Associate Art Director - New York City

HOURGLASS COSMETICS — Associate Art Director (Hybrid Role) - NYC Based 

Connected by creativity and driven by purpose. Hourglass Cosmetics is a vegan and cruelty-free beauty brand, redefining luxury cosmetics with high-performance products, innovative formulas, and award-winning franchises. Recognized by Forbes, Fast Company and Time Magazine as one of the most inventive beauty companies, Hourglass leads the industry with its breakthrough products and its commitment to animal welfare. Founded in 2004, Hourglass is globally available in 32 markets and nearly 4,600 doors including Sephora, Ulta, Neiman Marcus, Selfridges, Space NK and more. Hourglass became part of the Unilever Prestige division in 2017. Discover more about the Hourglass brand story and mission on our website hourglasscosmetics.com

Our in-house Creative and Content Studio is responsible for concepting industry-leading campaigns and producing a wide range of content. We are looking to add a highly engaging and strategic Associate Art Director to join our expanding team and support our Creative Director in the creative stewardship, content ideation, and creation process. The ideal candidate will have deep experience in the luxury sector, with a strong understanding of consumer and cultural trends. In this role, you will execute and oversee design, art direction and strategy of the Hourglass brand identity across all communication and consumer touchpoints. In close partnership with the Creative Director, you will ensure that the brand maintains a clear and consistent visual representation. The role requires a strong creative thinker, who can shift between ideation and design to bring to life compelling brand stories for our audience across diverse communication channels including print, social, digital, retail, OOH and more.

You will report to the Creative Director, and work closely with Associate Creative Director, Art Directors, and Designers. This position requires a proactive creative thinker with an entrepreneurial mindset and passion for brand strategy, storytelling, and innovation. Superior communication skills and confidence in managing varying levels of stakeholders is essential. Strong vision, thought leadership, and emotional intelligence are a must.This is a unique career opportunity in a fast-paced, growth-stage, luxury beauty brand centered on innovation and creative excellence.

WHAT YOU DO:

• Act as a thought leader and strategic partner to the Creative Director in the development and evolution of brand identity, language, and visuals – demonstrating clear understanding of brand and business priorities.
• Support in upholding the creative direction and strategy for the Content and Creative teams, from concept through to execution – across the entire consumer journey and its touchpoints.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to translate business and marketing objectives into ideas that are clear, compelling, engaging and on-brand.
• Bring forward the most innovative creative techniques, design trends, top talent, and current industry trends and innovations.
• Provide additional mentorship to the design team, acting as key support to Creative Director. Ensure that all creative projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards.
• Foster a culture of creative support, innovation, collaboration, and excellence.

YOU’LL LOVE THIS JOB IF:

• You are CREATIVE: You are innovative and forward-thinking in your approach and mindset.
• You are highly STRATEGIC: You are able to develop creative concepts and vision that support brand and business goals.
• You are extremely ORGANIZED: You are not overwhelmed when tackling multiple tasks at a time.
• You are DETAIL ORIENTED: You appreciate the importance of having detailed and precise information.
• You are a strong COMMUNICATOR: You are a people person, natural leader and collaborate well with others.
• You are AGILE: You adapt well to changing needs and priorities and are able to pivot easily to achieve goals and deadlines.
• You are PASSIONATE about beauty: You are eager to learn and absorb all things related to beauty, creative and brand strategy.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum 3 years of related experience in a beauty/fashion/luxury agency or in-house environment.
• An exceptional portfolio of work showcasing video, print, and digital projects.
• Extensive experience in graphic design with an exceptional eye for typography and layout.
• On-set photography experience including conceptualization, art direction, photo/video production, retouching and cropping.  
• Experience in video including editing, motion graphics / animation, col