Senior Level Design Director Jobs
Senior level design director jobs place experienced leaders in charge of creative vision, cross-functional alignment, and the teams and projects that bring it to life. Openings concentrate in Technology & Software, Retail, and Construction & Real Estate, with 41% remote or hybrid availability, and employers like WSP, Poshmark, and Rippling hiring at this level now.
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Showing 5 of 55+ Senior Level Design Director jobs
Who We Are
VML is a global creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce to create connected brands that drive growth. Guided by a Human First philosophy, VML is known for its innovative work for brands and consistently ranks among the world's leading creative companies, including the WARC Creative 100. VML's global network spans 55+ markets with principal offices in Buenos Aires, Kansas City, London, New York, São Paulo, Shanghai and Singapore.
VML is part of WPP, the trusted growth partner for the world's leading brands. Powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform WPP Open, WPP unites cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, creativity, production, enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel.
Who We Are Looking For
Passport Brand Design, a VML company and part of the WPP network, is seeking a forward-thinking Group 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.
- 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.
- Proven Group 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.
We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we've adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.
WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.
When you click "Submit Application", this will send any information you add below to VML. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through our Recruitment Privacy Policy. California residents should read our California Recruitment Privacy Notice. This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.
Who We Are
VML is a global creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce to create connected brands that drive growth. Guided by a Human First philosophy, VML is known for its innovative work for brands and consistently ranks among the world's leading creative companies, including the WARC Creative 100. VML's global network spans 55+ markets with principal offices in Buenos Aires, Kansas City, London, New York, São Paulo, Shanghai and Singapore.
VML is part of WPP, the trusted growth partner for the world's leading brands. Powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform WPP Open, WPP unites cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, creativity, production, enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel.
Who We Are Looking For
Passport Brand Design, a VML company and part of the WPP network, is seeking a forward-thinking Group 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.
- 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.
- Proven Group 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.
We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we've adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.
WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.
When you click "Submit Application", this will send any information you add below to VML. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through our Recruitment Privacy Policy. California residents should read our California Recruitment Privacy Notice. This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.
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Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software11
- Retail6
- Construction & Real Estate6
- Consulting & Professional Services6
- Education5
Senior Level Design Director Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a senior level design director job?
Employers hiring at this level look for candidates who have owned end-to-end design outcomes, not just contributed to them. A portfolio that demonstrates strategic decision-making, cross-functional leadership, and measurable business impact carries more weight than a long list of deliverables. Mentoring experience and the ability to align design thinking with organizational goals give candidates a clear edge at this stage.
Which companies hire senior level design directors?
Companies hiring senior level design directors right now include WSP, Poshmark, and Rippling, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Hiring at this level covers established enterprises scaling their design functions and growth-stage companies building out leadership for the first time.
Are there remote senior level design director jobs?
Yes, remote and hybrid options exist at this level, though they vary by industry and company stage. About 41% of senior level design director openings are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting continued flexibility for experienced leaders who can operate independently across distributed teams.
What makes a design director role senior level?
Senior level design director roles are defined by ownership and scope. These positions carry accountability for setting creative direction across products or brands, not just executing within it. They require deep craft expertise alongside the ability to mentor other designers, influence stakeholders at the executive level, and connect design decisions to broader business strategy.
Which industries hire the most senior level design directors?
Senior Level design director roles concentrate in Technology & Software, Retail, and Construction & Real Estate, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. These sectors tend to invest heavily in design leadership because product differentiation, brand identity, and user experience are central to how they compete.