Creative Director

Who Are We?

Government technology has failed the public for decades, and Americans have been conditioned to expect websites from the 90s for essential public services.

Kaizen exists to strengthen trust in American public services by building technology that residents and public servants are proud to use. We partner with local, state, and federal agencies to replace legacy systems with modern, AI-native software that is worthy of the people they serve. We started in outdoor recreation, and now we're building toward something much larger — the software layer that powers how Americans access any government service.

Our platform already reaches 40 million residents across 50+ agencies in 17 states.

Founded in 2022 and based in New York City, Kaizen has raised $35 million from NEA, a16z, Accel, 776, and Carpenter Capital. We're builders, designers, and operators who believe that beautifully designed software shouldn’t be a luxury in government. It’s how you earn trust back.

The Role

Kaizen is at an inflection point. We are securing federal contracts, expanding into new verticals, and stepping into a much bigger mission than our Parks and Recreation roots we started with. Our brand has carried us this far, but now we need someone to take it further. As our first dedicated Creative Director, you will own and evolve every visual and narrative touchpoint of how Kaizen shows up in the world. Your work will help us recruit mission-driven talent, win federal contracts, raise the bar with investors, and ultimately help rebuild public trust in government services. This is a team of 1 to start, with the runway to build the function as you go.

Location

This is a hybrid role based out of our New York City HQ. Candidates must reside in New York or be able to commute to New York City to work out of our office at least three times a week (Tuesdays - Thursdays).

What You'll Do

• Own Kaizen's content engine end-to-end across video, podcast, written, and visual formats for employer brand, investor brand, and customer-facing channels

• Define and document the brand strategy, voice, and visual guidelines that scale across every team and touchpoint

• Produce video and podcast content that brings the mission, our customers, and our team to life

• Design and beautify sales assets, proposals, case studies, and one-pagers in close partnership with sales, customer success, and proposals

• Lead website overhauls, marketing collateral, swag, and event presence so Kaizen shows up with intention at every conference, board meeting, and recruiting moment

• Partner with product designers to weave Kaizen's brand identity seamlessly into the resident and public servant experience

• Support executive leadership with engaging communications for internal and external audiences, including board meetings, investor updates, and customer on-sites

• Quarterback third-party PR firms, video production vendors, and freelance creatives to extend your output without expanding the team

• Use AI tools across the workflow to scale a team of 1 into the output of a full creative department

What You'll Bring

• 5 -10 years of brand and content design experience at a scaling tech company, ideally selling into regulated industries

• You are a content creator at heart, and scrappily getting content while hopping on multiple flights a week with your gear doesn’t scare you. It gives you energy.

• Extremely sharp written and communication skills

• A portfolio that demonstrates range across video, brand systems, marketing collateral, and digital touch-points (a portfolio link is required as part of your application)

• Hands-on fluency with video and content production, not just static design or art direction

• Brand strategy chops: you think about positioning and narrative, not just execution

• AI-native instincts: you are constantly experimenting with new tools and using them to scale your own output

• Self-direction in white space: you are energized by a blank canvas and do not need a playbook to move

Strong Candidates May Also...

• Have worked in GovTech, defense tech, or frontier tech, or sold into government, healthcare, or other regulated buyers

• Have stood up a brand or content function from scratch at an earlier-stage company

• Have produced creative work that traveled beyond marketing channels, into recruiting, investor materials, or executive comms

Don't Apply If...

• You need a team of designers and producers underneath you on day one to do your best work

• You want a detailed creative brief and a structured playbook before you start building

• You are not energized by ambiguity

• You think AI tools are a crutch rather than a multiplier

• You are more comfortable polishing one channel than building the whole system

• You are not energized by the weight of the mission. Government technology has failed the public for decades, and the work we do at Kaizen reaches real residents and public servants every day. If that does not move you, this is not the role.

What Kaizen Offers

Health & Insurance

• Comprehensive medical through Oxford/United — Gold and Platinum PPO plans, with 85% of premiums covered on the Platinum plan and a $0 employee premium option. Dental through Guardian PPO and vision through Beam, with 99% of employee premiums covered and 50% for dependents.

• $100,000 in fully paid life insurance. FSA and Dependent Care FSA. 401(k) access through Guideline.

Family & Time Off

• 16 weeks of fully paid parental leave for birthing parents. 10 weeks fully paid for non-birthing parents.

• Unlimited PTO, closed for all federal holidays, and company-wide winter break the week of Christmas.

Office & Remote Setup

• Up to $750 one-time home office or desk setup stipend for NYC-based employees. $500 for remote employees.

• $50/month commuter benefit (company contribution).

• Expensed lunch 3x a week while in the office.

• Company-provided laptop.

Wellness

• Fully covered gym membership at Grindhouse — right across the street from our office at 47 W 17th St (and in Williamsburg). A $225/month value, on us. For remote employees, $100/month dedicated to gym or physical fitness reimbursement.

• $300/quarter pet care stipend.

Stipends

• $100/month utility stipend.

• $500/year professional development.

• $250/year recreation.

Kaizen is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. If you need an accommodation during the interview process, email us at [email protected].

Compensation Range: $150K - $200K