Creative Director, Art and Design

Who We Are Looking For

Passport Brand Design, a VML company and part of the WPP network, is seeking a forward-thinking Creative Director of Art & Design to lead a talented, large-scale team of art directors and designers. As a globally respected premium brand agency, we rely on this senior leadership role to drive conceptual vision and execution across packaging, print, out-of-home (OOH), direct mail, and more.

We need a design leader who thrives in a highly structured, production-forward environment where annual calendars and long-term timelines are the foundation of success. You will act as a champion of craft, ensuring that every design is anchored in a strong, strategic idea. As part of the WPP network, Passport Brand Design is committed to a Human First approach. You will bring this to life by deeply investing in the growth of your team, helping them translate technological and creative capabilities into meaningful, high-impact outcomes.

Please note: This role primarily supports creative work within the tobacco industry. We share this upfront to ensure transparency and alignment with your personal preferences and comfort level.

What You'll Do

• Lead and Mentor: Manage, mentor, and empower a multidisciplinary team of art directors, designers, and copywriters, fostering a culture of creative excellence and continuous growth that strengthens the agency's production capabilities.
• Drive Conceptual Excellence: Oversee the conceptualization and execution of high-visibility packaging design, print, OOH, and direct mail — ensuring every deliverable is rooted in a strong strategic idea that delivers on client objectives.
• Navigate Structured Production: Lead seamlessly within a production-forward environment, managing long production timelines and annual calendars to ensure on-time, on-brief delivery across all accounts.
• Present with Purpose: Build and deliver compelling portfolio and case study presentations that clearly articulate creative rationale and strategic context to internal leadership and key stakeholders.
• Foster Collaboration: Travel periodically to collaborate directly with core stakeholders across locations, ensuring seamless creative integration and alignment on priorities.

Who You Are

• A strategic, curious problem-solver who can distill complex category rules into elegant, compelling design systems.
• An empathetic leader who builds trust, champions collaboration, and creates an inclusive space for creatives to do their best work.
• A bold idea-driver who is comfortable with ambiguity and has the conviction to push for exceptional, high-impact work, even within regulated spaces.

What You'll Need

• Proven Creative Director experience within an agency environment, with a demonstrated ability to orchestrate and manage creative workflows.
• Deep expertise and a strong portfolio in packaging design, supported by extensive experience across print, OOH, and direct mail.
• A track record of thriving in a structured, production-heavy environment with long-term schedules and established workflows.
• Exceptional presentation skills, with the ability to clearly articulate strategic context, craft rationale, and case studies to internal and external stakeholders.
• Comfort and willingness to work on tobacco industry accounts.
• Willingness and ability to accommodate occasional required travel.