Creative Director

Pinnacle Executive Search Co.; North Carolina; On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Pinnacle Executive Search Co. is seeking a Creative Director, Marketing to lead the brand’s visual identity and strategic storytelling across campaigns, photography, digital experiences, and retail environments. The role partners with senior leadership to ensure premium, aspirational brand execution and cohesive market presence.

You will oversee production, CGI/AI imagery, and cross-functional teams to deliver editorial-quality creative work that drives engagement and commercial results.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in marketing, graphic design, advertising, communications, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in creative leadership, creative services, brand marketing, or art direction within luxury lifestyle, home furnishings, hospitality, wellness, fashion, or premium brands.
• Experience leading brand evolution and developing elevated visual identities.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating exceptional creative direction, editorial storytelling, photography direction, and integrated campaign development.
• Deep understanding of luxury consumer behavior, emotional storytelling, and premium brand building.
• Expertise in photography production, content creation, digital marketing, print production, and multichannel campaigns.
• Experience managing the creative production process from concept to execution, including design, prepress, printing, photography, CGI, and asset management.
• Knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
• Familiarity with CGI, AI-driven tools, digital asset management platforms, and modern content workflows.
• Experience managing agencies, freelancers, photographers, production partners, and vendors.

Responsibilities

• Lead brand vision and creative leadership across channels and touchpoints.
• Develop integrated marketing campaigns for print, digital, social, experiential, and retail.
• Direct photography and videography for product launches and campaigns.
• Oversee production, CGI, AI imagery, and digital content creation.
• Partner with internal teams and external agencies to plan catalogs, look books, and branded assets.
• Lead trade shows, experiential marketing, and PR visual assets.
• Mentor internal teams and manage vendors, budgets, and schedules.

Skills

Creative leadership

Brand strategy

Photography direction

Video direction

Digital marketing

Budget management

Vendor management

Team leadership

Adobe Creative Suite

CGI/AI tools

Education

Bachelor's degree in marketing or related field

Tools

Photoshop

Illustrator

InDesign

CGI tools

AI image tools

Job description

Our client is an established, family-owned home furnishings company with a long-standing reputation for design, craftsmanship, quality, and service. The organization serves residential and hospitality customers through a diversified global business and maintains operations in North Carolina and internationally.

The company remains committed to high business standards, the artistry of furniture making, the skilled people behind its products, and the communities in which it operates.

The Creative Director, Marketing will serve as the aesthetic and strategic steward of the brand during an important chapter of growth and evolution. This role is responsible for defining and elevating the visual identity across all customer touchpoints.

Blending visionary creative leadership with strong operational execution, the Creative Director will guide the creative evolution of the brand and ensure every expression reflects a sophisticated, aspirational lifestyle position. From campaign storytelling and content development to photography, digital experiences, and physical brand environments, this leader will establish a cohesive and compelling brand world that drives desire, engagement, and commercial success.

The Creative Director, reports to senior executive leadership and works closely with brand development, digital marketing, sales, merchandising, showroom management, ecommerce, and executive leadership to deliver best-in-class creative work across the company’s residential and hospitality businesses.

Position Responsibilities

Brand Vision and Creative Leadership

• Develop and evolve a distinctive visual identity that reflects the brand’s values, heritage, and luxury lifestyle positioning.
• Define and maintain a cohesive creative vision across all channels and customer touchpoints.
• Ensure brand consistency through elevated standards of aesthetics, storytelling, and execution.
• Lead the development and application of brand guidelines while identifying opportunities for evolution and refinement.
• Stay ahead of design, lifestyle, cultural, wellness, hospitality, travel, and consumer trends to maintain brand relevance and aspiration.

Campaign Strategy and Storytelling

• Lead the creative development of integrated marketing campaigns across print, digital, social, experiential, and retail channels.
• Create emotionally resonant narratives that communicate the brand’s values, craftsmanship, and lifestyle.
• Translate business objectives into compelling creative concepts that drive engagement and brand awareness.
• Partner with leadership to define seasonal storytelling, product launches, and strategic brand initiatives.

Photography Video and Content Production

• Oversee photography and videography planning for product launches, lifestyle campaigns, social media, digital marketing, advertising, public relations, catalogs, and trade shows.
• Direct and attend photo shoots, ensuring imagery aligns with the creative vision and brand standards.
• Manage all phases of production, including concept development, shot planning, styling, post-production, image selection, and final delivery.
• Lead the development and use of CGI, AI-generated imagery, video, and emerging content-creation technologies.
• Ensure all content reflects a premium lifestyle aesthetic and editorial-level quality.

Creative Services and Marketing Production

• Partner with internal marketing team members and external agencies to plan, design, produce, and distribute catalogs, look books, tear pads, sales materials, point-of-purchase displays, and other branded assets.
• Manage project timelines and production schedules to ensure the timely delivery of creative projects.
• Oversee design, prepress, print production, and digital asset development.
• Maintain organized archives of final creative files, photography, and production assets.

Digital Experience and Social Media

• Partner with internal digital marketing resources and external agencies to deliver creative excellence across websites, email marketing, blogs, social media, and digital advertising.
• Develop visual content for paid media campaigns, including Meta, Google, and emerging platforms.
• Create compelling content experiences that strengthen brand engagement and consumer connection.

Trade Shows and Experiential Marketing

• Lead the creative development of trade show environments and supporting marketing assets.
• Oversee photography, video, digital assets, presentations, and promotional materials that support product introductions and market events.
• Attend key trade shows and events to ensure creative execution aligns with brand standards.

Public Relations and Communications

• Support public relations initiatives through the development of premium visual and marketing assets.
• Partner with internal teams and external agencies to maximize brand visibility and storytelling opportunities.

Team Leadership and Vendor Management

• Lead and mentor internal creative team members, fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and excellence.
• Manage relationships with photographers, stylists, CGI partners, agencies, printers, freelancers, and other creative vendors.
• Evaluate vendor capabilities, negotiate pricing, and ensure adherence to quality and performance standards.
• Oversee budgets, project expenditures, and production costs while maintaining exceptional creative outcomes.

Digital Asset Management

• Oversee the company’s digital asset management platform and ensure the proper organization, accessibility, and governance of creative assets.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to support efficient asset distribution and use across teams and channels.

Professional Experience and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, graphic design, advertising, communications, or a related field.
• 10 or more years of experience in creative leadership, creative services, brand marketing, or art direction within luxury lifestyle, home furnishings, hospitality, wellness, fashion, or premium consumer brands.
• Experience leading brand evolution and developing elevated visual identities.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating exceptional creative direction, editorial storytelling, photography direction, and integrated campaign development.
• Deep understanding of luxury consumer behavior, emotional storytelling, and premium brand building.
• Expertise in photography production, content creation, digital marketing, print production, and multichannel campaign development.
• Experience managing the creative production process from concept through execution, including design, prepress, printing, photography, CGI, and digital asset management.
• Knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
• Familiarity with CGI, AI-driven creative tools, digital asset management platforms, and modern content-production workflows.
• Experience managing agencies, freelancers, photographers, production partners, and vendors.
• Strong project management, organizational, and budgeting skills.
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on creative execution.
• Exceptional communication, leadership, and collaboration skills.

What Success Looks Like

• A distinct, elevated, and emotionally compelling visual identity that differentiates the brand within the luxury marketplace.
• Cohesive storytelling and creative execution across all consumer touchpoints.
• Editorial-quality photography, content, campaigns, and experiences that inspire engagement and brand affinity.
• Consistent elevation of digital, print, retail, and experiential brand expressions.
• Efficient and scalable creative production processes that support business growth.
• Strong creative partnerships and a high-performing team aligned around a clear brand vision.
• A recognized brand aesthetic that strengthens market position, customer connection, and commercial performance.