Senior Art Director (Project Based Role)

Job Disclosures:

Project Based Role:

This is a project based role with an anticipated duration of 2+ years.

Location:

Santa Fe, NM

Job Summary:

The Senior Art Director is a creative leader responsible for shaping and maintaining the overall visual style and experience of a project. Working closely with the Creative Director, Producers, and cross-functional teams, they translate conceptual ideas into clear direction for artists, production designers, scenic teams, and vendors. This includes mood, material, color, and imagery references that guide the look and feel of the work.

They lead the development of Design Guides, sketches, material selections, and color boards to clarify the vision and resolve design inconsistencies. They also collaborate with the Facilities team to ensure all finishes and show elements (e.g., wall colors, flooring, ceilings, blackout lines, etc.) are well-documented and coordinated for build readiness.

As a senior leader, they mentor other Art Directors on the project, fostering alignment, collaboration, and team growth.

Core Responsibilities:

• Define and communicate the visual direction of a project in collaboration with the Creative Director.
• Create and maintain design documentation that guides production and ensures design consistency.
• Translate creative concepts into material choices, color palettes, and visual references.
• Work closely with Production, Facilities, and Show teams to align on finishes and build details.
• Resolve aesthetic conflicts and maintain the creative vision across all phases of the project.
• Support and mentor Art Directors and creative team members.
• Act as a thought partner, problem solver, and decision-maker during creative reviews and project pivots.
• Ensure all project team members understand and are aligned with the creative vision and decision rationale.

What Success Looks Like:

• You’ve led projects from concept through delivery as a senior creative.
• You balance big-picture vision with attention to detail.
• Your creative direction elevates the guest experience and inspires your team.
• The team is aligned on the aesthetic goals, priorities, and reasoning behind key decisions.
• You provide clear, constructive feedback and keep the team moving forward.
• You stay calm, adaptable, and solutions-focused in the face of challenges (e.g., budget, R&D, or schedule constraints).
• You bring holistic, sensory-based thinking to every creative choice.
• Your presence and leadership are seen as energizing, grounded, and motivational.

Key Responsibilities:

• Partners with - or assumes the role of - the Creative Director to define and execute a vision for the creative experience
• Informs and makes choices on color, specific styles, texture, fixtures, furnishings, and materiality to bring that creative vision to life
• Leads creators on the design & production teams during Schematic Design (SD), Detailed Design (DD), and Production phases in a project’s life cycle
• Communicates creative priorities/intent and ensures that the design & production teams are empowered to create elements & make design choices that fall within the intended look & feel of the experience
• Supervises, guides, and mentors other Art Directors on the team
• Is able to identify artists to help create and produce artwork as needed/wanted for projects
• Travels to the field and/or is relocated for the duration of the install to ensure that the Show installation and Facility finishes are executed in support of the overall vision, working alongside and collaborating with the Productions Designers and Creative Directors.

Required Qualifications:

• In a supervisory capacity, proven experience & diverse history of working in the arts or other creative fields
• Proven success in communicating creative priorities and choices - clearly & succinctly - with production vendors, on-site contractors, and on-site partnering artists
• Expertise with Adobe Creative Suite, 2D and 3D drawing and imaging applications
• Expertise with multimedia creation including: color theory, physical model making, painting techniques, materiality & finishing, digital painting
• Proven success working with site-specific art installations and safe studio practices
• Strong knowledge of proper uses & limitations of fire-rated materials
• Proven experience with creative leadership, including: directing teams, leading artists, collaborating with multiple teams
• Friendly, patient and sense of humor, comfortable working with large, diverse, team of people on a daily basis

Desired Qualifications:

• 10+ years experience working in an artistic field
• Proven experience with the production of art, permanent exhibition design and installation required
• DIY experience a plus
• Familiarity with transportation, logistics, storage, safety and durability of interactive art exhibitions
• Proven experience with Google Suite, Excel/Sheets, Microsoft Office, and project management softwares
• Strong familiarity with Rhino, Sketch-Up, or other 3D modeling softwares

Work Environment and Physical Demands

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed must be representative of the knowledge, skills, minimum education, training, licensure, experience, and/or ability required.

Work Environment:

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and scanners. This position also works in an indoor setting with exposure to noisy environments, dim lighting, strong visual effects including strobing lights, special effects, fog machines and small and / or enclosed spaces.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Physical ability to walk, stand, take stairs/slides/elevators, and navigate the elements during the day and night. Employee may be required to remain in a sitting or standing position for prolonged periods, and repeat motions that may include the wrists, hands, and/or fingers. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds at times.

The employee will comply with company and OSHA standard workplace safety protocols. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Schedule:

This is a full-time position, and hours of work and days are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand.

Supervisor Responsibilities:

This position does require supervisory responsibility.

Travel

This position will require some travel (10%-25%)

Might require a temporary relocation to another city for a 6-9 month period, based on assigned projects.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

IMPACT:

Meow Wolf is committed to our DIY roots and grassroots community support principles. To document that commitment, we converted our legal designation into a Delaware Public Benefit Corporation and have certified as a B Corporation. As a B Corp, we have a triple bottom line of supporting financial, social and environmental wellbeing in our community.

INCLUSION:

Meow Wolf is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. We are committed to ensuring all employees enjoy and thrive in a work environment where differences make us the vibrant, wonderful community we are! All employment decisions at Meow Wolf are based on business need, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, results of genetic testing, veteran status, service in the military or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

BENEFITS:

The choices we make concerning our benefits during enrollment periods are among the most important we select for ourselves and our families. As part of the total compensation package for full-time employees, Meow Wolf offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes various options to meet individual healthcare and financial needs along with many perks.

• Medical Insurance options: PPO & HDHP*
• Dental and Vision Insurance*
• HSA, HRA, and FSA options*
• 401k Retirement Plan
• Company paid Life Insurance Policy and Disability Coverage(s)*
• Voluntary Critical Illness and Life Insurance Policies*
• Company Paid Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Parental Leave for 12 weeks
• Discount off Meow Wolf Gift Shop Merch and Cafes
• Admission to Meow Wolf attractions for employees and guests

*Regular or Project Based Full-time positions