Creative Director, Art and Design

Passport Brand Design; Costa Mesa (CA); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Competitive benefits

Job summary

Passport Brand Design, part of WPP, is seeking a forward-thinking Creative Director of Art & Design to lead a large team across packaging, print, OOH, and direct mail. You will drive conceptual vision within a structured, production-forward environment and champion craft anchored in strategic ideas.

The role supports tobacco industry accounts, requires travel, and offers a hybrid office model with four in-office days per week and a competitive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Proven Creative Director experience within an agency environment.
• Deep expertise and a strong portfolio in packaging design with experience across print, OOH, and direct mail.
• Track record of thriving in a structured, production-heavy environment with long-term schedules and workflows.
• Exceptional presentation skills to articulate context, rationale and case studies.
• Comfort with tobacco industry accounts and travel willingness.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary team of art directors, designers, and copywriters.
• Oversee conceptualization and execution of high-visibility packaging design, print, OOH, and direct mail.
• Navigate production-forward environments with long timelines and annual calendars.
• Present compelling portfolio and case studies to leadership and stakeholders.
• Collaborate across locations to ensure seamless creative integration.

Skills

Creative leadership

Packaging design

Agency experience

Presentation skills

Tools

Print production

OOH design

Direct mail

Job description

Newport Beach, California, United States

Who We Are

With offices in Newport Beach, New York, Toronto and Montréal, Passport Brand Design, part of WPP, is rapidly putting itself on the map as a trusted brand partner. We’re passionate about offering creative leadership to global businesses seeking direction on high-level brand strategy, evergreen and seasonal campaigns, and creative executions across all touch points. Our holistic approach to brand identity begins by creating a strategic positioning and brand purpose, which is then translated into a core creative idea that has the power to align teams and guide a fully integrated marketing process. We are looking for people who love what they do, who want to stay inspired and inspire others, who want to do great work and work with great people.

About WPP

Passport is part ofWPP , the trusted growth partner for the world's leading brands. Powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform WPP Open, WPP unites cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, creativity, production, enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel.

Who We Are Looking For

Passport Brand Design, a VML company and part of the WPP network, is seeking a forward-thinking Creative Director of Art & Design to lead a talented, large-scale team of art directors and designers. As a globally respected premium brand agency, we rely on this senior leadership role to drive conceptual vision and execution across packaging, print, out-of-home (OOH), direct mail, and more.

We need a design leader who thrives in a highly structured, production-forward environment where annual calendars and long-term timelines are the foundation of success. You will act as a champion of craft, ensuring that every design is anchored in a strong, strategic idea. As part of the WPP network, Passport Brand Design is committed to a Human First approach. You will bring this to life by deeply investing in the growth of your team, helping them translate technological and creative capabilities into meaningful, high-impact outcomes.

Please note: This role primarily supports creative work within the tobacco industry. We share this upfront to ensure transparency and alignment with your personal preferences and comfort level.

What You'll Do

• Lead and Mentor: Manage, mentor, and empower a multidisciplinary team of art directors, designers, and copywriters, fostering a culture of creative excellence and continuous growth that strengthens the agency's production capabilities.
• Drive Conceptual Excellence: Oversee the conceptualization and execution of high-visibility packaging design, print, OOH, and direct mail — ensuring every deliverable is rooted in a strong strategic idea that delivers on client objectives.
• Navigate Structured Production: Lead seamlessly within a production-forward environment, managing long production timelines and annual calendars to ensure on-time, on-brief delivery across all accounts.
• Present with Purpose: Build and deliver compelling portfolio and case study presentations that clearly articulate creative rationale and strategic context to internal leadership and key stakeholders.
• Foster Collaboration: Travel periodically to collaborate directly with core stakeholders across locations, ensuring seamless creative integration and alignment on priorities.

Who You Are

• A strategic, curious problem-solver who can distill complex category rules into elegant, compelling design systems.
• An empathetic leader who builds trust, champions collaboration, and creates an inclusive space for creatives to do their best work.
• A bold idea-driver who is comfortable with ambiguity and has the conviction to push for exceptional, high-impact work, even within regulated spaces.

What You'll Need

• Proven Creative Director experience within an agency environment, with a demonstrated ability to orchestrate and manage creative workflows.
• Deep expertise and a strong portfolio in packaging design, supported by extensive experience across print, OOH, and direct mail.
• A track record of thriving in a structured, production-heavy environment with long-term schedules and established workflows.
• Exceptional presentation skills, with the ability to clearly articulate strategic context, craft rationale, and case studies to internal and external stakeholders.
• Comfort and willingness to work on tobacco industry accounts.
• Willingness and ability to accommodate occasional required travel.

The base salary range for this position at the time of this posting is indicated below. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package.

$100,000 - $230,000 USD

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

WPP (Passport Brand Design) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.