📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Creative Director, Design
🔹 Company: Realtor.com Careers
🔹 Location: Austin, Texas, United States
🔹 Job Type: Full-time, Hybrid
🔹 Category: Design
🔹 Date Posted: April 10, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site (with hybrid options)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Leading visual storytelling and campaign development for Realtor.com
- Ensuring creative excellence and business performance
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to bring ideas to life
- Mentoring and growing a team of designers and art directors
- Building a resilient, collaborative, and optimistic creative culture
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of creativity, leadership, and strategic thinking to drive the visual identity of a national brand.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Lead campaign development and content creation that stops people in their scrolls (and their tracks)
✅ Champion ideas that deliver both creative excellence and business performance
✅ Shape briefs, guide production, and ensure consistent visual language across all touchpoints
✅ Elevate agency and in-house creative with clear feedback and high standards
✅ Mentor and grow designers and art directors with care and ambition
✅ Cast talent to briefs that match their strengths and challenge their potential
✅ Jump in when needed—whether directing a shoot or sharpening a deck
✅ Help build a resilient, collaborative, and optimistic creative culture
✅ Be the visual steward of a national brand in the middle of a bold evolution
✅ Partner with GSD&M and creative collaborators to push the work forward
✅ Balance short-term scrappiness with long-term storytelling
✅ Embrace the spirit of Austin creativity—open, brave, community-minded
✅ Foster connection and shared standards across a hybrid, mostly remote team
✅ Push for ideas that surprise, delight, and drive impact
✅ Keep the bar high and the energy higher
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong understanding of design principles, art direction, typography, photography, and visual identity.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
Experience: 10+ years of experience at agencies and in-house creative teams building standout work, with 5+ years of leadership and team management
Required Skills:
- Mastery of design, art direction, typography, photography, and visual identity
- Clear creative taste, strong point of view, and a passion for mentorship
- Track record of delivering work that earns attention and drives results
Preferred Skills:
- Editorial design experience
- Proficiency in After Effects, Premiere, or Final Cut
- Figma expertise
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with experience in both agency and in-house creative teams will be highly competitive for this role.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $150,000 - $180,000 (based on experience and industry standards for a Creative Director role in Austin, TX)
Benefits:
- Competitive benefits package
- 401(k) plan with company match
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- Flexible time off
- Employee discounts on real estate services
Working Hours: Full-time, typically 40 hours per week, with flexible hours and remote work options available
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for a Creative Director role in Austin, TX. Actual compensation may vary based on experience and qualifications.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Realtor.com operates in the real estate technology industry, with a focus on providing a comprehensive source of for-sale properties and empowering users to navigate the home buying and selling process.
Company Size: Realtor.com has 1,001-5,000 employees, providing a large and diverse work environment with ample opportunities for growth and collaboration.
Founded: Realtor.com was founded in 1996 and has since grown to become the trusted resource for home buyers, sellers, and dreamers.
Company Description:
- Realtor.com is the trusted resource for home buyers, sellers, and dreamers, offering the most comprehensive source of for-sale properties among competing national sites
- The platform provides the information, tools, and professional expertise to help people meet their home goals
- Realtor.com is operated by News Corp subsidiary Move, Inc. under a perpetual license from the National Association of REALTORS®
Company Specialties:
- Real estate technology
- Property listings
- Home buying and selling resources
- Consumer engagement
Company Website: http://careers.realtor.com
ASSUMPTION: Realtor.com's extensive experience and market position make it an attractive employer for creative professionals seeking to make an impact in the real estate industry.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is at the senior management level, reporting directly to the VP of Brand & Creative.
Reporting Structure: The Creative Director, Design will lead a team of designers and art directors, collaborating with cross-functional teams to bring ideas to life.
Work Arrangement: This is a hybrid role, with a mix of on-site and remote work. The position is based in Austin, TX, with the option to work remotely up to 2 days per week.
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to grow into a VP or Executive Creative Director role as the brand continues to evolve
- Opportunities to work on high-profile campaigns and projects
- Chance to mentor and develop junior team members, fostering career growth within the organization
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential for the right candidate, with opportunities to shape the visual identity of a national brand and mentor a team of creative professionals.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Realtor.com's headquarters is located in the heart of downtown Austin, TX, providing a vibrant and energetic work environment.
Office Location(s): 901 E 6th St, Austin, Texas 78702, US
Geographic Context:
- Austin, TX is a thriving city with a strong creative scene, offering a high quality of life and numerous cultural attractions
- The city is home to a diverse range of industries, including technology, healthcare, and education
- Austin's central location in the United States makes it an ideal hub for a national brand like Realtor.com
Work Schedule: The work schedule is typically Monday through Friday, with flexible hours and remote work options available.
ASSUMPTION: Realtor.com's downtown Austin location provides a dynamic and engaging work environment, with easy access to public transportation, dining, and entertainment options.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Phone or video screen with a member of the HR team
- Creative brief presentation and portfolio review with the VP of Brand & Creative and Creative Director, Copy
- Final on-site or video interview with the VP of Brand & Creative, Creative Director, Copy, and other key stakeholders
Key Assessment Areas:
- Creative portfolio and presentation skills
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities
- Leadership and team management skills
- Cultural fit and alignment with Realtor.com's values and mission
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight your experience and skills relevant to this role
- Prepare a creative brief presentation that showcases your ability to lead campaign development and content creation
- Be ready to discuss your design process, inspiration, and how you approach creative challenges
- Research Realtor.com's brand and recent campaigns to demonstrate your understanding of the company and its creative direction
ATS Keywords: Creative Director, Design, Art Direction, Campaign Development, Content Creation, Brand Strategy, Integrated Marketing, Leadership, Mentorship, Austin, Texas
ASSUMPTION: Realtor.com's interview process is designed to assess candidates' creative skills, strategic thinking, and cultural fit, with a focus on finding the best fit for the team and the brand.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
- Figma
- After Effects, Premiere, or Final Cut
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, JIRA, Trello)
ASSUMPTION: Proficiency in relevant design software and project management tools is essential for success in this role.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Customer-centric
- Innovative
- Collaborative
- Accountable
- Inclusive
Work Style:
- Creative and innovative
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Results-driven
- Adaptable and open to feedback
- Passionate about real estate and helping people find their way home
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you embody Realtor.com's values in your creative process?
- How do you approach collaboration and feedback in a hybrid work environment?
- How do you balance short-term scrappiness with long-term storytelling in your creative work?
ASSUMPTION: Realtor.com seeks candidates who align with its values and work style, with a strong commitment to customer-centric innovation and collaboration.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing a team in a hybrid work environment, balancing on-site and remote collaboration
- Navigating a large organization with diverse stakeholders and priorities
- Keeping up with the fast-paced nature of the real estate industry and consumer trends
- Balancing short-term campaign needs with long-term brand strategy
ASSUMPTION: These challenges can be overcome with strong leadership, communication, and adaptability, as well as a deep understanding of Realtor.com's brand and creative direction.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Creative Director, Design at Realtor.com vs. other national real estate brands: Realtor.com's unique position as the trusted resource for home buyers, sellers, and dreamers sets it apart from competitors, offering a broader range of creative opportunities and a stronger brand presence.
- Industry-specific context: The real estate industry is dynamic and ever-changing, with consumer preferences and market trends evolving rapidly. Creative professionals in this field must be adaptable and forward-thinking to stay ahead of the curve.
- Career path comparison: A Creative Director, Design role at Realtor.com can serve as a stepping stone to VP or Executive Creative Director positions, with opportunities to grow and develop within the organization.
ASSUMPTION: This role offers unique creative challenges and growth opportunities within the real estate industry, with a strong brand and a focus on innovation and customer-centric design.
📝 Sample Projects
- Reimagining Realtor.com's visual identity to reflect its bold new creative direction
- Developing a comprehensive brand style guide to ensure consistent visual language across all touchpoints
- Conceptualizing and executing high-profile national campaigns, such as Realtor.com's upcoming major launch
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects demonstrate the breadth and depth of creative opportunities available to the right candidate, with a focus on driving brand impact and business results.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does this role fit into the broader creative strategy for Realtor.com, and what are the key priorities for the first 90 days?
- What is the team structure and dynamic, and how does this role contribute to its success?
- How does Realtor.com support the growth and development of its creative team members?
- What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this role, and how will success be measured?
- How does Realtor.com balance short-term campaign needs with long-term brand strategy, and what is the role's responsibility in this process?
ASSUMPTION: These questions help candidates better understand the role's context, expectations, and opportunities for growth within the organization.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight your experience and skills relevant to this role, with a focus on campaign development, content creation, and leadership
- Prepare a creative brief presentation that showcases your ability to lead campaign development and content creation, demonstrating your understanding of Realtor.com's brand and creative direction
- Be ready to discuss your design process, inspiration, and how you approach creative challenges, with a focus on driving business performance and creative excellence
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application, inquiring about the status of your application and expressing your continued interest in the role
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
