Creative Director, Sound/Electronic in at Cottage Door Press LLC

We are seeking an experienced Creative Director to lead the creative team for our Sound and Electronic publishing segment, overseeing product development and design from concept through final production. This role combines strategic leadership with hands-on creative responsibilities, mentoring the art team while maintaining an active project workload. Working closely with Product Managers, Editorial, and Manufacturing, the Creative Director drives innovation, ensures creative excellence and production quality, and contributes to long-range planning and business growth.

• Brainstorm and develop new product ideas and formats
• Develop and design module and sound elements for toyetic play with books
• Create product development documents (PDs) for new concepts
• Collaborate with Manufacturing to bring new formats to final execution
• Develop long-range product plans and growth strategies in partnership with Product Managers and Editorial
• Create customer-specific concepts and seasonal title plans
• Design logos and branding for new lines; maintain brand consistency across titles
• Continuously observe market trends and competitive products; share insights to inform strategy
• Identify and research new illustrators and contributors

• Maintain a project workload of books from concept to print-ready production
• Review manuscripts at development stage and provide content feedback
• Review art direction written by ADs
• Review sound direction and module mechanics
• Review first pencils and first color passes from illustrators
• Review routes at every stage of development
• Work with Prepress to review module/electronic molding, sound mapping, soft proofs, wet proofs, treatment selections, and printer changes
• Manage files and printer templates
• Close projects:
  • Review final PDFs
  • Preflight files
  • Ensure proper file organization
  • Archive completed projects
• Close reprints:
  • Review updated PDFs
  • Preflight files
  • Reorganize final project folders

• Mentor Senior ADs, ADs, Associate ADs, Graphic Designers, and Design Assistants
• Assist ADs with workload balancing and deadline pacing
• Help prioritize projects and advise on scheduling adjustments
• Liaise with freelance designers and illustrators
• Approve employee time off in Paylocity
• Partner with direct reports to establish and achieve annual performance goals
• Provide constructive feedback and career development guidance
• Step in on projects when needed to support team success

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers and Lead Editors on segment strategy
• Attend weekly production meetings
• Participate in monthly meetings with the Hong Kong team
• Work with Manufacturing on PD requests and technical feasibility
• Work with Safety and Compliance

• Review sales performance with Product Management to determine segment strengths and areas for growth
• Identify format expansion opportunities
• Align creative strategy with revenue and margin goals
• Support high-level business decisions with creative and market insight

• 10–12+ years of publishing and/or design experience (children’s toy and/or book publishing preferred)
• 3–5+ years in a creative leadership role
• Strong portfolio demonstrating storytelling, branding, and format innovation
• Deep knowledge of print production, specialty finishes, and mechanical setup
• Experience collaborating with Product Development and Manufacturing teams
• Proven ability to manage multiple direct reports
• Strong understanding of market trends and competitive analysis
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite
• Exceptional organizational and communication skills