Director, Design Studio- SalonCentric

DIRECTOR, DESIGN STUDIO

Location: Clearwater, FL

We are seeking a seasoned and visionary Design Studio Director to spearhead our newly formed department. This is an excellent opportunity for highly-skilled leader and executor with over 15 years of progressive experience who has demonstrated a profound impact on design excellence and innovation across the full spectrum of visual communication—from static graphic design and intricate photo manipulation to dynamic motion graphics, compelling animation, high-production video, and AI-driven design.

The Director Design Studio brings bold vision, cultural fluency, and a strong fashion and beauty sensibility that elevates brand identity and translates creative energy into measurable business impact across all marketing channels including store, street, e-commerce, social, etc. This role demands a strategic thinker, creative personality, and master practitioner with fluency across the most advanced design software. You will be instrumental in shaping our brand's future visual identity, bridging artistic vision and technological mastery, cultivating a world-class creative team, and driving solutions that captivate audiences and define market trends.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Vision & Creative Leadership:
• With the AVP, Design Studio, define and champion a long-term creative vision and strategy integrating graphic, motion, animation, video, and AI design principles to elevate brand positioning and achieve ambitious business objectives.
• With the AVP, Design Studio, position the Design Studio as an innovation lab that blends speed, scale, and storytelling.
• Direct the creation and development of visually stunning and emotionally resonant content across all mediums, ensuring cohesive brand storytelling and consistent execution.
• Serve as the penultimate creative authority, providing inspirational leadership and decisive direction on all major design initiatives.
• Combines artistic vision with business impact, using brand storytelling as a driver of both cultural relevance and financial growth.
• Proactively anticipate industry shifts, emerging technologies, and consumer behavior to continuously evolve our creative approach, connecting creative strategy with innovation and market leadership to maintain a competitive edge.
• Identify new revenue opportunities through monetization, brand partnerships, and co-branded content.
• Expert Technical Command & Innovation:
• Act as the department's foremost technical expert and hands-on guru, possessing deep, demonstrable mastery across the entire suite of advanced design software. This includes, but is not limited to:
• Photo Manipulation & Retouching: Expert-level proficiency in Adobe Photoshop for complex compositing, advanced color grading, and photorealistic rendering.
• Vector Illustration & Graphic Design: Expert-level proficiency in Adobe Illustrator for intricate illustration, technical diagrams, and scalable brand assets.
• Motion Graphics & Animation: Expertise in Adobe After Effects and 3D software (e.g., Cinema 4D, Blender) for sophisticated motion design, character animation, and visual effects.
• Video Production & Post-Production: Facility in Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and/or related tools for high-quality video editing, color correction, and mastering.
• AI-Driven Design & Generative Tools: Facility in leveraging leading AI platforms (e.g., Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, DALL-E,RunwayML, Adobe Firefly) for concept generation, asset creation, and workflow optimization.
• Ensure the highest quality and consistency of all visual and verbal brand communications across all channels, including video/tv, digital, print, social media, visual merchandising in a multi-brand environment, store design, and experiential.
• Drive the adoption, integration, and continuous learning of new technologies and tools that push the boundaries of visual innovation and creative efficiency.
• Team Mentorship & Operational Excellence:
• Help build a new team of diverse, high-performing designers, fostering a culture of technical excellence, artistic growth, and collaborative innovation.
• Hands on creative leader to inspire and manage daily operations of Design Studio team, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence. Oversee the execution of retail creative projects created by the AVP, Design Studio and external agencies, ensuring alignment with brand strategy and marketing goals.
• Establish and optimize robust creative workflows, processes, and best practices to ensure seamless project execution, exceptional quality, and timely delivery across all design disciplines.
• Oversee resource allocation and project prioritization, for the entire creative services department.
• Internal, Cross-Functional & External Partnership:
• Collaborate extensively with Marketing, Digital Marketing, Product Development, and Sales teams to align creative strategies with business objectives.
• Act as a primary liaison with external brand agencies, production houses, and technology partners, ensuring all outputs rigorously adhere to and effectively implement our modern brand standards and guidelines.
• Represent the creative department as a senior stakeholder, effectively communicating complex design concepts and technical rationale to executive leadership and external partners.
  
  

Qualifications

• A comprehensive and rigorous design education, typically evidenced by a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Graphic Design, Motion Graphics, Animation, Digital Media, Fine Arts, or a closely related field from a reputable institution.
• 15 years of progressive leadership experience in a senior creative role (e.g., Design Director, Creative Director, Executive Art Director) within a fast-paced agency or in-house creative department(Beauty a plus).
• An exceptional portfolio showcasing a breadth of work across graphic, motion, animation, video, and AI design, demonstrating visionary thinking and technical skill.
• Unrivaled hands-on technical proficiency and expert-level command of leading design software for all listed disciplines, including Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, Premiere Pro), 3D modeling/animation software (e.g., Cinema 4D, Blender), and contemporary AI-driven creative tools.
• Exceptional leadership, mentorship, and team-building skills, with a track record of developing and empowering high-performing creative teams.
• Superior communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate complex creative concepts and technical strategies to diverse audiences.
• A strategic and analytical mindset, coupled with a highly creative and innovative approach to problem-solving.
• Comfort with ambiguity and a proven ability to thrive in an extremely fast-paced, evolving, and technologically advanced environment.
  
  

What’s In It For You

• Competitive Benefit Package (Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K)
• Hybrid Work Policy (3 Days in Office, 2 Days Work from Home)
• Flexible Time Off (Paid Company Holidays, Paid Vacation, Vacation Buy Program, Volunteer Time, Summer Fridays & More!)
• Access to Company Perks (VIP Access to L’Oréal’s Internal Shop for Discounted Products, Monthly Mobile Allowance)
• Learning & Development Opportunities for Career Progression (Unlimited Access to E-learnings, Lunch & Learn Sessions, Mentorship Programs, & More!)
• Employee Resource Groups (Think Tanks and Innovation Squads)
• Access to Mental Health & Wellness Programs