Brand & Creative Director (m/f/d)
Maxon · Bad Homburg vor der Höhe
If you want to be a Maxonian and help bring the best 2D and 3D visual effects, motion graphics, gaming, AR/MR/VR, visualization and design software to the market, then we should have a chat.
WHO WE ARE:
Packed with brilliant, passionate people, Maxon is deeply rooted in the creative industry and committed to empowering the artistic community. We are Maxonians. We encourage and motivate each other to be curious learners. We are obsessed with customer fulfillment and inspiration – before, during and after purchase. If you too want to be a Maxonian and help bring to market the finest software products for 2D and 3D visual effects, motion graphics, games, AR/MR/VR, visualization and general design, let’s talk.
Maxon is looking for a seasoned Brand & Creative Director to own the Maxon brand across our product portfolio and lead the in-house creative team that brings it to life. This is a hands-on leadership role: you'll set brand vision and strategy at the portfolio level while building and running a high-performing creative department. You'll report to the VP of Marketing and lead a growing team of graphic designers, motion/video editors, and copywriters.
You should already be fluent in Maxon's tools and the broader creative software landscape, with a proven record of building first-class creative teams. From day one, you'll be expected to drive a step change in how creative operations run and the quality of what we ship.
You'll shape how a category-defining creative software company shows up in the world - with the mandate, budget, and leadership support to build a brand function and creative team from the ground up. This is a rare opportunity to own Maxon brands, with direct visibility to senior leadership and real influence over go-to-market decisions.
What you will do:
Brand Vision & Ownership
- Define and champion Maxon's brand vision, positioning, storytelling, and tone of voice across the corporate brand and product portfolio (Cinema 4D, Redshift, ZBrush, Red Giant, Autograph, and beyond).
- Build a brand architecture and design system that scales across products and holds together as Maxon evolves.
- Set and uphold brand guidelines and visual standards so every asset reinforces one recognizable Maxon identity.
- Act as brand guardian and final creative authority across external agencies, partners, and internal teams.
Creative Leadership & Team Development
- Hire, lead, and mentor a team of designers, motion/video editors, and writers, communicating a clear creative vision they can rally around.
- Foster a culture of craft and continuous improvement through direct, constructive feedback and real growth paths for the team.
- Set up the operating rhythm: structured, business-grounded briefs, review cycles, and clear resourcing and prioritization.
- Manage through layers as the team grows, staying close enough to the work to coach craft, not just process.
Set the Bar: Hands-On Direction & Visionary Craft
- Stay hands-on with concepting and direction for flagship campaigns, product launches, and brand-defining moments.
- Bring a distinct, forward-looking point of view: push past safe, expected category conventions toward creative that's bold, culturally relevant, and competitive with the best consumer and creator brands.
- Review and sign off on major creative work, setting a visibly higher bar with every cycle.
- Stay ahead of trends in design, motion, gaming, and the broader creator economy, and translate them into Maxon's creative strategy.
Campaign & Production Oversight
- Own campaigns and brand moments from ideation through delivery, ensuring every execution is on-brand, strategically grounded, and built to drive measurable results.
- Build a scalable production model (in-house team plus a vetted bench of freelancers and agencies) so output can flex for major moments like product launches and high-profile campaigns.
- Own creative budget and vendor relationships.
Cross-Functional Partnership
- Partner with product marketing, product management, and sales/solutions teams to translate business and product goals into creative strategy.
- Build trust with stakeholders and executives by pairing bold creative recommendations with clear, business-grounded rationale.
- Represent brand and creative in leadership conversations, ensuring creative has a voice early in major product and go-to-market decisions.
What we are looking for:
- 10+ years in brand and creative roles, including 3–5+ years leading an international brand and/or an international creative team (in-house or agency) with direct reports.
- A portfolio that shows comfort operating at both altitudes - brand strategy (positioning, narrative, systems) and hands-on art direction on successful campaigns.
- Experience building or improving a creative function: process, culture, and team development.
- Experience in, or strong affinity for, creative tools, design, motion, gaming, or technical/creator-facing software; familiarity with the 3D, motion design, or VFX community is a strong plus.
- A clear point of view on how AI is changing creative work and creative brands, including hands-on experience using AI (agentic tools or copilots).
- Fluent English required; additional languages a plus but not required.
- Experience building or evolving brand across a multi-product portfolio, rather than a single consumer brand.
- Track record of building meaningful relationships across time zones and international offices.
WHAT WE OFFER:
You will be part of a highly motivated international team of specialists working in an environment that offers a warm welcome with detailed onboarding and a dedicated mentor for a familiarization period as well as a wide range of individual development possibilities. Interested in joining our team? Click "Apply" to submit your application. Don’t meet every single requirement? At Maxon we embrace diversity, are avid explorers and curious learners, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t entirely match every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply in any case. You may be just the right candidate for this or other positions.
We’re looking forward to hearing from you!