Creator Director

Buttermilk is an industry leader in influencer marketing, known for crafting dynamic campaigns that connect brands with the right creators to deliver impactful results. We champion innovation, strategic thinking, and high-quality execution across our campaigns. As we continue to scale our operations and client base, we are investing in senior leadership roles that drive agency-wide excellence.

Role Overview

The Creator Director is a senior leadership role within Creator Services, responsible for overseeing Creator Managers and spearheading the quality, consistency, and strategic evolution of Buttermilk’s creator and content output.

This role is focused on leadership, mentorship, and strategic optimisation, rather than day-to-day campaign execution. The Creator Director will set the standards for creator management excellence across the agency, owning negotiation strategy, creator quality frameworks, and operational improvements that lead to stronger outcomes for both clients and creators.

The role acts as a critical bridge between Creator Services leadership and the Manager layer, ensuring the team is well-supported, well-trained, and operating at a consistently high standard.

Decision-Making Authority

The Creator Director has decision-making authority across the Creator Services function, including:

• Creator quality standards and content expectations
• Negotiation frameworks, rate guidance, and escalation decisions
• Senior creator, talent agent, and delivery escalations
• Best-practice processes related to creator management and execution

In cases where decisions have wider commercial, financial, or reputational impact, final sign-off may be required from the Head of Creator Services and/or Managing Director. The Creator Director is responsible for leading recommendations and implementation following approval.

Key responsibilities

• Provide direct line management to Creator Managers, supporting performance, development, and progression.
• Act as a senior escalation point for complex creator, agent, and delivery challenges.
• Partner closely with the Head of Creator Services on departmental strategy, resourcing, and future planning.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture within Creator Services.

Creator Quality, Campaign Performance & Client Satisfaction

• Own and evolve agency-wide standards for creator selection, content quality, and creator relationship management.
• Work closely with Campaign Leads and Client Services Leads to ensure creator processes support strong campaign execution, performance metrics, and client objectives.
• Ensure consistency of creator output across all tiers, from always-on activity to high-profile ambassadorships and IRL moments.
• Act as a quality gatekeeper on priority accounts to ensure work meets both creative and commercial expectations.
• Define and lead agency-wide negotiation frameworks and best practices.
• Oversee and support senior-level negotiations with talent agents and high-profile creators.
• Identify opportunities to improve commercial outcomes, including favourable rates, added value, and long-term talent incentives.
• Build and maintain senior relationships across the talent, agency, and partner ecosystem.

Strategic Optimisation & Cross-Functional Initiatives

• Proactively identify inefficiencies across creator workflows, communications, and handovers.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives with Campaigns, Client Services, Data, Strategy and Marketing teams to improve execution quality and speed.
• Develop scalable playbooks, processes, and frameworks that improve collaboration and reduce friction across teams.
• Act as a strategic partner to leadership on the evolution of creator services and new product offerings.
• Serve as a senior thought leader for Buttermilk’s creator offering, contributing to industry conversations around creator management, negotiations, and content quality.
• Represent Buttermilk at relevant industry events, panels, and functions, helping to build the agency’s reputation and network within the creator and talent ecosystem.
• Support public-facing initiatives such as speaking opportunities, roundtables, and industry partnerships where appropriate.
• Design and deliver structured training for Creator Managers and Execs, focused on:
• Advanced negotiation and agent communications
• Creator relationship management
• Content quality and performance standards
• Mentor senior team members and support succession planning.
• Ensure consistent coaching and development across all levels of Creator Services.

Key Characteristics

• Senior leadership presence with strong cross-functional influence.
• Deep expertise in creator ecosystems, talent agencies, and content performance.
• Extensive knowledge of platform offerings and programs
• Confident negotiator with experience handling complex, high-value agreements.
• Strategic and operational thinker with a track record of improving systems and outcomes.
• Highly collaborative, with the ability to align multiple departments toward shared goals.
• Passionate mentor who builds long-term capability within teams.

Measurement of Success

• Improved consistency and quality of creator and content output.
• Stronger campaign performance and reduced delivery issues linked to creator execution.
• Improved negotiation outcomes and commercial efficiencies.
• Positive feedback from Campaign, Client Services, and senior leadership.
• High team engagement, capability growth, and retention within Creator Services.
• Measurable improvements in cross-functional workflows and client satisfaction.

Experience & Qualifications

• 6+ years’ experience in influencer or creator marketing.
• Proven experience leading managers within an agency environment.
• Strong background in talent negotiations and agent relationship management.
• Experience partnering closely with client-facing and delivery teams.