Head of Design – Brand Creative

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Head of Design – Brand Creative Company: eBay Location: Atlanta, Georgia, United States / Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, United States Job Type: FULL_TIME Category: Brand Creative & Design Operations Date Posted: 2025-08-08 Experience Level: 10+ Years Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the strategic and visual direction for U.S. brand campaigns and customer engagement across the full marketing funnel, driving cohesive storytelling.
• Set the creative bar and evolve brand expression for multiple eBay verticals including Motors, Fashion, Collectibles, and more.
• Manage and mentor a high-performing team of designers and Associate Creative Directors (ACDs), fostering a culture of craft and customer-centered storytelling.
• Collaborate closely with Marketing, Merchandising, Category Management, Product, and Executive partners to align creative output with business objectives.
• Guide the development of integrated campaigns spanning brand awareness, social, editorial, CRM, performance marketing, and experiential activations.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Head of Design – Brand Creative," the responsibilities clearly indicate a need for strong operational oversight of creative processes, team management, and cross-functional alignment, which are core tenets of operations roles. The focus on "evolving brand expression" and "driving cohesive storytelling" implies a need for structured creative operations to ensure consistency and impact across diverse verticals.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the end-to-end creative development process for U.S. brand marketing initiatives across key verticals like Fashion, Collectibles, Luxury, and Electronics.
• Establish and maintain high creative vision and design standards, ensuring consistency, excellence, and innovation across all customer touchpoints and media formats.
• Oversee and provide mentorship, feedback, and support to a team of designers and ACDs, empowering them to bring each vertical's brand to life effectively.
• Drive strategic alignment of creative work with business goals by collaborating closely with Marketing, Merchandising, Category Management, Product, and Executive leadership.
• Guide the creation of coordinated, multi-channel campaigns that encompass brand awareness, social media, editorial content, CRM, performance marketing, and experiential activations.
• Act as the primary design leader for internal teams and external agency partners, ensuring strong briefing, strategic alignment, and consistent creative quality.
• Shape and evolve brand expression across various media, including digital video, display advertising, paid and organic social media, email marketing, landing pages, and event experiences.
• Elevate design thinking throughout the organization, instilling a culture of craft, curiosity, and customer-centric storytelling.
• Monitor performance insights, industry trends, and customer feedback to inform and refine design strategy and creative execution.
• Represent the Creative team in senior-level discussions and cross-functional planning, contributing to the definition of future team structures, hiring needs, and growth areas.
• Foster a professional and collaborative team environment, ensuring consistent, confident communication and constructive creative dialogue across all engagements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The detailed responsibilities highlight the need for process management, strategic planning, and cross-functional collaboration, aligning with the operational aspects of a creative leadership role. The emphasis on "end-to-end creative development process," "coordinated campaigns," and "agency management" points to the need for robust operational frameworks to ensure efficiency and effectiveness.

✅ Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Design, Art Direction, Communication, or a related field is preferred.

Experience:

• 10+ years of creative leadership experience.
• At least 4 years in a senior design or ACD/CD-level role, preferably within e-commerce, lifestyle, fashion, or technology sectors.
• Proven experience leading multi-disciplinary teams in campaign development, brand storytelling, and performance content creation.
• Demonstrated success managing creative agencies, freelancers, and in-house teams from concept to final production.

Required Skills:

• Creative Leadership: Ability to set a compelling creative vision and lead teams to execute world-class design.
• Brand Storytelling: Expertise in developing cohesive narratives that resonate with diverse audiences and reflect brand identity.
• Design Strategy: Proficiency in visual and verbal brand systems and their application across various channels.
• Team Management & Mentorship: Proven ability to lead, encourage, and grow high-performing creative talent with empathy and clarity.
• Campaign Development: Experience overseeing integrated campaigns across the full marketing funnel, from awareness to performance.
• Visual Design Excellence: Strong taste and a keen eye for aesthetic quality, ensuring brand consistency and impact.
• Communication & Presentation: Excellent skills in articulating creative concepts, influencing stakeholders, and managing partner relationships.
• Agency Management: Demonstrated success in managing external agency partnerships to achieve strategic and creative objectives.
• Customer Engagement: Ability to create creative that drives customer connection and engagement across all touchpoints.
• Data-Driven Optimization: Sharp creative instincts balanced with an understanding of how to leverage data and insights for creative improvement.
• Category-Specific Storytelling: Proficiency in crafting narratives relevant to fashion, collectibles, luxury, and other key eBay verticals.
• Empathy: Ability to lead with understanding and support for team members and stakeholders.
• Innovation: A mindset that welcomes new ideas and approaches to creative execution.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in e-commerce, lifestyle, fashion, or tech industries.
• Expertise in digital video, display advertising, social media, and CRM creative.
• Experience with performance marketing creative optimization.
• Familiarity with the unique dynamics of online marketplaces.
• A compelling portfolio showcasing innovative, customer-first creative across channels and categories.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "data-driven optimization" and "performance marketing" suggests a need for operations-minded individuals who can ensure creative efforts are measurable and contribute to business outcomes, not just aesthetic appeal. The requirement for a "compelling portfolio" is crucial for evaluating operational efficiency and strategic thinking in creative execution.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a strong track record of developing and executing successful brand campaigns across multiple channels.
• Demonstrate a clear understanding of how creative strategy aligns with business objectives and drives measurable results.
• Highlight examples of leading creative teams, managing agency partners, and fostering a collaborative environment.
• Include case studies that illustrate the process from initial brief to final execution, emphasizing problem-solving and creative innovation.
• Present work that reflects an ability to adapt creative to specific vertical needs (e.g., Fashion, Collectibles, Motors) while maintaining overarching brand consistency.

Process Documentation:

• The portfolio should implicitly or explicitly demonstrate proficiency in managing the creative workflow, from concept generation and brief development to production and delivery.
• Candidates are expected to articulate their approach to concept refinement, stakeholder feedback integration, and quality assurance processes within their portfolio presentations.
• Evidence of process optimization within creative operations, such as streamlining asset creation or improving agency briefing, would be highly beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role like this, the "portfolio" serves as a demonstration of operational capability in managing creative projects and teams. It's not just about the final output, but the process, strategic thinking, and efficiency demonstrated behind it. Expect to discuss the operational aspects of your past creative work.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $123,600 - $198,100 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical coverage.
• Financial benefits, likely including retirement savings plans and potentially equity.
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) for work-life balance.
• Parental Leave to support new parents.
• 401(k) eligibility, providing a pathway for long-term financial planning.

Working Hours: The role is listed as FULL_TIME, which typically implies a standard 40-hour work week. However, leadership positions often require flexibility to meet project deadlines and team needs, suggesting potential for extended hours during peak periods.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is a strong indicator of the seniority and expected impact of this role. For operations professionals, understanding how this compensation structure aligns with their contributions to efficiency, revenue, and strategic execution is key. The benefits offered are standard for a large tech company and support employee well-being and financial security.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: E-commerce / Online Marketplace. eBay operates at the intersection of technology, retail, and community, facilitating transactions for a vast array of goods. Company Size: eBay is a large, publicly traded company, indicating a structured environment with established processes and significant resources. This size often means opportunities for impact across broad initiatives and potential for career growth within a global organization. Founded: eBay was founded in 1995, giving it a long history and significant brand recognition. This longevity suggests a company culture that has evolved to balance established practices with innovation, crucial for staying competitive in the e-commerce landscape.

Team Structure:

• The Head of Design will lead a team of designers and ACDs, likely within a broader Marketing or Brand organization.
• This role requires close collaboration with Marketing, Merchandising, Category Management, and Product teams, indicating a matrixed organizational structure where cross-functional partnerships are essential.
• The team is expected to manage multiple verticals, suggesting a need for organizational structure that can handle diverse brand expressions and strategic priorities efficiently.

Methodology:

• The role emphasizes a blend of strategic brand building and data-driven optimization, suggesting an operations methodology that values both creative vision and performance metrics.
• Expect a culture that supports continuous improvement, innovation, and customer-centricity in all creative endeavors.
• Collaboration and clear communication are likely key operational methodologies, ensuring alignment across diverse teams and external partners.

Company Website: https://jobs.ebayinc.com/us/en

📝 Enhancement Note: eBay's long history and position as a global marketplace mean that operational efficiency and scalability are critical. The company culture likely values innovation, customer focus, and collaboration, which are essential for a Head of Design to successfully manage diverse brand creative needs. Understanding how the design team integrates with broader business operations will be key.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior leadership position, equivalent to an executive or director-level role within the creative operations sphere. It demands strategic oversight, team leadership, and significant impact on brand perception and customer engagement. Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, a Head of Design typically reports to a VP of Marketing, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), or a similar senior executive. The role involves managing direct reports (designers, ACDs) and influencing cross-functional teams. Operations Impact: The Head of Design is pivotal in shaping eBay's brand identity and customer experience across key U.S. verticals. Their work directly influences brand perception, customer acquisition, engagement, and ultimately, revenue through effective creative marketing.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Opportunity to refine leadership skills by managing a diverse team and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Strategic Impact: Play a key role in defining and evolving the creative strategy for major eBay verticals, contributing to the company's overall market position.
• Industry Exposure: Gain deep experience within the e-commerce and marketplace sector, working with diverse categories like fashion, collectibles, and luxury goods.
• Cross-Functional Expertise: Develop a broader understanding of business operations by collaborating closely with marketing, product, and merchandising teams.
• Team Building: Opportunity to shape and grow the Brand Creative team, defining its structure and capabilities for future success.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations professionals, this role represents a significant opportunity to apply strategic thinking and process management to the creative function. The growth path likely involves broader leadership responsibilities within marketing or brand operations, or specialization in high-impact creative strategy.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is an on-site role, indicating a traditional office environment where in-person collaboration and team presence are expected. Office Location(s): The role is available in Atlanta, Georgia, and Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Candidates should be prepared to work from one of these designated office locations.

Workspace Context:

• The office setting will likely facilitate direct collaboration with marketing, product, and other internal teams, fostering a dynamic and integrated work environment.
• Expect access to standard office technology and creative software suites necessary for design and campaign management.
• Opportunities for spontaneous brainstorming and direct mentorship are more prevalent in an on-site setting, benefiting team cohesion and creative synergy.

Work Schedule: The full-time role likely adheres to standard business hours, but leadership responsibilities may necessitate flexibility to accommodate project timelines and cross-functional team needs. The emphasis on creative output and campaign management suggests an environment that values results and responsiveness.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is typical for leadership roles where direct team management and cross-functional collaboration are paramount. For operations professionals, understanding the office culture and how it supports efficient workflow and communication is important.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely involves a review of your resume and portfolio by a recruiter or hiring manager to assess basic qualifications and creative experience.
• Portfolio Presentation: Candidates will likely be asked to present their portfolio, discussing key projects, their role, the creative process, and the impact achieved. This is a critical step to evaluate leadership, strategic thinking, and operational approach.
• Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with cross-functional partners (e.g., Marketing, Product leads) to assess collaboration skills, strategic alignment, and understanding of business objectives.
• Team Interviews: Meetings with potential direct reports or peers to evaluate leadership style, mentorship capabilities, and cultural fit.
• Executive Interview: A final interview with a senior leader (e.g., CMO, VP) to assess strategic vision, executive presence, and alignment with eBay's overall business goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio by vertical or campaign type, clearly outlining the objective, your strategy, the creative execution, and the results.
• Process Focus: Be prepared to discuss the operational aspects of your projects: how you managed timelines, budgets (if applicable), team collaboration, agency briefs, and how you ensured quality and consistency.
• Impact & Metrics: Quantify the impact of your creative work whenever possible. Discuss how you used data to inform decisions and measure success.
• Leadership Examples: Include examples that demonstrate your ability to lead teams, mentor talent, and manage stakeholders effectively.
• Tailoring: Highlight projects that align with eBay's verticals (Fashion, Collectibles, Motors, Luxury) and demonstrate an understanding of their target audiences.

Challenge Preparation:

• Creative Briefing Exercise: You might be given a hypothetical creative brief and asked to outline your strategic approach and initial creative concepts.
• Team Management Scenario: Be prepared to discuss how you would handle common leadership challenges, such as motivating a team, resolving creative differences, or managing underperformance.
• Brand Strategy Discussion: Expect questions about your philosophy on brand building, evolving brand expression, and maintaining brand consistency across diverse platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a senior role like this will heavily scrutinize your ability to manage complex creative operations. Demonstrating a structured approach to project management, team leadership, and strategic execution through your portfolio and interview responses will be key.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design Software: Proficiency in industry-standard design tools such as Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, Premiere Pro), Figma, Sketch, or similar is expected.
• Project Management Tools: Experience with tools like Asana, Trello, Monday.com, or Jira for managing creative workflows, timelines, and team tasks.
• Collaboration Platforms: Familiarity with tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace for day-to-day communication and collaboration.
• Digital Asset Management (DAM) Systems: Experience with systems for organizing, storing, and retrieving creative assets.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Understanding of tools like Google Analytics to track campaign performance and website engagement.
• Social Media Analytics: Familiarity with native analytics dashboards for platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, etc.
• Data Visualization Tools: Experience with tools like Tableau, Power BI, or Looker for presenting creative performance data.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: While not directly managing CRM, understanding how creative assets are utilized within CRM campaigns (e.g., email marketing) is beneficial.
• Marketing Automation Platforms: Familiarity with platforms like Marketo, HubSpot, or Salesforce Marketing Cloud for campaign execution.
• Integration Tools: Understanding of how creative assets are integrated into various marketing technology stacks.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is focused on creative leadership, a strong understanding of the technology stack used for campaign execution, asset management, and performance tracking is crucial for effective operations management. The ability to interface with teams that manage these systems and to ensure creative assets are optimized for them is important.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A deep understanding of the customer and a commitment to creating experiences that resonate with them.
• Excellence & Craft: A dedication to high-quality design, attention to detail, and a pursuit of creative innovation.
• Collaboration: A proactive approach to working with cross-functional teams, valuing diverse perspectives and shared goals.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing insights and metrics to inform creative strategy and optimize performance.
• Efficiency & Scalability: Developing creative processes and assets that can be managed effectively across multiple verticals and campaigns.
• Bold Ideas: Encouraging a culture where innovative thinking and experimentation are welcomed.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Actively seeking out and building strong relationships with Marketing, Merchandising, Product, and other departments to ensure creative aligns with broader business objectives.
• Constructive Dialogue: Engaging in open and honest communication, providing and receiving feedback constructively to improve creative output and team dynamics.
• Partnership Management: Effectively briefing and managing both internal teams and external agencies to achieve shared goals and maintain high standards.
• Knowledge Sharing: Promoting a culture where learnings from campaigns and processes are shared to benefit the entire team and organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "data-driven decision making" and "efficiency & scalability" highlights the operational mindset expected in this creative leadership role. Understanding how to translate business goals into creative operations, and how to measure the effectiveness of those operations, will be critical.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Multiple Verticals: Effectively managing distinct brand identities and creative needs for diverse categories like Fashion, Collectibles, Motors, and Luxury requires strong organizational and strategic planning skills.
• Maintaining Brand Consistency: Ensuring a cohesive brand expression across all touchpoints while allowing for vertical-specific nuances presents an ongoing operational challenge.
• Integrating Data with Creativity: Successfully merging data-driven insights with creative intuition to produce impactful campaigns requires a sophisticated approach to creative operations.
• Managing External Agencies: Effectively briefing, managing, and evaluating the performance of multiple external agency partners requires robust process and clear communication protocols.
• Leading and Inspiring a Team: Motivating and developing a creative team in a dynamic, large-scale organization requires strong leadership and mentorship capabilities.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic Brand Evolution: Opportunity to shape the future of brand expression for a globally recognized marketplace.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Developing skills in influencing and collaborating with diverse business units.
• E-commerce & Marketplace Dynamics: Deepening expertise in the unique creative marketing challenges and opportunities within the e-commerce sector.
• Team Growth and Development: Opportunity to build and mentor a high-performing creative team, fostering talent and establishing best practices.
• Exposure to Senior Leadership: Gaining visibility and experience by presenting to and collaborating with eBay's executive team.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations professionals, the challenges presented are opportunities to apply process improvement and strategic thinking. For instance, managing multiple verticals can be streamlined with well-defined creative workflows and asset management systems.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Creative Vision & Strategy: "How would you define and execute a cohesive creative strategy for eBay's diverse verticals, ensuring brand consistency while allowing for category-specific appeal?" Prepare to discuss your approach to brand architecture and expression.
• Team Leadership & Development: "Describe your philosophy on leading creative teams. How do you motivate designers, provide constructive feedback, and foster professional growth?" Be ready to share specific examples of mentorship success.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: "How do you ensure alignment between creative output and business objectives when working with Marketing, Product, and Merchandising teams?" Focus on your communication and stakeholder management strategies.
• Problem-Solving & Innovation: "Walk us through a time you faced a significant creative challenge or needed to drive innovation within a brand. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" Highlight your problem-solving methodology and ability to think outside the box.
• Data-Driven Creativity: "How do you balance creative intuition with data-driven insights to optimize campaign performance?" Be prepared to discuss how you measure creative effectiveness and use analytics to inform your work.

Company & Culture Questions:

• eBay's Brand: "What is your perception of eBay's current brand expression, and where do you see opportunities for evolution?" Research eBay's recent campaigns and brand messaging.
• Industry Trends: "How do you stay current with design and marketing trends, particularly within e-commerce and specific categories like fashion and collectibles?" Demonstrate your industry awareness.
• Team Dynamics: "How do you foster a collaborative and inclusive environment within a creative team?" Discuss your approach to team building and conflict resolution.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative-Driven: Structure your presentation around compelling stories for each project, focusing on the problem, your strategic solution, the creative execution, and tangible results.
• Operational Clarity: Be ready to articulate the operational processes you employed – how you managed timelines, collaborated with stakeholders, briefed agencies, and ensured quality control.
• Quantifiable Impact: Emphasize metrics and KPIs that demonstrate the business impact of your creative work. Use charts and data visualizations where appropriate.
• Conciseness: Respect the time allotted and focus on your most relevant and impactful projects.
• Enthusiasm: Convey your passion for design, brand building, and the opportunity to contribute to eBay's success.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this role, interview preparation should heavily focus on demonstrating not just creative talent but also strong operational management capabilities. Be prepared to discuss your processes for managing creative projects, teams, and stakeholders efficiently and effectively.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Head of Design – Brand Creative position:

• Submit Your Application: Navigate to the provided job link and complete the online application form. Ensure all required fields are filled accurately.
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight your experience in brand creative leadership, multi-vertical management, team mentorship, and campaign development. Showcase projects that demonstrate your strategic thinking and operational approach to creative execution.
• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 10+ years of creative leadership experience, emphasizing achievements and quantifiable results. Use keywords from the job description naturally.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your portfolio projects, focusing on the operational aspects of your creative process, team management strategies, and how your work drove business impact. Prepare thoughtful questions for the interviewers.
• Company Research: Thoroughly research eBay's current brand initiatives, target verticals, and company culture. Understand their market position and how creative operations contribute to their overall business strategy.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.