Creative Director

Premier Press; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Premier Press, a leading West Coast creative production company, is seeking a Creative Director to lead the in-house studio in Portland. You will mentor a multidisciplinary team across packaging, print, and production, shaping concepts and decks for high-profile brands.

The role emphasizes collaboration with Sales and Account Directors to win new business and deliver production-ready solutions. The ideal candidate has 7+ years of leadership in creative operations, a strong packaging portfolio,

Qualifications

• 7+ years of creative experience with leadership responsibilities.
• Experience leading creative operations, resource planning, and scalable processes.
• Strong portfolio in packaging, branded merchandise, influencer campaigns, and activations.
• Experience developing client pitch decks and presenting solutions.
• In‑depth knowledge of structural packaging, dielines, printing techniques, materials, and manufacturing.
• Collaborative experience with Project Managers, Production, and Sales.
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Cloud; strong Mac and Windows skills.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and team leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a creative team across packaging, print, and production; conduct annual performance reviews and ensure efficient workflow.
• Own the Creative Studio workflow—prioritize resources, manage processes, and drive scalability.
• Act as the creative voice for clients, presenting concepts, material recommendations, and decks with confidence.
• Partner with Sales to develop packaging, print, and branded merchandise concepts, win new business, and maintain agency relationships.
• Collaborate with Account Directors, Project Managers, Production, and manufacturing teams to guarantee exceptional execution from concept to delivery.
• Drive creative strategy for premium packaging, branded merchandise, retail programs, print, and integrated campaigns.
• Provide leadership on dielines, substrates, materials, and finishing techniques, ensuring production‑ready solutions.
• Cultivate a culture of curiosity, innovation, and continuous growth.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Creative leadership

Creative direction

Portfolio development

Pitch deck development

Packaging knowledge

Client collaboration

Project management

Communication

Tools

Adobe Creative Cloud

InDesign

Illustrator

Photoshop

Job description

About Premier Press

Premier Press is a leading creative production company on the West Coast, delivering brand experiences for a portfolio of recognizable global brands.

Job Details

Job Title: Creative Director
Classification: Full‑Time, Exempt
Salary: DOE
Reports to: VP of Sales
Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm
Location: 5000 N Basin Ave., Portland, OR 97217 (in‑office, no remote)

Why Premier?

We bring order to the chaos of creative production and distribution, propelling branding forward. Your mandate will be to build the work, champion your team, and shape what comes next in a culture that values collaboration, innovation, and excellence.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a creative team across packaging, print, and production; conduct annual performance reviews and ensure efficient workflow.
• Own the Creative Studio workflow—prioritize resources, manage processes, and drive scalability.
• Act as the creative voice for clients, presenting concepts, material recommendations, and decks with confidence.
• Partner with Sales to develop packaging, print, and branded merchandise concepts, win new business, and maintain agency relationships.
• Collaborate with Account Directors, Project Managers, Production, and manufacturing teams to guarantee exceptional execution from concept to delivery.
• Drive creative strategy for premium packaging, branded merchandise, retail programs, print, and integrated campaigns.
• Provide leadership on dielines, substrates, materials, and finishing techniques, ensuring production‑ready solutions.
• Cultivate a culture of curiosity, innovation, and continuous growth.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of creative experience, including leadership responsibilities.
• Proven experience leading creative operations—resource planning, workflow management, and scalable processes.
• Strong portfolio showcasing packaging, branded merchandise, influencer campaigns, brand activations, and structural packaging concepts.
• Experience developing client pitch decks and presenting creative production solutions.
• In‑depth knowledge of structural packaging, dielines, printing techniques, substrates, materials, and manufacturing.
• Collaborative experience with Project Managers, Production, and Sales.
• Expert proficiency with Adobe Creative Cloud and advanced skills on Mac and Windows platforms.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, project leadership, and team management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with branded merchandise and promotional products.
• Proficiency in motion graphics or digital design.
• Knowledge of AI‑assisted creative workflows.
• Background in photography, art direction, or 3D visualization.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

This role operates in a professional office environment using standard equipment such as computers, phones, and photocopiers. Physical demands include speaking, hearing, standing, sitting, walking, using hands and fingers, lifting up to 20 lb, and occasional stooping or kneeling. Vision requirements include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to focus.

Policy & Compliance

Alcohol and drug‑free workplace. Background checks and drug screenings are required. A drug‑free policy does not restrict lawful off‑duty marijuana use.

EEO: Premier Press provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind, regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.