Design Director, Brand & Packaging

Overview You will be integral to the product team—partnering daily with product engineers, shaping SKUs from first concept through launch, and directly accountable for keeping creative work on track against the development calendar. At Nile Commerce, we help brands win wherever customers shop—online or in-store. Owning creative from concept through launch.Maintain awareness of factory capacity, materials and tooling availability, and costing structures so creative decisions support marketable, manufacturable productOwn packaging, product design, and brand identity across Nile’s in-house brands, and provide creative direction to the marketing team for brand expression across photography, video, Amazon A+ content, DTC product pages, paid social, email, retail displays, and trade showsEstablish and maintain brand identity standards (typography, color, art direction, visual system) as the source of truth for the internal team and external partnersWrite copy when needed—packaging, product names, headlines, brand voice—and direct others writing on behalf of the brandsResearch category trends across airguns, fishing tackle, and travel/luggage, including travel to factories, trade shows, and key retail accountsBuild and direct a network of contractors, freelancers, agencies, and production partners; brief, negotiate, and manage them to scale capacity on packaging, product design, and brand workRun design critiques that raise the quality bar across internal and external workPartner with sales, marketing, merchandising, and e-commerce to align creative decisions with broader business goals 10+ years of creative experience in consumer brands, with at least 3–5 years leading teams sitting inside or directly alongside product developmentProven track record driving creative through physical product development cycles—from prototype to launch—and keeping work on track against a development calendarFluency in how physical product gets made—packaging engineering, tooling, materials, factory capacity, and how costing decisions shape creative choicesExperience operating inside seasonal product development calendars and partnering directly with product and sourcing teamsPortfolio that demonstrates range across brand identity, packaging, photography art direction, and digital/performance creativeAdvanced command of design principles—layout, typography, color, balance, composition, and design trend directionProven experience shipping work that sells on retail shelves and on major e-commerce channels (Amazon, DTC, Walmart.com)Demonstrated ability to direct multiple brands and project teams simultaneously while maintaining creative qualityProven ability to scale creative output through contractors, freelancers, and external agencies; comfortable operating with a very small in-house team (0–1 direct reports)Strong project-tracking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to anticipate blockers and resolve them before they impact scheduleClear and professional communication skills (cross-functional and external partners)Willingness to work onsite in Bentonville, AR, five days per week, with occasional travel for market research, factory visits, and trade showsAuthorized to work in the U.S.