Executive Creative Director

Instrument is a design and technology company. We build brands, products, and experiences that move businesses forward—by making the complex simple.

For over 20 years, we’ve partnered with companies like Google, ServiceNow, Uber, Eventbrite, and ŌURA, helping them navigate change, launch new ideas, and grow with intention.

Our work spans Brand, Marketing, and Product, but what defines us is how we work. We bring strategy, design, and engineering together from the start, moving quickly from idea to execution and refining as we go. We aim to do great work and be great to work with, because both matter.

We’re a collaborative, hands-on team with roots in Portland and New York and a distributed presence across the U.S. and Europe. We build teams around the needs of the work, staying nimble without sacrificing craft.

We value curiosity, perspective, and continuous learning, and we’re committed to building an inclusive environment where people can do their best work.

If that sounds like you, we’d love to meet you.

Location: Portland, OR — Must be based in Portland or willing to relocate

Role Overview

Instrument is seeking an Executive Creative Director (ECD) to lead creative vision, shape transformative client partnerships, and elevate the standard of work across our agency. This role blends visionary creative leadership with strategic business thinking, operational partnership, and deep cross-functional collaboration.

As an ECD, you will guide multidisciplinary teams across brand, digital product, campaign, and experience work—bringing together strategy, design, storytelling, and technology to create impactful, future-forward experiences. You will serve as a trusted executive partner to both clients and internal leaders, helping shape long-term creative direction while fostering a culture of excellence, curiosity, and accountability.

This role is ideal for a creative leader who is equally passionate about building world-class work, mentoring senior talent, growing client relationships, and influencing the future of the agency.

What You’ll Do

• Set and elevate the creative vision across key client relationships and agency initiatives.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams across brand, digital, campaign, and experience work to deliver impactful, high-quality creative outcomes.
• Ensure work is strategically grounded, creatively ambitious, and executed with exceptional craft.
• Provide clear creative direction, feedback, and decision-making throughout the lifecycle of projects and engagements.
• Serve as a senior creative partner to executive-level client stakeholders.
• Lead creative visioning and storytelling for new business opportunities and major presentations.
• Build long-term client trust through strong creative leadership, strategic thinking, and collaboration.
• Identify opportunities to grow partnerships through innovative and effective creative solutions.
• Mentor and develop Creative Directors and senior creative team members.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, inclusivity, and creative excellence.
• Help shape and grow the agency’s creative talent through recruiting, coaching, and team development.
• Partner closely with Strategy, Technology, Production, and Client Services leadership to drive cohesive outcomes.
• Balance creative ambition with business goals, timelines, budgets, and delivery realities.
• Contribute to agency growth, operational improvements, and evolving creative practices.
• Stay engaged with emerging technologies, creative tools, and evolving behaviors shaping the industry.
• Encourage thoughtful experimentation and innovation across teams and client work.
• Help define how creativity and technology intersect to shape future experiences.

What You Bring

• 15+ years of experience leading creative work across brand, digital, campaign, and/or product experiences.
• Significant experience leading multidisciplinary creative teams within an agency or highly collaborative environment.
• A portfolio demonstrating world-class creative thinking, craft, storytelling, and business impact.
• Experience building and maintaining trusted relationships with senior and executive-level clients.
• Strong understanding of modern brand systems, digital ecosystems, customer experiences, and integrated campaigns.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and storytelling skills.
• Proven ability to inspire teams while balancing creative ambition with strategic and operational realities.
• Experience contributing to new business growth, pitch leadership, and agency development.
• Curiosity around emerging technologies and how they can enhance creative processes and outcomes.
• A collaborative, humble, and proactive leadership style.

Pay Range

• The expected pay range for this position is $160,000 - $225,000.  We have three regional pay ranges that are adjusted for cost of living (US1 +15%, US2 +7.5%, US3 Base), *learn more about our pay philosophy and cost of living adjustments.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401k with employer matching
• Unlimited PTO + company wide closures
• Work From Home and Wellbeing monthly stipend
• HSA Employer Contribution
• Professional Development Stipend
• Paid Parental Leave

What We Offer

Flexible, Hybrid Work Environment

Great Compensation with Annual Reviews (Learn more about our Pay Philosophy)

401(k) Matching with Immediate Vesting

Robust Medical, Vision, and Accident Insurance

Generous Paid Holidays and unlimited PTO

Monthly Wellbeing Stipend

Career Management and Leadership Training

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.