Creative Lead
Creative Lead
Kodiak Robotics, Inc. is seeking a Creative Lead to elevate the quality, consistency, and speed of our marketing output across various touchpoints. This is a senior, hands-on creative role for someone who can lead campaign thinking, shape both visual and verbal storytelling, guide the work of others, and step in to execute when needed.
Role Summary
The Creative Lead will help distribute ownership away from a single centralized bottleneck by taking on creative direction across campaigns and channels, setting messaging and storytelling standards, and overseeing the output of existing team members. This person will play a critical role in improving creative quality, increasing throughput, and helping build a stronger, more independent marketing function over time.
What You’ll Do
Creative Direction and Campaign Development
Lead creative direction across major marketing initiatives, campaigns, launches, and company moments
Develop strong campaign concepts and translate them into effective execution across channels
Shape how the Kodiak brand shows up visually and verbally across marketing work
Establish and maintain a high bar for creative quality, consistency, and clarity
Build ideas that can scale from larger brand and campaign efforts into smaller day-to-day executions
Cross-Channel Creative Leadership
Guide creative development across web, social, presentations, paid media, events, partner storytelling, and other marketing materials
Ensure work is on-brand, channel-appropriate, and aligned to business priorities
Partner closely with marketing leadership to translate strategy into clear, compelling creative output
Help define and refine messaging and copy standards across content
Team Guidance and Output Oversight
Oversee and elevate the output of the current designer and content producer
Provide clear creative direction, actionable feedback, and strong quality control
Help keep projects moving by making decisions, unblocking work, and maintaining momentum
Support a more distributed and effective creative operating model by increasing ownership and reducing dependency on a single approver
Hands-On Execution
Step in directly to concept, write, design, edit, or refine work when needed, especially early on
Contribute to both polished campaign work and faster, scrappier executions
Support production planning, creative reviews, and photo/video direction as needed
Work with urgency and sound judgment, knowing when to push and when to move
What You’ll Bring
8+ years of experience in creative, brand, design, or campaign-focused roles
Experience at an agency and/or in-house brand team known for high output and a high creative bar
Strong portfolio demonstrating brand identity work, campaign development, and cross-channel creative execution
Demonstrated strength in both visual and voice storytelling
Strong instincts for typography, composition, layout, storytelling, and brand expression
Ability to move fluidly between big-picture thinking and execution detail
Comfort operating in a fast-moving environment with shifting priorities and multiple active projects
Demonstrated ability to manage ambiguity, make decisions, and keep work moving
Experience providing creative feedback and guiding the work of others
Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, Google Workspace, and common creative/collaboration tools
Preferred Qualifications
Experience helping create, evolve, or sharpen a brand identity
Experience building campaigns from concept through rollout
Experience across B2B and/or B2C brands
Tech experience is a strong plus
Experience with photo and video direction or production support
Motion, video, or editorial sensibility
Comfort working on a lean team where speed, adaptability, and ownership matter
Work Environment
Hybrid role. Expected to spend regular time in the office to build presence, collaborate closely with the team, experience the culture, generate ideas, and help capture content as needed.
Why This Role Matters
Today, too much creative ownership is centralized. This role is intended to change that by bringing stronger creative leadership, sharper storytelling, and more day-to-day momentum to the marketing function. The Creative Lead will help raise the quality of the work, improve speed and consistency, and guide the evolution of a more effective creative team structure.
What we offer
Competitive compensation package including equity and biannual bonuses
Excellent Medical, Dental, and Vision plans
Flexible PTO and generous parental leave policies
Office perks: dog-friendly, free catered lunch, a fully stocked kitchen, and free EV charging
Wellbeing Benefits - Headspace, One Medical, Gympass, Spring Health
Fidelity 401(k)
Commuter, FSA, Dependent Care FSA, HSA
Variety of incentive programs (referral bonuses, patent bonuses, etc.)
California Pay Range
$170,000 USD - $200,000 USD