KAYAK

Associate Creative Director

KAYAK

full-time

Posted on:

Location Type: Hybrid

Location: Cambridge • Massachusetts • United States

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Salary

💰 $100,000 - $120,000 per year

Job Level

Lead

About the role

  • Concept and direct multi-channel campaigns across OOH, digital, social, film/video, experiential, CRM, and web.
  • Produce polished, high-impact design work that reinforces KAYAK’s visual identity and elevates the consumer experience
  • Apply strong storytelling and brand-building instincts to every stage of creative development
  • Partner with the Senior Creative Director to shape creative direction, refine brand expression and develop campaign platforms.
  • Ensure visual coherence and craft across all touch-points, from big ideas to detailed execution.
  • Evolve and maintain brand design systems, templates and guidelines
  • Provide day-to-day guidance, inspiration and support to your direct reports, fostering growth and ensuring high standards.
  • Collaborate with writers, producers, strategists and marketing partners to bring integrated ideas to life
  • Translate strategic briefs into creative ideas that meet business objectives and differentiate KAYAK.
  • Present concepts and rationale confidently to senior cross-functional partners.
  • Manage multiple projects simultaneously, balancing hands-on work with team leadership
  • Use performance data and user insights to refine creative approaches
  • Support experimentation across digital formats, AI tools and new storytelling methods.

Requirements

  • 8+ years of art or creative direction experience at a creative agency or fast-paced in-house brand studio, with a proven track record of developing integrated, multi-channel campaigns.
  • A portfolio demonstrating integrated campaign experience, alongside strong concepts, craft, and results
  • Fluency in Adobe Creative Suite and Figma; comfort with AI-driven creative capabilities.
  • Solid understanding of typography, composition, color, motion and digital design fundamentals.
  • Strong experience partnering with production teams, directors, editors, photographers and content creators.
  • Comfortable presenting creative ideas to senior audiences and cross-functional partners
  • Experience with systems management - both from the perspective of building or adapting brand guidelines and organizing assets.
  • Experience mentoring or leading designers and copywriters, with a collaborative and inclusive approach.
  • Proven organization, prioritization and project-management skills within fast-paced environments.
  • A proactive, solutions-oriented mindset and enthusiasm for travel, technology and creative innovation.
Benefits
  • Work from (almost) anywhere for up to 20 days per year
  • Focus on mental health and well-being:
  • Company-paid therapy sessions through SpringHealth
  • Company-paid subscription to HeadSpace
  • Company-wide week off a year - the whole team fully recharges (and returns without a pile-up of work!)
  • No meeting Fridays
  • Paid parental leave
  • Generous paid vacation + time off for your birthday
  • Paid volunteer time
  • Focus on your career growth:
  • Development Dollars
  • Leadership development
  • Access to thousands of on-demand e-learnings
  • Travel Discounts
  • Employee Resource Groups
  • Competitive retirement and health plans
  • Free lunch 2 days per week
  • Fun quarterly events such as boat trips, arcades, ski trips, Thursday happy hours, and more

Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard skills
art directioncreative directionmulti-channel campaignstypographycompositioncolor theorymotion designdigital designsystems managementproject management
Soft skills
storytellingbrand-buildingcollaborationmentoringpresentation skillsorganizationprioritizationproactive mindsetsolutions-orientedleadership