Executive Creative Director (New York, NY, United States of America(US), 10022)
Apply NowCompany: The NBA
Location: New York, NY 10025
Description:
WORK OPTION: The NBA currently provides eligible employees the option of working remotely one day per week
Essential Functions and Job Summary
The NBA is seeking a dynamic and visionary Executive Creative Director to join our world-class Marketing Department. The Executive Creative Director will report to the Senior Vice President of Advertising, Brand & Creative and will be responsible for translating the league's creative vision and strategy across the league's global footprint. They will drive a unified and consistent creative vision across multidisciplinary creative for all channels including linear, out-of-home (OOH), digital, connected TV (CTV), print, social media, and experiential activations. The creative produced will support all league campaigns, tentpoles, events, social responsibility initiatives and corporate creative to ensure global creative cohesion and alignment with marketing strategy and business OKMs.
In addition to creative thought leadership, the Executive Creative Director will identify and vet new creative resources and work directly with project managers to establish creative timelines, manage designer workloads, review all creative work and present creative and concepts to department leaders, senior level executives and external partners.
They will work alongside passionate creatives and marketers who love the NBA brand and work to bring it to our fans everyday through multiple touchpoints all in support of our mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball.
Major Responsibilities
Creative Vision Leadership: Develop and drive the NBA's overarching creative vision across all marketing and brand assets. Ensure that the NBA's brand identity is consistently and powerfully represented across all platforms, campaigns, and initiatives.
360 Creative Direction: Lead creative direction for integrated campaigns spanning TV, digital, social media, OOH, print, and experiential activations. Work closely with design, digital, video, and social teams to deliver cohesive, impactful, and innovative creative executions across all channels.
Creative Brief Development: Oversee and guide the development of creative briefs that align with business objectives, target audience insights, and brand guidelines. Ensure clarity, vision, and measurable results in every brief.
Brand Consistency: Ensure a unified approach to brand storytelling, maintaining visual and tonal consistency across all consumer touchpoints. Champion the NBA's brand values and ensure creative outputs amplify and strengthen the league's identity and mission.
Strategic Partnerships: Collaborate with key internal stakeholders, including marketing, media, and partners to develop and execute creative strategies that support overall business goals, distribution partnerships, and activations.
Innovation & Trends: Stay ahead of industry trends, emerging technologies, and audience behavior to bring fresh, innovative ideas to the creative process. Drive forward-thinking, next-gen creative solutions across all marketing and brand platforms.
Campaign Execution: Oversee the creative process for large-scale marketing campaigns, from concept through to execution. Partner with project management to ensure timely delivery of assets that meet high creative standards and adhere to marketing timelines.
Resource Management: Experience managing and allocating creative resources and working with project management team to create project plans.
Required Education/Professional Experience
12+ years of creative leadership experience in sports, media or entertainment, with a strong portfolio demonstrating expertise across all media and channels (linear, OOH, digital, CTV, print, social, experiential).
Proven experience in leading and executing large-scale, integrated marketing campaigns.
Experience managing and allocating creative resources and working with project management team to create project plans.
Required Skills/Knowledge Attributes
Deep understanding of brand development, digital media, social platforms, and current creative trends.
Exceptional creative vision with a strategic mindset and the ability to adapt to changing business needs.
Strong leadership and team management skills, with a focus on mentorship and developing creative talent.
Ability to collaborate and influence cross-functional teams, including senior leadership, marketing, and creative staff.
A track record of managing and delivering complex projects on time and within budget.
A passion for sports, specifically basketball, and an understanding of the NBA's brand and audience.
Strong presentation and communication skills, with the ability to inspire and communicate a creative vision to internal and external stakeholders.
Salary Range: $250,000 - $280,000
Job Posting Title: Vice President
The NBA does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms or any other third parties. Any unsolicited resume sent to the NBA will be considered NBA property, and the NBA will not pay a fee should it hire the subject of any unsolicited resume.
The NBA considers applicants for all positions on the basis of merit, qualifications, and business needs, and without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, alienage or citizenship status, ancestry, marital status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, veteran status, familial status, status as a victim of domestic violence, or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
The NBA is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace. To safeguard our employees and their families, our visitors, and the broader community from COVID-19, and in consideration of recommendations from health authorities and the NBA's own advisors, any individual working onsite in our New York and New Jersey offices must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The NBA will discuss accommodations for individuals who cannot be vaccinated due to a medical reason or sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance.
About the NBA
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball. Built around five professional sports leagues: the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and Basketball Africa League, the NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming available in 215 countries and territories in more than 50 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 200 countries and territories on all seven continents. NBA rosters at the start of the 2021-22 season featured a record 121 international players from 40 countries. NBA Digital's assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass. The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with 2.1 billion likes and followers globally across all league, team, and player platforms. Through NBA Cares, the league addresses important social issues by working with internationally recognized youth-serving organizations that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.
Essential Functions and Job Summary
The NBA is seeking a dynamic and visionary Executive Creative Director to join our world-class Marketing Department. The Executive Creative Director will report to the Senior Vice President of Advertising, Brand & Creative and will be responsible for translating the league's creative vision and strategy across the league's global footprint. They will drive a unified and consistent creative vision across multidisciplinary creative for all channels including linear, out-of-home (OOH), digital, connected TV (CTV), print, social media, and experiential activations. The creative produced will support all league campaigns, tentpoles, events, social responsibility initiatives and corporate creative to ensure global creative cohesion and alignment with marketing strategy and business OKMs.
In addition to creative thought leadership, the Executive Creative Director will identify and vet new creative resources and work directly with project managers to establish creative timelines, manage designer workloads, review all creative work and present creative and concepts to department leaders, senior level executives and external partners.
They will work alongside passionate creatives and marketers who love the NBA brand and work to bring it to our fans everyday through multiple touchpoints all in support of our mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball.
Major Responsibilities
Creative Vision Leadership: Develop and drive the NBA's overarching creative vision across all marketing and brand assets. Ensure that the NBA's brand identity is consistently and powerfully represented across all platforms, campaigns, and initiatives.
360 Creative Direction: Lead creative direction for integrated campaigns spanning TV, digital, social media, OOH, print, and experiential activations. Work closely with design, digital, video, and social teams to deliver cohesive, impactful, and innovative creative executions across all channels.
Creative Brief Development: Oversee and guide the development of creative briefs that align with business objectives, target audience insights, and brand guidelines. Ensure clarity, vision, and measurable results in every brief.
Brand Consistency: Ensure a unified approach to brand storytelling, maintaining visual and tonal consistency across all consumer touchpoints. Champion the NBA's brand values and ensure creative outputs amplify and strengthen the league's identity and mission.
Strategic Partnerships: Collaborate with key internal stakeholders, including marketing, media, and partners to develop and execute creative strategies that support overall business goals, distribution partnerships, and activations.
Innovation & Trends: Stay ahead of industry trends, emerging technologies, and audience behavior to bring fresh, innovative ideas to the creative process. Drive forward-thinking, next-gen creative solutions across all marketing and brand platforms.
Campaign Execution: Oversee the creative process for large-scale marketing campaigns, from concept through to execution. Partner with project management to ensure timely delivery of assets that meet high creative standards and adhere to marketing timelines.
Resource Management: Experience managing and allocating creative resources and working with project management team to create project plans.
Required Education/Professional Experience
12+ years of creative leadership experience in sports, media or entertainment, with a strong portfolio demonstrating expertise across all media and channels (linear, OOH, digital, CTV, print, social, experiential).
Proven experience in leading and executing large-scale, integrated marketing campaigns.
Experience managing and allocating creative resources and working with project management team to create project plans.
Required Skills/Knowledge Attributes
Deep understanding of brand development, digital media, social platforms, and current creative trends.
Exceptional creative vision with a strategic mindset and the ability to adapt to changing business needs.
Strong leadership and team management skills, with a focus on mentorship and developing creative talent.
Ability to collaborate and influence cross-functional teams, including senior leadership, marketing, and creative staff.
A track record of managing and delivering complex projects on time and within budget.
A passion for sports, specifically basketball, and an understanding of the NBA's brand and audience.
Strong presentation and communication skills, with the ability to inspire and communicate a creative vision to internal and external stakeholders.
Salary Range: $250,000 - $280,000
Job Posting Title: Vice President
The NBA does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms or any other third parties. Any unsolicited resume sent to the NBA will be considered NBA property, and the NBA will not pay a fee should it hire the subject of any unsolicited resume.
The NBA considers applicants for all positions on the basis of merit, qualifications, and business needs, and without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, alienage or citizenship status, ancestry, marital status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, veteran status, familial status, status as a victim of domestic violence, or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
The NBA is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace. To safeguard our employees and their families, our visitors, and the broader community from COVID-19, and in consideration of recommendations from health authorities and the NBA's own advisors, any individual working onsite in our New York and New Jersey offices must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The NBA will discuss accommodations for individuals who cannot be vaccinated due to a medical reason or sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance.
About the NBA
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball. Built around five professional sports leagues: the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and Basketball Africa League, the NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming available in 215 countries and territories in more than 50 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 200 countries and territories on all seven continents. NBA rosters at the start of the 2021-22 season featured a record 121 international players from 40 countries. NBA Digital's assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass. The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with 2.1 billion likes and followers globally across all league, team, and player platforms. Through NBA Cares, the league addresses important social issues by working with internationally recognized youth-serving organizations that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.