Job Description

Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is a leading home appliance company in constant pursuit of improving life at home. As the only major U.S.-based manufacturer of kitchen and laundry appliances, the company is driving meaningful innovation to meet the evolving needs of consumers through its iconic brand portfolio, including Whirlpool, KitchenAid, JennAir, Maytag, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, and InSinkErator. In 2024, the company reported approximately $17 billion in annual sales – close to 90% of which were in the Americas – 44,000 employees, and 40 manufacturing and technology research centers. Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com.

The team you will be a part of

Whirlpool Corporation is seeking a dedicated Creative Director for the KitchenAid brand to lead creative innovation within the World of Whirlpool (WoW), our next-generation in-house advertising and experience agency. Located at the historic Reid Murdoch Building in Chicago, this highly visible role is tasked with elevating the consumer experience and building the future of marketing for an iconic brand.

This role in summary

In this role, you will oversee KitchenAid North America’s creative strategy and execution. The ambition is to achieve world-class, award-winning creative that drives brand love, delivers cohesive customer experiences across the entire marketing funnel, and ultimately fuels business growth. You will be the visionary who inspires the centralized creative team to deliver impactful and consistently on-brand work across all consumer touch-points.

As the Creative Director for KitchenAid, you are the leader of the creative pod, responsible for ensuring cohesive look, feel, and strategic alignment for all brand campaigns and projects. Your influence impacts not just the creative output but also the strategic direction and business results of the organization.

Your responsibilities will include

Leadership & Strategic Direction:

• Lead the KitchenAid creative pod, including all creative processes, strategic direction, and team culture development across multiple functions.
• Direct the creative strategy for complex, high-level brand projects, focusing on innovation and originality to achieve significant growth.
• Translate complex business goals, brand foundations, and strategic imperatives into compelling creative strategies and decisions.
• Foster a positive and engaging team culture through transparent, inclusive, and effective communication across functions.

Creative Execution & Brand Guardianship

• Direct the creation and delivery of all brand messaging to ensure consistency, clarity, and deep reflection of KitchenAid's visual identity and values across all touch points.
• Drive meaningful, high-impact interactions across the consumer journey, fostering strong loyalty and driving significant participation across various channels and touchpoints.
• Oversee the development of high-quality, persuasive copy, editorials, and storytelling across all brand channels, thoughtfully curated to each audience.
• Guide teams in generating fresh, high-level ideas and concepts based on complex strategic briefs, with a focus on excellence and the ability to evaluate success post-execution.
• Consistently and effectively brings the brand voice to life across different touch points at a managerial level, and can evaluate the success of brand voice application.

Digital & Operational Excellence

• Lead the creation and optimization of highly compelling digital and social media campaigns and content (visual and written) aligned with effective brand strategy, utilizing deep digital insights.
• Oversee the creative pod's project management and goal setting, ensuring all outputs meet established deadlines, quality standards, and adherence to operational best practices.
• Apply a strategic understanding of marketing initiatives, strategic positioning, and target audiences to consistently evaluate the effectiveness and strategic success of all work.
• Actively seek, value, and incorporate project feedback and direction, maintaining a commitment to continuous refinement and staying informed on industry trends to consistently implement best practices.

Bachelor’s Degree

10 years of experience leading creative strategy for iconic brands

5 years of people leadership experience

Track record of success understanding the business to identify opportunities for creative disruption, ideally gained from experience in a fast paced in‑house mode

Preferred skills and experiences

• 15 years of experience leading creative strategy for iconic brands
• Global creative experience in creating assets and campaigns for a global audience
• Experience in a fast‑paced in‑house model (where creatives are seen as a business driver)
• Embody Whirlpool’s values of inclusion and diversity

What we offer

Generous benefits package, Whirlpool employee discount, fitness & educational reimbursement programs, kitchenettes, and more! Saint Joseph/Benton Harbor locations: Beautiful, recently renovated office space, barista bar, biking/walking trails, and access to The Eddy - Early Childhood Center (depending upon availability – additional costs required). WoW Location: In the Reid‑Murdoch building, at the edge of the beautiful Chicago Riverwalk, WoW Studios and the World of Whirlpool host an immersive customer experience, inspiring audiences with Whirlpool Corporation’s iconic brands.

Additional information

Whirlpool’s Ways of Working

Our goal is to provide an environment that helps you bring your best to Whirlpool every day. While employees in this role work in‑person Monday through Friday in the Chicago WoW office or Global Head Quarters, we offer flexibility and industry‑leading time‑off benefits that will help you balance what’s important at work and at home, including:

• Always On Flexibility – You will have the autonomy to manage personal, family, and outside‑of‑work commitments as needed.
• Two‑Week Work from Anywhere – Minimum of one‑week increments for a total of two weeks per year.
• Sabbatical – Four weeks paid leave after every five years of service.

Compensation Data

$171,000 – $214,000 + Annual Bonus + Annual Stock Awards

Connect with us and learn more about Whirlpool Corporation

Whirlpool Corporation is committed to equal employment opportunity and prohibits any discrimination on the basis of race or ethnicity, religion, sex, pregnancy, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, or any other category protected by applicable law.

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