Art Director

Who We Are:

Born in a humble shed on the back-forty of the family vineyard, Firestone Walker is a California beer company like no other – founded by two brothers-in-law who simply wanted to make the perfect beer. Now a regional craft brewery, our singular purpose remains – to craft the world’s best beers. Passionately in pursuit of the perfect beer… and never satisfied.

Job Summary:

Great brands aren't born. They're built. Shaped over time by people with taste, passion, and a defiant point of view. At Firestone Walker, we're doing exactly that. Building some of the most respected and forward-thinking brands in beer. The work lives in the details and the big moments. On the shelf. On the screen. In the hands of artists, athletes, and communities who carry the brands forward.

We're looking for an Art Director who gets that. A visual storyteller with impeccable taste and advanced design skills. The kind of creative who brings both purpose and insight to every problem, and whose passion for the craft shows in every decision. A proven design leader who has spent years doing the work across every medium and every channel, and is still driven to make something great every single day. You set vision and you execute. You inspire a room and then you do the work. You're a natural collaborator and a clear communicator who brings great energy to every team, partner, and conversation you're part of.

As Art Director for Cali Squeeze and Firestone beers, you will own the creative process and visual identity for two distinct, culturally rooted brands. You'll be a key voice in shaping how these brands show up in the world. Packaging that stops you in your tracks. Films and stills that feel lived in, not staged. Social-first ads and content that connect with audiences and stop the scroll. Visual systems that hold together across moments, mediums, and years. Working closely with the Creative Director, marketing leaders, and external agency partners, you'll drive work from small executions to large-scale campaigns that move culture and move beer.

Not every role gives you this combination. The brands, the people, and the canvas to do something truly special.

Essential Job Duties And Responsibilities:

• Specifically, the responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to, the following activities. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions:
• Lead the strategic development and execution of multichannel creative initiatives for Cali Squeeze and Firestone beers across social, digital, packaging, film, retail, experiential, product branding, and marketing campaigns from start to finish. Develop design solutions and production support for packaging, campaigns, advertising, and sales collateral for 805 and FWBC in-store and on-premise projects
• Own the creative process and visual identity for key brand categories, ensuring consistency, integrity, and evolution across all touchpoints and mediums.
• Develop and produce 360 multi-channel campaigns that get results and drive brand culture forward
• Gather cross-functional alignment and sell in creative concepts to marketing leaders, executives, and senior stakeholders. Present design strategy to senior-level creatives
• Translate product positioning, data, and marketing strategies into compelling ideas and design solutions. Collaborate with all team members to ensure progression, improvement, and consistency
• Manage, lead, and execute with external freelance talent, creative agencies, and production partners, briefing, directing, and holding the bar on quality from kickoff to final delivery. Maintain creative standards for digital, social, and CRM to ensure alignment, usability, engagement, and growth
• Stay ahead of cultural and design trends across graphic design, motion, photography, music, sports, art, and fashion and bring that perspective into the work
• Cultivate team growth through mentorship, creative leadership, and leading by example
• Collaborate across all teams to ensure progression, improvement, and consistency
• Complete other creative and production projects as needed

Required Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field, or real-world experience that speaks for itself

• 5 -10 years of experience in a creative, design, or marketing role with a proven track record of producing world-class creative campaigns

• Deep expertise across all channels and mediums including packaging, social, digital, film, retail, and experiential

• Mastery of Adobe Creative Suite with a focus on Photoshop and Illustrator, plus hands-on experience with motion and editing tools and fluency in the design technologies shaping the industry".

• Experience directing and managing photo shoots, video productions, and all associated pre-production components

• Strong ability to translate product positioning, data, and marketing strategies into compelling creative ideas and design solutions

• Proven experience managing and directing external agencies, freelance talent, and production partners

• A natural collaborator and confident communicator who can present and sell creative vision to executives, marketing leaders, and cross-functional teams

• Finger on the pulse of culture and design trends across graphic design, motion, photography, music, sports, art, and fashion

• Experience managing and delivering multiple projects in parallel without losing quality or momentum

• Based in Los Angeles or the Central Coast, with flexibility considered for the right person.

Other Skills And Abilities:

• Basic mathematical skills

• Ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing

• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions

Work Environment:

The work environment and physical demands described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function.

• Regularly required to sit, walk, use hands and arms; and talk or hear

• Required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus

• Any Office setting with low noise level

• Travelling in a car and visiting customer office locations

What Firestone Walker Offers:

• Health Insurance 100% employer paid premiums for employee medical, dental, vision, & life insurance

• Flexible Savings Account (FSA)

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Company sponsored paid parental leave

• Paid Sick Leave

• 401(k) retirement plan including company paid profit sharing & 4% safe-harbor matching

• Accrued PTO (rate of 13 days per year)

• 10 paid holidays per year

• Employee discount of 50% off food, beer, and merchandise

• Periodic beer giveaways for employees 21+

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required.

Firestone Walker is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on any protected class.