Associate Creative Director - Design

About SharkNinja

SharkNinja is a leading global company specializing in product design and technology, offering a range of highly-rated lifestyle products that improve people’s everyday lives worldwide. The company operates under two renowned brands, Shark and Ninja, and has a proven track record of disruptive innovation across diverse product categories, contributing to remarkable growth and market presence. Headquartered in Needham, Massachusetts, SharkNinja employs over 4,100 associates and distributes its products through major retailers, online platforms, and distributors globally.

AI Leadership

Committed to an AI-native culture, SharkNinja encourages embracing new technologies and continuous innovation to enhance consumer impact. The company fosters bold experimentation and adoption of cutting-edge tools to push the limits of design and product development.

Role Overview

The Associate Creative Director (ACD) - Design role, located in the Creative Design Hub in Manhattan’s Flatiron District, combines conceptual leadership with hands-on execution. This role involves collaborating closely with product development, consumer insights, and brand marketing teams to transform innovation into striking visual storytelling. The ACD is responsible for creating product identities from inception and building scalable design systems that ensure product dominance across all consumer touchpoints.

Responsibilities

• Develop product identities from the ground up, partnering with insights and engineering teams to craft positioning, naming, visual identity, and design language for innovative product lines.
• Create comprehensive visual systems that integrate packaging, direct-to-consumer, retail channels including Amazon, social media, OTT/video, and experiential marketing platforms.
• Lead and oversee production of visual assets across multiple media channels, serving as lead art director for photo and video shoots to align execution with strategic goals.
• Drive an AI-integrated workflow, utilizing Figma, AI-based generation tools, and emerging platforms to accelerate design ideation and iteration processes.
• Mentor and lead junior to mid-level designers, nurturing a culture centered on craftsmanship, ownership, and collaborative excellence.
• Effectively pitch and communicate creative strategies to executive leadership, converting complex objectives into compelling visual presentations.

Candidate Profile

• Minimum of 8 years’ experience in fast-paced creative agencies or innovative in-house creative departments, preferably with direct exposure to consumer product marketing.
• Exceptional portfolio displaying advanced conceptual thinking, superior visual sensibility, and expertise across packaging, digital commerce, social media content, and motion design.
• Strong systems thinking ability, envisioning a cohesive brand ecosystem rather than isolated campaigns.
• Proficient in modern design workflows with advanced skills in Figma and Adobe Creative Suite; actively incorporates AI tools within daily creative processes.
• Adept at thriving in high-pressure environments, quick in generating ideas and comfortable with iterative prototyping and tight deadlines.

Success Milestones

• Within 30 days: Integrate fully into the NYC Creative Design Hub, build strong cross-functional relationships, and master current Ninja brand visual guidelines.
• Within 90 days: Lead ideation on upcoming product launches, transforming technical briefs into diverse high-impact visual identity concepts, and successfully guide direct reports.
• Within 1 year: Deliver major new Ninja products with standout consumer-rated packaging and digital presence, and streamline design-to-campaign workflows elevating studio output significantly.

Why Join SharkNinja?

• Work at the newly established 14,000-square-foot Creative Hub in NYC with facilities designed for spontaneous collaboration and cutting-edge design innovation.
• Experience a forward-thinking AI-driven culture that empowers teams to innovate rapidly and creatively.
• Contribute to a dynamic, product-led company with vast market impact and minimal bureaucracy, fostering personal and professional growth.
• Enjoy comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision insurance, health savings accounts, 401(k) with matching, stock purchase plans, disability insurance, generous PTO, parental leave, product discounts, and more.

Compensation

The salary range for this role is between $115,400 and $150,000 USD annually, with starting pay depending on location, skills, education, and experience.

Cultural Commitment

SharkNinja is dedicated to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, valuing diverse voices and fostering an environment where every associate can contribute authentically and advance their careers. The company complies with all non-discrimination laws and offers reasonable accommodations throughout the hiring process upon request.