- Job Title: Art Director, Creative Studio, Amazon Ads
- Company: Amazon
- Location: New York, New York, United States
- Job Type: Hybrid (50% on-site, 50% remote)
- Category: Creative & Design
- Date Posted: May 9, 2025
- Experience Level: 5-10 years
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Blending high-level conceptual direction with hands-on design execution
- Balancing creative leadership with project-level execution
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure consistent visual quality
- Championing design best practices and mentoring junior talent
*ASSUMPTION:* This role requires a strategic creative who can thrive in both thinking and making, with a strong design foundation and a sharp eye for detail.
📋 Key Responsibilities
- Art Direction (50%): Translate marketing strategies into strong, on-brand visual concepts; lead visual critiques; ensure consistent visual quality; act as a proxy for the Creative Director; champion design best practices and mentor junior talent.
- Hands-on Visual Design (50%): Design branded promotional graphics, presentations, digital layouts, and motion graphics; build and maintain scalable templates and design systems; fulfill high-priority design requests; animate directly within PowerPoint when needed; manage and prioritize design requests using tools like Workfront.
*ASSUMPTION:* This role requires a strong visual communicator with a keen eye for design, detail, and brand consistency, as well as a natural problem solver who can bring clarity and structure to complex creative asks.
🎯 Required Qualifications
- Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, Fine Arts, or a related field.
- Experience: 5-10 years of experience in art direction, with a focus on photo and video.
- Required Skills:
- Strong understanding of typography, layout, hierarchy, and visual storytelling
- Excellent communication, time management, and cross-functional collaboration skills
- Strategic thinking with a bias for action and ownership
- Comfortable navigating ambiguity and creating clarity through structure and design
- Demonstrated ability to scale systems, enforce brand governance, and optimize creative workflows
- Preferred Skills:
- Experience with animation software (e.g., After Effects, Motion)
- Familiarity with project management tools (e.g., Workfront, Asana)
*ASSUMPTION:* Candidates should have a solid understanding of design principles and experience in art directing for photo and video. Strong communication and collaboration skills are essential, along with the ability to navigate ambiguity and optimize creative workflows.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
- Salary Range: $120,000 - $160,000 per year (based on industry standards for a mid-level Art Director role in New York)
- Benefits:
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
- Retirement savings plan with company match
- Generous paid time off and parental leave
- Employee discounts and more
- Working Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week, with flexible hours and work-from-home options.
*ASSUMPTION:* The salary range is estimated based on industry standards for a mid-level Art Director role in New York, with experience ranging from 5 to 10 years.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
- Industry: E-commerce and technology
- Company Size: 10,001+ employees (Enterprise)
- Founded: 1994 (as an online bookstore)
- Company Description: Amazon is a multinational technology company that focuses on e-commerce, cloud computing, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence. It is guided by four principles: customer obsession, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking.
- Company Specialties: E-commerce, Retail, Operations, and Internet
📊 Role Analysis
- Career Level: Mid-level to senior
- Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Creative Director of the Creative Studio.
- Work Arrangement: Hybrid (50% on-site, 50% remote)
- Growth Opportunities: Potential career progression into senior roles, such as Senior Art Director or Creative Manager, as well as opportunities to work on diverse projects across various brands within Amazon Ads.
*ASSUMPTION:* This role offers growth opportunities within the Creative Studio and Amazon Ads, as well as potential career progression into senior roles.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
- Office Type: Hybrid (50% on-site, 50% remote)
- Office Location(s): New York, NY
- Geographic Context: New York City offers a vibrant cultural scene, diverse neighborhoods, and a thriving job market. The office is located in the heart of Manhattan, providing easy access to public transportation and various amenities.
- Work Schedule: Flexible hours with a focus on results and productivity.
*ASSUMPTION:* Working in a hybrid environment allows for a balance between on-site collaboration and remote work, providing flexibility and a better work-life balance.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
- Typical Process: Online application review → Phone or video screen → Portfolio review → In-person or virtual interview → Final decision
- Key Assessment Areas: Design skills, creative problem-solving, communication, collaboration, and cultural fit
- Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight relevant skills and experiences for this role
- Prepare examples of your work that demonstrate your ability to balance creative leadership with hands-on design execution
- Research Amazon's company culture and be ready to discuss how your values align with theirs
*ASSUMPTION:* The interview process will focus on assessing your design skills, creative problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit within the Amazon Ads team.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects)
- Microsoft Office Suite (PowerPoint)
- Project management tools (e.g., Workfront, Asana)
- Collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams)
*ASSUMPTION:* Familiarity with these tools and technologies is preferred, but not required. Training and support will be provided as needed.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
- Company Values: Customer obsession, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking
- Work Style: Collaborative, innovative, and customer-centric
- Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you embody Amazon's leadership principles in your daily work?
- Can you provide an example of a time when you had to balance creative leadership with hands-on design execution?
- How do you approach mentoring and developing junior talent?
*ASSUMPTION:* Candidates should be able to demonstrate a strong alignment with Amazon's company values and a collaborative work style that prioritizes customer obsession and innovation.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Balancing creative leadership with hands-on design execution
- Managing multiple concurrent projects and prioritizing design requests
- Ensuring consistent visual quality across all deliverables while working with cross-functional teams
*ASSUMPTION:* These challenges can be overcome by effective time management, clear communication, and a strong understanding of design principles and brand guidelines.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Art Director vs. Creative Director: While both roles require strong design skills and creative leadership, the Art Director role focuses more on hands-on design execution and mentoring junior talent, while the Creative Director role focuses on strategic direction and overseeing the creative process.
- Industry-specific context: The Art Director role in Amazon Ads focuses on creating high-quality design assets for digital, motion, and presentation platforms, with a strong emphasis on customer obsession and brand integrity.
- Career path comparison: The Art Director role can serve as a stepping stone to senior roles, such as Senior Art Director or Creative Manager, or as a path to specialize in a specific area of design within the Creative Studio.
*ASSUMPTION:* This role offers a unique blend of creative leadership and hands-on design execution, providing an opportunity to grow both strategically and technically within the Creative Studio and Amazon Ads.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing a comprehensive design system for a new brand launch, including logo, color palette, typography, and imagery guidelines
- Creating a series of engaging motion graphics to accompany a product launch presentation
- Designing a set of branded promotional graphics for a marketing campaign, including social media assets, email templates, and print materials
*ASSUMPTION:* These sample projects demonstrate the range of responsibilities and the balance between creative leadership and hands-on design execution required for this role.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the team structure and how this role fits into the broader organization?
- How does Amazon Ads support and collaborate with other teams within the company?
- What are the most important priorities for this role in the first 30, 60, and 90 days?
- How does Amazon Ads approach mentoring and developing junior talent?
- What are the biggest challenges facing the Creative Studio team, and how can this role help address them?
*ASSUMPTION:* These questions will help you better understand the team structure, priorities, and growth opportunities within the Creative Studio and Amazon Ads.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through [this link](https://www.amazon.jobs/en/jobs/2978577)
- Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight relevant skills and experiences for this role
- Prepare examples of your work that demonstrate your ability to balance creative leadership with hands-on design execution
- Research Amazon's company culture and be ready to discuss how your values align with theirs
- Follow up with the hiring manager within one week of submitting your application to express your interest in the role
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
