Creative Director Job at CEC Entertainment in Irving

At CEC Entertainment, we build careers around great food, family, and fun! Our purpose and our passion is to create the best place for kids and families to eat and play!

Chuck E. Cheese is seeking a visionary Creative Director to lead our in-house creative services team, which functions as the brand’s internal agency. This role is responsible for shaping the creative vision and defining the look, feel, and storytelling of the brand across every consumer touchpoint. From national advertising campaigns to in-store experiences and social content, this leader will bring innovative ideas to life, ensure consistency across all channels, and set the creative direction that drives engagement, business results, and brand love.

Key Responsibilities

Creative Leadership & Vision : Define and evolve the overarching creative strategy and brand identity for Chuck E. Cheese, ensuring all work reflects the brand’s values and business goals. Stay ahead of cultural, media, and design trends to keep the brand fresh and relevant.

Cross-Functional Collaboration : Partner with Brand Marketing, PR, International, Operations, Entertainment, Construction, and other departments to deliver creative solutions that meet business objectives. Lead special projects for HR and the CEO as assigned.

Campaign & Content Development : Lead the concepting, storyboarding, casting, and production of advertising campaigns across TV, streaming, and digital platforms. Oversee editing, versioning, and delivery of final assets.

In-House Creative Agency Management : Lead the creative services team, including internal designers, videographers, support staff, and a network of freelancers – responsible for producing advertising, social content, in-store materials, and promotional collateral. Provide mentorship, guidance, and career development to full-time team members while ensuring freelancers are effectively integrated, managed, and aligned with brand standards.

Environmental & Experience Design : Collaborate with Construction and Operations to concept and design interior theming and experiential elements in Chuck E. Cheese locations, ensuring environments are on-brand, immersive, and engaging for families.

Innovation & Technology : Champion new creative approaches, including emerging platforms and AI-driven tools, to enhance creative strategy and production efficiency.

Workflow & Process Ownership : Establish, document, and refine creative processes, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality assets. Oversee asset management systems, compliance with licenses and talent agreements, and proper archiving of all creative work.

Quality Control : Serve as the final gatekeeper for creative excellence, reviewing and approving all creative assets before release to ensure consistency, accuracy, and brand alignment.

Vendor & Production Oversight : Manage relationships with external partners including production companies, printers, and other creative vendors. Scope, negotiate, and supervise all third-party projects.

Budget Strategy & Resource Management : Develop and manage the creative services budget, optimizing spend across in-house and external resources while delivering on business needs.

Performance & Impact Measurement : Partner with marketing leadership to track the effectiveness of creative campaigns and content, using insights to continually improve quality and ROI.

Qualifications

10+ years of progressive experience in creative leadership, with proven success developing and executing brand-level creative strategy.

Strong portfolio showcasing expertise in video production, brand identity, and integrated campaigns across traditional and digital platforms.

Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and grow high-performing creative teams, including both full-time staff and freelance / contract talent.

Experience working cross-functionally with marketing, operations, entertainment, construction, and senior leadership to deliver creative solutions to business challenges.

Proven ability to manage budgets, vendor contracts, and resource allocation at a director level.

Deep understanding of creative workflows, asset management, licensing, and compliance.

Knowledge of emerging creative technologies and trends, with hands-on experience integrating innovation (including AI) into creative strategy.

Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to balance creative vision and business impact.

Background in entertainment, family brands, multi-unit retail, or consumer-facing experiential industries preferred.

Why Join Us

At Chuck E. Cheese, creativity isn’t an accessory—it’s the core of how we connect with families. This role offers the opportunity to lead all aspects of the brand’s creative expression, shaping the consumer experience for millions of kids and parents every year.

At Chuck E Cheese, we care about the safety and health of our guests and employees. We have rigorous health and sanitation standards, and our operational procedures are designed to meet or exceed local requirements and most importantly to protect the health of our teams and guests.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

#Diversity #Inclusion #Culture

The Company :

CEC Entertainment, LLC (“CEC”), headquartered in Irving, Texas, is a nationally recognized leader in family dining and entertainment, proudly operating the iconic Chuck E. Cheese, Peter Piper Pizza and Chuck’s Arcade brands.

Chuck E. Cheese celebrates over half a million birthdays annually, dedicated to creating joyful, lasting memories through fun, food, and play. As the place Where a Kid Can Be a Kid, the brand is committed to safety through programs like Kid Check and community support, having donated more than $24 million to schools and nonprofits.

CEC Entertainment and its franchisees operate nearly 600 Chuck E. Cheese locations and over 120 Peter Piper Pizza venues across 45 states and 18 countries. The company proudly fosters a culture of diversity and celebrates fun and play to unite every family.

CEC Entertainment offers a wide variety of benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and 401(k) retirement savings plan to eligible U.S. employees as part of their overall employment package. We also offer job training and career growth opportunities. Chuck E. Cheese is a Work Today, Get Paid Tomorrow employer.

At CEC Entertainment, we believe that our workforce should reflect the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives of many guests we serve. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we do not discriminate against applicants due to race, ancestry, color, genetics, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, veteran status, or on the basis of any other federal, state or local protected class.

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