• Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design, Art Direction, Digital Marketing or design-related equivalent

• 8+ years’ experience in the digital design, social, or creative specific to the footwear/apparel industry

• Management experience of teams with 3+ people

• Must be a self-starter, comfortable working in a fast-paced entrepreneurial environment, organized, detail oriented, collaborative and flexible

• Effectively prioritize multiple projects while simultaneously handling demands and changes 

• Excellent writing and communications experience 

• Domestic and International Travel required - up to 40%

We are seeking a motivated Associate Creative Director Run/Train (RT) to strategize, manage and develop advertising campaigns that push the boundaries of creativity while driving strategic objectives. This role encompasses both the artistry of creative ideation and the leadership prowess to guide a team toward excellence. As the Associate Creative Director (R/T), you will be at the forefront of crafting innovative campaigns that resonate with audiences, elevate brand identity, and deliver tangible results for the business.

Our ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of the running and fitness industry, coupled with a proven track record in crafting strategic frameworks and executing creative campaigns across diverse marketing channels. You should demonstrate extensive expertise in digital content development, including defining seasonal content plans, structuring messaging hierarchies, and overseeing end-to-end creative execution. The ideal candidate has impeccable taste, is innovate, collaborative, ambitious and enjoys managing a team.

• Develop thorough creative strategies aligned with the Brand and BU's objectives, maintaining brand identity, and captivating the target audience.

• Oversee the end-to-end development and implementation of seasonal creative directions for the Business Unit, including collaboration with external partners and agencies.

• Define clear content plans and message hierarchies for all marketing channels and create plans to produce the required assets.

• Collaborate with marketing channel owners to implement ideas that align with their strategic channel directions encompassing Paid Media, PR, Organic Social, Commercial Marketing, and ecommerce.

• Lead creative productions by identifying, hiring, and briefing external partners such as creative agencies, photographers, illustrators, animators, producers, and content creators. Additionally, manage multiple agency relationships and designers across various projects with a clear design voice and unwavering creative precision.

• Lead the development of creative guidelines to aid in regional execution of global concepts.

• Use research and market trends analysis, benchmark, feedback, and consumer insights to identify opportunities and inform strategic decision-making.

• Demonstrate leadership through a passion for management and mentoring, fostering team spirit, and cultivating energy and optimism. Provide accountable leadership to the creative team, ensuring performance and results meet expectations.

• Ability to socialize and present creative work in a compelling and persuasive way to cross-functional partners and senior leadership, has excellent people skills.

• Bachelor’s degree in graphic design or equivalent
• 1-3 years of progressive, technically sophisticated graphic design experience at an ad agency, brand, or similar environment
• Experience in the footwear, athletic and/or apparel industry is a plus
• Fluent in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Acrobat) on Mac
• Knowledge of current trends in color, technology, communications, experience art and other design influences.
• Experience using generative AI tools for ideation, image generation, and post-production.
• Basic motion knowledge (After Effects, Premiere, or similar)
• Woking knowledge of Figma for layout design and collaborative workflows  
• Strong foundation in typography, layout, and color theory
• Working knowledge of both print and digital design production
• Ability to see projects through all phases of implementation including concept ideation, design development, and production
• Good understanding of the creative process, advertising design and video storytelling
• Strong presentation skills and a demonstrated ability to effectively work with cross functional partners
• Introductory knowledge of tools like Blender, Cinima4D, or CLO3D is a plus
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to function autonomously and in a cooperative, diverse group
• Experience in the footwear, athletic and/or apparel industry is a plus

PUMA is seeking a highly talented Graphic Designer to work for Creative Services, our internal creative Agency, out of Boston Office. The ideal candidate is a graphic design wiz with a taste for art direction. In addition to great design skills, you should be able to think conceptually and tell campaign stories through visuals. We’re looking for candidates who are collaboratively minded and culturally connected. Candidates must have a strong aesthetic sense and a real passion for arts, streetwear and basketball culture. If you are innovative, enjoy working in a team, ambitious, and genuinely want to make cool stuff for our brand, you may be a fit.

Please include a link to your design portfolio.

• Under the direction of the Art Director and Associate Creative Director, utilizes exceptional design skills to support the development of original solutions for consumer experiences, including OOH, Digital, Social, and Retail assets.

• Support design efforts and assignments including post-production retouching notes and quality control of assets for seasonal campaign creative.

• Utilize exceptional design skills and demonstrate innovation to create original design solutions that develop and drive innovative 2D and 3D solutions for consumer experiences.

• Participate in creative brainstorms with the Basketball creative team contributing conceptual ideas and not just visuals.

• Work with Marketing, Brand, and ICA leadership to ensure feasibility of designs, budget, functional needs (digital, retail, brand, comms.) and overall program needs.

• Help build creative presentation decks, moodboards, and other materials for seasonal campaigns.

• Effectively communicate design concepts to various internal and external audiences.

• Be a part of the post-production process for campaign materials.

• Produce directives and electronic files for production purposes.

• Demonstrate strong knowledge of current trends in color, technology, communications, experiential art and other design influencers

• Stay well-informed on all existing brand standards, as well as industry and creative trends.