Creative Director, Brand

Upstart

Senior Creative Director leading brand strategy and creative vision for Upstart's AI lending marketplace. Shaping brand identity and campaign execution across digital and traditional channels.

Posted 4/28/2026full-timeRemote • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $195,800 - $271,000 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead creative strategy and execution across Upstart's owned brand channels: organic social, our website, and brand design systems.
Grow, inspire, and develop a multi-disciplinary creative team across brand disciplines—setting a high creative standard, delivering direct and actionable feedback, and building the kind of team culture where talented people come to do their best work.
Drive brand campaign creative from concept to delivery, including leading both internal development and directing agency partners across TV, OOH, digital, and emerging media
Actively evolve how Upstart uses AI tools to accelerate creative output without sacrificing craft
Partner closely with Marketing, Product, and senior leadership to align creative strategy with business goals — showing up as a trusted creative thought partner across the organization, not just a creative executor.

Requirements

What you’ll need

10+ years of experience in brand creative, design, or creative direction, with at least 4+ years leading and managing multi-disciplinary creative teams.
Demonstrated experience overseeing brand campaign development end-to-end across channels including TV, OOH, and digital with both internal teams and external agency partners.
Portfolio showcasing excellence in brand identity work, visual design systems, and effective metrics-driving, multi-channel campaign creative.
Proven track record of developing creative talent and building team culture across disciplines.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Competitive compensation, including base pay, bonus opportunities, and annual equity grants that vest quarterly
Generous 401(k) plan with Upstart matching $2 for every $1 contributed, up to $15,000 per year
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) with discounted stock purchase options for eligible employees
Affordable medical, dental, and vision coverage, with multiple plan options - Upstart covers 90% to 100% of the cost depending on the plans you choose
Health Savings Account contributions from Upstart for eligible plans
Income protection benefits, including company-paid Basic Life, AD&D, and Short- and Long-Term Disability coverage, with options to purchase supplemental coverage
Paid time off, sick and safe time, and company holidays
Paid family and parental leave to support caregiving and major life moments
Family-centered benefits through Carrot and Cleo, supporting fertility, parenthood, and caregiving
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering mental health support and life-centered resources
Financial wellness resources, including access to financial planning tools and a financial concierge service
Annual wellness allowance to support your physical and emotional well-being and personal development, based on what matters most to you
Annual productivity allowance to invest in relevant tools and resources you need to do your best work, no matter where you work from
Connection and community through team events and onsites, all-company updates, and employee resource groups (ERGs)
Onsite perks, including catered lunches and fully stocked micro-kitchens when working from one of our four offices, located in the Bay Area, Austin, Columbus, and New York City (opening Summer 2026!).

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

brand creativecreative directiondesign systemscampaign developmentvisual designmulti-channel campaignsAI tools

Soft Skills

team leadershipcreative strategyfeedback deliveryteam culture developmentcollaboration