Creative Director

Apothékary is looking for a Creative Director with a strong background in brand, production, video, design, and advertising to lead our creative team. In this leadership position you will own the creative look and direction across all brand touch points including driving compelling narratives, innovative marketing campaigns, and creating high-performance advertising campaigns across all digital and retail channels. The role demands brilliance in ideas, craft, strategy, story-telling, inspiring and influencing the broader creative team to think differently and boldly in this trailblazing category. You thrive in a fast-paced and highly collaborative environment. You’re a strong executive communicator and an excellent people manager. This role reports directly to the Chief Marketing Officer.Responsibilities:Brand Vision & StrategyOwn the long-term evolution of the Apothékary brand, translating the founder's vision into a scalable brand strategy and positioningServe as guardian of brand identity and style guide across all touchpoints (advertising, digital/social, packaging, ecommerce, retail, experiential)Together with Brand Marketing, define brand architecture, messaging pillars, and key attributes for each launch, informed by consumer/cultural insights and competitive landscapeCreative Leadership & ExecutionDrive creative excellence and strategic rigor across all campaigns, ensuring work delivers against brief and brand strategyLead conceptualization and execution of digital ad and email campaigns (Meta, Google, TikTok, Email, SMS), optimizing performance through data analysis and A/B testingOwn end-to-end photo/video production — concepting, mood boards, shot lists, talent/location sourcing, and on-set directionOwn creative footprint and execution for all printed branded assets, including product packaging, mailers, branded retail print, direct mail, retail visual merchandising, etc.Support Social team with creative designs to ensure cohesive brand identity across all organic and paid touchpoints.Team ManagementManage and mentor a team of internal designers and external partners to set priorities, assign resources, and coach for growthLead brainstorms and build processes that maximize speed, iteration, and quality across paid, owned, and earned channelsCross-functional CollaborationPartner with marketing, product, and digital teams to shape and execute world-class, strategy-led creativePresent creative concepts and rationale to leadership and stakeholdersPerformance & BudgetTrack campaign performance (engagement, conversion, brand sentiment), reporting insights and optimization plansManage the creative budget for maximum impact and cost-effectivenessRequirementsBachelor’s and/or Masters degree in Design, Marketing, Advertising, Communications or related field8+ years of hands-on and proven experience in copywriting, brand strategy, and creative development, preferably within the CPG and wellness spaceAn outstanding portfolio demonstrating the ability to lead creative initiatives across a wide range of platforms on web, print, packaging, retail etc.Proven success of having demonstrated creativity and innovation with working knowledge of retail, DTC, and social media, emerging platforms and the evolving media landscapeThe ability to present and influence to strategic, brand-focused ideas to cross functional team members and leadershipExperience supporting a high-growth branded consumer goods business with the ability to work under tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment A leader who is hands-on by nature and has an exceptional level of timeliness and accuracy in his/her/their work. Experience in Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, FigmaProficient in Google SuiteUnquestionable ethics that drive leadership and behavior. Passion for wellness community and herbal medicine and a vision on how to connect with consumers in ways that have never been done beforeBonus Skills:Combination of in-house and agency experienceExperience in beauty and/or wellness industryFamiliar with Japanese heritage and design aestheticBenefits$150,000 - 180,000 annual salary, depending on experienceComprehensive health, dental and vision plans 15 PTO days12 monthly paid Mental Health Days in addition to PTOAbility to earn equity optionsMonthly Apothékary product stipend

Apothékary is looking for a Creative Director with a strong background in brand, production, video, design, and advertising to lead our creative team. In this leadership position you will own the creative look and direction across all brand touch points including driving compelling narratives, innovative marketing campaigns, and creating high-performance advertising campaigns across all digital and retail channels. The role demands brilliance in ideas, craft, strategy, story-telling, inspiring and influencing the broader creative team to think differently and boldly in this trailblazing category. You thrive in a fast-paced and highly collaborative environment. You’re a strong executive communicator and an excellent people manager. This role reports directly to the Chief Marketing Officer.

Responsibilities:

Brand Vision & Strategy

• Own the long-term evolution of the Apothékary brand, translating the founder's vision into a scalable brand strategy and positioning
• Serve as guardian of brand identity and style guide across all touchpoints (advertising, digital/social, packaging, ecommerce, retail, experiential)
• Together with Brand Marketing, define brand architecture, messaging pillars, and key attributes for each launch, informed by consumer/cultural insights and competitive landscape

Creative Leadership & Execution

• Drive creative excellence and strategic rigor across all campaigns, ensuring work delivers against brief and brand strategy
• Lead conceptualization and execution of digital ad and email campaigns (Meta, Google, TikTok, Email, SMS), optimizing performance through data analysis and A/B testing
• Own end-to-end photo/video production — concepting, mood boards, shot lists, talent/location sourcing, and on-set direction
• Own creative footprint and execution for all printed branded assets, including product packaging, mailers, branded retail print, direct mail, retail visual merchandising, etc.
• Support Social team with creative designs to ensure cohesive brand identity across all organic and paid touchpoints.

Team Management

• Manage and mentor a team of internal designers and external partners to set priorities, assign resources, and coach for growth
• Lead brainstorms and build processes that maximize speed, iteration, and quality across paid, owned, and earned channels

Cross-functional Collaboration

• Partner with marketing, product, and digital teams to shape and execute world-class, strategy-led creative
• Present creative concepts and rationale to leadership and stakeholders

Performance & Budget

• Track campaign performance (engagement, conversion, brand sentiment), reporting insights and optimization plans
• Manage the creative budget for maximum impact and cost-effectiveness

Requirements

• Bachelor’s and/or Masters degree in Design, Marketing, Advertising, Communications or related field
• 8+ years of hands-on and proven experience in copywriting, brand strategy, and creative development, preferably within the CPG and wellness space
• An outstanding portfolio demonstrating the ability to lead creative initiatives across a wide range of platforms on web, print, packaging, retail etc.
• Proven success of having demonstrated creativity and innovation with working knowledge of retail, DTC, and social media, emerging platforms and the evolving media landscape
• The ability to present and influence to strategic, brand-focused ideas to cross functional team members and leadership
• Experience supporting a high-growth branded consumer goods business with the ability to work under tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• A leader who is hands-on by nature and has an exceptional level of timeliness and accuracy in his/her/their work.
• Experience in Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, Figma
• Proficient in Google Suite
• Unquestionable ethics that drive leadership and behavior.
• Passion for wellness community and herbal medicine and a vision on how to connect with consumers in ways that have never been done before

Bonus Skills:

• Combination of in-house and agency experience
• Experience in beauty and/or wellness industry
• Familiar with Japanese heritage and design aesthetic

Benefits

• $150,000 - 180,000 annual salary, depending on experience
• Comprehensive health, dental and vision plans
• 15 PTO days
• 12 monthly paid Mental Health Days in addition to PTO
• Ability to earn equity options
• Monthly Apothékary product stipend

Apothékary started with our founder, Shizu Okusa, and her family’s traditional Japanese approach to healing — using nature as medicine instead of over-the-counter fixes. In many Eastern cultures, traditional medicine in the form of plants and herb has been used for centuries to address the root cause of common ailments. That’s exactly what we strive to do here at Apothékary - we’re here to not just treat the symptom, but get to the root cause of your wellness woes. The demands of our modern life disconnect us from our inherent state of being. At times, we can forget what it feels like to live in harmony with the natural world. Ancient healing traditions take cues from nature to holistically support our mind, body, and spirit. With daily practice, we’re reminded of what harmony feels like and we wonder how we ever lived without it. Apothékary is on a mission to give ancient, plant-based healing traditions new life—so that you can live a more balanced one. All of our Signature Formulas are thoughtfully formulated by our in-house Clinical Herbalists, pulling from traditional medicine modalities like Japanese Kampo, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, and American herbalism. The result is simple yet effective herbal remedies with tradition and modern science in mind. Each formula contains herbs from local and global farmers with ingredients that are non-GMO, gluten-free, and contain no added sugar, fillers, or additives. In essence, they’re nature’s best remedies—plain and simple. And the best part is, they actually work to address the root cause instead of masking the symptoms. Come with us and reembark on your journey back to balance with Apothékary.

Apothékary started with our founder, Shizu Okusa, and her family’s traditional Japanese approach to healing — using nature as medicine instead of over-the-counter fixes. In many Eastern cultures, traditional medicine in the form of plants and herb has been used for centuries to address the root cause of common ailments.

That’s exactly what we strive to do here at Apothékary - we’re here to not just treat the symptom, but get to the root cause of your wellness woes.

The demands of our modern life disconnect us from our inherent state of being. At times, we can forget what it feels like to live in harmony with the natural world. Ancient healing traditions take cues from nature to holistically support our mind, body, and spirit. With daily practice, we’re reminded of what harmony feels like and we wonder how we ever lived without it.

Apothékary is on a mission to give ancient, plant-based healing traditions new life—so that you can live a more balanced one. All of our Signature Formulas are thoughtfully formulated by our in-house Clinical Herbalists, pulling from traditional medicine modalities like Japanese Kampo, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, and American herbalism. The result is simple yet effective herbal remedies with tradition and modern science in mind.

Each formula contains herbs from local and global farmers with ingredients that are non-GMO, gluten-free, and contain no added sugar, fillers, or additives. In essence, they’re nature’s best remedies—plain and simple. And the best part is, they actually work to address the root cause instead of masking the symptoms.

Come with us and reembark on your journey back to balance with Apothékary.