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Founder Creative Director Jobs in San Ramon, CA (NOW HIRING)

Sauna

Creative Director / Story Crafter

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$120K - $220K/yr

Someone who owns the narrative of what Sauna is in the world: pulls it out of the founder's head ... Creative pipelines that output at volume : build repeatable systems (Sauna itself, Claude Code, AI ...

Sauna

Creative Director / Story Crafter

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$120 - $220/hr

Someone who owns the narrative of what Sauna is in the world: pulls it out of the founder's head ... Creative pipelines that output at volume : build repeatable systems (Sauna itself, Claude Code, AI ...

Doist

Creative Director / Head of Design

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$140 - $230/hr

The best creative leaders we've seen can go from a brand direction conversation with a founder to opening Figma and making it real themselves. We need both, and we need them in the same person. Do ...

Nen Creative

Video Director

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$70 - $120/hr

About the Opportunity We're looking for a highly creative, execution-oriented Creative Director to ... Write, refine, and support scripts for founder-led videos, commercials, brand films, launch content ...

Nen Creative

Video Director

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$70K - $120K/yr

About Nen Creative Nen Creative partners with tech startups to launch bold ideas into the world ... Write, refine, and support scripts for founder-led videos, commercials, brand films, launch content ...

Nen Creative

Video Director

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$70K - $120K/yr

About Nen Creative Nen Creative partners with tech startups to launch bold ideas into the world ... Write, refine, and support scripts for founder-led videos, commercials, brand films, launch content ...

ComfyUI

Forward Deployed Creative

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$150K - $200K/yr

You hold your own in a room with senior creative directors, ML engineers, and procurement at the ... Prior exposure to B2B SaaS, even informally (founder, early-stage anything, freelance client work)

Embedding VC

Founder in Residence

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

... to creative computing. We're opening applications for our Founder-in-Residence (FIR) program - a ... direct support from the Embedding VC network. About the Role As a Founder-in-Residence, you'll ...

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All JobsFounder Creative JobsFounder Creative Director JobsFounder Creative Director Jobs in San Ramon, CA

Founder Creative Director information

See San Ramon, CA salary details

$48.1K

$144.5K

$241.9K

How much do founder creative director jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 20, 2026, the average yearly pay for founder creative director in San Ramon, CA is $144,529.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $111,200.00 and $169,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a founder creative director?

A Founder Creative Director is an individual who has both established a company and leads its creative vision. They are responsible for shaping the overall look, feel, and messaging of the brand, often overseeing design, marketing, and product development. As founders, they also play a key role in strategic decision-making and guiding the company's growth. This dual role requires a blend of entrepreneurial skills and creative leadership to build and maintain a distinctive brand identity.

What are the unique challenges of balancing creative vision with business responsibilities as a founder creative director?

As a Founder Creative Director, you are responsible not just for shaping the creative direction but also for making important business decisions. One of the main challenges is balancing your artistic vision with practical considerations such as budgeting, client expectations, and market trends. You'll often need to prioritize projects, manage a diverse team, and ensure that creative work aligns with overall business goals. This dual role requires strong communication and leadership skills, as well as the ability to adapt quickly to changing circumstances. Successful Founder Creative Directors are those who can inspire innovation while maintaining a clear focus on the company's growth and sustainability.

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

To thrive as a Founder Creative Director, you need a strong background in visual design, branding, and creative strategy, often supported by a portfolio showcasing successful projects and leadership experience. Mastery of design software like Adobe Creative Suite, familiarity with project management tools, and knowledge of current digital marketing trends are typically required. Visionary thinking, effective communication, and the ability to inspire and manage creative teams are essential soft skills. These capabilities drive innovation, build cohesive brand identities, and ensure the successful execution of creative projects in a competitive market.

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

AspectFounder Creative DirectorCreative Director
CredentialsTypically holds a relevant degree in design, marketing, or related fields; may have entrepreneurial experienceUsually has a degree in design, advertising, or related fields; extensive portfolio and industry experience
Work EnvironmentLeads a startup or new business, often wearing multiple hats, including branding and strategyWorks within established companies or agencies, managing creative teams and projects
Industry UsageCommon in startups, small businesses, and entrepreneurial venturesFound in advertising agencies, corporate marketing departments, and large organizations

The main difference is that a Founder Creative Director is typically the originator of a new business or brand, combining entrepreneurial and creative leadership. In contrast, a Creative Director usually works within an existing organization, focusing on managing creative teams and projects. Both roles require strong creative skills and industry knowledge, but their scope and context differ significantly.

What are popular job titles related to Founder Creative Director jobs in San Ramon, CA?

For Founder Creative Director jobs in San Ramon, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Founder Creative Director jobs in San Ramon, CA look for?

The top searched job categories for Founder Creative Director jobs in San Ramon, CA are:

What cities near San Ramon, CA are hiring for Founder Creative Director jobs?

Cities near San Ramon, CA with the most Founder Creative Director job openings:

Founder Creative Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Founder Creative Director job openings in San Ramon, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 84% Full Time, 13% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $144,529 per year, or $69.5 per hour.

Creative Director / Story Crafter

Sauna

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$120K - $220K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 7 days ago

Job description

⚠ Please read first
  • This is a full-time, in-person role based in San Francisco (Presidio) - we work from the office 5 days a week.
  • You must be based in the Bay Area or willing to relocate before starting.
  • We require US work authorisation, but are open to O-1 or J-1 visa sponsorship for exceptional candidates.
About Sauna by Wordware
Most AI products hand you a coworker on day one and hope you trust it. Sauna is the coworker you raise: it starts by learning how you work, earns autonomy task by task, and ends up running hours of work on its own while you keep taste, review, and the final say. Wordware is the ~20-person team behind it, backed by Spark Capital, Felicis, and Y Combinator with a $30M seed, the largest in YC history. We build from a San Francisco office in the shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge, and we work absurdly hard because we can see and feel the outcome every day.
About the Role:
We're the first multiplayer AI, and our product is years ahead of how we tell its story. We ship something remarkable most weeks and it barely leaves the building. That's the gap you close.
We're looking for a story crafter. Not a video editor, not a social manager, not a brand cop. Someone who owns the narrative of what Sauna is in the world: pulls it out of the founder's head, adds their own taste, and pushes it out until people feel it. You tell that story beautifully with visuals: motion, film, and the whole creative surface.
What You'll Do:
  • The narrative of Sauna, in the world: extract the story from the founder + product, sharpen it with your own POV, make it land everywhere.
  • The story, told in visuals: find the human reason anyone should care, then make it move people. The heart of the role.
  • Motion + video, end to end: concept, shoot, motion design, edit, publish. Hands-on in the timeline.
  • Instagram + our social presence: set the visual/editorial direction and keep it coherent.
  • Creative pipelines that output at volume: build repeatable systems (Sauna itself, Claude Code, AI tooling) so we ship a lot, fast. Volume with taste.

Who You Are:
  • Crafts stories that move people; can point to work that traveled and say why it worked.
  • Real motion-design chops - and in the AI era that now includes HTML/CSS/code, not just After Effects/C4D/Blender.
  • Could be the creator, not just the director (Johnny Harris style), or cast + direct one. Either way knows what makes that video work.
  • Has built with Claude Code (or similar) + AI creative tooling - wired up their own pipelines, not just prompted once.
  • Takes an idea from zero to published without being managed there.

Compensation & Benefits:
Base salary: $120K-$220K + meaningful early-stage equity + health, dental, 401(k), considerable PTO, gym budget, lunch.
The Process:
We keep our process simple. Exceptional candidates go from first touch to offer within 2 weeks.
1. Application: Submit your resume and answer a few short questions.
2. 15-minute intro call: Quick check to align on location, motivation, and logistics. If it's a go, we move fast from here.
3. Portfolio review & craft interview: Walk us through your work and the decisions behind it.
4. Final conversation: We answer your questions and scope out the work trial.
5. Work trial: Paid, in person, usually a few days to two weeks. You work on a real project with us. See how we work, see if it fits, both sides.

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