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Managing Creative Director Jobs in Seattle, WA (NOW HIRING)

Microsoft

Sr. Creative Director

Redmond, WA · On-site

Manage team health, resource planning, and talent strategy, ensuring the right capabilities, skills ... Creative Director, etc.). Preferred Qualifications * 12+ years of experience leading world-class ...

New

Doist

Associate Creative Director

Seattle, WA · On-site

$120 - $180/hr

The Role We're looking for an Associate Creative Director who's equal parts creative leader ... Manage, mentor, and inspire a small team of designers and creatives, providing thoughtful feedback ...

Tin Can

Associate Creative Director

Seattle, WA · On-site

$150K - $180K/yr

The Role We're looking for an Associate Creative Director who's equal parts creative leader ... Manage, mentor, and inspire a small team of designers and creatives, providing thoughtful feedback ...

TEKsystems

Creative Dubbing Director

Seattle, WA · On-site +1

$25 - $28/hr

... directing, screenwriting, theater, or a related creative discipline. * Ability to evaluate ... Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines ...

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All JobsManaging Creative JobsManaging Creative Director JobsManaging Creative Director Jobs in Seattle, WA

Managing Creative Director information

See Seattle, WA salary details

$48.9K

$147.2K

$246.4K

How much do managing creative director jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for managing creative director in Seattle, WA is $147,181.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $113,200.00 and $173,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a managing creative director?

A Managing Creative Director is a senior leader responsible for overseeing the creative vision and direction of a company or agency. They manage creative teams, guide the development of concepts, and ensure that all creative work aligns with the brand’s objectives and standards. In addition to leading brainstorming sessions and approving final designs, they often collaborate closely with other departments and clients. Their role combines creative expertise with strong leadership and project management skills to deliver impactful campaigns and projects.

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

To thrive as a Managing Creative Director, you need a strong background in visual design, creative strategy, and leadership, often supported by a degree in design, marketing, or a related field. Expertise with industry-standard design software (such as Adobe Creative Suite), project management tools, and sometimes certifications in creative leadership are highly valued. Exceptional communication, team management, and the ability to inspire and guide creative teams are crucial soft skills in this role. These skills and qualities ensure the delivery of innovative, cohesive creative work that aligns with strategic business goals and fosters a productive, motivated team.

How does a managing creative director typically balance creative vision with business objectives in daily operations?

A Managing Creative Director often faces the challenge of aligning innovative concepts with the company’s strategic goals and client expectations. This involves leading creative teams through brainstorming and development while ensuring projects adhere to timelines, budgets, and brand guidelines. Regular collaboration with project managers, marketing leads, and executive leadership is essential to maintain both creative integrity and commercial viability. Successful Managing Creative Directors foster open communication, provide constructive feedback, and prioritize adaptability to balance creativity with business needs.

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

AspectManaging Creative DirectorCreative Director
ResponsibilitiesOversees multiple projects, manages teams, and aligns creative strategies with business goalsFocuses on leading specific creative projects, developing concepts, and guiding creative teams
CredentialsTypically requires a bachelor’s degree in design, marketing, or related fields, with extensive experienceRequires similar educational background and experience, often with a focus on creative execution
Work EnvironmentSenior leadership in agencies or corporate marketing departmentsCreative teams within agencies, studios, or corporate settings

The Managing Creative Director holds a broader leadership role, overseeing multiple projects and teams, while the Creative Director concentrates on the creative vision and execution of specific projects. Both roles require similar credentials and work environments, but the Managing Creative Director has greater strategic and managerial responsibilities.

Is there a demand for managing creative directors?

The demand for managing creative directors remains strong in industries such as advertising, media, and entertainment, where organizations seek experienced leaders to oversee creative teams and projects. Employment growth is driven by the need for innovative branding and marketing strategies, with many companies valuing skills in leadership, project management, and digital tools. Job opportunities are typically available in large agencies, corporations, and media firms worldwide.

What are popular job titles related to Managing Creative Director jobs in Seattle, WA?

For Managing Creative Director jobs in Seattle, WA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Managing Creative Director jobs in Seattle, WA look for?

The top searched job categories for Managing Creative Director jobs in Seattle, WA are:

What cities near Seattle, WA are hiring for Managing Creative Director jobs?

Cities near Seattle, WA with the most Managing Creative Director job openings:

Managing Creative Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Managing Creative Director job openings in Seattle, WA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $147,181 per year, or $70.8 per hour.

Sr. Creative Director

Microsoft

Redmond, WA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 3 days ago

New

Microsoft rating

8.5

Company rating: 8.5 out of 10

Based on 132 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

81st of 247 rated software companies

Job description

Overview
At Microsoft, we're building a modern, AI-forward marketing organization that learns faster, activates smarter, and drives measurable impact. Our approach blends human creativity with AI-powered insights to fuel bold, culturally inspired creative strategies at scale. We prioritize outcomes over outputs, embrace rapid learning loops, and operate in agile flight formations that unite disciplines across Commercial Brand, Creative, and Customer Marketing.
As a Sr. Creative Director in Microsoft's Design Studio for the Engines & Experiences (E&E) organization, you will lead the creative vision and execution across a portfolio of initiatives that span customer, partner, media, and marketer experiences. You will shape how Microsoft's commercial brands show up in the world-visually, emotionally, and experientially-through bold, culturally resonant creative that drives advocacy, usage, and pipeline.
This role places a premium on visual & motion design as foundational tools for brand expression and systems design. You will define visual systems that communicate identity, and bring clarity to complex ideas at scale leveraging AI tools. You'll lead the development of visual systems that scale across platforms and audiences, ensuring consistency, flexibility, and emotional resonance.
You will guide a multidisciplinary team of designers, motion artists, creative technologists and producers to deliver high-fidelity design system and creative across omni-channel campaigns, product demos, and brand activations. You'll champion systems-driven design, AI-enhanced workflows, and storytelling that connects emotionally with priority audiences. You'll also collaborate deeply across marketing, product, and engineering teams to ensure creative excellence and consistency across every touchpoint.
At Microsoft, our mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more guides how we partner with customers to deliver trusted, impactful solutions. With a growth-mindset culture, we innovate responsibly and measure success by shared progress, people, teams, and customers. Join us to do meaningful work that changes the world and helps shape what's next for everyone.
Responsibilities
  • Set creative vision and strategy for major business priorities, translating goals into scalable brand, design, creative and content systems.
  • Lead and develop a high-performing multidisciplinary team, providing coaching, career growth, performance management, and organizational leadership.
  • Partner with senior stakeholders and executives to shape priorities, influence decisions, and align creative investments to business outcomes.
  • Develop and maintain brand guidelines and creative playbooks that empower internal teams and external partners to deliver consistent, high-quality work.
  • Build scalable operating models, processes, and frameworks that improve quality, efficiency, and organizational impact.
  • Lead creative reviews, provide actionable feedback, and foster a culture of craft, curiosity, and innovation.
  • Champion innovation and emerging technologies, including AI-enabled workflows, to increase creative effectiveness and unlock new opportunities.
  • Manage team health, resource planning, and talent strategy, ensuring the right capabilities, skills, and staffing are in place to meet business needs.

Qualifications
Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor's Degree or Certificate in Design, Fine Arts, Human Computer Interaction, Visual Communications or related art field AND 8+ years experience in art design or a related art field working on computer games or entertainment OR equivalent experience.
  • 5+ years people management experience (e.g., serving as a Lead Artist, Art Manager, Creative Director, etc.).
Preferred Qualifications
  • 12+ years of experience leading world-class creative, brand, design, or content teams within large, highly matrixed organizations.
  • 4+ years people management experience (e.g., serving as a Design Manager, Art Manager, Creative Director, Design Director etc.).
  • Demonstrated expertise building and scaling brand systems, visual identities, design frameworks, and creative toolkits across multiple channels and audiences.
  • Deep understanding of AI-powered creative workflows and emerging technologies, with experience integrating AI tools into design and content production pipelines.
  • Proven success managing and developing high-performing multidisciplinary teams, with a strong track record of coaching, talent growth, and organizational leadership.
  • Attention to detail with the ability to balance strategic thinking and hands-on creative direction across complex initiatives.
  • Exceptional creative judgment with an uncompromising commitment to quality, design craft, and delivering best-in-class work at scale.
  • Extensive experience partnering across product, marketing, communications, engineering, and executive leadership to drive alignment and influence strategic outcomes.
  • Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to inspire teams and influence senior leaders through clear, compelling storytelling.

Art M6 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $142,800 - $296,400 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $188,000 - $331,200 per year.
Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay
This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.

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About Microsoft

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Our infrastructure is comprised of a large global portfolio of more than 100 datacenters and 1 million servers. Our foundation is built upon and managed by a team of subject matter experts working to support services for more than 1 billion customers and 20 million businesses in over 90 countries worldwide. With environmental sustainability and optimization at the forefront of our datacenter design and operations, we continue to grow and evolve as we meet the ever-changing business demands that hold Microsoft as a world-class cloud provider.

Industry

Computer and computer peripheral equipment and software wholesalers

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Redmond, WA, US

Year founded

1975

Social media

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