Creative Director (Narrative) — Salt Lake City, UT

For more than 150 years, Zions Bancorporation has built on the dedication and talent of our people, earning recognition as one of the “Best Banks to Work For.” Today, we’re shaping the future of banking—leveraging innovation, strengthening local relationships, and delivering exceptional value across our collection of great banks in the West. 

Our expanding marketing team is building something transformative: a dynamic, in-house Creative Studio that will redefine how we tell our story and connect with customers. Under the leadership of our new CMO, we’re creating a modern, collaborative hub for bold ideas and breakthrough campaigns that elevate a bank known for exceptional service and deep community roots. This is your opportunity to lead creative for one of the fastest-growing areas of marketing—affiliate partnerships—and set a new standard for performance-driven design. 

Our Creative Directors work with leadership to develop and drive the strategic creative approach to and execution of marketing programs across eight bank brands. 

You will create compelling, conversion-focused work that strengthens partnerships and drives measurable results. You will provide leadership across a multidisciplinary team, collaborate with growth and performance marketing teams, and deliver innovative creative that balances brand integrity with business goals.  

A key responsibility will be building and inspiring the team, fostering a culture of excellence, and delivering work that strengthens customer trust and positions Zions Bancorporation and its affiliates as leaders in financial marketing. 

What You’ll Do

As Creative Director – Narrative, you'll lead a team of writers crafting campaigns that go beyond transactional language to build lasting client relationships. From product naming and campaign concepting to executive communications and in-branch messaging, you'll ensure every word reflects our commitment to helping clients achieve their financial goals.

You'll work cross-functionally to help develop the language frameworks that shape how we communicate across wealth management, commercial and small business banking, consumer banking, and digital platforms — including tone guidelines, messaging architectures, and content standards that balance regulatory requirements with genuine human connection.

You’ll lead by example, collaborating with the Creative Director – Design and the design team to concept alongside each other, leveraging words and visuals together to create work that elevates and redefines the way financial institutions communicate

Key Responsibilities

• Guide narrative development for integrated campaigns across digital, print, experiential, and emerging channels
• Help establish and maintain brand voice standards that work across diverse audiences from mass-market retail clients to high-net-worth wealth planning clients
• Direct the creative process from brief to final execution, ensuring work meets both creative and regulatory standards
• Mentor creative talent and foster a culture of curiosity, craftsmanship, and continuous improvement
• Partner with legal, compliance, and risk teams to push creative boundaries within appropriate guardrails
• Present creative work to senior leadership and stakeholders with clarity and conviction
• Stay attuned to cultural trends, competitive positioning, and evolving client expectations in financial services
• Contribute directly to day-to-day work and large-scale campaigns as volume demands

What You Bring

• 8+ years of creative experience, including team leadership and development of direct reports
• A strong portfolio — ideally in financial services, fintech, pharma, or other trust-driven industries where tone and clarity are paramount
• Proven ability to balance creativity with the constraints of regulated industries
• Knowledge of design fundamentals and how copy and design work together to tell a cohesive story
• Exceptional writing skills across formats and audiences, from social copy to long-form content
• Strategic thinking that connects business goals to creative expression
• A track record of attracting, retaining, and developing top creative talent
• Comfort presenting and defending work to stakeholders and leadership alike
• Understanding of how brand voice intersects with customer experience, product design, and business strategy
• A collaborative spirit that thrives in matrixed, cross-functional environments

Salary Range: This position is eligible to earn a base salary in the range of $114,000 - $150,000 annually depending on job-related factors such as level of experience and location.

This is an in-office position that will be based at a local corporate hub 5 days a week. This is not a hybrid or remote role.

Benefits: 

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance - START DAY ONE!  

• Life and Disability Insurance, Paid Parental Leave and Adoption Assistance 

• Health Savings (HSA), Flexible Spending (FSA) and dependent care accounts

• Paid Training, Paid Time Off (PTO) and 11 Paid Federal Holidays, and any applicable state holidays

• 401(k) plan with company match, Profit Sharing, competitive compensation in line with work experience 

• Mental health benefits including coaching and therapy sessions

• Tuition Reimbursement for qualifying employees enrolled in an accredited degree program related to the needs of the business, maximum of $5,250 per calendar year, employees are eligible for the program upon hire

• Employee Ambassador preferred banking products