Brand Creative Director

Brand Creative Director role based onsite in Burlington, VT, reporting to the Chief Marketing Officer. Responsibilities Lead and evolve Burton and Anon’s brand narrative architecture , including long-term story pillars, seasonal arcs, and campaign hierarchy Define what the brand is saying each season and the “why it matters now” rationale Ensure storytelling accumulates over time to reinforce brand meaning instead of resetting each cycle Partner with the CMO as the final authority on marketing creative strategy, storytelling, and brand expression Build flexible, scalable creative and storytelling frameworks for global consistency with space for local expression Define and maintain storytelling hierarchy across hero narratives , supporting stories, and editorial layers Ensure all marketing expression respects product creative intent while elevating brand storytelling Act as Burton’s senior cultural intelligence leader, connected to Gen Z culture, emerging sport communities, style, creators, platforms, and subcultures Translate cultural insights into storytelling implications, including what to tell, what to stop telling, and how tone, casting, pacing, and platforms should evolve Partner with Product Creative on cultural trends and emerging aesthetics that inform product design direction Balance youth relevance with multi-generational resonance, honoring legacy riders while attracting new ones Serve as upstream creative strategy partner to Brand/Sports and Category Marketing teams, shaping how stories are framed emotionally and narratively across brand, product, and commerce Participate in seasonal Product Creative reviews to provide cultural insight and downstream storytelling perspective (input, not approval) Rally teams behind creative direction using clarity, confidence, and collaboration Partner with Product Creative Director on major moments where brand and product are inseparable (collaborations, limited editions, anniversaries, special projects) Ensure those moments honor product vision while maximizing cultural and storytelling impact Represent brand creative in external partnerships alongside Product Creative leadership Bring enterprise-wide storytelling fluency across Burton hardgoods, softgoods, and Anon Provide strategic guidance so brand narratives translate cohesively across DTC and wholesale environments Act as a consultative partner to Creative and Production leadership, reinforcing clarity and consistency in how category and regional stories ladder to the global brand Use a fast-moving, resourceful “ scrappy but smart ” approach to creative problem-solving Leverage AI-powered tools to accelerate strategic exploration, test narrative directions, and rapidly visualize storytelling systems (not to replace craft) Be hands-on when needed: concepting, shaping narratives, building references, inspiring teams Mentor designers, writers, producers, and cross-functional partners to build taste, confidence, and creative clarity Lead by example through humility, generosity, and collaboration; model curiosity, progression, and respect Build strong creative partnership culture with Product Creative teams Represent Burton and Anon brand creative strategy to founders, executive leadership, the board, and key partners Present creative strategy, cultural insights, and competitive positioning at GTM gates, sales meetings, and board meetings Serve as a senior creative voice in leadership forums Decide what constitutes a campaign vs. a supporting story vs. editorial Establish seasonal storytelling arcs and long‑term story pillars; ensure brand, category, and commercial storytelling ladder together Protect meaning as creative scales globally across channels and regions This role does not own creative production, trafficking, or localization Requirements 10–15+ years in senior creative leadership roles Proven ability to lead through influence and partnership Demonstrated success shaping brand narratives across seasons, not just campaigns Deep experience with modern heritage, sport, lifestyle, youth culture, or performance brands Strong narrative sensibility across film, photography, motion, and systems Ability to translate culture into strategy, not just aesthetics Experience working across hardgoods, softgoods, accessories, and/or technical products Strong understanding of retail, wholesale, DTC, and omni-channel storytelling Comfort using AI and modern creative tools for exploration and system-building Experience modernizing brand systems without losing soul Low ego, high taste; solid risk‑taking; big heart Calm, decisive, and clear under pressure Curious, culturally connected, authentic Passion for sport, community, joy, and creativity Energized by re‑grounding an iconic brand into its future Inherent influencing and motivational leadership to mobilize teams around evolving creative direction Decision Rights & Escalation Brand Creative Director : final authority on marketing creative strategy, storytelling, and expression in partnership with CMO Product Creative Director : critical decision authority on product design direction Joint escalation to CMO/CPO for conflicts at the intersection of brand and product This role does not own creative production, trafficking, or localization Technologies AI-powered tools AI Location & Travel Onsite in Burlington, VT Periodic domestic and international travel for cultural research, creative partnerships, and seasonal alignment Compensation USD 120,000 - 150,000 per year #J-18808-Ljbffr