Creative Lead, Photo

The Community You Will Join

Airbnb's Creative team is composed of marketing and creative talent who serve as the company's storytellers — responsible for sharing Airbnb's vision and product promise with hosts and guests around the world. Our work spans campaigns, social, product launches, and product marketing, all grounded in Airbnb's core values. As Creative Lead, Photo, you'll sit at the intersection of brand and craft, partnering closely with cross-functional teams including Marketing, Product, and external agencies to bring Airbnb's visual identity to life at a global scale.

The Difference You Will Make

As the Creative Lead, Photo, you will own the photographic creative vision for Airbnb — leading a talented team of Photo Art Directors, Editors, Retouchers, and Researchers to produce world-class imagery that authentically represents the Airbnb brand. You will be the creative force that elevates the quality and consistency of photo-driven storytelling across all channels and touchpoints. Success in this role means delivering a cohesive, culturally resonant visual language that measurably strengthens brand perception and supports business outcomes across campaigns, product launches, and beyond.

 

A Typical Day

• Lead and mentor a team of Photo Art Directors, Editors, Retouchers, and Researchers — providing clear creative direction, ongoing feedback, and fostering an environment where individuals are empowered to do their best work
• Concept and develop strategically informed, channel-agnostic photo ideas that are deeply integrated across all brand and product touchpoints, from campaign to social to product marketing
• Oversee and art direct photo shoots end-to-end, ensuring all deliverables align with the strategic brief, Airbnb's visual identity, and overall brand intention
• Uplevel creative output across the organization by consistently bringing innovative, high-impact ideas to the table and setting a high bar for craft and authenticity
• Collaborate cross-functionally with a diverse mix of internal teams — including Marketing, Product, and Brand — as well as external agencies and international partners, balancing stakeholder needs while always seeking to elevate the work
• Communicate and align with creative teammates and company partners to ensure Airbnb's photo-driven creative work maintains the highest standard of quality and consistency across global markets

 

Your Expertise

• 10+ years of art and creative direction experience within an agency or in-house brand environment, with demonstrated experience working with global companies
• A strong portfolio showcasing your ability to lead teams in creating photography-driven communication campaigns that resonate culturally and drive measurable business results
• Deep expertise in Photo Art Direction as a storytelling tool — with a nuanced understanding of how photography communicates brand narrative both in marketing and within product experiences
• Proven people leadership and management skills, with experience inspiring and empowering creative teams through a strong, clear vision
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to passionately and clearly articulate and defend creative decisions to internal stakeholders and external partners alike
• Outstanding cross-functional collaboration skills, with a track record of establishing and meeting shared, outcome-based goals across diverse teams
• Proficiency in Figma is required; comfort working within collaborative, tool-driven creative workflows
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and progressive experience