Principal Associate, Art Director (Auto)

Principal Associate, Art Director (Auto)

Capital One Auto is seeking an experienced Art Director who is a true multidisciplinary powerhouse. You are a visual storyteller who doesn't just stop at the layout—you have the ability to craft the verbal narrative, capture the footage, and bring designs to life through motion.

We need a "maker" who can balance high-level brand strategy with a boots-on-the-ground approach to content creation. As a Principal Associate, you will develop high-level creative strategy while remaining "hands-on-tools," working side by side with brand strategists and providing consultative guidance to cross-functional partners. 

A portfolio is required –  demonstrating a wide variety of work across multiple campaigns, including print, digital, social, and omni-channel.

Key Responsibilities

• End-to-End Creative Execution: Own the full creative process, from conceptualizing and writing initial copy to final visual execution across print, digital, and mobile.

• Agile Video Production: Lead "scrappy" or lean video shoots—from storyboarding and directing to operating the camera—to create authentic, high-quality content for social, web, and internal use.

• Motion & Narrative: Transform captured footage and static concepts into dynamic stories using Adobe After Effects and Premiere.

• Digital Collaboration: Design high-fidelity prototypes in Figma, ensuring all work is grounded in a deep understanding of HTML/CSS constraints and possibilities.

• Strategic Partnership: Partner with brand managers and data scientists to translate complex data into performance-driven creative that resonates with B2B audiences.

• Leadership: Manage your own workload in a fast-paced environment, providing mentorship to junior staff and managing contractors or agencies as needed.

The Ideal Candidate

• A Resourceful Maker: You know how to produce high-quality results with lean resources. You’re comfortable picking up a camera (or an iPhone), setting up a shot, and "making it happen" on the fly.

• A Verbal & Visual Thinker: You have the rare ability to write compelling copy that complements your visual designs, ensuring a cohesive brand voice.

• A Dynamic Creator: You don't just design for static screens; you understand pacing, timing, and movement in digital storytelling.

• Technically Fluent: You speak the language of developers. You understand how your designs in Figma translate to the web, making the handoff process seamless.

Technical Toolkit

• Motion & Video: Expert proficiency in Adobe After Effects and Adobe Premiere; experience with basic lighting, sound, and camera operation for agile video shoots.

• Adobe Creative Cloud: Expert-level proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.

• Product Design: Advanced skills in Figma for web and app placements.

• Web Literacy: A strong foundational understanding of HTML and CSS to ensure design feasibility and effective collaboration with developers.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree or military experience

• At least 5 years of creative agency, marketing agency or in-house creative experience demonstrated through a portfolio of digital and print experience

• At least 5 years in the following Adobe Creative Suite CC apps: Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign

• At least 3 years in the following Adobe Creative Suite CC apps: Premiere Pro, After Effects

• At least 2 years experience working with a prototyping software, such as: Figma or Adobe XD

• At least 3 years experience in email, mobile and digital design

Preferred Qualifications:

• 2+ years experience working with or presenting to senior leaders

• 2+ years experience in B2B marketing

• 2+ years experience working in a cross functional environment

• Ability to run scrappy photo shoots/operate a DSLR camera 

At this time, Capital One will not sponsor a new applicant for employment authorization for this position.

The minimum and maximum full-time annual salaries for this r