
  • Experience with sourcing, timelines, production tracking, or manufacturing workflows is a plus.
  • Comfortable working with Teams, Excel, and Netsuite (experience a plus, training provided).
  • A proactive, solutions-oriented, and collaborative mindset.
  • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, creative, startup-style environment.
  • Strong attention to detail, follow-through, and accountability.

Why You'll Love Working at Club Kuma

  • Work on innovative, design-forward packaging and turnkey projects for top emerging beauty brands.
  • Partner with award-winning internal creative and technical teams who elevate every project.
  • Be part of a small, collaborative, fast-growing company where your work has visible impact.
  • Growth opportunity as the company scales

Additional information

  • The Project Manager position is a full-time, in-office position at Club Kuma headquarters in Santa Monica. We offer a comprehensive package, including a competitive salary, PTO, benefits, 401K, and holidays.
  • The compensation range for this position is $90,000 - $110,000 annually. The exact salary is determined by various factors including experience, skills, and education.
Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.