Art Director Contractor
Broomfield, CO, US, 80021
At Crocs, Inc., every career offers a chance to make a real impact. No two journeys look the same. And that's exactly how we like it. Whether you’re welcoming customers into our stores, collaborating with global teams at our headquarters, or keeping operations moving at our distribution centers, your impact is real and valued. At Crocs, Inc. you’re not expected to fit a mold. You’re encouraged to break it and create something better.
Overview
Crocs is seeking an Art Director, Partnerships & Collectibles to help shape the creative expression of some of the brand’s most culturally relevant and conversation-driving work: collaborations, limited drops, collectible storytelling, and partner-led moments that show up across campaign, product, packaging, retail, digital, social, and experience.
Reporting to the Creative Director, Partnerships & Collectibles, this role will translate partnership strategy into highly visual, emotionally resonant creative systems that balance two worlds — the unmistakable identity of Crocs and the unique voice of each collaborator. The right candidate understands how to build ideas that feel authentic, additive, and culturally sharp, without letting one brand voice dominate the other.
This role is both highly conceptual and highly hands-on: you’ll lead creative development, art direct production, and elevate craft across deliverables under tight timelines while managing overlapping projects.
THE KIND OF CREATIVE WHO THRIVES HERE
- You’re curious about how brands come to life in the real world, and imaginative in how they could show up next.
- You notice the details others miss. How something feels in-hand. How color, material, and finish shape perception.
- You think in systems, not just outputs, creating cohesive brand experiences across packaging, retail, and beyond.
- You care deeply about craft. Typography, layout, and materials matter, and you take pride in getting it right.
- You build and refine, from a single package to scalable systems across product lines.
- You’re inspired by culture, design, and the unexpected.
At Crocs, we call that Wonderfully Unordinary.
What You'll Do
- Concept and design culturally relevant, partner-right Crocs collaborations, collectibles, and limited drops to unite Crocs and partner identities in fresh, balanced visual ideas
- Shape collaboration experiences across packaging, collectibles, and in-hand moments
- Translate partnership concepts across campaign, digital, social, retail, packaging, e-commerce, experiential, and presentation touchpoints
- Build scalable visual systems for campaigns, product moments, packaging, in-hand experiences, and supporting assets
- Art direct studio and location photo/video production to uphold concept, craft, and brand integrity
- Use motion design thinking to elevate digital, social, launch, and campaign storytelling
- Manage, coach, and develop Designers while providing clear direction for best-in-class campaign work
- Partner with creative and cross-functional teams to develop ideas that break conventions, build brand love, and connect with consumers
- Maintain high design standards across typography, layout, composition, color, image-making, motion, and production details
- Bring clarity, momentum, and design leadership to evolving briefs, inputs, timelines, and deliverables
- Align creative execution with brand, business, and cultural opportunities across internal and external partners
- Manage partnership campaigns across formats and timelines, ensuring accuracy, consistency, feasibility, and craft through delivery
- Oversee and contribute to multiple partnership projects with competing deadlines
- Confidently communicate design rationale, systems thinking, and creative ideas to partners, leadership, and collaborators
What You'll Bring to the Table
- Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Communication Design, Visual Communication, or related field; or equivalent industry experience.
- 8+ years of professional experience in brand, campaign, digital, experiential, packaging, or integrated design.
- 3+ years experience managing, mentoring and providing creative feedback to junior designers and production partners.
- Strong portfolio demonstrating conceptual thinking, design craft, visual storytelling, and execution across multiple channels.
- Experience working at an advertising agency is a bonus.
- Experience with Global brands.
- Experience designing for brand collaborations, cultural moments, product launches, collectibles, entertainment, fashion, footwear, lifestyle, or consumer brands strongly preferred.
- Strong understanding of how to translate strategy, partner inputs, and consumer insights into distinctive visual ideas and design systems.
- Expert-level art direction and design skills; typography, layout, composition, color, image-making, and visual systems.
- Experience with motion design, animation, or designing for motion-led digital and social environments.
- Experience leading art direction on set, photo and video production including all stages of pre and post production.
- Familiarity with emerging AI tools and creative technologies.
- Ability to work through ambiguity, shifting priorities, and complex stakeholder input while maintaining clarity and creative momentum.
- Highly organized and adaptable, with the ability to manage multiple projects, formats, and timelines.
- Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to clearly articulate creative rationale.
- Collaborative, open-minded, and comfortable working across internal teams, external partners, and multidisciplinary creative groups.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to craft across high-visibility campaigns and fast-moving deliverables.
- Passionate, proactive, culturally curious, and energized by the Crocs brand and its mission to inspire self-expression.
- Curious and forward-thinking, eager to explore new tools, technologies, motion approaches, and creative processes.
The Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. We accept applications on an ongoing basis.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or disability, or any other classification protected by law.
Title: Art Director Contractor
Salary or Pay Range: $50 - $60/hour
Pay offered will vary based on job-related factors such as location, experience, training, skills, and abilities.
At Crocs, Inc. we believe in the power of a blend of in-person and virtual collaboration to drive creativity and strengthen relationships. Your participation in this flexible schedule plays a key role in building a connected and successful team. In-office requirements vary by our work personas: Resident (5 days), Collaborator (4 days), Connector (2-3 days), Explorer (fully remote). This role has been aligned to the [[cust_PersonaName]] persona.
This organization participates in E-Verify.
This position is eligible to participate in a company incentive program.
This position is eligible for company benefits including but not limited to medical, dental, and vision coverage, life and AD&D, short and long-term disability coverage, paid time off, employee assistance, participation in a 401k program that includes company match, and many other additional voluntary benefits.
The application window is 45 days, but applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible after the posting date in order to ensure optimal consideration. The posting will be removed if the job is filled before the application window deadline.
Job Category:
Nearest Major Market: Denver