1

Executive Creative Director Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The VP, Executive Creative Director will report to the Chief Marketing Officer and work closely across the Ariat marketing team and in partnership with Ariat's product, ecomm, owned store and ...

REQUIRED SKILLS * Travel up to 40-60% of the time, depending on program phase and project need * This person will lead the strategic design and delivery of immersive guest experiences for Group ...

Creative Director

Portland, OR · On-site

$130K - $155K/yr

Executive Creative Director Department: Creative/Leadership Classification: Exempt Overview The Creative Director champions brand, taste, and curiosity, ensuring creative excellence across our studio.

Art Director

Los Angeles, CA · On-site +1

$130K - $136K/yr

The Executive Creative Director sets the creative vision. Your job is to read it fast, push it further, and deliver work that raises the bar on every round. This is not a role for someone who only ...

Creative Director

Chicago, IL · On-site

$120K - $150K/yr

Lead the selling and execution of exceptional work with the Group Creative Directors/Executive Creative Director * Contribute to new biz pitches and bring high-caliber ideas to the table * Create ...

Lead the selling and execution of exceptional work with the Group Creative Directors/Executive Creative Director * Contribute to new biz pitches and bring high-caliber ideas to the table * Create ...

Art Director

Carrollton, TX · On-site

$116K - $122K/yr

Working closely with the Executive Creative Director and Copy Director, the Art Director will concept and develop creative that brings brand campaigns and communications to life. This role also ...

Reporting to the Executive Creative Director, you will work within a specialized group inside the Creative Studio and collaborate closely with marketing and sales partners to bring strategic, high ...

Reporting to the Executive Creative Director, you will work within a specialized group inside the Creative Studio and collaborate closely with marketing and sales partners to bring strategic, high ...

Executive Job Classification: Hybrid Job Summary The Group Creative Director is an experienced creative problem solver and team builder who is passionate about creating great work that will shape the ...

Creative Director

Chester, PA · Remote

$75K - $105K/yr

The Creative Director collaborates with marketing, design, content, and executive teams to deliver compelling campaigns that resonate with target audiences and align with brand objectives. Key ...

Creative Director

Irvine, CA · On-site

$155K - $175K/yr

The Creative Director will partner closely with brand marketing, growth, social media, franchise operations, production, and executive leadership teams to ensure each brand maintains a distinct voice ...

Creative Director

Lehi, UT · On-site

$200K/yr

Partner closely with marketing, product, communications, and executive leadership teams * Lead ... Proven experience as a Creative Director leading integrated marketing and brand campaigns * Strong ...

The Creative Director will partner closely with brand marketing, growth, social media, franchise operations, production, and executive leadership teams to ensure each brand maintains a distinct voice ...

An Associate Creative Director works closely with the Executive Creative Director, Client Service and the client to help articulate a client's message and then works closely with the creative team to ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Executive Creative Director information

See salary details

$36.5K

$89.8K

$165.5K

How much do executive creative director jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for executive creative director in the United States is $89,818.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $50,000.00 and $117,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How much does an executive creative director earn?

An executive creative director typically earns between $120,000 and $200,000 annually, with salaries varying based on industry, experience, and company size. They often oversee creative teams, develop strategic vision, and require strong leadership and design skills.

What are Executive Creative Directors?

Executive Creative Directors are senior leaders in creative industries, responsible for overseeing the vision, strategy, and execution of creative projects within an organization. They guide creative teams, manage high-level client relationships, and ensure that all creative work aligns with the company's brand and business goals. Their role often involves collaborating with other executives, setting creative standards, and mentoring creative staff. Executive Creative Directors play a key role in shaping the creative direction and reputation of their organization.

What is the difference between Executive Creative Director vs Creative Director?

AspectExecutive Creative DirectorCreative Director
ResponsibilitiesOversees multiple projects and teams, sets strategic vision, manages senior creative staffLeads individual projects, manages creative teams, executes creative concepts
CredentialsTypically requires a bachelor’s degree in design, marketing, or related field; extensive portfolio and experienceSimilar educational background; strong portfolio and industry experience
Work EnvironmentHigh-level strategic meetings, client presentations, cross-team collaborationCreative brainstorming, project management, direct team supervision

The main difference is that the Executive Creative Director holds a higher strategic and managerial role overseeing multiple projects and teams, while the Creative Director focuses on leading specific creative projects and teams. Both roles require similar credentials and work environments, but the Executive Creative Director operates at a broader, more strategic level.

What does an executive creative director do?

An executive creative director leads the creative vision and strategy for advertising, marketing, or media campaigns. They oversee creative teams, develop concepts, and ensure brand consistency across projects, often working closely with clients and senior management. Strong leadership, communication skills, and experience with design or advertising tools are essential in this role.

What Is the Role of an Executive Creative Director?

An executive creative director is in charge of a department that produces creative content or products. Your responsibilities are to develop creative campaigns for your clients and oversee the execution of campaigns. Generally, executive creative directors manage lower level creative directors, who collaborate to design brand marketing concepts. Additionally, your duties are to present ideas to clients and execute these marketing ideas to achieve clients’ goals. Executive creative directors often have an emphasis on graphic marketing materials; however, you may occasionally oversee copywriting or brand development. The executive creative director manages the creative team, maintains budgeting and marketing goals, and develops client relationships.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Executive Creative Director, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Executive Creative Director, you need extensive experience in creative leadership, a strong portfolio in design or advertising, and often a relevant degree in art, design, or communications. Mastery of industry-standard software such as Adobe Creative Suite, knowledge of project management platforms, and familiarity with branding strategies are typically required. Exceptional communication, vision, and team leadership skills help in inspiring creative teams and managing client relationships. These skills are crucial for delivering innovative campaigns, maintaining brand consistency, and driving the creative vision of an organization.

What jobs pay $500,000 a year in the US?

Executive Creative Directors in large organizations or agencies can earn $500,000 or more annually, especially with bonuses and profit sharing. High-level executive roles in finance, law, or technology also frequently reach this compensation level, often requiring extensive experience, advanced degrees, and leadership skills. Such roles typically involve strategic decision-making and managing large teams or portfolios.

What jobs make 10,000 a month without a degree?

An Executive Creative Director typically earns well above $10,000 per month, especially in large agencies or corporations, often requiring extensive experience and leadership skills rather than formal education. Other high-paying roles without a degree include sales managers, real estate brokers, and certain tech entrepreneurs, but these often depend on skills, network, and performance rather than formal qualifications.

How does an Executive Creative Director typically collaborate with other departments to ensure cohesive brand messaging?

An Executive Creative Director works closely with departments such as marketing, product development, and sales to align creative strategies with overall business objectives. This collaboration often involves leading cross-functional meetings, presenting creative concepts, and soliciting feedback to ensure that campaigns and visual communications are consistent with the brand's voice and goals. Building strong relationships with department heads is essential, as is the ability to translate complex business requirements into compelling creative solutions. This integrated approach helps maintain a unified brand presence across all channels.
What cities are hiring for Executive Creative Director jobs? Cities with the most Executive Creative Director job openings:
What states have the most Executive Creative Director jobs? States with the most job openings for Executive Creative Director jobs include:
What are popular job titles related to Executive Creative Director jobs? For Executive Creative Director jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Infographic showing various Executive Creative Director job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 81% Full Time, 17% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $89,818 per year, or $43.2 per hour.

VP, Executive Creative Director

Ariat

San Leandro, CA • On-site

$280K - $300K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 11 days ago


Ariat rating

6.2

Company rating: 6.2 out of 10

Based on 15 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

About the Role
Do you have a proven track record of developing creative that grows companies? Are you ready to inspire and drive the creative expression at the leading western and work apparel and footwear brand in the US? At Ariat, we're seeking a highly strategic and accomplished Vice President, Executive Creative Director to unify and elevate Ariat's brand expression across all categories.
The VP, Executive Creative Director will report to the Chief Marketing Officer and work closely across the Ariat marketing team and in partnership with Ariat's product, ecomm, owned store and wholesale account teams to develop creative that shared our stories and grows the overall business.
You'll Make a Difference by
  • Owning the creative expression for the Ariat brand
  • Inspiring the organization around Ariat's unified creative vision
  • Proactively raising creative solutions and guiding solution implementation to generate brand visibility and business success
  • Leading the development and presentation of high-level concepts with contagious enthusiasm and an understanding of the brand, the company and audience
  • Setting clear expectations and aligning the team's objectives
  • Demonstrating a passion for innovation (insights, invention, hacks) and results (KPIs, analytics, optimization)
  • Building trusting cross-functional and team relationships that power a high performing organization
  • Decisively leading through change and advocating for process improvements and strategy refinement as needed
  • Fostering Ariat's culture of collaboration and affirming individual and team contributions
  • Mentoring team members to develop the craft of creativity across functional areas
  • Assisting with other responsibilities based on business needs

About You
  • 10+ years of standout creative achievement as a creative leader
  • Proven ability to craft and own creative campaigns and brand expression
  • 5-7 years leading consumer-focused creative teams
  • 3-5 years of in-house marketing experience
  • 5 years of experience directing teams, growing talent and leading brand change (inside or outside of an agency)
  • Bachelor's degree / design degree
  • Strong competency in both conceptual thinking and execution
  • Comfortable in a fast-paced environment with high through-put requirements - nothing can be too precious
  • Strong cross functional team player who challenges norms and also seeks to understand differing perspectives
  • A curious tinkerer, quick to examine new trends, technologies and experiences, who can build strategies for testing and learning in new areas
  • Strong background in video development - from TV to Tik Tok
  • Prevailing knowledge of social media platforms and behaviors, interaction practices and modern production techniques
  • An appetite for national and global impact
  • High level of respect for existing leadership and cultural achievements
  • Strong communicator
  • Proficient in all the media crafts
  • Direct Footwear/Apparel Industry experience preferred
  • Experience in performance products and/or fashion is a plus

About Ariat
Ariat is an innovative, outdoor global brand with roots in equestrian performance. We develop high-quality footwear and apparel for people who ride, work, and play outdoors, and care about performance, quality, comfort, and style.
The salary range for this position is $280,000 - $300,000 per year.
The salary is determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data for geographic locations. Ariat in good faith believes that this posted compensation range is accurate for this role at this location at the time of this posting. This range may be modified in the future.
Ariat's holistic benefits package for full-time team members includes (but is not limited to):
  • Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance options
  • Expanded wellness and mental health benefits
  • Paid time off (PTO), paid holidays, and paid volunteer days
  • 401(k) with company match
  • Bonus incentive plans
  • Team member discount on Ariat merchandise

Note: Availability of benefits may be subject to location & employment type and may have certain eligibility requirements. Ariat reserves the right to alter these benefits in whole or in part at any time without advance notice.
Ariat will consider qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with state and local laws. Ariat is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetics or any other basis protected under federal, state, or local law. Ariat is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to candidates with disabilities. If you need an accommodation during the application process, email human.resources@ariat.com.
Please see our Employment Candidate Privacy Policy at www.ariat.com/careers to learn more about how we collect, use, retain and disclose Personal Information.
Please note that Ariat does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Agreement, Ariat will not consider or agree to payment of any referral compensation or recruiter/agency placement fee. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed Agreement, Ariat explicitly reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted directly to hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of Ariat.

What Ariat employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom