Job description

Storytelling is, and will always be, the heart of what we do at Skydance. Our vision is to build a thriving entertainment ecosystem where stories and worlds are imagined, brought to life and experienced. We create for every age and audience, anchored by the strength of our content and experiences and the depth of our connection with fans. We are creator-first, audience-focused, tech-forward, globally scaled. Here, you’ll work with talented teams that move fast, think boldly and collaborate with purpose to deliver results. We aim high, champion the best ideas and win together, earning the trust of our employees, creators, partners and audiences every day. If you’re energized by the opportunity to help build the next-generation global media and entertainment company powered by creativity and technology, we’d be thrilled to welcome you aboard. LET’S GO! Overview: The Senior Art Director leads the global licensing design portfolio, with franchise style guides and visual systems as the primary focus. A hands-on creative leader and senior partner to the VP, the role translates franchise strategy, consumer insight, and cultural trends into distinctive, product-ready creative. The role directs and develops Art Directors, oversees multiple programs, and personally shapes priority work. Working with Character Art, Retail & Packaging, and the Creative Studio, this leader ensures that design systems are compelling, coherent, and usable across categories and markets. This is an onsite position at our Los Angeles office. Responsibilities include but not limited to: • Own creative direction and quality across the style-guide portfolio; align priorities with the VP and assign project leadership to Art Directors. • Manage and develop Art Directors through clear briefs, concept reviews, actionable feedback, and performance coaching; maintain hands-on involvement in priority assignments. • Develop franchise visual systems, graphics, typography, color, patterns, and editorial language; create identity elements and product proofs of concept that demonstrate their potential. • Serve as a senior creative partner to the VP, present recommendations to stakeholders, and lead delegated cross-team initiatives, including franchise branding assignments. • Partner with Character Art on illustration direction and with Retail & Packaging and regional teams on application needs, ensuring adaptable assets and clear usage guidance. • Brief and direct agencies and freelance talent; align scope, resources, and delivery with Creative Operations while maintaining creative accountability and franchise integrity. Primary Deliverables • Franchise style guides, visual systems, and reusable licensing assets. • Creative briefs, design directions, and priorities across the guide portfolio. • Identity concepts, editorial language, graphics, and product proofs of concept. • Stakeholder presentations and creative direction for delegated cross-team initiatives. Measures of Success • Guides are distinctive, franchise-authentic, relevant to target consumers, and applicable for licensees across categories and markets. • Programs meet agreed priorities and delivery expectations with consistent craft across internal and external work. • Art Directors demonstrate stronger judgment and self-sufficiency, supported by clear leaders and constructive cross-team collaboration. Basic Qualifications: • 12+ years of experience. Additional Qualifications: • Extensive design and art direction experience in entertainment, licensing, consumer products, branding, or agency environments, with demonstrated people leadership. • Exemplary portfolio spanning franchise style guides, brand identity, typography, graphic systems, and product applications; solid illustration judgment and ability to direct artists. • Expert Adobe Creative Suite skills and current hands-on design practice, with the ability to turn strategy and audience insight into original creative. • Proven ability to oversee multiple programs, develop Art Directors, influence senior stakeholders, and direct agencies across varied creative assignments. • Practical experience with company-approved AI-assisted research, concept exploration, and visualization, with sound judgment around originality, rights, and final craft. About Skydance Skydance is a next-generation global media and entertainment company, comprised of three business segments: Studios, Direct-to-Consumer, and TV Media. Skydance's portfolio unites legendary brands, including Paramount, Warner Bros., HBO and HBO Max, Paramount+, Pluto TV, CBS, CNN, CBS Sports, TNT Sports, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, MTV, Food Network, BET, HGTV, and Comedy Central. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Hiring Salary Range: $156,800.00 - 200,000.00. In compliance with local law, we are disclosing compensation, or a range thereof, for roles where legally required. Actual salaries will vary based on a variety of job-related factors, including but not limited to geographic location, external market data, internal equity, skill set, experience, training, education, and/or performance. Base pay is just one component of our total compensation package. Other rewards may include annual bonuses, short- and long-term incentives, and program-specific awards. This position is bonus eligible. What We Offer : • Attractive compensation and comprehensive benefits packages. Check out our full list of benefits here . • Generous paid time off. • Complimentary subscriptions to HBO Max, Paramount+, and other Skydance streaming services and digital news products. • Robust employee engagement opportunities, including access to exclusive screenings and events, speaker series, volunteer activities and more. Skydance is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) We embrace the opportunity to build a workforce that reflects a wide array of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences. Being an equal opportunity employer means that we take seriously our responsibility to consider qualified candidates on the basis of merit. In line with the laws of the country or region in which the role is based, this includes consideration without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, religion or belief, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, physical or mental disability, genetic information, military or protected veteran status, union status or any other category protected by applicable law. If you are a qualified individual with a disability, you may request a reasonable accommodation during the job application and/or recruitment process. You can request reasonable accommodations by calling 212.846.5500 or by sending an email to paramountaccommodations@paramount.com. Only messages left for this purpose will be returned.

Requirements

Must-haves

Storytelling is, and will always be, the heart of what we do at Skydance.
If you’re energized by the opportunity to help build the next-generation global media and entertainment company powered by creativity and technology, we’d be thrilled to welcome you aboard. LET’S GO!
This is an onsite position at our Los Angeles office.
Own creative direction and quality across the style-guide portfolio; align priorities with the VP and assign project leadership to Art Directors.
Manage and develop Art Directors through clear briefs, concept reviews, actionable feedback, and performance coaching; maintain hands-on involvement in priority assignments.
Develop franchise visual systems, graphics, typography, color, patterns, and editorial language; create identity elements and product proofs of concept that demonstrate their potential.
Serve as a senior creative partner to the VP, present recommendations to stakeholders, and lead delegated cross-team initiatives, including franchise branding assignments.
Partner with Character Art on illustration direction and with Retail & Packaging and regional teams on application needs, ensuring adaptable assets and clear usage guidance.
Brief and direct agencies and freelance talent; align scope, resources, and delivery with Creative Operations while maintaining creative accountability and franchise integrity.
Primary Deliverables
Franchise style guides, visual systems, and reusable licensing assets.
Creative briefs, design directions, and priorities across the guide portfolio.
Identity concepts, editorial language, graphics, and product proofs of concept.
Stakeholder presentations and creative direction for delegated cross-team initiatives.
Measures of Success
Guides are distinctive, franchise-authentic, relevant to target consumers, and applicable for licensees across categories and markets.
Programs meet agreed priorities and delivery expectations with consistent craft across internal and external work.
Art Directors demonstrate stronger judgment and self-sufficiency, supported by clear leaders and constructive cross-team collaboration.
12+ years of experience.
Extensive design and art direction experience in entertainment, licensing, consumer products, branding, or agency environments, with demonstrated people leadership.
Exemplary portfolio spanning franchise style guides, brand identity, typography, graphic systems, and product applications; solid illustration judgment and ability to direct artists.
Expert Adobe Creative Suite skills and current hands-on design practice, with the ability to turn strategy and audience insight into original creative.
Proven ability to oversee multiple programs, develop Art Directors, influence senior stakeholders, and direct agencies across varied creative assignments.
Practical experience with company-approved AI-assisted research, concept exploration, and visualization, with sound judgment around originality, rights, and final craft.

Nice-to-haves

None flagged.

Application prep

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Keywords to mirror

godesign systemsai

Platform: successfactors
Effort: medium

Benefits

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Vision

Paid Time Off