Location: Los Angeles or Atlanta

THE COMPANY:

Since 1945, EBONY has celebrated and shined a spotlight on the worlds of Black people in America and worldwide. In January 2021, the iconic brand was relaunched under new ownership as the cornerstone of the new, digital-first EBONY Media Group. This is an exciting new chapter for the beloved brand and we are looking for talented, enthusiastic candidates who are passionate about celebrating black excellence and culture to join our dynamic team. We’re calling all those innovators and creators who want to be part of the legacy by helping shape EBONY’s future!

EBONY Studios:

EBONY Studios is a culture-shifting media company and creative studio built to reimagine how stories are told, seen, and heard across every screen and stage. Through Originals, Branded Content, Sounds, and Labs, we create work that doesn’t just entertain—but moves the culture forward.

THE ROLE:

The Director, Labs (or Director, Creative Services) leads the creative agency division of EBONY Studios, overseeing concept development, visual storytelling, and execution of high-impact campaigns across editorial, branded, and experiential channels. Acting as both department head and in-house creative director, this role sits at the intersection of artistry and strategy—driving the studio’s visual identity, managing cross-functional creative teams, and producing culture-defining content that spans photography, design, live events, and multi-platform campaigns.

Creative Leadership:

• Serve as the in-house creative director for EBONY Studios, defining and maintaining the studio’s visual tone, brand standards, and storytelling ethos
• Oversee creative direction for internal studio campaigns, brand partnerships, cover shoots, social content, and IRL events
• Lead the development of big ideas and creative concepts across all studio verticals
• Push visual innovation through experimentation with new formats, aesthetics, and creative technologies

Department Management:

• Lead and grow a multi-disciplinary creative team including art directors, producers, designers, photographers, stylists, and freelancers
• Manage department operations, timelines, budgets, and resource allocation
• Collaborate closely with Branded, Originals, and Sounds divisions to ensure cohesive creative execution
• Establish scalable creative workflows, templates, and processes to support cross-functional teams
• Hire, train, and mentor creative staff to cultivate talent and uphold creative excellence

Content & Campaign Production:

• Spearhead production of editorial photo shoots, branded campaigns, digital activations, and social media assets
• Oversee development of immersive experiences including pop-ups, installations, and live activations
• Ensure creative excellence and innovation across all touch points
• Lead concepting and execution of content packages for multi-platform distribution, including short-form, vertical, and interactive formats
• Supervise the creative output of external vendors and collaborators to ensure alignment with brand and quality standards

Strategic Vision & Innovation:

• Contribute to the long-term vision of EBONY Studios’ creative agency offering, identifying new opportunities for innovation and growth
• Monitor cultural trends, platform shifts, and emerging technologies to keep the Labs division future-forward and competitive
• Develop creative case studies and thought leadership to enhance the agency’s visibility and brand reputation

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 5–7 years experience in creative direction, art direction, or content production within a media company, agency, or entertainment studio
• Proven track record of developing and executing standout creative campaigns across photo, video, digital, and experiential
• Deep understanding of Black culture and aesthetics, with the ability to create culturally resonant, forward-thinking work
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with the ability to mentor and inspire creatives at all levels
• Exceptional storytelling instincts, design sensibility, and production knowledge
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment and managing multiple priorities
• Strong communication and leadership skills.
• Must be a team player.
• Ability to multi-task, organize and schedule work effectively.
• Proficiency in production tools and software (Adobe Creative Suite, Final Cut, etc.) is a plus.