Director, Creative - TCG

Fanatics

Seattle (WA)

On-site

USD 174,000 - 216,000

Full time

14 days+

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Job summary

Fanatics TCG is seeking a visionary Creative Director to define the visual identity of our trading card game franchises. You will guide art direction, collaborate with game design and narrative leads, and own the creative ambition across multiple IPs from concept through production.

Based in Seattle, you’ll work onsite five days a week with a team of artists and external studios. This role demands a strong portfolio, leadership, and the ability to ship high‑quality creative work in games or

Qualifications

10+ years in creative direction or senior leadership in games/entertainment.
Track record shipping creative products, incl. TCGs or tabletop.
Deep knowledge of TCG/Collectibles and world-building impact.
Experience leading cross-disciplinary creative teams.
Portfolio showing varied high‑quality visual work.
Experience with external studios and global art vendors.
Familiar with production pipelines and asset delivery.

Responsibilities

Own and drive the overarching creative vision for Fanatics TCG IPs.
Serve as primary creative stakeholder across art pipelines with final say.
Establish visual identity and world-building frameworks for IPs.
Present strategy and rationale to stakeholders and executives.
Collaborate with Game Design and Narrative leads to align gameplay and visuals.
Build and maintain relationships with freelancers and partners.
Stay current on trends in collectibles, tabletop, and pop culture.

Skills

Exceptional visual taste

Communication & storytelling

Strategic thinking

Decision making under ambiguity

Proficiency with creative tools

Multistream project management

Job description

About Us

Fanatics is building a leading global digital sports platform. We ignite the passions of global sports fans and maximize the presence and reach for our hundreds of sports partners globally by offering products and services across Fanatics Commerce, Fanatics Collectibles, and Fanatics Betting & Gaming, allowing sports fans to Buy, Collect, and Bet. Through the Fanatics platform, sports fans can buy licensed fan gear, jerseys, lifestyle and streetwear products, headwear, and hardgoods; collect physical and digital trading cards, sports memorabilia, and other digital assets; and bet as the company builds its Sportsbook and iGaming platform. Fanatics has an established database of over 100 million global sports fans; a global partner network with approximately 900 sports properties, including major national and international professional sports leagues, players associations, teams, colleges, college conferences and retail partners, 2,500 athletes and celebrities, and 200 exclusive athletes; and over 2,000 retail locations, including its Lids retail stores. Our more than 22,000 employees are committed to relentlessly enhancing the fan experience and delighting sports fans globally.

About The Company

Fanatics Collectibles is a new company operating at the intersection of collectibles, culture, and technology. Backed by world-class investors, operators, and sports & entertainment partners, we are building the global leader in next-generation collectibles. As part of the broader Fanatics ecosystem, we leverage a digital sports platform that spans over 900 sports properties and engages more than 81 million fans. Together, we are reimagining every part of the collectibles experience for fans, partners, and creators.

About The Team

Fanatics TCG is a new Seattle-based trading card game studio within the Fanatics Collectibles family, founded by industry veterans with a long-term mandate: to build enduring franchises that live across tabletop, digital, community, and culture. We’re looking for the most skilled and passionate talent in the games industry and beyond to help us create the best trading card games in the world.

Who We’re Looking For

We’re seeking a visionary Creative Director reporting to the SVP of TCGs to define the visual and creative identity of our trading card game franchises. You have an extraordinary eye and deep roots in art and visual culture, and you thrive at the intersection of world-building, visual design, and player experience. You know what will make a trading card iconic, what makes a universe feel alive, and you bring that perspective to every decision you make.

Responsibilities

Own and drive the overarching creative vision for Fanatics TCG’s game franchises, ensuring consistency and quality across all visual and narrative touchpoints
While you won’t be directly managing a team, you’ll serve as the primary creative stakeholder across all art pipelines — from initial concept and illustration briefs through final production-ready assets — with final say on quality, direction, and delivery at every stage
Establish and evolve the visual identity, art direction, and world-building frameworks for new and existing TCG IP
Represent the creative vision with internal stakeholders and executive leadership, communicating strategy and rationale with clarity and conviction
Partner with Game Design and Narrative leads to ensure creative output is deeply integrated with gameplay mechanics and player experience
Build and maintain relationships with a global network of freelance illustrators and creative partners
Stay deeply attuned to trends in the Collectibles space, tabletop gaming, pop culture, and visual arts to keep our brands culturally relevant and fresh

Qualifications & Experience

10+ years of experience in creative direction, art direction, or a senior creative leadership role within games, entertainment, or a related industry
Demonstrated track record of building and shipping creative products—ideally including trading card games, collectibles, or tabletop games—from concept to market
Deep knowledge of and genuine passion for the TCG or Collectibles genre, including an understanding of what makes art and world-building emotionally resonate with players
Experience working with creative teams across disciplines, including concept artists, illustrators, graphic designers, and art producers
Portfolio that demonstrates exceptional aesthetic range, world-building sophistication, and a high bar for visual quality
Experience working with external studios, freelancers, and global art vendor networks
Familiarity with digital and physical product production pipelines, including print specifications and digital asset delivery

Skills & Abilities

Exceptional visual taste with the ability to give precise, constructive, and inspiring creative direction
Strong communication and storytelling skills—able to articulate a creative vision compellingly to artists, designers, executives, and players alike
Strategic thinking: able to balance long-term franchise vision with short-term product realities
Comfort with ambiguity and the ability to make confident decisions in a fast-moving, early-stage studio environment
Proficiency with industry-standard creative tools (Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, etc.) and familiarity with project management platforms
Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple creative workstreams simultaneously without losing attention to detail

Location

All employees of Fanatics TCG are expected to be onsite in our Seattle office five days per week.

Seattle Salary Range

$173,650 - $216,200 USD

The salary range represents base pay only and does not include short-term or long-term incentive compensation. This salary range is specific to Seattle and may not be applicable to other locations. When determining base pay, as part of a final compensation package, we consider several factors such as location, experience, qualifications, and training. For information about our benefits, please visit https://benefitsatfanatics.com/

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