Creative Director

SmartRecruiters, Inc.; Carlsbad (CA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

VERSANT Media in Carlsbad, CA, seeks an experienced Creative Director to lead designers, videographers, and brand storytellers to produce compelling work across marketing campaigns, product launches, video content, events, and digital experiences—including UI/UX for simulator interfaces.

You will elevate the Full Swing brand identity, direct high‑impact campaigns and partnerships, collaborate with product, engineering, and marketing, and mentor a multidisciplinary team while managing external

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, Marketing, or related field.
• 8+ years in creative leadership roles in sports tech, entertainment, or consumer electronics.
• Strong portfolio across branding, video, and product UI.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, and motion/video editing tools.

Responsibilities

• Define and elevate the Full Swing brand identity across channels.
• Direct high-impact marketing campaigns, product launches, and partnerships.
• Collaborate with product, engineering, and marketing to align storytelling with strategy.
• Lead multimedia content including video, social assets, ads, and simulator experiences.
• Guide UI/UX direction for simulator software and companion apps.
• Mentor a multidisciplinary creative team and manage external partners.
• Monitor performance, iterate based on KPIs and brand metrics.
• Participate in interviewing, hiring, onboarding, and HR processes.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Creative leadership

Portfolio

Executive presentation

Storytelling

Travel 15%

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, Marketing, or related field

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Figma

Video editing tools

Job description

• Business Segment: Digital Platforms & Ventures
• Compensation: USD 150,000 - USD 190,000 - yearly

Company Description

VERSANT (Nasdaq: VSNT) is an industry-changing media and entertainment business and home to trusted brands that shape culture, inform audiences, and build lasting connections. It operates across four core markets: political news and opinion, business news and personal finance, golf, and sports and genre entertainment. These markets are served through a powerful portfolio of iconic and innovative brands, including CNBC, MS NOW, USA Network, Golf Channel, Oxygen, E!, SYFY, and Versant's sports division USA Sports, along with complementary digital assets including Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow and GolfPass.

Job Description

Summary/Objective
As Creative Director, you will lead a team of designers, videographers, and brand storytellers to produce compelling work across marketing campaigns, product launches, video content, events, and digital experiences—including UI/UX for software and simulation interfaces.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Supervise and support assigned team members and departmental personnel
• Provide ongoing coaching, direction, performance management
• Prioritize team workload and oversee project execution to ensure deadlines are met
• Participate in interviewing, hiring, onboarding, and termination processes in partnership with HR

Primary Functions

• Define and elevate the Full Swing brand identity across all channels—digital, print, in-product, and experiential.
• Direct high-impact marketing campaigns, product launches, and brand partnerships (e.g., PGA Tour, athlete endorsements).
• Collaborate closely with product, engineering, and marketing teams to align visual storytelling with product strategy and business goals.
• Lead the creation of engaging multimedia content including video, social media assets, digital ads, and simulator experiences.
• Guide UI/UX direction for our simulator software and companion apps, ensuring world-class design and functionality.
• Manage and mentor a multidisciplinary creative team, fostering innovation, accountability, and excellence.
• Own relationships with external creative partners, agencies, and production vendors.
• Monitor performance and iterate based on creative KPIs, user feedback, and brand metrics.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required Education, Experience & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, Marketing, or a related field required.
• 8+ years of experience in creative leadership roles, preferably in sports tech, entertainment, or consumer electronics.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating work across branding, video, product UI, and integrated campaigns
• Experience with luxury, lifestyle, or sports brands a strong plus.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, and motion/video editing tools.
• Strategic thinker with strong storytelling, conceptual, and executional skills.
• Comfortable presenting to executives, athletes, and external stakeholders.
• Passion for golf, sports, or interactive technology is highly desirable.
• Willingness to travel up to 15% of time

Salary Range: $150,000-$190,000

This role operates in a hybrid or office-based environment, depending on company needs. (Role starts at 6-9 months in office)

Additional Information

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with a VERSANT Media employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. VERSANT Media's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to [e-mail] .

VERSANT Media is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. We include a good faith pay range for each position to comply with applicable state and local pay transparency laws and to promote equity across our organization. Actual compensation will be based on factors such as the candidate's skills, qualifications, experience, and location and may include additional forms of compensation and benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, etc.

VERSANT Media is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at VERSANT via-email, the Internet, or in any form and/or method without a valid written Statement of Work in place for this position from VERSANT's Talent Acquisition team will be deemed the sole property of VERSANT. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by VERSANT as a result of the referral or through other means.

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