Matrix & Pulp Riot Division: Professional Products | Location: New York City (3 days in office, 2 remote) | Function: Creative | Reports to: SVP, Creative
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About L'Oréal
At L'Oréal, we believe beauty is not just an industry — it is a language. As the world's #1 beauty company, present in 150 countries, we are committed to creating beauty that moves the world. If you are passionate about creative culture, driven by purpose, and energized by the intersection of bold ideas and organizational complexity, we want to hear from you.
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The Role
We are seeking an AVP, Creative Director to lead the visual and conceptual identity of Matrix and Pulp Riot — two brands with immense cultural ambition and distinct architectural needs. This is not an agency role; you will not "pitch" to a client. Instead, you will co-create alongside marketing and digital partners, sharing a P&L and an equal seat at the table.
In our global organization, ideas navigate complex layers of executive review before reaching the market. Success here requires a rare hybrid of conceptual brilliance and "organizational fitness" — the ability to build deep trust with non-creative peers while defending the integrity of an edgy idea.
You will lead a team of five as the senior creative voice across two contrasting ecosystems:
• Matrix: A global powerhouse built for Gen Z, recently energized by high-visibility partnerships (e.g., KATSEYE) and large-scale campaigns.
• Pulp Riot: A creator-led, independent-minded color brand that requires a "protector" to maintain its gritty, authentic identity as it scales globally.
Reporting to the SVP, Creative, you will partner directly with Brand Presidents and senior stakeholders. Decisions here are high-pressure, non-linear, and rarely made by a single person. If that complexity energizes you, you'll thrive.
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What You Will Do
In place of a generic list of duties, here are the situations you will navigate weekly. If these scenarios sound like a welcome challenge, you are the right candidate:
1. Creative Leadership & Brand Stewardship
• Guide partners through iterative concept revisions so the work comes out sharper, not flatter.
• Defend creative stances to Brand Presidents while genuinely integrating their pushback — knowing when to pivot and when to hold the line.
• Own two distinct brand voices simultaneously: knowing when Matrix needs a "big lift" and when Pulp Riot needs you to step back and let the creators lead.
2. End-to-End Production & Execution
• Lead everything from global hero films and retail vision to packaging direction and in-salon activations.
• Direct work credibly across film, photography, design, and emerging digital formats.
• Partner with the SVP to evolve capabilities in in-house production and AI-augmented workflows.
3. People Leadership & Team Development
• Lead a core team of 5 direct reports across Art Direction, Video, Design, and Production.
• Give in-the-moment, "kind-but-clear" feedback to direct reports whose work is missing the mark, and follow through with accountability if it doesn't improve.
• Be accountable for the team's growth, performance management, and the ultimate quality of their output.
4. Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Management
• Treat marketing partners as co-conspirators, not clients — speaking the language of growth and performance to strengthen creative positions.
• Sit across from difficult partners and find the version of the conversation that moves the work forward rather than escalating the tension.
• Navigate high-pressure executive rooms with both confidence and diplomacy.
5. Cultural Intelligence & Future-Proofing
• Maintain a strong, current point of view on the beauty and broader cultural landscape — knowing which trends are signals and which are just noise.
• Apply a working understanding of how beauty, music, fashion, and internet subcultures intersect to inform creative strategy.
• Champion a curious, unafraid approach to AI and how it can sharpen the creative pipeline.
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What We Are Looking For
• A Matrixed Leader: You have led creative teams within a complex corporate structure. You understand that "The Process" is not an obstacle to the craft — it is the craft.
• A Business Collaborator: You treat marketing partners as co-conspirators, not clients. You speak the language of growth and performance, using that fluency to strengthen your creative positions.
• A Battle-Tested Manager: You have real "reps" in people leadership. You've mastered the art of the hard conversation, made exit calls, and coached high-potential talent through difficult seasons without becoming a bottleneck.
• A Multi-Hyphenate Thinker: You are equally fluent in 30,000-foot brand platforms and the granular realities of production at scale.
• A Cultural Scout: You have a working understanding of how beauty, music, fashion, and internet subcultures intersect. You know which trends are signals and which are just noise.
• Experience: 10+ years of creative direction experience, including meaningful time inside a global matrixed organization (CPG, beauty, fashion, luxury, or equivalent).
• Leadership: Demonstrated experience managing creative teams of 4+ direct reports, including performance management.
• Portfolio: Shows both conceptual range and the ability to scale ideas across a full campaign ecosystem.
• Executive Presence: Comfort presenting and defending work to senior executives.
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What's in it for you?
• Competitive salary commensurate with experience (estimated range: $147,100 – $213,300)
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Paid parental leave
• Hybrid work environment — New York City, 3 days in office, 2 remote
• A culture of creative ambition, collaboration, and entrepreneurial spirit
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L'Oréal is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status. L'Oréal is an Equal Opportunity Employer.