Creative Director

krispy; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits (medical, vision, and dental insurance)

Employee discount program

401K plan

Generous PTO Plan

Education Reimbursement

Life Insurance

Job summary

Krispy is looking for a Creative Director in Charlotte, NC, to guide the design team and oversee all creative projects. This role focuses on innovation and brand alignment across all channels while managing the workflow and creative deliverables.

The ideal candidate will bring 8+ years of experience, leading design strategies and ensuring brand integrity through compelling visual storytelling. Strong knowledge of Adobe Suite is essential, along with excellent leadership skills.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of graphic/digital design experience in a fast-paced environment, with 3+ years in a leadership role.
• Experience with diverse media formats including print and digital.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to inspire others.

Responsibilities

• Lead the creative vision for brand and product campaigns.
• Manage creative workflow, resources, and timelines.
• Mentor and develop a high-performing creative team.

Skills

Graphic design

Leadership

Creativity

Time Management

Stakeholder Management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in graphic/digital design or related field

Tools

Adobe InDesign

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Job description

Since its founding in 1937, Krispy Kreme’s focus has remained the same — making fresh doughnuts using our founder’s original recipe. The brand’s iconic Hot Light lets consumers know when doughnuts are being made in the shop so they can stop in and enjoy them hot, right off the line.

Krispy Kreme is seeking a dynamic and experienced Creative Director to lead our team of designers and oversee all aspects of creative operations. This role is a unique blend of strategic vision, operational leadership, and hands‑on design expertise. The ideal candidate will inspire creativity, streamline workflows, and produce exceptional creative deliverables that align with our brand identity and guidelines. By partnering with cross‑functional teams, this leader will ensure consistent creativity across all channels and best‑in‑class go‑to‑market process and execution.

TASTE OF WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING

Creative Leadership & Design Execution

• Lead the creative vision for brand and product campaigns, projects, and guiding design principles
• Ensure all creative outputs are consistently on‑brand and align with established guidelines. Push creative boundaries while maintaining brand integrity
• Ability to lead concepts, pitch, and execution of strategic brand and LTO creative campaigns
• Maintain high creative standards, consistently helping the team to deliver quality solutions
• Develop a consistent brand identity across all design materials, ensuring that our brand message is effectively communicated to our target audience
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams including Brand, DFD, and Digital to understand project requirements and develop design solutions that align with the company’s brand guidelines and objectives
• Provide strong problem‑solving and design expertise across diverse media: print, video, digital, social media, and packaging
• Lead creative meetings and effectively present materials to internal and external stakeholders
• Lead and plan photo shoots to achieve brand and business objectives. Comfortable directing the team to bring the creative vision to life during the shoot, overseeing all aspects from lighting to talent direction. Ability to edit and manage the post‑shoot creative process – reviewing footage, selecting best shots and ensuring final product aligns with objectives and briefs
• Closely monitor agency output and provide creative feedback and direction

Creative Process & Workflow Management

• Lead the creative team’s workflow by managing resources, timelines, and budgets to ensure smooth operations
• Drive efficient project delivery across diverse channels and formats, meeting deadlines and quality standards
• Continuously develop and refine processes to enhance team productivity and elevate creative output
• Strategically prioritize projects, ensuring the team focuses on high‑impact initiatives that align with business goals
• Maintain a business‑oriented mindset, making decisions that optimize budget efficiency and deliver measurable results

Team Leadership & Development

• Build, mentor, and manage a high‑performing creative team
• Communicate clear objectives and priorities within the team, assigning projects and tasks to direct reports and balancing team’s workload to maximize effectiveness
• Provide constructive feedback, coaching, and guidance to develop team members’ skills
• Manage and optimize workflows, and processes to ensure on‑time, on‑budget execution
• Foster a collaborative and innovative team culture
• Collaborate with peers across functions to optimize ways of working and maximize business results

YOUR RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

• Bachelor’s degree in graphic/digital design or related field preferred
• 8+ years of graphic/digital design experience in a fast‑paced environment, 3+ years leadership experience
• Experience with print (signage, POP, packaging) and digital formats (web, email, app, social, display)
• Highly creative with an extremely sharp eye for detail
• Proficient in Adobe Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop) and presentation tools
• Skilled in conceptual and visual storytelling
• Strong time management, self‑direction, and ability to handle multiple projects
• Open to feedback with a balance of defending ideas and implementing solutions
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to inspire others
• Thrives under tight deadlines in high‑pressure environments
• Highly organized, proactive, and results driven
• Agency management experience
• Strong communicator and stakeholder management experience
• Ability to communicate with multiple business teams

*The above statements are intended to describe the general nature of work performed by the employees assigned to this job and are not the official job description for the position. The official job description will be provided during the application/interview process.

BENEFITS

• Comprehensive benefits (medical, vision, and dental insurance)
• Employee discount program
• 401K plan
• Generous PTO Plan
• Company events
• Education Reimbursement
• Adoption Assistance
• Life Insurance
• FSA/HSA Plans
• Pet Insurance

Learn more at www.kkbenefits.com

Krispy Kreme is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At Krispy Kreme, we believe that your originality sweetens our recipe. We value the diverse ingredients of the ethnicity, national origin, race, age, sex, gender, intersex, or veteran status of every individual. We strive for an inclusive culture that allows each of our team members to bring their bold authentic self to work regardless of their religion, gender identity & expression, sexual orientation, or disability.