📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Creative Lead, Marketing
🔹 Company: Pocket Worlds
🔹 Location: Austin, TX
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time
🔹 Category: Marketing
🔹 Date Posted: July 9, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Driving creative direction for marketing at Pocket Worlds
- Ideating, testing, and launching high-volume creative concepts
- Conducting deep market and player research
- Leading and collaborating with creative teams
- Providing constructive feedback and fostering a culture of continuous improvement
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of creativity, strategic thinking, and leadership to drive marketing efforts and connect with millions of players.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Drive ideation through fast, high-signal concept sketching and creative sprints
✅ Conduct deep market and player research to inform creative direction
✅ Talk to users weekly to build insight into motivations, behaviors, and opportunities
✅ Generate high volumes of creative ideas on a weekly basis
✅ Translate ideas into briefs and collaborate with creative teammates to execute
✅ Provide clear, honest, and constructive feedback
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high degree of autonomy and requires strong self-management skills to balance multiple projects and deadlines.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, Marketing, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
Experience: 5-10 years of experience in creative direction, marketing, or a related field
Required Skills:
- High taste level and high standards across all creative outputs
- High cognitive empathy - able to model how different people experience the product, message, or moment
- High ability to simulate - thinks several steps ahead, visualizes outcomes, and chooses with intent
- Strong opinions, loosely held
- Comfortable with constructive conflict and fierce feedback
- Strong creative instincts, paired with rigor in process and feedback
- Experience leading or influencing creative teams
- Comfortable in ambiguity, resourceful, and relentlessly biased toward action
- Deep empathy for players, communities, and online culture
Preferred Skills:
- Motion/3D/interactive experience
- Experience with UGC, creator platforms, or games-as-communities
- Sharp copy instincts
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with experience in the gaming industry or a related field may have an advantage in understanding the target audience and market trends.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $120,000 - $160,000 per year (based on industry standards for a Marketing Creative Lead with 5-10 years of experience in Austin, TX)
Benefits:
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) plan with company match
- Unlimited PTO
- Flexible work hours
- Professional development opportunities
Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours/week), with flexible hours and the option to work remotely occasionally
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards and may vary depending on the candidate's experience and skills.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Technology, Information, and Internet
Company Size: 51-200 employees (Mid-size company, offering a balance between startup agility and established processes)
Founded: 2015 (10 years in operation, with a proven track record and growth potential)
Company Description:
- Pocket Worlds is the creator of Highrise, a game featured in the iOS App Store and Google Play with 50 million users
- The company is building bleeding-edge technology for developers and amateurs to create immersive experiences and worlds inside their virtual universe
- Pocket Worlds is at the forefront of the virtual worlds industry, focusing on innovation, creativity, and pushing the boundaries of what's possible
Company Specialties:
- Game Design
- Game Engine
- Game Platform
- Creator Content
Company Website: pocketworlds.com
ASSUMPTION: Pocket Worlds offers a dynamic and innovative work environment, with a focus on creativity, collaboration, and continuous learning.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Mid-level to Senior (depending on experience and skills)
Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Head of Marketing and may oversee junior creatives and designers
Work Arrangement: On-site, with occasional remote work options
Growth Opportunities:
- Advancement to a Senior Creative Lead or Marketing Director role
- Expanding creative responsibilities to include additional platforms or products
- Mentoring and developing junior creatives on the team
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential, as Pocket Worlds continues to expand its user base and platform offerings.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Creative and collaborative office space in Austin, TX
Office Location(s): Austin, TX
Geographic Context:
- Austin is a vibrant, tech-focused city with a strong gaming industry presence
- The city offers a high quality of life, with numerous cultural attractions, outdoor activities, and a thriving food scene
- Pocket Worlds' office is centrally located, with easy access to public transportation and amenities
Work Schedule: Standard business hours, with flexibility for occasional remote work
ASSUMPTION: Austin's dynamic gaming industry and vibrant culture provide an ideal environment for a creative marketing professional to thrive.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Initial phone or video screen with the HR team
- Creative challenge or portfolio review with the hiring manager
- On-site interview with the marketing team and other stakeholders
- Final interview with the Head of Marketing
Key Assessment Areas:
- Creativity and problem-solving skills
- Understanding of the gaming industry and target audience
- Leadership and team collaboration abilities
- Adaptability and resilience in a fast-paced environment
Application Tips:
- Highlight relevant creative experience and achievements in your resume and portfolio
- Tailor your cover letter to demonstrate your understanding of Pocket Worlds' mission and values
- Prepare examples of your creative process and how you approach feedback
ATS Keywords: Creative Direction, Marketing, User Research, Player Insight, Concept Sketching, Creative Sprint, Feedback, Team Leadership, Online Culture, Storytelling, Fast Iteration
ASSUMPTION: Pocket Worlds' interview process is designed to assess candidates' creative problem-solving skills, cultural fit, and potential to contribute to the company's growth and success.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects)
- Sketch or Figma for UI/UX design
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
- Project management tools (Asana, Trello, Jira)
- Analytics and reporting tools (Google Analytics, Tableau)
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should be proficient in industry-standard creative tools and open to learning new technologies as needed.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Creativity and innovation
- Collaboration and teamwork
- Continuous learning and improvement
- Player-centric focus
- Integrity and accountability
Work Style:
- Fast-paced and dynamic
- Collaborative and inclusive
- Data-driven and results-oriented
- Adaptable and resilient
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you thrive in a fast-paced, creative environment?
- Are you comfortable providing and receiving constructive feedback?
- Do you have a strong understanding of the gaming industry and target audience?
- Are you open to learning and adapting to new technologies and processes?
ASSUMPTION: Pocket Worlds values candidates who are creative, collaborative, and passionate about pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the gaming industry.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment
- Balancing creative vision with data-driven decision-making
- Adapting to changes in the gaming industry and market trends
- Collaborating effectively with remote team members or stakeholders
ASSUMPTION: These challenges can be overcome with strong time management skills, adaptability, and effective communication.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Creative Director, Marketing (similar role at larger gaming companies)
- Senior Art Director, Games (similar role at game development studios)
- Creative Lead, Advertising (similar role at advertising agencies)
ASSUMPTION: These roles share similar responsibilities and require comparable skills, but may differ in terms of company size, industry focus, and work environment.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing a marketing campaign for a new game launch, including concept sketches, user research, and final creative assets
- Collaborating with the product team to create in-game promotional materials that resonate with players
- Conducting user interviews and surveys to inform creative direction and improve player engagement
ASSUMPTION: These projects demonstrate the creative problem-solving, leadership, and collaboration skills required for this role.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does this role fit into the overall marketing strategy for Pocket Worlds?
- What are the biggest challenges facing the marketing team currently, and how can this role help address them?
- How does Pocket Worlds support the professional development and growth of its employees?
- What is the company's approach to work-life balance, and how is that reflected in the work arrangement for this role?
- How does Pocket Worlds foster a culture of innovation and creativity?
ASSUMPTION: These questions help candidates better understand the role, the company, and the work environment, enabling them to make an informed decision about their application.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Customize your resume and portfolio to highlight your creative experience and achievements relevant to this role
- Write a cover letter explaining why you are a strong fit for Pocket Worlds and this role
- Prepare examples of your creative process and how you approach feedback
- 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.
