Manager, Digital Creative (Art Director)

About the position

PetSmart is building a modern, high-performing in-house creative organization—one that owns outcomes, moves fast, and leverages innovation to scale impact. As Manager, Digital Creative (Art Director), you are a player-coach creative leader who blends strong creative judgment, hands-on digital craft, and an AI-forward mindset to deliver exceptional digital work. In many organizations, this level of responsibility aligns to a Senior Art Director or Art Director with team accountability; at PetSmart, we’ve intentionally structured the Manager role to lead with both creative authority and people leadership. This role is for someone who thinks ahead, takes ownership, communicates with confidence, and is constantly exploring smarter, faster, more effective ways to create—without compromising quality.

Responsibilities

  • Concept, art-direct, and design digital creative across web, app, email, animation, and select special projects, from concept through deployment
  • Split your time between hands-on design and team leadership—staying close to the craft while elevating others
  • Lead, mentor, and allocate work for 2–5 designers and motion designers, fostering a culture of ownership, accountability, and creative ambition
  • Own creative quality, consistency, and on-time delivery across all assigned work
  • Set clear direction, anticipate risks, and proactively solve problems before they slow the work
  • Translate creative briefs and business goals into compelling, on-brand, conversion-aware creative solutions
  • Partner closely with the Senior Manager, Creative Director, Marketing, eCommerce, Brand Creative, and Creative Operations teams
  • Provide art direction for photo, video, and motion production as needed, guiding internal and external partners through shoot and post-production
  • Present work with clarity and confidence to peers, senior leaders, and executive stakeholders
  • Champion AI-enabled tools, animation, and new technologies to improve efficiency, scale output, and evolve creative execution—don’t wait to be told, go ahead and make it happen
  • Identify opportunities to streamline workflows, optimize processes, and help the team work smarter and faster
  • Stay ahead of digital, UX, animation, and creative trends—continuously raising the bar

Requirements

  • 6+ years of creative experience (in-house preferred or agency), including 1+ years leading creatives
  • Strong portfolio showcasing high-impact digital, motion, and animated work
  • Expert in Figma and Adobe Creative Suite; strong working knowledge of presentation software and modern production tools
  • Strong knowledge of AI-enabled creative tools and workflows required
  • Excellent organizational, communication, and presentation skills
  • Strategic thinker with strong problem-solving ability
  • Demonstrated interest in growth toward Senior Manager / Associate Creative Director. You’re willing to put in the hard work

Nice-to-haves

  • Experience with motion/animation tools, such as After Effects or similar, strongly preferred

Benefits

  • Paid Volunteer Opportunities to spend time doing good for causes close to heart
  • Print Center and Business Services
  • Dry Cleaning
  • Mother's Rooms
  • Sustainable Infrastructure
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