Bay Cities Container is hiring: Creative Director, Retail Innovation in Bentonvi

Bay Cities, an Employee-Owned Company, is the leading creative packaging and display partner to brand marketers, retailers and e-commerce. Our passion, experience, technology and consumer insights move product and drive sales.

We are seeking a visionary Creative Director, Retail Innovation to lead, mentor, and elevate a cross-functional team of designers focused on 3D visual merchandising and experiential retail concepts. This individual will serve as the "designer of the designers," ensuring Bay Cities maintains its competitive creative edge across major retailers such as Walmart, Costco, HEB, Best Buy, Kroger, Meijer, Hy-Vee, Sam's Club, Target, Home Depot, and Lowe's.

The ideal candidate thrives at the intersection of creativity, leadership, innovation, and strategic sales enablement-and brings an unwavering commitment to mentoring others and pursuing operational excellence through automation and forward-thinking design solutions.

Key Responsibilities: 1. Creative Team Leadership & Mentorship

• Serve as a hands-on leader and mentor to the 3D design team & structure team across multiple locations.
• Elevate team capabilities through training, coaching, and clear growth planning.
• Define where the team is today, where it needs to go, and be accountable for leading that creative evolution.
• Manage the Bentonville & Cincinnati design team, traveling monthly to provide on-site leadership and support.
• Collaborate with Director of Ecommerce & Strategic Partnerships to ensure regional coverage between LA, Bentonville, and Cincinnati; partner for operational efficiency in Cincinnati.

2. Cost Conscious Innovation

• Drive initiatives to reduce cost and material usage without compromising structural integrity, quality, or brand standards.
• Collaborate with Structural Designers to create universal projects that increase EBITDA by improving Production, Packout, and/or Supply Chain efficiencies and in-store execution,
• Work with the team to continue identifying areas of efficiency to optimize through Ai, Automation, or use of our existing tools.

3. Strategic Sales Solutions & Business Growth

• Partner closely with Sales Executives and Sales Management on large, high-impact presentations and custom retailer solutions.
• Drive ideation, concept development, and pitch creation for major accounts-especially new retail partners or complex programs.
• Act as a key creative voice in pre-sales meetings and new business pursuits, helping close deals through design-driven storytelling.
• Collaborate directly with sales teams to develop innovative, retailer-specific display and signage strategies that win new business.

Retailer-Focused Initiatives & Bonus Program:

• Targeted Retailers: Take the lead in developing custom design concepts tailored for Costco, HEB, Kroger, Best Buy, Meijer, Hy-Vee, Sam's Club, Target, Home Depot, and Lowe's.
• Walmart Signage Ownership: Own and drive new signage programs for Walmart-an untapped opportunity with high potential for growth and market differentiation.

Requirements

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE & COMPETENCIES

• 8+ years of progressive experience in design, including 3D visualization, retail merchandising, or experiential design.
• Proven team leadership or management experience in a design capacity.
• Strong understanding of retail environments, shopper behavior, and display effectiveness.
• Deep knowledge of industry standard design software and automation tools.
• Experience collaborating with sales, marketing, and design teams to drive measurable results.
• Strong communication skills, both visual and verbal; confident presenter and storyteller.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE:

• A thriving, high-performing design team aligned on clear creative standards and development goals.
• Seamless collaboration between design and sales that accelerates program wins.
• Measurable reductions in manual design tasks through automation and process innovation.
• New design concepts actively generating sales with key retailers across multiple verticals.
• Meaningful contribution to the company's growth goals of $185M by FY26.

Core Competencies

• High ethical standards. Models and supports organization's goals and values; adapts to changing conditions; demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles. Consistently conducts themselves in an honest and trustworthy manner. Does not pursue their own individual objectives to the detriment of company goals. Sets an example for others to follow. Does the right thing.
• Demonstrates energy and passion about what they do and knows how to balance work and fun. Is generally optimistic and upbeat; fun to be around. Has a strong belief and zeal for the industry, the job, and the company. Conveys energy and intensity at work with a capacity for keeping others enthusiastic and involved.
• Operates with a customer service orientation internally and externally. Works to positively build the Bay Cities brand in everything he/she does. Builds strong, positive relationships with all stakeholders.
• Acts as an owner of the business and instills that same attitude and level of action in others. Is proactive in taking responsibility for all outcomes/results and avoids 'pointing fingers'. Helps to create and maintain a strong feeling of belonging in the immediate and overall team.
• Regularly involves others in decisions that affect their job or work environment. Demonstrates co-operation and trust with colleagues and teams across organizational boundaries. Participates as a team player and establishes strong working relationships to deliver positive results.
• Strong project management skills, including the ability to prioritize, balance, and manage multiple efforts with strong results/goal orientation. Uses time effectively, prioritizes and organizes work flow; can orchestrate multiple activities at once. Agility and personal adaptability with the ability to successfully manage multiple priorities with a high sense of urgency in a rapidly changing environment.
• Displays original thinking and creativity; Meets challenges with resourcefulness; Generates suggestions for improving work. Learns quickly when facing new problems; a relentless and versatile learner; open to change; strives for continuous improvement of self and processes.
• Excellent communication (oral and written) and interpersonal skills with the ability to convey information and ideas in a variety of media, tactful, confident, at all levels, internal and external. Must have strong interpersonal skills and ability to manage multiple projects in a rapidly changing environment.

OTHER

• US Persons Only (US citizens, lawful permanent residents, refugee or asylee - all require proper identification and documentation).
• Up to 25% travel required.
• Physical and Environmental Requirements: While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand and sit. The employee is occasionally required to walk and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and color vision.
• Work environment includes front-office and manufacturing in California. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Pre-Employment Verifications: Must pass background and reference checks, drug screen, and physical examination prior to employment.

Bay Cities Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. M/F/D/V