Creative Director

Are you mission-driven and passionate about helping others succeed?

Do you strive to lead, follow, and act with integrity?

Are you the one who honors your commitments?

Is  building trusting relationships an integral part of why you do what you do?

Do you push limits and challenge the status quo?

If you answered YES, keep reading to find out how you can contribute to the success of Team USA! 

Here’s a summary of responsibilities:

The Creative Director will lead the development and implementation of the USOPC’s creative strategy and oversee the creative staff responsible for creating content across social, web, video, print, events, and experiential platforms. The Director will work closely with the Marketing leadership team to identify and execute an evolution strategy for the Team USA and USOPC brands across all creative touchpoints and solidify both brands’ art direction. The Creative Director partners closely with internal stakeholders and cross-functional teams to manage both brands’ end-to-end creative processes to meet and exceed the organization’s business goals and requirements. This includes, but is not limited to, overseeing the development of creative roadmaps, budgets, project plans, timelines, and staffing plans to enhance the Team USA and USOPC brands on the road to LA28.

Here’s how you’ll have an impact:

• Lead the development and management of all creative direction and strategy for Team USA and USOPC brands, evolving both brand identities and overseeing the execution of all creative work products.
• Oversee creative direction for Team USA and USOPC identities across multiple touchpoints, including brand campaigns and experiential events in partnership with USOPC Marketing and Stakeholder Experiences teams.
• Identify and hire best-in-class creative talent to build and grow an internal Creative Services department, including content producers, graphic designers, and video editors responsible for executing design, production, and delivery of all Team USA and USOPC brand and creative needs.
• Lead the creative process from concept to completion. Ideate, guide, craft, and produce high-quality, engaging, and innovative creative work across multiple business units and touchpoints, including but not limited to, graphics, templates, signage, video, and collateral.
• Collaborate with cross-functional departments to develop high-caliber creative that meets department goals and business initiatives.
• Direct all creative requests across the USOPC, serving as the primary point of contact for internal and external stakeholders. Develop and refine creative design processes and workflows, from intake brief to delivery and archival of assets. Partner with Assoc. Dir., Stakeholder Experiences to direct event-specific creative requests.
• Oversee creative projects from inception to completion, including quality control, trafficking, budget, time management, and communication with relevant stakeholders. Provide feedback on and/or direct staff to create assets to ensure work is on-brand and aligned with appropriate brand guidelines.
• Partner with the LA28 creative team in the direction and evolution of campaign assets and guidelines. Serve as primary liaison with LA28 in creative discussions around brand guidelines and/or assets, as part owners of Team USA brand.
• Oversee relationships with creative agencies and freelancers. Serve as the primary point of contact for initiation of new creative projects, onboarding support, design direction, and feedback. Oversee the use of freelance design services, artists, illustrators, photographers, technical production, printing, and specialty printing. Lead contract and negotiation processes with outside vendors and consultants.
• Partner with USOPC Marketing and Legal teams in implementing and maintaining USOPC Brand Architecture and Identity, distinct from Team USA brand identity. Enforce necessary brand guidelines for all internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaborate with Legal to develop clear brand guidelines for business partners (e.g., NGBs, City of Colorado Springs, National Medical Network, Affiliated Organizations, etc.) and for commercial partner integration into events and other activations.
• Lead in-house art strategy and execution of photo shoots and event activations, collaborating with USOPC Marketing team, agencies, and USOPP as needed.
• Provide direct supervision to Creative Services team, including hiring, mentoring, coaching, and motivating to maximize collective performance.
• Manage budget related to creative programs and initiatives. Ensure associated projects are within budget and that accurate financial reporting is completed, in partnership with Finance liaison.
• Contribute to an atmosphere for outstanding teamwork through clear expectations, frequent communications, and providing fair and consistent feedback.
• Serve as a key member of the Marketing leadership team. Contribute to overall strategy, including short- and long-term goals to enhance the USOPC’s fan engagement and brand management efforts.
• Partner with USOPC Events & Logistics and Stakeholder Experiences teams to integrate Team USA and/or USOPC branding into USOPC-hosted event collateral.
• Support other USOPC/LA28/USOPP collaboration projects as needed.

Here are the skills and experience you’ll need to be effective:

• Bachelor’s degree in visual or experiential design, art, graphic design, or related field or equivalent work experience
• 7+ years of creative experience within media, production, or sports agency, with direct oversight for project planning and development, concept ideation, budget creation and management, scheduling, and delivery
• 5+ years of experience building and leading a multi-disciplinary team
• Experience creating authentic and organic content for sport properties/brands
• Experience with brand implementation and development of brand guidelines

Here are some things that will make you super competitive for this role:

• Significant sport marketing and advertising experience
• Compelling portfolio of distinctive work across a range of design formats
• Experience working with third-party creative agencies
• Experience producing best-in-class sports marketing and media campaigns  

Here’s where you’ll work:

• This is a hybrid role that will regularly work from both our Colorado Springs Downtown Headquarters and remotely.

Pay and Bonus Information

• Hiring Pay Range: $100,000 to $125,000 per year
• This is a full-time, exempt position intended to work 40 hours per week.
• Bonus:  This position will be eligible for the Annual Incentive Award Program at a 20% target. This program is subject to change or elimination by the USOPC at any time at its sole discretion
• Full Benefits: This position will be eligible for USOPC benefits. You can view a summary here or download a pdf here.   

• Effective November 1, 2021, the USOPC is requiring all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. In accordance with the USOPC’s duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards, we are adopting this requirement to safeguard the health and safety of our team members, Team USA athletes, coaches, trainers, contractors, and vendors.  Any and all job offers will be contingent upon proof of vaccination or an approved exemption from the requirement due to medical or religious reasons. For more information, please visit https://www.teamusa.org/Coronavirus/Vaccine-Requirement 

United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee