Creative Director, T Brand Studio; Athletic , NY

Overview

Creative Director, T Brand Studio (The Athletic) – Office:
New York, NY;
Department:
Creative — Creative Production/Direction.

The mission of The New York Times is to seek the truth and help people understand the world. That means independent journalism is at the heart of all we do as a company. It’s why we have a world-renowned newsroom that sends journalists to report on the ground from nearly 160 countries. It’s why we focus deeply on how our readers will experience our journalism, from print to audio to a world-class digital and app destination.

And it’s why our business strategy centers on making journalism so good that it’s worth paying for.

About T Brand Studio

Inspired by the journalism and innovation of the NY Times, T Brand Studio crafts stories that allow brands to make their mark on the world. Our skilled team of journalists, copywriters, editors, creative directors, designers, videographers, producers, program managers and developers create innovative branded advertising content and custom audio for brands that are embedded in The New York Times platform and its related media offerings.

This is a hybrid role based in our New York City headquarters, reporting to the Director, Creative at T Brand Studio. You can typically expect to come into the office 3 days per week.

We are looking for a Creative Director for The Athletic with a deep interest in sports and the surrounding culture. This job is for you if:

• You are a creative visionary who makes work that people want to find, become a part of and share. You can translate complex category narratives from different advertisers and brands into compelling, fan-centric, sports-focused storytelling. You understand how sports intersect with nearly every advertising category.
• Equally important is experience building campaigns that sit at the intersection of athletes, fan culture, data, innovation and latest sports tech. You'll concept and write for regulated and complex categories that require accuracy, innovation and performance, including enterprise tech, financial services, healthcare, B2B business services and more.
• You understand the sports landscape, with familiarity across major U.S. and global sports. From football, basketball and soccer to golf, tennis and Formula 1, you're able to recommend the right talent to fit the brief.
• You are comfortable translating product features into compelling stories through a sports lens. These features include AI, cybersecurity, mobile banking, and investing tools, among others. You also understand how sports audiences engage with platforms and devices, such as financial planning, betting, fantasy, streaming, and tech devices. You are proficient in building strategic frameworks for brands that need both credibility and cultural resonance.
  
  Category fluency and strategic rigor are paramount.
• Well versed in conceptual thinking, you will work on multiple projects at once with conflicting priority deadlines. You will collaborate with our strategy and media teams to create brand-defining platforms and storytelling that works across digital, audio, video and social. You will contribute to new business/sales development and create meaningful, idea-led work in multiple storytelling methods. You'll become the voice of the ideas you create, and you'll present work both internally and externally.
• You think of yourself as a non-traditional creative talent who is as much an innovator and storyteller as a creative. We are constantly challenging advertising norms through the latest media and methods. You will create stories and work that people care about.
• This is a unique role, in that you are an individual contributor who will manage creative projects, but you are not a people manager and will not have direct reports. However, you must bring a collaborative spirit to your work, while also providing guidance, clarity and leadership.

Responsibilities:

• Develop sports-centric creative concepts for brands across major markets, including tech, financial services, consumer goods, automotive, luxury, entertainment, and more. Ensure the work aligns with The Athletic's editorial tone while also…