Bay Cities is hiring: Creative Director, Retail Innovation in Bentonville

Position Overview

Join to apply for the Creative Director, Retail Innovation role at Bay Cities. 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

• Serve as a hands‑on leader and mentor to the 3D design team and 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.
• 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 identify areas of efficiency to optimize through AI, automation, or use of our existing tools.
• 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.
• Lead retailer‑focused initiatives, including custom design concepts for Costco, HEB, Kroger, Best Buy, Meijer, Hy‑Vee, Sam’s Club, Target, Home Depot, and Lowe’s.
• Own and drive new signage programs for Walmart—an untapped opportunity with high potential for growth and market differentiation.

Requirements

• 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 $185 M by FY26.

Core Competencies

• High ethical standards and alignment with organizational goals and values.
• Energy and passion about the industry, job, and company; optimism and upbeat attitude.
• Customer‑service orientation internally and externally; builds positive relationships with stakeholders.
• Owner mentality, proactive responsibility for outcomes, and collaborative decision making.
• Co‑operative and trustworthy teamwork across organizational boundaries.
• Strong project‑management skills, prioritization, and multi‑tasking ability.
• Original thinking, creativity, resourcefulness, and relentless learning.
• Excellent communication (oral, written) and interpersonal skills at all levels.

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: The employee is regularly required to talk or hear, stand and sit, walk and reach with hands and arms, and occasionally lift or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities include close vision and color vision.
• Work environment includes front‑office and manufacturing in California; noise level 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