Art Director at Airup

Probably the least boring job you’ll ever have. At air up, we don’t just make bottles. We unbore water with flavor by scent. It makes no sense until you try it, and once you do, there’s no going back. Behind it all are teams pushing boundaries every day. Product bends taste and design in new directions. Marketing turns ideas into moments people talk about. Operations makes sure those moments reach hands everywhere. Working here feels like stepping on stage: professionalism meets passion, curiosity meets courage. You’ll experiment, fail fast, learn faster, and actually see your ideas come to life. It's refreshingly low politics and low ego. Just smart, driven people who lift each other up and make things happen. And whatever happens, it sure won't be boring. Welcome to air up. We’re looking for an Art Director who knows how brands win on shelf, in-store and in the hands of consumers. This role lives at the intersection of trade, retail and print. Not just pixels, but physical presence. You’ll lead and execute visual concepts across retail environments, packaging extensions and trade marketing assets. You understand how POS really works, from wobblers to shelf strips to full-scale rollouts and displays, and you care about materials, finishes and production details as much as the big idea. You can prove this with a strong folio. And experience that shows you can work closely with creative, marketing and sales. The role is Munich-based. Hands-on. And most definitely not boring. The perks? Creative freedom to do your best work, competitive pay, flexibility, Apple gear and a team of ambitious creatives led by directors who obsess over good design in the healthiest possible way. Sound like your jam? Then we'd love to hear from you 😊 *** This role is located in Munich, Germany*** In this role, we follow a hybrid working model: time in the office each week to collaborate and connect with the team, balanced with remote days that support focused, independent work. Your responsibilities • Lead visual development with a dedicated focus on retail and trade marketing. • Translate briefs into unboring, retail consumer relevant, executable concepts across print and in-store touchpoints. • Design POS materials including displays, shelf communication, trade decks, in-store collateral, OOH and various other promotional materials. • Oversee packaging adaptations and retail-ready extensions. • Ensure brand consistency across all physical and retail environments. • Own print production workflows including pre-press, material selection, color setting, and supplier alignment to ensure best-in-class quality. • Direct, support and mentor designers and collaborate closely with copywriters. • Align and knowledge transfer with other art directors in the creative team. • Manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining high creative standards. • Contribute to brainstorming sessions and concept development for campaigns. • Stay on top of retail & packaging design trends and bring fresh perspectives. This is you • 5+ years of experience in design or art direction, ideally within FMCG, retail-driven brands or agencies with strong trade exposure. • Trade experience in at least one of the following countries Germany (Prio 1), France (Prio 2), United Kingdom (Prio 3). • Proven mastery of trade marketing, POS systems and print & packaging production. • Strong portfolio demonstrating real retail impact, not just mockups or digital work. • Deep understanding of typography, layout systems and brand consistency. • Mastery of Adobe Creative Suite, Figma and presentation tools. • Experience with AI gen (Nano Banana, MidJourney, Weavy/Flora). • Strong knowledge of materials, finishes and production processes. • Confident presenting concepts internally and externally. • Structured thinker who can balance creativity with commercial reality. • Comfortable working closely with sales and commercial teams. • Fluent in English; German is a strong plus. • Based in Munich or able to relocate. Why air up®? Because you're not just joining another beverage company. You're enlisting in a mission to make healthy habits irresistible. You’re joining a rocket ship startup with global reach, backed by the industry's elite investors. Here, our diverse, passionate team values bold creativity and meaningful impact above all. We give you freedom to experiment and grow, because we want you to leave your mark. The benefits listed below are intended for full-time employees. For other employment types, including working students and minijobbers, benefits may differ based on the terms of their contract and applicable regulations. But what’s in for you? 🏖 30 days of vacation 🏷 discount on our products 💰 employer-funded pension & location related insurances (may vary per country) 🏡 purpose built office in MUC 📈 personal development 🎉 regular team events 🏁 start-up spirit 🌍 workation options (availability may differ by role) air up® have developed an innovative and world-first drinking system. Through scent alone, the air up® bottle brings flavour to simple tap water and can be enjoyed without any single-use plastic bottles, sugar, or additives. air up is a young, fast-growing company filled with ambitious and creative minds from various backgrounds. air up® is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to maintaining an equal opportunity environment for all persons free of discriminatory behaviour. We will not discriminate and will take affirmative action measures to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the bases of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.