Creative Director

Creative Director

Department: Marketing

Reports to: Vice President of Marketing

Classification: Full-Time, Exempt

Benefits: This position qualifies for Medical, Dental, Vision, and all other Supplemental Insurances. 401(k) Qualified.

Salary Range: $100,000-$120,000 based on experience and expertise.

Job Overview: The Creative Director leads the development and execution of Mystic Aquarium's visual storytelling, bringing our brand, mission, animals, people, and experiences to life through compelling video, design, and multimedia content. Serving as the organization's lead creative voice, this role establishes visual direction and ensures creative work reflects Mystic Aquarium's brand, strategic priorities, and mission. The Creative Director leads the video and graphic design functions and is responsible for delivering high-quality creative across social media, digital marketing, web, advertising, media relations, signage, events, fundraising, organizational communications, and other channels. The ideal candidate is both a creative leader and a hands-on storyteller - someone who can develop the big idea, lead a team in bringing it to life, and step behind the camera when needed - with significant professional video production experience, a strong creative point of view, and demonstrated experience leading and developing creative professionals.

Primary Functions:

Creative Direction & Brand Stewardship

• Serve as the lead creative voice for Mystic Aquarium, establishing visual direction across marketing and communications channels.
• Translate organizational goals, marketing strategies, and campaign objectives into compelling creative concepts and visual storytelling.
• Maintain and evolve Mystic Aquarium's visual brand, ensuring consistency across digital, print, and environmental applications.
• Establish a high standard for creative quality while ensuring work remains authentic to Mystic Aquarium's mission, audiences, and brand.
• Develop creative concepts that balance mission-driven storytelling with organizational priorities, including attendance, membership, fundraising, events, education, and conservation awareness.
• Stay current on creative, video, design, digital, and social media trends and identify opportunities to evolve Mystic Aquarium's creative approach.

Video Production & Visual Storytelling

• Lead Mystic Aquarium's video strategy and production, from concept development and storyboarding through filming, editing, and final delivery.
• Alongside the Sr. Video Producer, create compelling video content for social media, digital advertising, web, public relations, fundraising, internal communications, and other organizational needs.
• Provide hands-on video production support, including filming, directing, lighting, audio, and other production needs.
• Develop storytelling approaches that make complex topics, including animal care, research, conservation, rescue, and education, accessible and engaging to broad audiences.
• Capture planned and real-time moments across the Aquarium, including animal stories, events, interviews, conservation initiatives, behind-the-scenes activities, and breaking media opportunities.
• Ensure video content is appropriately developed and optimized for different platforms, audiences, and formats.

Graphic Design & Multimedia

• Lead and provide creative direction for Mystic Aquarium's graphic design function.
• Oversee the development of creative assets for advertising, social media, web, email, signage, events, exhibits, fundraising, presentations, and other organizational needs.
• Ensure consistency in visual identity, typography, imagery, photography, graphics, and other brand elements.
• Review and approve creative work while providing clear, constructive feedback that strengthens both individual projects and the overall brand.
• Partner with internal teams to identify the strongest visual approach to communicating their goals rather than simply executing individual creative requests.

Social & Digital Content

• Partner closely with the Digital Marketing Manager to develop creative concepts designed specifically for social and digital audiences.
• Understand the unique creative requirements and audience behaviors of platforms including Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and other emerging channels.
• Develop social-first creative that captures attention, encourages engagement, and strengthens the connection between audiences and Mystic Aquarium.
• Identify opportunities to experiment with new formats, storytelling techniques, and creative trends while maintaining brand integrity.
• Help build a strong and recognizable visual identity for Mystic Aquarium across digital channels.

Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop Mystic Aquarium's video and graphic design professionals.
• Establish clear expectations, priorities, and creative standards for the team.
• Assign projects based on organizational priorities, team capacity, and individual strengths.
• Provide regular coaching, feedback, and professional development opportunities.
• Foster a collaborative creative culture that encourages curiosity, experimentation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Create an environment where creative professionals understand both what they are producing and the strategic purpose behind the work.

Creative Operations & Project Management

• Manage the creative process from brief and concept development through production, review, approval, and delivery.
• Establish processes that allow the creative team to effectively prioritize requests and focus resources on the organization's highest-impact needs.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously while balancing planned campaigns with time-sensitive and unexpected opportunities.
• Develop and maintain production schedules and ensure projects are completed on time and to established standards.
• Manage video and photography equipment, creative assets, file organization, and digital asset libraries.
• Coordinate external photographers, videographers, freelancers, agencies, and other creative vendors as needed.
• Assist with managing creative production budgets and equipment investments.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with teams across Mystic Aquarium, including Animal Care, Research, Conservation, Education, Development, Guest Experience, Membership, and others, to understand their goals and identify compelling ways to tell their stories.
• Collaborate with subject matter experts to ensure creative storytelling is engaging while maintaining scientific and organizational accuracy.
• Build strong internal relationships while helping stakeholders understand and follow established brand and creative standards.
• Support media opportunities by helping develop and capture visual assets that strengthen earned media storytelling.
• Represent Marketing and the Mystic Aquarium brand professionally in interactions with internal and external partners.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Education & Experience: 5-7+ years of professional experience in creative production, video production, multimedia, marketing, advertising, communications, or a related field. Bachelor's degree in film/video production, design, marketing, communications, visual arts, or a related field preferred; equivalent professional experience and a demonstrated portfolio will be considered.

• Video Production: Significant professional video production experience required, including experience working with professional video cameras, lighting, audio, and production equipment.

• Leadership Experience: Minimum 2-3 years of experience leading, supervising, or managing creative professionals.

• Portfolio & Creative Range: Strong portfolio demonstrating video storytelling, creative direction, and multimedia work across multiple platforms and audiences; demonstrated ability to move between strategic creative direction and hands-on production; strong understanding of visual storytelling, composition, brand development, and contemporary design principles; experience developing creative for social media and digital platforms.

• Technical Skills: Strong working knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud, particularly Premiere Pro, After Effects, Photoshop, and Illustrator, or comparable professional creative tools.

• Project Management & Organization: Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.

• Communication & Collaboration: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to give and receive constructive creative feedback; demonstrated ability to collaborate with individuals across disciplines and translate complex information into engaging visual stories.

• Preferred Experience: Any of the following is a plus:

• Developing content for mission-driven, nonprofit, cultural, educational, science, conservation, tourism, or visitor-attraction organizations.

• Producing content in dynamic environments where opportunities may be unpredictable or time-sensitive.

• Managing freelancers, agencies, production vendors, or creative budgets.

• Photography, motion graphics, animation, and/or other multimedia production.

• Understanding of digital marketing, audience engagement, and how creative contributes to organizational and revenue goals.

• Key Competencies: The following competencies are expected:

• Creative Vision: Brings fresh ideas and a strong creative point of view while understanding how creative work supports broader organizational strategy.

• Storytelling: Identifies compelling stories and translates them into content that creates emotional connections with audiences.

• Leadership: Inspires, develops, and provides clear direction to creative professionals while maintaining high standards and accountability.

• Brand Stewardship: Understands the importance of a cohesive brand and can protect, strengthen, and evolve it across a wide range of applications.

• Strategic Thinking: Connects individual creative projects to larger marketing, audience, revenue, and mission objectives.

• Collaboration: Builds productive relationships across departments and effectively balances stakeholder needs with creative and brand priorities.

• Adaptability: Thrives in a fast-moving environment and can shift between long-term campaigns, day-to-day production, and unexpected storytelling opportunities.

• Hands-On Mentality: Comfortable moving between leading the creative function and actively participating in production when needed.

Physical Demands:

This position splits time between a typical office environment and active production work throughout Mystic Aquarium's campus. Office work requires the ability to sit for extended periods, operate computer equipment for detailed editing and design work, and participate in meetings and phone calls. Production work requires the ability to stand, walk, kneel, crouch, and move for extended periods; navigate stairs, uneven terrain, and potentially wet or slick surfaces near marine habitats; and hold cameras or other equipment steady for sustained periods. Employees must be able to lift, carry, and set up video, lighting, audio, and event equipment weighing up to 40 pounds, and transport equipment across campus and to off-site locations. The role may involve working around animals, animal habitats, behind-the-scenes areas, events, and active guest spaces while following all established safety and animal welfare protocols. Some assignments involve outdoor work in various weather conditions including heat, cold, rain, and humidity, as well as travel, conservation or animal rescue activities, and other nontraditional production environments. The position requires flexibility to capture stories and events outside traditional office hours, including occasional evenings, weekends, and early mornings.

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the position. Employment with Sea Research Foundation, Inc. (dba Mystic Aquarium) is at-will, meaning either the employee or the organization may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice, subject to applicable laws. Mystic Aquarium is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Reasonable accommodations will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential functions of this position. If you require an accommodation to complete an application, please contact (860) 536-5650 and ask to speak with the recruitment department. This position may require background checks and reference verification as part of the hiring process.