Manager of Creative, Direct Response

📌 Core Information 🔹 Job Title: Manager of Creative, Direct Response 🔹 Company: Healthy Back Institute 🔹 Location: Dallas, Texas, United States (Remote) 🔹 Job Type: Full-Time 🔹 Category: Marketing & Creative 🔹 Date Posted: April 23, 2025 🔹 Experience Level: 5-8+ years of experience 🚀 Job Overview Key aspects of this role include: - Leading and mentoring a team of creatives to deliver high-impact, on-brand content across multiple channels. - Building and managing creative systems and workflows to scale output effectively. - Collaborating closely with stakeholders to bring strategic campaigns and brand initiatives to life. - Serving as a brand guardian during a high-visibility rebrand, ensuring consistency across all touchpoints and departments. - Leveraging data and performance metrics to guide creative decisions and optimize campaigns. ASSUMPTION: This role requires a proven track record in creative leadership, with a strong focus on direct response marketing and brand stewardship. Experience in rebranding efforts and managing multidisciplinary teams is essential. 📋 Key Responsibilities 🔹 Creative Leadership & Team Development - Lead, mentor, and inspire a team of internal creatives and external contractors across copy, content, design, and video. - Foster a high-performing culture rooted in accountability, creative excellence, and continuous innovation. - Ensure creative output aligns with brand voice, visual identity, and business objectives across all channels. 🔹 Creative Systems & Innovation Management - Build and manage the structure, processes, and workflows that transform ideas into high-impact creative. - Facilitate ongoing creative innovation sessions to drive a steady flow of fresh ideas, prioritizing, testing, and executing concepts that deliver brand and performance impact. - Oversee production timelines, review cycles, and cross-functional alignment to deliver on time, on brand, and on goal. 🔹 Brand Stewardship & Cross-Functional Execution - Serve as a brand guardian during a high-visibility rebrand, ensuring consistency across every team, touchpoint, and department. - Partner closely with marketing, growth, lifecycle, and executive stakeholders to bring strategic campaigns and brand initiatives to life. - Lead creative resource planning, managing internal bandwidth and external partnerships to scale creative output effectively. ASSUMPTION: This role requires strong project management skills, with the ability to balance multiple projects and deadlines. Experience with AI tools and workflows is a plus. 🎯 Required Qualifications Education: - Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Advertising, Communications, or a related field. Experience: - 5-8+ years of creative leadership experience, with a focus on high-growth, DTC consumer brands. - Proven ability to build and scale creative operations from the ground up, including workflows, resourcing, and team structures. - Strong track record of managing multidisciplinary teams across copy, content, design, and video, both internally and with external partners. - Experience leading or supporting rebrands and brand system rollouts across entire organizations. Required Skills: - Expertise in direct response marketing creative for DTC brands, with a strong understanding of how creative performs across channels like YouTube, Facebook, search, email, SMS, and websites, including landing page and CRO strategy. - Proven success in developing and optimizing VSLs, landing pages, and content funnels to improve conversion and response rates. - Familiarity with or hands-on use of AI tools and workflows to enhance creative production and scale. - Mastery of project management systems, creative briefing processes, and cross-functional review cycles. - Strong understanding of holistic health, nutritional supplements, or natural medicine (a major plus). Preferred Skills: - Experience with performance marketing and data-informed creative strategies. - Familiarity with the specific industry or niche of the hiring company. ASSUMPTION: Candidates should have a proven track record in creative leadership, with a strong focus on direct response marketing and brand stewardship. Experience in rebranding efforts and managing multidisciplinary teams is essential. 💰 Compensation & Benefits Salary Range: $79,000 - $85,000 USD (based on industry standards for the role, experience level, and location) Benefits: - Medical, dental, and vision insurance - 401K Retirement Plan - Life and disability insurance - Flexible PTO - Performance-based bonuses - Discount on HBI products - Healthy work/life balance and flexible schedule - Remote/virtual work from home position Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with flexibility for a hybrid or part-time schedule as needed. ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for the role, experience level, and location. The actual salary may vary based on the candidate's qualifications and the company's internal compensation structure. 📌 Applicant Insights 🔍 Company Context Industry: Wellness and Fitness Services Company Size: 51-200 employees (mid-size) Founded: 2003, in Austin, TX Company Description: The Healthy Back Institute is a leading online resource for people seeking information and products to find lasting pain relief, quickly, safely, and naturally from various types of pain. With a mission to help people live pain-free lives, HBI offers a wide range of products, including natural health supplements, pain relief creams, and digital resources. Company Specialties: - Natural Health Products - Publishing - Nutritional Supplements - Pain Relief Products - Back Pain Relief - Fibromyalgia - Neck Pain - Sciatica - Herniated Discs - Arthritis, and Joint Pain Company Website: ASSUMPTION: HBI is a well-established company in the wellness and fitness industry, with a strong focus on natural health products and pain relief solutions. Their mission and values are centered around helping people live pain-free lives. 📊 Role Analysis Career Level: Mid-career to senior-level role, with potential for growth into a director or executive position. Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Chief Marketing Officer and may oversee a team of creatives, including copywriters, designers, and video producers. Work Arrangement: Remote work from home, with occasional travel for team meetings, events, or client visits. Growth Opportunities: - Lead and grow a team of creatives, mentoring and developing their skills. - Contribute to the company's strategic direction and expansion plans. - Potential to take on additional responsibilities or move into a director or executive role as the company grows. ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential for the right candidate, with opportunities to lead a team, contribute to strategic decision-making, and advance within the organization. 🌍 Location & Work Environment Office Type: Remote work from home, with occasional travel for team meetings, events, or client visits. Office Location(s): Dallas, Texas, United States (with remote work flexibility) Geographic Context: - Dallas, Texas, is the fourth most populous city in the United States, with a diverse population and a thriving job market. - The city offers a mix of urban and suburban living options, with a cost of living that is generally lower than other major metropolitan areas in the United States. Work Schedule: Flexible work hours, with a focus on results and performance rather than strict hourly requirements. ASSUMPTION: The remote work arrangement and flexible schedule provide a high degree of autonomy and work-life balance for the right candidate. However, this role may require occasional travel and the ability to work effectively in a remote team environment. 💼 Interview & Application Insights Typical Process: 1. Online application review 2. Phone or video screening interview 3. In-depth behavioral and skills assessment 4. Final interview with the hiring manager and/or other key stakeholders Key Assessment Areas: - Creative problem-solving and strategic thinking - Leadership and team management skills - Knowledge of direct response marketing and brand stewardship - Ability to work effectively in a remote team environment - Cultural fit and alignment with HBI's core values Application Tips: - Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant skills and experiences for this role. - Showcase your portfolio or examples of your creative work, focusing on direct response marketing campaigns and brand initiatives. - Prepare for behavioral interview questions that focus on your leadership, problem-solving, and creative skills. ATS Keywords: Direct response marketing, creative leadership, brand stewardship, team management, performance marketing, AI tools, workflows, rebranding, multidisciplinary teams, natural health products, pain relief solutions ASSUMPTION: The application process for this role is designed to assess the candidate's creative problem-solving skills, leadership potential, and cultural fit with HBI's values and mission. 🛠️ Tools & Technologies - Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro) - Google Workspace (Google Docs, Sheets, Slides) - Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) - Project management tools (Asana, Trello, Jira) - AI tools and workflows (specific tools may vary based on the candidate's experience and the company's current tech stack) ASSUMPTION: The required tools and technologies for this role may vary based on the candidate's experience and the company's current tech stack. Familiarity with AI tools and workflows is a plus, as HBI continues to invest in and leverage technology to enhance creative production and scale. 👔 Cultural Fit Considerations Company Values: - Freedom: Encourage and support individual creativity and autonomy. - Love: Foster a positive, supportive, and inclusive work environment. - Team: Collaborate and succeed together, valuing collective intelligence and shared goals. - Growth: Continuously learn, adapt, and improve both personally and professionally. - Excellence: Strive for the highest standards in all aspects of the business. - Courage: Take calculated risks and make bold decisions to drive innovation and growth. Work Style: - Results-driven and focused on delivering high-quality, on-brand content. - Collaborative and open to feedback, with a strong emphasis on cross-functional teamwork. - Adaptable and comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. - Committed to HBI's mission and values, with a passion for helping people live pain-free lives. Self-Assessment Questions: 1. How do you align with HBI's core value of 'Freedom,' and how would you ensure this value is reflected in your leadership style? 2. Describe a time when you had to adapt to a significant change in a project or work environment. How did you handle this situation, and what was the outcome? 3. How do you approach mentoring and developing the skills of your team members, particularly in a remote work environment? ASSUMPTION: HBI values candidates who are strong cultural fits, with a deep understanding of the company's mission, values, and work environment. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their alignment with HBI's core values and how they would contribute to the company's culture. ⚠️ Potential Challenges 1. Managing a remote team with members in different time zones and backgrounds. 2. Balancing the need for creative freedom with the requirement to maintain brand consistency and adherence to project timelines. 3. Navigating a high-visibility rebrand initiative, with potential resistance from internal stakeholders or external partners. 4. Keeping up with industry trends and emerging technologies in direct response marketing and creative production. ASSUMPTION: This role presents unique challenges related to remote team management, brand stewardship, and navigating a high-visibility rebrand initiative. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their strategies for overcoming these challenges and driving success in a dynamic work environment. 📈 Similar Roles Comparison 1. This role differs from related positions in its focus on direct response marketing and brand stewardship for a DTC wellness company, with a strong emphasis on rebranding and managing a remote creative team. 2. Compared to other marketing or creative management roles, this position requires a unique blend of leadership, strategic, and creative skills, with a deep understanding of the direct response marketing landscape and the wellness industry. 3. Career paths for this role may include advancement into director or executive positions within the company, with potential opportunities to lead multiple teams or take on additional responsibilities as the company grows. ASSUMPTION: This role is distinct from other marketing or creative management positions due to its focus on direct response marketing, brand stewardship, and managing a remote creative team during a high-visibility rebrand initiative. Candidates should be prepared to discuss how their unique skill set and experience make them a strong fit for this specific role. 📝 Sample Projects 1. Developing and executing a successful direct response marketing campaign for a new product launch, including landing page optimization and VSL creation. 2. Leading a team to create a comprehensive brand style guide and visual identity system for a rebrand initiative, ensuring consistency across all touchpoints and departments. 3. Managing the creative production process for a high-visibility marketing campaign, including collaboration with external partners and cross-functional stakeholders, to deliver on time, on brand, and on goal. ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the diverse range of responsibilities and leadership opportunities available in this role. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their relevant experience and how they would approach similar projects at HBI. ❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview 1. How does HBI support the professional development and growth of its creative team members? 2. What are the key priorities for the first 90 days in this role, and how can I contribute to the company's rebrand initiative? 3. How does HBI measure the success of its direct response marketing campaigns, and what are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this role? 4. What is the company's long-term vision for its creative team and direct response marketing efforts, and how does this role fit into that strategy? 5. How does HBI foster a positive and inclusive work environment, particularly in a remote team setting? ASSUMPTION: These interview questions are designed to help candidates better understand the role's requirements, the company's culture, and the opportunities for professional growth and development. Candidates should be prepared to ask thoughtful questions that demonstrate their interest in the role and the company's mission. 📐 Next Steps for Applicants To apply for this position: 1. Submit your application through the provided link: 2. Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant skills and experiences for this role. 3. Prepare a portfolio or examples of your creative work, focusing on direct response marketing campaigns and brand initiatives. 4. Review the company's website and familiarize yourself with their products, mission, and values. 5. Practice common interview questions and prepare your responses, focusing on your leadership, problem-solving, and creative skills. ⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.