Art Director, DEFEND

Company Overview

At the company, we are a rapidly growing team of tech innovators, trail-blazers, and outdoor enthusiasts working to engineer the outdoors! We are proud to be a market-leading outdoor camera and technology company, but at our core, we are just a group of people obsessed with the great outdoors. We are far more than a technology company; we are a community that values fresh air as much as fresh ideas. As restless adventurers, we know that the best ideas rarely happen behind a desk, which is why we constantly encourage our team to get outside, use our products, and let the natural world inspire their next big breakthrough.

We also operate as tech trailblazers who are moving fast. With over 500,000+ active customers worldwide and a constantly expanding product line, we are actively pushing the boundaries of what outdoor technology can do. Because "good enough" isn't in our vocabulary, we intentionally foster an environment of ambitious dreamers where every team member is encouraged to aim higher, dream bigger, and drive innovation forward. We believe that your career should be an adventure too, and our rapid growth offers limitless possibilities for career advancement, personal development, and hands-on impact

Job Overview

The Art Director, Defend leads the development, execution, and delivery of visual and graphic content across the Defend by the company brand portfolio. This person owns the entire design production process from the first idea through final delivery and ensures the work reflects the brand, serves business goals, and reaches a consistently high creative standard. This role sits at the intersection of creative leadership and design operations. Success requires someone who can lead the charge on a refreshed visual identity, successfully shifting the brand narrative from a product-focused marketing approach to a storytelling, benefit-first brand. You will move comfortably between shaping brand stories, directing design teams, building creative systems, and coordinating complex schedules across teams and partners. The Art Director creates the environment that allows great creative work to happen repeatedly and at scale.

Success in This Role

• The refreshed Defend by the company visual identity takes root, successfully transitioning the narrative to a benefit-first, storytelling brand.

• Design and creative campaigns launch consistently and predictably.

• Creative output strengthens the brand and raises the quality bar.

• Design and art direction become a strategic capability rather than a reactive service.

• Resources are planned effectively and teams spend more time creating and less time

coordinating.

• The organization gains confidence that ambitious ideas can move from concept to

execution without unnecessary complexity.

Responsibilities

• Lead the charge on a refreshed visual identity for Defend by the company, acting as the primary visionary to shift the brand narrative from product-focused to storytelling.

• Manage, mentor, and develop a team of graphic designers while creating clear expectations and a culture of ownership.

• Lead the creative vision for design and visual content across campaigns, product launches, brand storytelling, retail assets, social media, evergreen initiatives, and emerging opportunities.

• Partner closely with the Senior Creative Director, Brand Director, and Director of Production to shape strategies and bring ideas to life.

• Translate business objectives and brand strategy into visual concepts and compelling narratives that connect with audiences.

• Guide concept development, storyboarding, creative reviews, and final approvals.

• Build design briefs, schedules, timelines, documentation, and internal processes that support efficient execution.

• Make decisions that balance creative ambition, production realities, timing, and budget.

• Proactively identify future needs across internal teams, contractors, and external partners.

• Coordinate design efforts across stakeholders to maximize content opportunities and eliminate inefficiencies.

• Own relationships with creative agencies, freelance designers, illustrators, production houses, and specialty creative partners.

• Create an environment where creativity, accountability, craftsmanship, and operational excellence can coexist.

Requirements

• At least three years of experience in art direction or design leadership.

• Demonstrated success leading design executions and visual identity projects from concept through completion.

• Strong experience managing project schedules, budgets, agencies, vendors, and external partners.

• Deep understanding of design operations and creative workflows across multiple content formats and channels.

• Strong communication, leadership, and organizational skills.

• Experience building scalable content systems and supporting multiple priorities

simultaneously.

Why you want to work here

• Comprehensive Health & Wellness: Includes medical, dental, and vision coverage, along with life insurance and disability protection.

• Generous Paid Leave: Offers competitive time off and in addition to pregnancy leave,  parental and military leave, and unique "Hunting Holidays" for outdoor activities.

• Financial Planning: Supports future retirement goals through a company-managed 401(k) plan.

• Outdoor-Centric Culture: Features remote-first flexibility, employee discounts, complimentary camera gear, company-sponsored outdoor trips, and community projects.

• Recognition & Values: Honors top performance through monthly "TactaValor Awards" that celebrate company values like innovation, tenacity, and customer focus.

Location Limitations

Please note at this time, we are not accepting applications from candidates based in Alaska (AK), Connecticut (CT), Delaware (DE), Massachusetts (MA), New Mexico (NM), and South Dakota (SD)

Equal Opportunity Employer

The company is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other protected status. We are committed to providing a fair and inclusive work environment for all, and we encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply for our open positions. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process, please let us know, and we will be happy to assist.