📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Creative Director, Marketing / Advertising
🔹 Company: Visa
🔹 Location: San Francisco, California, United States
🔹 Job Type: Full-time, Hybrid
🔹 Category: Marketing & Advertising
🔹 Date Posted: May 16, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site with hybrid flexibility
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Leading creative teams to develop integrated campaigns across various platforms
- Overseeing copy and art direction to ensure high-quality visual assets
- Managing bandwidth and resources to deliver day-to-day work and high-profile campaigns
- Creating engaging content for multiple platforms, prioritizing short-form video
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to support Visa’s core brand and sponsorships
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong background in either copy writing or art direction, with a proven track record of delivering high-visibility campaign work. The ideal candidate will have experience leading creative teams and mentoring junior team members.
📋 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 and resources to successfully deliver day-to-day work alongside high-profile campaigns
✅ Develop highly engaging content for multiple platforms, leveraging brand style guidelines and client style guides
✅ Collaborate with cross-functional teams including client marketing, product marketing, sponsorship, and deals
✅ Ensure creative output is efficient, scalable, and on-brief and on-brand
✅ 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 involves a mix of strategic thinking, creative execution, and team leadership. The ideal candidate will be comfortable working on both bread-and-butter content and high-profile campaign work.
🎯 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 lead creative teams
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Experience leading creative teams or large bodies of work across cross-functional teams
- Familiarity with brand style guidelines and client style guides
Preferred Skills:
- 12+ years of work experience with a Bachelor's Degree or 8-10 years of experience with an Advanced Degree
- An awesome portfolio showcasing impact on high-visibility campaign work
- Strong people management and coaching skills to drive the continuous evolution of creative processes
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with a background in either copy writing or art direction, along with a strong portfolio and proven leadership skills, will be well-suited for this role.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $180,700 - $235,000 USD per year, which may include potential sales incentive payments (if applicable). Salary may vary depending on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location.
Benefits:
- Medical, Dental, Vision
- 401(k), FSA/HSA
- Life Insurance
- Paid Time Off
- Wellness Program
Working Hours: Varies upon the needs of the department. This position requires travel 5-10% of the time.
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for a creative director role with Visa. The actual salary may vary depending on the candidate's experience, skills, and other job-related factors.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: 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.
Company Size: Visa has 10,001+ employees globally, providing ample opportunities for collaboration and growth.
Founded: Visa was founded in 1958 and has since grown into a global payments technology company.
Company Description:
- Visa is a purpose-driven industry leader, committed to uplifting everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.
- The company offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), FSA/HSA, life insurance, paid time off, and wellness programs.
- Visa is an equal opportunity employer, considering applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status.
Company Specialties:
- Global payments technology
- Digital payments innovation
- Cross-border transactions
- Cybersecurity and fraud prevention
Company Website: Visa Careers
ASSUMPTION: Visa's large size and global presence offer candidates the opportunity to work on diverse projects and collaborate with teams across various regions and functions.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is at the senior level, requiring a high degree of expertise and leadership.
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:
- Potential to lead and mentor junior team members, driving the continuous evolution of creative processes
- Opportunity to work on high-visibility campaign work and contribute to Visa's core brand and sponsorships
- Possibility to collaborate with cross-functional teams and gain exposure to various aspects of the business
ASSUMPTION: This role offers growth opportunities through mentoring, exposure to high-profile campaigns, and collaboration with cross-functional teams.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Visa's offices are modern and collaborative spaces designed to foster innovation and creativity.
Office Location(s): 900 Metro Center Blvd, Foster City, California, US
Geographic Context:
- San Francisco is a vibrant, multicultural city known for its tech industry, diverse neighborhoods, and natural beauty.
- The office is located in Foster City, a suburban community with easy access to public transportation and nearby amenities.
- The San Francisco Bay Area offers a wide range of cultural attractions, outdoor activities, and culinary experiences.
Work Schedule: This is a full-time position with a hybrid work arrangement, requiring an on-site presence for a portion of the workweek.
ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement offers flexibility while still providing opportunities for in-person collaboration and networking.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Phone or video screen with a member of the HR team
- Creative brief presentation and portfolio review with the hiring manager and creative team
- Final interview with senior leadership
Key Assessment Areas:
- Portfolio and creative brief presentation
- Cultural fit and alignment with Visa's values
- Leadership and team management skills
- Problem-solving and strategic thinking
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your creative industry experience and relevant skills
- Prepare a strong portfolio showcasing your impact on high-visibility campaign work
- Research Visa's brand and recent campaigns to demonstrate your understanding of the company and its creative direction
ATS Keywords: Creative Director, Marketing, Advertising, Campaign Development, Social Media, Video Production, Team Leadership, Mentoring, Communication, Brand Strategy, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Content Creation, Project Management, Client Engagement, Diversity Advocacy
ASSUMPTION: The interview process will focus on assessing the candidate's creative portfolio, leadership skills, and cultural fit with Visa's values.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects)
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, JIRA)
- Social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok)
ASSUMPTION: Proficiency in industry-standard creative software and project management tools is essential for this role.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Customer-centric
- Inclusive
- Innovative
- Collaborative
- Integrity
Work Style:
- Creative and innovative
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Results-driven and accountable
- Adaptable and responsive to change
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you align with Visa's customer-centric approach, and how have you demonstrated this in your previous roles?
- How do you foster an inclusive environment, and what steps have you taken to ensure diverse perspectives are considered in your creative process?
- How do you balance creativity and innovation with accountability and results-driven outcomes?
ASSUMPTION: Visa values candidates who embody their core values and can thrive in a collaborative, innovative work environment.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing bandwidth and resources to deliver both day-to-day work and high-profile campaigns
- Balancing the need for creative innovation with adherence to brand guidelines and client expectations
- Adapting to a hybrid work arrangement and maintaining effective communication with remote team members
- Navigating Visa's large organization and building relationships with cross-functional teams
ASSUMPTION: These challenges can be overcome with strong project management skills, effective communication, and a proactive approach to building relationships within the organization.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Unlike traditional advertising agencies, Visa's in-house creative team offers the opportunity to work directly with the brand and its clients, providing a unique perspective on the creative process.
- Visa's global presence and diverse client base expose candidates to a wide range of projects and industries, fostering continuous learning and growth.
- Career progression in this role may involve moving into a senior leadership position, managing a larger team, or specializing in a specific area of creative direction.
ASSUMPTION: This role offers unique opportunities and challenges compared to traditional advertising agency or in-house creative team environments.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing a social media campaign for Visa's sponsorship of the FIFA World Cup, including short-form video content and influencer partnerships
- Creating a broadcast commercial for Visa's "Everywhere You Want to Be" brand campaign, highlighting the convenience and security of Visa payments
- Designing event activations for Visa's partnership with the NFL, including on-site branding, giveaways, and interactive experiences
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects demonstrate the range of creative opportunities available in this role, from social media content to broadcast commercials and event activations.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does this role fit into Visa's overall creative strategy, and what are the priorities for the first 90 days?
- What is the team structure, and how does this role collaborate with other creative directors and cross-functional teams?
- How does Visa support the professional development and growth of its creative team members?
- What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this role, and how will success be measured?
- How does Visa foster a culture of innovation and creativity, and what resources are available to support this?
ASSUMPTION: These questions will help candidates better understand the role's context, expectations, and opportunities for growth within Visa's creative team.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your creative industry experience and relevant skills
- Prepare a strong portfolio showcasing your impact on high-visibility campaign work
- Research Visa's brand and recent campaigns to demonstrate your understanding of the company and its creative direction
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your interest and reiterate your qualifications
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
