📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Creative Director
🔹 Company: McAfee
🔹 Location: San Jose, CA or Frisco, TX (Hybrid)
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time
🔹 Category: Marketing & Creative
🔹 Date Posted: July 1, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: Hybrid (1-6 days on-site per month)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Leading McAfee’s visual identity and brand design
- Developing award-winning creative campaigns for marketing efforts
- Building and managing a diverse design team
- Collaborating with internal teams and agency partners
- Implementing AI and efficiency tools to drive productivity
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong blend of creative vision, strategic thinking, and team leadership skills. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in leading creative campaigns and managing design teams in a global business context.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Own McAfee’s visual identity and ensure a cohesive design framework across all touchpoints
✅ Develop 360° marketing campaigns, including upper funnel, mid funnel, and lower funnel video and digital content
✅ Build, nurture, and manage a diverse design team, including graphic designers, production artists, motion designers, and video producers
✅ Act as a brand steward, ensuring McAfee’s design identity is properly understood and implemented across the organization and partner ecosystem
✅ Balance a design-led point of view with the flexibility to deliver against stakeholder needs and priorities
ASSUMPTION: The role requires a high degree of creativity, adaptability, and stakeholder management skills to balance design vision with business needs.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, Fine Arts, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
Experience: 10+ years leading powerful creative campaigns and design teams
Required Skills:
- Proven experience in creative strategy, creative direction, concept development, and campaign execution across upper, mid, and lower funnel campaigns
- Ability to direct photography and video shoots, with prior on-site and post-production experience
- Growth mindset and eagerness to embrace new tools and platforms
- Strong collaboration skills and experience working effectively across multiple teams and disciplines
- Experience within scaled, cross-channel, global businesses
Preferred Skills:
- Experience working on/with digital products and services
- Fluency in design software (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch, Figma)
- Knowledge of brand marketing and consumer-first marketing strategies
ASSUMPTION: While a degree in design or a related field is preferred, equivalent experience and a strong portfolio will also be considered.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $150,000 - $180,000 per year (based on experience and location)
Benefits:
- Bonus program
- 401k retirement plan
- Medical, dental, vision, basic life, short-term disability, and long-term disability coverage
- Paid parental leave
- Support for community involvement
- 14 paid company holidays
- Unlimited paid time off for exempt employees
- 96 hours of sick time and 120 hours of vacation for non-exempt employees accrued each year
Working Hours: Full-time, with an average of 1-6 days on-site per month
ASSUMPTION: The salary range is based on market research for similar roles in the tech industry, considering the required experience level and location. Final salary determinations will be made based on the individual's skillset and location.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: McAfee is a leader in personal security for consumers, focused on protecting people, not just devices, in an always-online world.
Company Size: McAfee has 5,001-10,000 employees globally, providing a large-scale work environment with ample opportunities for growth and collaboration.
Founded: McAfee was founded in 1987 and has since grown into a global leader in cybersecurity, with a rich history of innovation and customer focus.
Company Description:
- McAfee offers integrated, intuitive solutions that protect families and communities with the right security at the right moment.
- The company is committed to embracing diversity and inclusion, encouraging employees to bring their authentic selves to work every day.
- McAfee prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.
Company Specialties:
- Consumer security software
- Brand marketing
- Creative services
- Global marketing campaigns
Company Website: McAfee
ASSUMPTION: McAfee's focus on consumer security and commitment to diversity and inclusion make it an attractive employer for creative professionals seeking to make an impact in the tech industry.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is a senior-level position, requiring extensive experience in creative direction and team leadership.
Reporting Structure: The Creative Director reports directly to the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and oversees the Brand Design and Creative Services team.
Work Arrangement: This is a hybrid role, requiring employees to be on-site 1-6 days per month, with the rest of the work being done remotely.
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to expand the creative services team and scope of work
- Opportunities to collaborate with internal teams and external partners on global marketing campaigns
- Possibility to grow into a more senior leadership role within the marketing organization
ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement offers a good balance between on-site collaboration and remote flexibility, allowing for better work-life integration.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: McAfee's offices are modern, collaborative spaces designed to foster creativity and innovation.
Office Location(s): San Jose, CA or Frisco, TX
Geographic Context:
- San Jose, CA: Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, San Jose offers a vibrant tech industry, diverse culture, and mild Mediterranean climate.
- Frisco, TX: A rapidly growing city in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, Frisco offers a lower cost of living, excellent schools, and a family-friendly atmosphere.
Work Schedule: Full-time, with an average of 1-6 days on-site per month
ASSUMPTION: Both San Jose and Frisco offer attractive work environments with unique benefits, allowing employees to choose the location that best fits their personal and professional needs.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission
- Phone or video screen with the Talent Acquisition Partner
- Creative challenge or portfolio review
- On-site or virtual interview with the hiring manager and creative team members
- Final interview with the CMO
Key Assessment Areas:
- Creative vision and strategic thinking
- Portfolio and case study presentations
- Team leadership and management skills
- Adaptability and problem-solving skills
- Cultural fit and alignment with McAfee's values
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare a strong cover letter explaining your interest in the role and how your background makes you a good fit
- Be ready to present your creative vision and strategic approach to marketing campaigns during the interview
- Research McAfee's brand and values to demonstrate your understanding of the company and its mission
ATS Keywords: Creative Director, Brand Design, Creative Services, Marketing Campaigns, Team Leadership, Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch, Figma, Global Marketing, Consumer Security
ASSUMPTION: The interview process will focus on assessing the candidate's creative vision, strategic thinking, and team leadership skills, as well as their cultural fit with McAfee's values.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects)
- Sketch or Figma
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Jira, Trello)
- Video editing software (e.g., Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro)
ASSUMPTION: Familiarity with industry-standard design and project management tools is expected, and candidates should be open to learning and adopting new tools as needed.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Customer-centric
- Innovative
- Collaborative
- Accountable
- Inclusive
Work Style:
- Creative and strategic thinking
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Adaptable and responsive to change
- Results-driven and accountable
- Committed to continuous learning and improvement
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you have a proven track record of driving creative campaigns and managing design teams in a global business context?
- Are you comfortable working in a hybrid environment, balancing on-site collaboration and remote work?
- Do you share McAfee's commitment to diversity, inclusion, and customer-centricity?
ASSUMPTION: Candidates who align with McAfee's values and work style are more likely to thrive in this role and contribute to the company's success.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing a diverse team with varying skillsets and work styles
- Balancing creative vision with stakeholder needs and business priorities
- Keeping up with the fast-paced and ever-evolving tech industry
- Adapting to a hybrid work environment and maintaining productivity
ASSUMPTION: The ideal candidate will be able to navigate these challenges effectively, leveraging their experience, creativity, and adaptability to drive success in this role.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Unlike other creative director roles, this position requires a strong focus on consumer security and brand marketing for a global tech company
- McAfee's size and global presence offer unique opportunities for growth and collaboration not found in smaller organizations
- This role offers a blend of creative vision, strategic thinking, and team leadership, making it an attractive fit for experienced professionals looking to advance their careers in the tech industry
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should consider the unique aspects of this role and how it aligns with their career goals and personal preferences.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing a comprehensive brand design framework and style guide for a global tech company
- Creating a 360° marketing campaign for a new product launch, including video, digital, and social media content
- Managing a team of designers and video producers to create a series of animated explainer videos for a consumer security product
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the range of responsibilities and challenges the creative director may face in this role, requiring a strong blend of creative vision, strategic thinking, and team leadership skills.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the current state of McAfee's brand and how this role will contribute to its evolution?
- How does the creative team collaborate with other departments, such as product, marketing, and sales?
- What are the biggest challenges facing the creative team, and how can this role help address them?
- How does McAfee support the growth and development of its creative team members?
- What is the company's approach to work-life balance, and how does this role fit into that philosophy?
ASSUMPTION: Asking thoughtful questions demonstrates the candidate's interest in the role and provides valuable insights into the company's culture and work environment.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare a strong cover letter explaining your interest in the role and how your background makes you a good fit
- Be ready to present your creative vision and strategic approach to marketing campaigns during the interview
- Follow up with the Talent Acquisition Partner one week after submitting your application to confirm receipt and inquire about next steps
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
