Art Director

Milani Cosmetics is built on a simple belief: beauty should feel exceptional, every day. For almost three decades, that principle has guided our mission to raise the standard of mass beauty, delivering prestige-quality formulas at accessible prices. Based in Los Angeles, Milani champions inclusivity, self-expression and innovation, with products that are proudly cruelty-free.

Milani has built a strong track record of sustained growth, outperforming the U.S. mass color cosmetics category and strengthening its position among the industry’s leading brands. As an independent beauty company, Milani combines an entrepreneurial mindset with a commitment to innovation, quality, and meeting the evolving needs of consumers.

With the ambition to become a top-five U.S. mass color cosmetics brand and surpass $500 million in annual revenue, Milani is focused on expanding its retail presence with strategic partners, accelerating growth on Amazon and building its international business in key markets, including the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada.

Our continued success depends on the people behind the brand. As we grow, we seek passionate, collaborative individuals who bring fresh ideas, take ownership, and want to help shape the future of accessible luxury beauty.

What's Inside is Everything!

Position Summary

The Art Director will play a pivotal role in shaping the visual language of Milani across every channel. This role blends concepting, design, and multidisciplinary creative leadership to deliver work that feels modern, culturally connected, and unmistakably ours. You bring an elevated eye, a strong editorial sensibility, and the ability to translate category and trend insights into compelling creative that drives the business forward. You thrive in a fast-paced environment and help cultivate high performance across the creatives you partner with and mentor.

This role reports to the Creative Director and oversees a team of 4-5 designers, while working closely with partners across the organization to make sure every creative deliverable is impactful, aligned with the brand, and produced on schedule.

Responsibilities:

• Standards and Brand Consistency: Establish and maintain global design standards across in-store fixtures, displays, packaging, content and more. Ensure brand expression remains consistent across all physical and packaging touchpoints, following the brand book as a North star.

• Design Evolution and Industry Insight: Stay actively engaged with new design movements, materials, and creative technologies shaping beauty, fashion, and wellness. Bring forward inspiring insights that elevate concept development and collaborate with the Creative Director on long-range creative directions that advance the brand’s visual identity.

• Cross Functional Partnership: Work closely with Marketing, eCommerce, Merchandising, Product Development, Social, and external partners to ensure creative aligns with business and brand goals. Manage productive relationships with photographers, stylists, editors, printers, and creative vendors. Ensure smooth communication and alignment across teams to move work from concept to rollout efficiently.

• Creative Storytelling Partnership: Collaborate closely with the Copywriter to build unified storytelling across campaigns, launches, retail moments, and day-to-day brand needs. Co-develop narratives that translate product, category, and trend insights into compelling stories that engage the beauty consumer. Maintain alignment on strategy, messaging priorities, and creative direction so every asset tells a cohesive and memorable story.

• Vendor and Production Oversight: Review vendor technical drawings, proofs and packaging mechanicals with a sharp eye for accuracy and brand alignment. Redline and approve final production proofs, ensuring all details meet visual and technical standards. Maintain organized guidelines, specifications, and documentation to support brand consistency.

In order to be successful in the position, the following outcomes should be achieved: 

Creative Leadership and Vision

• Partner with the Creative Director to define and elevate the brand’s visual direction across campaigns, product storytelling, print design, packaging, event, content and digital experiences
• Lead concept development for internal 360 campaigns with ideas that resonate culturally and adapt seamlessly across formats and channels. Present concepts to stakeholders with clear rationale and thoughtful iteration
• Build cohesive visual systems including typography, graphic treatments, and content frameworks to be used across designers / creatives

Project Management and Cross Functional Collaboration

• Manage incoming briefs with clarity and intention, ensuring project goals and creative requirements are fully understood
• Partner with marketing, project managers, producers, and external vendors to maintain alignment throughout the workflow
• Share updates proactively, remove roadblocks, and drive projects toward timely, high-quality outcomes
• Support seamless communication across teams to keep deliverables on track and aligned with business needs

Talent Development Across Creative Disciplines

• Mentor and guide designers, creatives, and freelance talent across digital, print, and photography.
• Strengthen team capabilities through feedback, coaching, and opportunities that cultivate growth
• Collaborate with directors, photographers, stylists, and freelance partners to bring out their best and ensure alignment to brand vision
• Champion a culture of innovation by encouraging experimentation with new techniques, formats, and technologies

• Minimum of 5 years of experience developing physical brand executions across beauty, fashion, or wellness, backed by a strong record of results. Direct experience creating solutions for CPG or retail environments is required
• AA or Bachelor’s degree in Design, Fine Arts, or a related field
• Proven experience managing a team of at least 2 direct reports.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills. You love to lead thoughtful conversations and communicate effectively with all levels of management
• Strong understanding of beauty consumer behavior, cultural signals, and digital trends
• Experience leading, mentoring and developing creative talent across multiple disciplines
• Strong point of view on visual storytelling, composition, lighting, and brand identity
• Comfortable partnering with photographers and creative teams across digital and print workflows
• Expertise in Adobe Creative Suite with strong skills in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign
• Open to using emerging tools, such as AI for exploration, visualization, and creative development

**Portfolio required for consideration

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Plan (401k w/ Company Match)
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
• Generous Vacation Time Policy
• Family Leave
• Short Term & Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Work Environment / Hybrid (Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday required on site in Milani’s Vernon Office)
• Dog-Friendly HQ

Compensation:

The base salary range represents the low and high end of Milani’s salary range for this position. Salaries will vary depending on factors including, but not limited to location, education, skills, and experience. The base salary range for this role is $130k to $150k.

EOE/M/F/Vet/Disability