Creative Lead Design Director (Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan)

The Creative Lead Content MENAP will join the International Content Team whose mission is to build the most valuable content library in the world. The team sits within the International Supergroup and collaborates closely with Content & Discovery and Marketing to unlock content-driven growth through high-quality market-relevant templates and elements such as graphics photos and videos.The team is focused on delivering content that is Truly Local ensuring everything published meets Canvas standards of design craft cultural resonance and user value.This role will lead the charge in shaping the creative direction for content that reflects the cultural nuances and preferences of MENAP. It will be instrumental in driving user engagement and revenue growth through content collaborating closely with the Country Lead and local stakeholders across Growth Marketing SEO and Community.This role will also direct a team of local creatives to curate and elevate impactful truly local content across both elements such as graphics photos and videos and templates spanning social media presentations websites and print products. By fostering a culture of excellence and innovation this role will play a vital part in achieving Canvas mission of delivering a world-class truly local design experience.What youll be doingCreative Direction & StrategyDevelop a compelling creative vision that aligns with regional and local context and Canvas broader goals collaborating closely with the Region Lead for MENAP and local Marketing SEO and Community teams.Translate country and regional strategies into actionable content plans and locally relevant campaigns tailored to audience preferences.Drive experimentation and content innovation supporting new product formats and emerging trends to keep creative outputs fresh and competitive.Making informed decisions on content creation funnels based on country content strategiesContent Creation & CurationOversee the creation of content including design kits campaign documents creator briefs and in-house production where needed. Work with Content Specialists and/or Copywriters to ensure copy is culturally relevant and adheres to our copy best practice standards.Curate and editorially frame content for marketing initiatives showcases and seasonal calendars to elevate local relevance.Proactively identify content gaps and curate assets that reflect strategic priorities and creative excellence.Lead quality control of all content outputs ensuring alignment with brand guidelines and maintaining high standards of visual and messaging quality.Market Understanding & Cultural InsightsBuild and maintain a deep knowledge of local culture consumer behaviour and design trends to inform content direction and strategy.Conduct foundational content research to guide Canvas expansion into the MENAP market ensuring creative and editorial output aligns with user needs and cultural nuances.Provide cultural expertise to scale content ensuring authenticity and relevance to MENAP across AICG partnerships AI tooling and diversity initiatives.Champion hyperlocal design perspectives in collaboration with cross-functional teams.Support building an editorial strategy for local content ensuring Canvas library reflects cultural relevance diversity and inclusive storytelling.Advocate for the integration of global and underrepresented perspectives in content development and curation upholding Canvas commitment to Diversity Equity and Inclusion.Content Performance Monitoring & AnalysisConduct template and element audits to identify improvement areas and opportunities for new content.Perform content performance and gap analysis distilling insights into recommendations that guide future content creation and acquisition.Leverage data trends and local insights to shape creative direction enhance creator and in-house briefs and inform design decisions.Facilitate retrospectives and performance reviews to refine strategies and content effectiveness.Actively raise discoverability challenges or product limitations that impact content visibility engagement or impact in MENAP.Partnership & Stakeholder ManagementCollaborate with local SEO Marketing and Country Managers in partnership with Design Ops Managers to align on creative goals and content needs and confidently prioritise and negotiate trade-offs.Lead the rollout of local partnership content through culturally relevant creative strategies and campaigns.Manage creative strategy brand adherence and feedback implementation to meet partner expectations and project goals.Communicate initiatives and results to senior leadership ensuring visibility across stakeholders.Competitive AnalysisMonitor competitor activity and creative trends across the region to identify new opportunities and maintain strategic edge.Use findings to inform the content roadmap and differentiate Canvas creative offerings in the local market.Project ManagementSet clear ambitious and achievable content and creative goals for th