Associate Creative Director Teamsport (limited for 7 months)

This role leads creative strategy and execution for the Business Unit Teamsport, developing seasonal creative directions that align with brand and business unit objectives. The position oversees creative projects end to end, from concept ideation and design development through production and final delivery, working closely with marketing channel owners and external partners. It also provides accountable leadership to the creative team, mentoring designers and managing agency relationships across multiple initiatives.

• Develop thorough creative strategies for Business Unit Teamsport aligned with brand and business unit objectives, maintaining brand identity and captivating the target audience.
• Oversee the end-to-end development and implementation of seasonal creative directions for the business unit, including collaboration with external partners and agencies.
• Define clear content plans and message hierarchies to produce the required assets, and collaborate with marketing channel owners across Paid Media, PR, Organic Social, Commercial Marketing and ecommerce.
• Design and create production-ready files and assets, applying strong craft across layout, typography, file building, colour, print, digital and video using Adobe Creative Suite and Figma.
• Lead creative productions by identifying, hiring and briefing external partners such as creative agencies, photographers, illustrators, animators, producers and content creators, and manage multiple agency relationships and designers across projects with a clear design voice and creative precision.
• Lead the development of creative guidelines to support regional execution of global concepts, including creative proposals, mood boards and internal documents, designing layouts and creating final files as required.
• Use research, market trend analysis, benchmarking, feedback and consumer insights to identify opportunities and inform strategic decision-making.
• Provide accountable leadership to the creative team through a passion for management and mentoring, fostering team spirit, cultivating energy and optimism, and ensuring performance and results meet expectations.
• Socialise and present creative work in a compelling and persuasive way to cross-functional partners and senior leadership.

• Bachelor's degree in graphic design or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• A strong portfolio demonstrating strategic thinking, distinctive creative concepts, integrated campaign development and consistently high standards of craft across channels.
• Proven leadership experience, including guiding multidisciplinary teams, mentoring creative talent, providing clear and constructive direction, and managing agencies and specialist partners.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex, high-visibility creative initiatives from strategic brief and concept development through production, approval and delivery.
• Deep expertise in creative strategy, art direction, typography, colour theory, digital and interactive design, video storytelling and print production.
• Expert proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Figma.
• Strong strategic, presentation and stakeholder-management skills, with the confidence to articulate a creative vision, navigate feedback and influence senior and cross-functional partners.
• Excellent communication, judgement and prioritisation skills, with the ability to operate autonomously, make sound creative decisions and lead multiple initiatives in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience directing studio and location photo and video shoots, including briefing talent and partners and maintaining creative quality throughout production.
• Willingness to travel up to 50%, including internationally.

• Motion and 3D experience.
• Minimum 8 years of progressive creative experience across brand, digital, film, retail and print, ideally within the footwear, apparel, sport or lifestyle industry.

PUMA is a global sports brand creating footwear, apparel and accessories that inspire athletes and everyday movers. The PUMA Group owns PUMA, Cobra Golf and stichd, operates in more than 120 countries and employs around 22,000 people worldwide. PUMA looks for SPEED & SPIRIT in its candidates, defined by values that inspire the business to be driven in its performance, vibrant in its sporting legacy and together in its team spirit, while letting individual talent and experience shine.