Principal Associate, Art Director (Auto)

Principal Associate, Art Director (Auto)

Capital One Auto is seeking an experienced Art Director who is a true multidisciplinary powerhouse. You are a visual storyteller who doesn't just stop at the layout-you have the ability to craft the verbal narrative, capture the footage, and bring designs to life through motion.

We need a "maker" who can balance high-level brand strategy with a boots-on-the-ground approach to content creation. As a Principal Associate, you will develop high-level creative strategy while remaining "hands-on-tools," working side by side with brand strategists and providing consultative guidance to cross-functional partners.

A portfolio is required - demonstrating a wide variety of work across multiple campaigns, including print, digital, social, and omni-channel.

Key Responsibilities

• End-to-End Creative Execution: Own the full creative process, from conceptualizing and writing initial copy to final visual execution across print, digital, and mobile.

• Agile Video Production: Lead "scrappy" or lean video shoots-from storyboarding and directing to operating the camera-to create authentic, high-quality content for social, web, and internal use.

• Motion & Narrative: Transform captured footage and static concepts into dynamic stories using Adobe After Effects and Premiere.

• Digital Collaboration: Design high-fidelity prototypes in Figma, ensuring all work is grounded in a deep understanding of HTML/CSS constraints and possibilities.

• Strategic Partnership: Partner with brand managers and data scientists to translate complex data into performance-driven creative that resonates with B2B audiences.

• Leadership: Manage your own workload in a fast-paced environment, providing mentorship to junior staff and managing contractors or agencies as needed.

The Ideal Candidate

• A Resourceful Maker: You know how to produce high-quality results with lean resources. You're comfortable picking up a camera (or an iPhone), setting up a shot, and "making it happen" on the fly.

• A Verbal & Visual Thinker: You have the rare ability to write compelling copy that complements your visual designs, ensuring a cohesive brand voice.

• A Dynamic Creator: You don't just design for static screens; you understand pacing, timing, and movement in digital storytelling.

• Technically Fluent: You speak the language of developers. You understand how your designs in Figma translate to the web, making the handoff process seamless.

Technical Toolkit

• Motion & Video: Expert proficiency in Adobe After Effects and Adobe Premiere; experience with basic lighting, sound, and camera operation for agile video shoots.

• Adobe Creative Cloud: Expert-level proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.

• Product Design: Advanced skills in Figma for web and app placements.

• Web Literacy: A strong foundational understanding of HTML and CSS to ensure design feasibility and effective collaboration with developers.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree or military experience

• At least 5 years of creative agency, marketing agency or in-house creative experience demonstrated through a portfolio of digital and print experience

• At least 5 years in the following Adobe Creative Suite CC apps: Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign

• At least 3 years in the following Adobe Creative Suite CC apps: Premiere Pro, After Effects

• At least 2 years experience working with a prototyping software, such as: Figma or Adobe XD

• At least 3 years experience in email, mobile and digital design

Preferred Qualifications:

• 2+ years experience working with or presenting to senior leaders

• 2+ years experience in B2B marketing

• 2+ years experience working in a cross functional environment

• Ability to run scrappy photo shoots/operate a DSLR camera

At this time, Capital One will not sponsor a new applicant for employment authorization for this position.

The minimum and maximum full-time annual salaries for this role are listed below, by location. Please note that this salary information is solely for candidates hired to perform work within one of these locations, and refers to the amount Capital One is willing to pay at the time of this posting. Salaries for part-time roles will be prorated based upon the agreed upon number of hours to be regularly worked.

Plano, TX: $109,900 - $125,400 for Principal Associate, Art Director

Candidates hired to work in other locations will be subject to the pay range associated with that location, and the actual annualized salary amount offered to any candidate at the time of hire will be reflected solely in the candidate's offer letter.

This role is also eligible to earn performance based incentive compensation, which may include cash bonus(es) and/or long term incentives (LTI). Incentives could be discretionary or non discretionary depending on the plan.

Capital One offers a comprehensive, competitive, and inclusive set of health, financial and other benefits that support your total well-being. Learn more at the Capital One Careers website (https://www.capitalonecareers.com/benefits) . Eligibility varies based on full or part-time status, exempt or non-exempt status, and management level.

This role is expected to accept applications for a minimum of 5 business days.

No agencies please. Capital One is an equal opportunity employer (EOE, including disability/vet) committed to non-discrimination in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Capital One promotes a drug-free workplace. Capital One will consider for employment qualified applicants with a criminal history in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable laws regarding criminal background inquiries, including, to the extent applicable, Article 23-A of the New York Correction Law; San Francisco, California Police Code Article 49, Sections 4901-4920; New York City's Fair Chance Act; Philadelphia's Fair Criminal Records Screening Act; and other applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations regarding criminal background inquiries.

If you have visited our website in search of information on employment opportunities or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation, please contact Capital One Recruiting at 1-800-304-9102 or via email at RecruitingAccommodation@capitalone.com . All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations.

For technical support or questions about Capital One's recruiting process, please send an email to Careers@capitalone.com

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Capital One Financial is made up of several different entities. Please note that any position posted in Canada is for Capital One Canada, any position posted in the United Kingdom is for Capital One Europe and any position posted in the Philippines is for Capital One Philippines Service Corp. (COPSSC).