Director Creative Operations Jobs in Houston, TX

The Senior Creative Director is responsible for the creative vision of the Houston Zoo brand, overseeing the design and production of all visual communication needs, ensuring the highest standards of quality and consistency are maintained throughout the zoo campus and within all departments. The position supervises Graphic Design, Experiential Design, Videography, and Photography.

Our Mission: Houston Zoo connects communities with animals, inspiring action to save wildlife.
Our Vision: Houston Zoo will be a leader in the global movement to save wildlife. 

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Leads the Houston Zoo's creative vision and design strategy, ensuring all visual, experiential, and interpretive communications strengthen brand equity and advance the Zoo's mission to save wildlife.
• Directs and develops the in-house creative team, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, accountability, and design excellence while overseeing talent acquisition, performance management, and professional development.
• Serves as the organization's creative authority by establishing, maintaining, and evolving brand standards, design systems, and visual governance across all Zoo touchpoints.
• Partners with leaders across Marketing & Communications, Development, Design & Engineering, Animal Programs, Conservation Education, and other departments to translate organizational goals into compelling visual and guest experience solutions.
• Oversees the planning, prioritization, execution, and evaluation of creative projects, including graphic design, signage, wayfinding, interpretation, donor recognition, and experiential design initiatives.
• Establishes and continuously improves creative workflows, production processes, and project management standards to maximize quality, efficiency, and resource effectiveness.
• Provides creative leadership for major institutional initiatives, including Master Plan projects, exhibit experiences, capital campaigns, rebranding efforts, and other strategic guest-facing investments.
• Leads relationships with external agencies, consultants, fabricators, and creative partners to ensure exceptional quality, brand consistency, and effective stewardship of organizational resources.
• Oversees creative budgets, production schedules, and project timelines to ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and aligned with organizational priorities.
• Advises executive leadership on strategic communications, presentations, board materials, planning initiatives, and other high-profile organizational projects.
• Collaborates with on-site partners and concession operators to ensure a cohesive visual identity and guest experience throughout the Zoo.
• Evaluates emerging technologies, systems, and creative tools that improve operational efficiency, innovation, collaboration, and cost effectiveness.
• Champions environmentally responsible design and production practices that reflect the Zoo's conservation values and commitment to sustainability.
• Supports organizational priorities and special initiatives that advance the Houston Zoo's strategic plan and mission.
• Contributes to saving animals in the wild by ensuring materials used on projects are sustainable, and through reduction of waste, water and energy use and inspiring guests and staff to take wildlife protecting actions.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) from four-year college or university; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ten (10) years of progressive professional experience in graphic design, creative services, or visual communications.
• Six (6) years of experience leading and developing creative teams.
• Demonstrated expertise in brand strategy, visual identity systems, typography, graphic design, environmental graphics, and guest experience design.
• Experience managing complex creative projects, budgets, production schedules, and external vendor relationships.
• Strong communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment while balancing multiple priorities.

About the Houston Zoo

The Houston Zoo is made up of many moving parts with over 6,000 permanent residents (our animals) for whom we provide housing, meals, medical care and yes, even education! There are over 2 million guests each year who come to experience our incredible variety of animals and ecosystems, as well as attend special private and public events and entertainment. Our dedicated staff works around the clock to ensure that the Zoo is always running smoothly for the safety and well-being of our residents and guests. We strive to ensure the protection of all the counterparts of the animals we have at the Zoo and in the wild.

Join the Houston Zoo and become a part of an organization that is focused on the preservation of wildlife and their habitats by combining conservation with education and promotion of sustainable livelihoods in the local communities. Houston Zoo is an Equal Opportunity Employer.