Creative Director, Marketing / Advertising

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Creative Director, Marketing / Advertising

🔹 Company: Visa

🔹 Location: San Francisco, California, United States

🔹 Job Type: Full-time

🔹 Category: Marketing / Advertising

🔹 Date Posted: 2025-07-29

🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years

🔹 Remote Status: Hybrid (5-10% travel required)

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Leading teams to create integrated campaigns across digital display, social media, event activations, and video
• Overseeing copy and art direction to ensure high-quality visual assets
• Managing project bandwidth and supporting Visa's core brand, sponsorships, and partner advertising content
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams and mentoring junior creatives

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong background in creative direction, with a focus on either copywriting or art direction. Experience leading teams and managing projects is crucial for success in this position.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Lead teams to create integrated campaigns including digital display, social media, event activations, and video

✅ Oversee copy and art direction to ensure high-quality visual assets

✅ Manage bandwidth in partnership with operations to successfully deliver day-to-day work alongside high-profile campaigns

✅ Develop highly engaging content for multiple platforms, prioritizing short-form video

✅ Leverage brand style guidelines and client style guides in unique ways to make original, engaging content while ensuring creative work is on-brief and on-brand

✅ Collaborate with cross-functional teams including client marketing, product marketing, sponsorship, and deals

✅ Ensure creative output is efficient and scalable

✅ Support Visa's core brand and sponsorships, as well as partner advertising content for clients

✅ Work closely with strategists, copywriters, designers, and other creative directors to lead ideation and execution of pitches and creative campaigns

✅ Mentor, coach, and inspire junior creative team members, senior creative team members, and everyone in between

✅ Be a vocal and visible advocate for your diverse team, taking actions to ensure everyone is included and represented

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong understanding of the creative process, from ideation to execution, and the ability to lead and mentor team members throughout this process.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience

Experience: 10+ years of relevant professional experience in the creative industry

Required Skills:

• Proven ability to dream up original concepts and turn ideas into beautiful, impactful, and exciting stories and images
• Strong people management and coaching skills to drive the continuous evolution of creative processes
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience leading creative teams or large bodies of work across cross-functional teams

Preferred Skills:

• 12+ years of relevant professional experience in the creative industry
• An impressive portfolio showcasing high-visibility campaign work
• Background as a CD Copy Writer and/or Design / Art Direction

ASSUMPTION: Candidates with a strong portfolio demonstrating their ability to create thumb-stopping content for high-visibility campaigns will be highly competitive for this role.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $180,700 - $235,000 USD per year (including potential sales incentive payments)

Benefits:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• 401(k)
• FSA/HSA
• Life Insurance
• Paid Time Off
• Wellness Program

Working Hours: Varies upon the needs of the department

ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on the job description and industry standards for similar roles. The actual salary may vary depending on factors such as knowledge, skills, experience, and location.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Visa is a global leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories.

Company Size: Visa has over 28,500 employees worldwide, providing ample opportunities for growth and collaboration.

Founded: Visa was founded in 1958 and has since grown into a publicly-traded company with a strong global presence.

Company Description:

• Visa is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories.
• The company's mission is to uplift everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.
• Visa offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, 401(k), FSA/HSA, life insurance, paid time off, and wellness programs.

Company Specialties:

• Global payments technology company

Company Website: Visa Careers

ASSUMPTION: Visa's global presence and leadership in the digital payments industry provide a stable and innovative work environment for employees.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: This role is at the senior management level, requiring extensive experience and strong leadership skills.

Reporting Structure: This position reports to the Senior Creative Director within the North America Marketing org and works in close collaboration with the creative operations team.

Work Arrangement: This is a hybrid position, with an expectation of days in the office confirmed by the hiring manager.

Growth Opportunities:

• Visa's large employee base and global presence offer ample opportunities for career growth and development.
• The company's focus on innovation and digital payments provides a dynamic work environment for employees.
• Visa's comprehensive benefits package supports employee well-being and work-life balance.

ASSUMPTION: The growth opportunities at Visa are significant, given the company's size, global presence, and focus on innovation in the digital payments industry.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Visa's headquarters are located in Foster City, California, with additional offices in San Francisco, Austin, Miami, and other global locations.

Office Location(s): 900 Metro Center Blvd, Foster City, California, US

Geographic Context:

• San Francisco is a major tech hub with a vibrant culture and diverse population.
• The Bay Area offers a wide range of recreational activities, cultural attractions, and culinary experiences.
• The cost of living in the Bay Area is high, but Visa's competitive compensation package helps offset these costs.

Work Schedule: The working hours for this position vary upon the needs of the department.

ASSUMPTION: The Bay Area's vibrant tech industry and diverse cultural scene provide an exciting work environment for employees, while Visa's competitive compensation package helps offset the high cost of living in the region.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application submission
• Phone or video screen with a recruiter
• Creative challenge or presentation
• Final interview with the hiring manager and/or other team members

Key Assessment Areas:

• Creativity and originality in campaign ideas
• Ability to lead and mentor team members
• Understanding of Visa's brand and marketing objectives
• Communication and presentation skills

Application Tips:

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role.
• Prepare a portfolio showcasing your high-visibility campaign work and include it with your application or prominently display your website URL in your resume.
• Research Visa's brand and marketing objectives to demonstrate your understanding of the company's mission and values.

ATS Keywords: Creative Direction, Campaign Development, Team Leadership, Mentoring, Marketing, Advertising, Digital Marketing, Social Media, Video Production, Brand Strategy, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Content Creation, Client Management, Visual Design, Project Management

ASSUMPTION: Visa's application process is designed to assess candidates' creative skills, leadership abilities, and understanding of the company's brand and marketing objectives.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, etc.)
• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
• Project management tools (e.g., Asana, JIRA, Trello)
• Social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok)

ASSUMPTION: The specific tools and technologies required for this role may vary depending on the projects and campaigns the creative director is working on.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Customer-centric
• Inclusive
• Innovative
• Collaborative
• Integrity

Work Style:

• Collaborative and team-oriented
• Fast-paced and dynamic
• Results-driven and focused on delivering high-quality work
• Adaptable and open to feedback

Self-Assessment Questions:

• Do you thrive in a collaborative, team-oriented environment?
• Are you comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic setting?
• Do you have a strong work ethic and a commitment to delivering high-quality results?
• Are you open to feedback and willing to adapt your approach as needed?

ASSUMPTION: Visa values employees who are customer-centric, inclusive, innovative, collaborative, and integrity-driven. Candidates who can demonstrate these values and thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced, and results-driven environment will be well-suited to this role.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Managing a large volume of work and multiple projects simultaneously
• Balancing the need for creative innovation with the constraints of brand guidelines and client expectations
• Working with a diverse range of stakeholders, including internal teams, clients, and partners
• Keeping up with the latest trends and best practices in digital marketing and advertising

ASSUMPTION: The creative director must be able to manage their workload effectively, balance creativity with practical constraints, and navigate a complex and dynamic work environment to succeed in this role.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• This role is unique in its focus on leading the in-house creative team for one of the world's most recognizable brands and its clients.
• Compared to agency or freelance creative director roles, this position offers greater stability and the opportunity to work on a wide range of projects for Visa's diverse client base.
• Career progression in this role may involve moving into a more senior leadership position within Visa's marketing organization or transitioning into a client-facing role as a marketing or advertising consultant.

ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique opportunity to work on high-visibility campaigns for one of the world's most recognizable brands and its clients, with potential for career growth and development within Visa's marketing organization.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing a social media campaign to promote Visa's sponsorship of the FIFA World Cup, including short-form video content and interactive elements
• Creating a broadcast commercial for Visa's "Everywhere You Want to Be" campaign, showcasing the brand's global presence and commitment to innovation
• Designing a direct response marketing campaign for a Visa client, targeted at small business owners and focused on driving conversions and acquisitions

ASSUMPTION: These sample projects demonstrate the range of creative challenges and opportunities available to the creative director in this role, from social media campaigns to broadcast commercials and direct response marketing.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• Can you describe the creative team's structure and how this role fits within it?
• How does the creative team collaborate with other departments, such as marketing, product, and sponsorship?
• What are the key priorities for this role in the first 30, 60, and 90 days?
• How does Visa support the professional development and growth of its creative team members?
• What is the company's approach to work-life balance and employee well-being?

ASSUMPTION: These questions are designed to help candidates better understand the role's structure, priorities, and growth opportunities, as well as Visa's approach to employee development and work-life balance.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role.
• Prepare a portfolio showcasing your high-visibility campaign work and include it with your application or prominently display your website URL in your resume.
• Research Visa's brand and marketing objectives to demonstrate your understanding of the company's mission and values.
• Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your interest and reiterate your qualifications for the role.

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.