Directive Consulting is the leading B2B performance marketing agency that delivers real revenue—not just leads.
We use Customer Generation (a marketing methodology developed by us) to cut through the noise. Forget MQLs—we’re here to drive pipeline, fuel SQLs, and scale brands that are serious about growth. From Paid Media and SEO to CRO, RevOps, and Go-To-Market Strategy, we build marketing engines that win in SaaS and across B2B industries.
We move fast. We think boldly. We are elite. We hire people who challenge the status quo and push campaigns past what’s expected - sparking demand for bold, innovative brands. If you live for performance, love solving hard problems, and want your work to actually mean something, you’ll fit right in.
But here’s the fun part—we don’t just deliver results; we’re shaping the future of marketing. Ready to build something that breaks the mold?
About The Role:
We're looking for a Senior Creative Manager to lead our Performance Design department — a team that sits at the intersection of creative craft and performance marketing. This is not a traditional creative manager role. You'll be equally responsible for the strategic direction of the department and the day-to-day development of the people and work within it. You'll inherit a team with strong momentum, an established methodology, and a clear positioning — and your job is to scale it.
This role reports to senior leadership and manages the full Performance Design team, including designers, project management, and motion contractors.
What You'll Do
Creative Leadership & Output
Own the creative vision and quality standard for the Performance Design department
Ensure all work meets both craft and conversion benchmarks — great looking and built to perform
Review and elevate creative across paid social, display, video, and landing page formats
People Management & Team Development
Lead, coach, and develop a multidisciplinary team of designers, project managers, and motion contractors
Set clear expectations, foster accountability, and build a culture where creative people do their best work
Identify growth opportunities for team members and actively invest in their development
Strategy & Client Partnership
Partner closely with paid media and client success teams to ensure creative is data-informed from the start
Represent the department in new business pitches and client conversations
Articulate the value of Performance Design as a strategic capability, not just an execution function
Financial Ownership
Own and manage the department P&L
Monitor margins, manage resourcing decisions with financial impact in mind, and ensure the department operates as a profitable, scalable business unit
Think and operate like an owner
AI & Technology Integration
Lead adoption of AI creative tools across the team
Identify where emerging technologies can sharpen output and improve efficiency
Build AI into real production workflows — not just as a proof of concept
What You Bring
Experience & Background
5+ years in creative roles within performance marketing, paid media, or growth-focused agency environments
Proven track record managing creative teams and balancing creative quality with business outcomes
Comfortable presenting department strategy to VPs and CMOs just as much as reviewing a creative brief
Business Acumen
Strong understanding of how a creative department operates as a business
Direct experience managing or having visibility into P&L, margin, and resourcing decisions
You think like an owner and make decisions with financial impact in mind
AI & Tools
Hands-on experience with AI creative tools — generative image, AI-powered video, design analytics, or similar
Knows how to integrate AI into real production workflows, not just demo it
Experience with platforms like EyeQuant, Creatify, or Superside is a plus
Communication & Stakeholder Management
Strong communicator who can translate creative thinking into business language
Track record of building trust with both creative practitioners and senior leadership
What Success Looks Like
In the first 90 days, you've built strong relationships across the team and key internal stakeholders, identified gaps in methodology and workflow, and begun making your mark on the department's output.
Within six months, you're running the department with full confidence — driving creative quality, owning margin targets, making smart resourcing decisions, and positioning Performance Design as a competitive differentiator in new business conversations.
What We Offer
🏠 Compensation for this role includes a competitive base salary
🙏 Medical, dental, vision plans, disability, and life insurance coverage for you and your family that fit your lifestyle
Including a 100% employer-paid plan for you and a 50% employer contribution for your dependents
Benefits to Support the Whole Person:
🧠 Mental - Access to certified therapists through Spring Health, membership to Headspace
💪 Physical - Gympass
🛫 Time Off - Unlimited PTO (2-week minimum), Paid Company Holidays, Your Birthday Off, End of Year Recharge (Closed December 24 - January 1), Paid Parental Leave
💰 Financial - Traditional and Roth 401(k) with a 3% company match
🌟 Bonus - Annual bonus based on tenure, which scales in total amount over time
🌴 Annual Anniversary Trip with peers and executive leadership for fun and entertainment!
Work Environment Requirements
As a remote-first company, you’ll have the ability to work from anywhere in the US, with the option to enjoy our state-of-the-art offices in Irvine, California. For some positions, as posted, we will accommodate global opportunities where we have established businesses, including Canada, the UK, and Australia. For global locations, you must have established and current work authorization and permanently reside in that country.
This role has the opportunity to operate 100% virtually from your home office. We primarily collaborate with our colleagues through virtual meetings (Zoom), and Slack. In this role, you will be required to operate a laptop computer (PC or Mac available), computer software platforms, and other office productivity tools as necessary. Due to the nature of this role, you must be able to remain stationary for extended periods, must be able to observe and interpret written and/or verbal communication, must have reliable internet access, and a professional background.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
If you require reasonable accommodations in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, direct your inquiries to careers@directiveconsulting.com.
Additional Information
At Directive, one of our core values is People First. We’re committed to fostering a more diverse and inclusive culture in the digital landscape. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
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