Director, Creative Development

Job Description

Location:

Director, Creative Development

Architectural Digest is seeking a Director, Creative Development to help lead the continued growth and evolution of AD’s global digital video business. Working closely with the Executive Director, Video Programming, this role will shape a distinctive portfolio of original video franchises, developing ambitious ideas that extend AD’s authority in design and reach new audiences across platforms. The Director will be a senior creative voice within AD’s video organization, responsible for developing original IP, evolving successful franchises, and helping set the creative vision and standards for AD video. This role will collaborate across editorial, video, audience, talent, social, commercial, and global teams to create compelling, scalable entertainment. This role is based in New York.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Help define and execute AD’s creative development strategy for video across O&O, YouTube, social, and emerging platforms

• Own the creative development pipeline from early-stage ideas and pilots through greenlight, launch, and franchise evolution

• Develop original video IP and evolve successful franchises with the potential to scale across platforms, formats, and global markets

• Partner with editorial and video leadership to identify stories, talent, cultural moments, and areas of AD authority that can become compelling video formats

• Lead creative development for new pilots and evolving formats, shaping format, talent, visual approach, storytelling, and platform positioning.

• Establish and uphold a high creative bar across the portfolio, reviewing treatments, scripts, rough cuts, and final cuts and providing clear creative direction

• Lead brainstorms and develop compelling pitches, treatments, and programming recommendations for senior leadership

• Partner with Talent/Casting and editorial teams to identify and develop internal and external talent, from designers and creators to high-profile celebrities

• Use audience insights, platform behavior, and cultural trends to inform development and identify opportunities to reach new audiences

• Collaborate with social, commercial, and global teams to identify opportunities to extend AD’s IP across platforms, markets, cultural moments, events, and partnerships

• Lead and mentor creative collaborators, producers, and freelance partners, and direct or produce select pilots and priority projects as needed

Skills and Qualifications:

• 7-10+ years of experience developing and producing premium original digital video, entertainment, or editorial programming, including experience leading creative development

• Proven track record developing successful original formats, franchises, or series from concept through launch and iteration

• Exceptional creative instincts, visual sensibility, and editorial judgment, with a strong understanding of what makes an idea distinctly right for AD

• Demonstrated ability to lead creative teams, provide clear and actionable feedback, and translate creative vision into execution

• Deep understanding of YouTube, social video, and emerging platforms, including how storytelling, talent, packaging, and audience behavior differ across them

• Strong understanding of design, architecture, celebrity, lifestyle, entertainment, and culture

• Strategic and entrepreneurial mindset, with the ability to use audience insights to identify new formats, audiences, and business opportunities

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with experience working across matrixed teams, senior leadership, and high-profile talent

• Strong organizational skills and the ability to balance creative ambition with timelines, resources, production complexity, and scalability

The expected base salary range for this position is from $105,000-$171,000. Salary offers are based on a wide range of factors including but not limited to relevant skills, training, experience, and education.

In addition to salary and a generous employee benefits package, successful candidates may also be eligible to receive discretionary bonus compensation.

What happens next?

If you are interested in this opportunity, please apply below, and we will review your application as soon as possible. You can update your resume or upload a cover letter at any time by accessing your candidate profile.

Condé Nast is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, familial status and other legally protected characteristics.