Creative Director

About Instrument

Instrument is a design and technology company. We build brands, products, and experiences that move businesses forward—by making the complex simple. For over 20 years, we’ve partnered with companies like Google, ServiceNow, Uber, Eventbrite, and ŌURA, helping them navigate change, launch new ideas, and grow with intention. Our work spans Brand, Marketing, and Product, but what defines us is how we work. We bring strategy, design, and engineering together from the start, moving quickly from idea to execution and refining as we go. We aim to do great work and be great to work with, because both matter. We’re a collaborative, hands-on team with roots in Portland and New York and a distributed presence across the U.S. and Europe. We build teams around the needs of the work, staying nimble without sacrificing craft. We value curiosity, perspective, and continuous learning, and we’re committed to building an inclusive environment where people can do their best work.

The Role

We’re looking for a Creative Director who thrives at the intersection of product, brand, and storytelling—a highly autonomous creative leader who can guide complex digital work while building deep, trusted client relationships. This role will focus on one of Instrument’s most significant long-term client partnerships, operating as a key member of the account leadership team. You’ll help shape creative direction across a broad ecosystem of work spanning digital products, branded experiences, content, and campaign-driven initiatives. The ideal candidate brings strong product and systems thinking, but equally important is a deep commitment to visual craft, expression, and storytelling. We’re looking for someone who understands how to create digital experiences that feel branded, emotional, and culturally resonant—not just functional. You know how to move fluidly between strategy, creative direction, execution, and relationship-building. You’re comfortable presenting to senior stakeholders, mentoring teams, and stepping into the work when needed to help push ideas across the finish line.

What You'll Do

• Lead creative across a hybrid mix of digital product, brand, content, and campaign work
• Serve as a senior creative partner to client stakeholders, building trust and helping grow long-term relationships
• Operate as an autonomous leader within a complex, fast-moving account environment
• Guide teams in designing expressive digital experiences across web, platforms, and ecosystem-level initiatives
• Elevate the quality of the work through strong creative direction, visual craft, typography, and storytelling
• Shape ideas from concept through execution, helping teams refine and strengthen the work at every stage
• Partner closely with strategy, technology, production, and account leadership to align creative vision and delivery
• Lead presentations and creative discussions with confidence, clarity, and strong narrative thinking
• Mentor and inspire multidisciplinary teams, fostering an environment of experimentation, collaboration, and creative ambition
• Help identify opportunities for account growth and expanded creative partnership
• Stay engaged in the work itself—contributing hands-on when needed to move projects forward or unblock teams

What You'll Bring

• You’ve led creative work at a high level and are comfortable shaping direction across multiple projects, teams, or accounts.
• You have a strong point of view on design, storytelling, and systems—and know how to translate ideas into compelling, effective experiences.
• You understand how to balance ambition with execution, making decisions that support both creative excellence and real-world constraints.
• You’re an effective communicator and presenter, able to articulate ideas clearly, guide discussions, and build trust with senior clients and stakeholders.
• You have experience mentoring and developing creative talent, and you care about building strong teams.