Job Description

Established in 1806 as a small soap and candle business in New York City, Colgate-Palmolive is now a truly global company with products sold in over 200 countries and territories under such internationally recognized brand names as Colgate, Palmolive, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Protex, Sorriso, Kolynos, elmex, Tom's of Maine, Sanex, Ajax, Axion, Soupline, Haci Sakir, Suavitel, PCA SKIN, EltaMD, Filorga and Hello as well as Hill's Science Diet and Hill's Prescription Diet.

Colgate-Palmolive is a leading consumer products company that serves hundreds of millions of consumers worldwide with brands and products across four core businesses – Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition. We are committed to offering products that make lives healthier and more enjoyable, and programs that enrich communities around the world.

Every day millions of people trust our products to care for themselves and the ones they love. Our goal is to use our technology to create products that will continue to improve the quality of life for our consumers wherever they live.

A career at Colgate-Palmolive is an excellent opportunity if you seek a global experience, constant challenge, and development opportunities in an environment that respects work/life effectiveness.
Information at a Glance
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Job Title:  Creative Design Director
Travel Required?:  Travel - up to 10% of time
Posting Start Date:  10/23/26
On-site

No Relocation Assistance Offered
Job Number #176927 - Shanghai, Shanghai, China

Who We Are

Colgate-Palmolive Company is a global consumer products company operating in over 200 countries specializing in Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care, Skin Care, and Pet Nutrition. Our products are trusted in more households than any other brand in the world, making us a household name!

Join Colgate-Palmolive, a caring, innovative growth company reimagining a healthier future for people, their pets, and our planet. Guided by our core values—Caring, Inclusive, and Courageous—we foster a culture that inspires our people to achieve common goals. Together, let's build a brighter, healthier future for all.
 

About the Role & Team

The Global Breakthrough Innovation Team operates as an agile, cross-functional engine designed to unlock speed, test disruptive concepts, and deliver high-impact innovations globally. Operating out of primary innovation hubs in New York (deep tech, pioneering research, global strategy) and China (emerging cultural/market trends, rapid prototyping, speed-to-market, and manufacturing ecosystem proximity), our mission is to redefine consumer health and wellness.

As the Brand Design Lead (Creative Director - Band 16) for the China Breakthrough Innovation team, you will be the creative centerpiece and key strategic bridge connecting China’s agile ecosystem with our Global HQ in New York. You will lead brand experience, visual strategy, identity design, and physical product design—specifically focusing on 3D structural packaging co-development and rapid prototyping via local external vendors.

Key Responsibilities

1. Global-Local Strategic Bridge (China ↔ New York HQ)

  • Serve as the primary creative liaison and cultural translator between the China Breakthrough Innovation Team and the New York Global Design & Innovation leadership.

  • Adapt global brand frameworks for agile in-market testing while funneling fast-paced, cutting-edge Asian design trends, C-beauty/wellness insights, and visual formats back into global platforms.

  • Collaborate closely with global cross-functional partners (Insights, R&D, Packaging Engineering, Formula Leads) to ensure global design standards align with local rapid-execution strategies.

2. End-to-End Brand Experience & Identity

  • Drive full visual and experiential brand identity for new-to-world breakthrough concepts, MVPs (Minimum Viable Products), spin-outs, and pilot market launches.

  • Lead the holistic brand vision from early-stage discovery, narrative building, digital/D2C design assets, and brand storytelling to final packaging execution.

  • Partner with external venture studios, startup incubators, and agile networks (e.g., Pilot44) to establish distinct visual languages for experimental brands.

3. 3D Structure & Physical Product Development (China Agile Network)

  • Partner directly with Packaging Engineers and Supply Chain leads to co-develop, source, and manufacture physical 3D structural packaging utilizing China’s local external vendor network.

  • Leverage digital sourcing platforms, stock mold libraries, and rapid prototyping technologies (rapid injection molding, 3D printing) to accelerate physical prototype creation.

  • Manage external design agencies, structural packaging partners, suppliers, and External Manufacturers (EM) to co-develop custom molds and innovative structural formats within compressed timelines (1–3 months).

4. Agile Pilot Execution & Incubation

  • Participate actively in Discovery and Incubation sprints, translating early consumer signals into tangible design prototypes and pilot-ready products.

  • Build design guidelines for low-volume, high-speed pilot launches across digital/D2C channels and offline retail touchpoints.

Key Requirements & Candidate Profile

1. Professional Experience & Dual Background

  • MNC + Local Chinese Brand Experience (Mandatory): Proven track record working within a global Multi-National Corporation (MNC) AND a high-growth local Chinese company, startup, or leading domestic brand/agency.

  • 12+ years of progressive brand design, product design, and creative direction experience in FMCG, Beauty, Personal Care, Wellness, or Consumer Tech.

2. Technical & Strategic Expertise

  • 3D Structural Packaging & Vendor Sourcing: Deep expertise in 3D industrial/packaging design co-development. Hands-on experience sourcing, briefing, and collaborating with external packaging suppliers, tooling facilities, and OEMs/ODMs in Eastern South China.

  • 3D Design & Prototyping Literacy: Highly fluent in 3D visualization, CAD/KeyShot software translation, structural ergonomics, material selection, and sustainable packaging solutions.

  • Brand Experience Architecture: Mastery of visual strategy, brand identity, typography, graphic design, and D2C/digital asset development.

3. Leadership & Communication Skills

  • Bilingual Proficiency: Native fluency in Mandarin and business/executive fluency in English (written and spoken) is strictly required for interfacing daily with New York HQ and China teams.

  • Cross-Cultural Leadership: Strong storytelling abilities to pitch creative concepts to senior executive stakeholders (Growth Boards, Global VPs).

  • Agile Mindset: Comfortable operating under ambiguity, prioritizing speed-to-market, and designing for Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) rather than waiting for multi-year perfection.


Our Commitment to Inclusion
Our journey begins with our people—developing strong talent with diverse backgrounds and perspectives  to best serve our consumers around the world and fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels a true sense of belonging. We are dedicated to ensuring that each individual can be their authentic self, is treated with respect, and is empowered by leadership to contribute meaningfully to our business.

Equal Opportunity Employer
Colgate is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, veteran status (United States positions), or any other characteristic protected by law.

Reasonable accommodation during the application process is available for persons with disabilities. Please complete this request form should you require accommodation.

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