Senior Manager Brand Creative

About the position

The Senior Manager, Brand Creative is responsible for out of the box thinking and oversight in translating design concepts and ideating concepts of design to a variety of mediums from local store marketing, print ads, digital, mobile, video, packaging, website and social media that maintain the company's brand standards, brand voice, character, originality and quality. Manages one or more crew members.

Responsibilities

• Conceptualize and brainstorm new creative ideas for new projects as they arise
• Collaboratively and continually maintain a Brand Book from start to finish
• Create digital mockups themselves from start to finish
• Present design ideas to internal team and refine designs as necessary
• Keep track of feedback received from the executive team and supervisors to not repeat items that were not previously approved
• Rapidly ideate and create mockups of all assets from start to finish for all print and digital marketing collateral
• Work with various timelines and multiple projects in a fast-paced environment, always delivering creative that is accurate, original and consistent
• Manage and guide all brand creative and design layouts for optimized end-use and delivered according to specifications, production standards, color quality standards and budget
• Creates up to 40% - 60% of the work that comes out of the department from start to finish themselves
• Give solid creative management to team members that includes out of the box thinking, originality and creates the overall success of their team and the content created by their team
• Mentoring team and giving feedback
• Guiding project design based on feedback from the executive team and their supervisors
• Sharing the feedback with the team and making sure that it is executed in a timely manner
• Facilitate meetings with team members to review and drive new projects and ensure they are executed correctly the first time around, with the utmost creativity, inspiration and never taking the easy way out
• Taking ownership of the team's failures, ensuring Crew accountability, working with Crew to immediately remedy the situation, and making sure that it does not happen again
• Drive project due dates ensuring they are met on time, and communicates status updates as required
• Provide scheduling and oversight of project assignments per each team member ensuring that all assignments are scheduled and executed efficiently
• Oversee and maintain the New Hire training program for the Creative Team
• Work with other managers and directors to help them expand on their creative design ideas and bring them to fruition in an inspired way that will be sure to engage customers and crew
• Prepare files for print/web working closely with internal and external vendors and manufacturers to ensure final product is without flaw
• Correctly export digital assets to all needed formats
• Maintain an up to date and organized set of files for project archive and utilize the department's digital assets management systems and file servers
• Present work to a range of internal audiences in a clear, professional manner
• Operate as a brand advocate and shepherd creative standards with all partners (internal and external vendors), provide creative feedback when required and communicate brand updates as needed
• Keep up to date with design, photography and print production techniques, proposing new technologies and sharing this knowledge with the team
• Complete retouching on files required for internal presentation and work with vendors for final post-production delivery
• Work with our proofing and approval system in an organized manner that keeps your team organized, efficient and ready to tackle any project
• Be able to adapt and overcome any setback with due dates and changes with good grace and positivity
• Continue to update the creative brand look within company standards and guidelines, push the limits for every campaign or event, and come to the table with new artwork instead of repeating the same style over and over again when relevant to inspire customers and crew
• Collaborate with all departments and work with them to translate creative direction into ideas that lead to business results
• Apply all edits given through InMotion to finished products
• Process and check invoices for accuracy and submit them for approval
• Manage Meal Deals and delegate to your team tasks to do regarding the creation of all collateral from start to finish
• Work with the Associate Manager Senior Graphic Designer to Manage the design and production of the HHL

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in graphic design or other related areas from an Arts College or accredited University
• Minimum 8 years of experience in graphic design/art direction to include retail and or retail food brand experience, ideally working within an internal consumer brand environment, or advertising agency
• Minimum 2 years of experience in Food Retail graphic design/art direction
• Previous experience managing Creative Teams required
• Understanding of consumer product packaging is required
• Knowledge about natural and organic products and supplements is preferred
• Experience presenting work in a meeting environment to peers and executives
• Must be a creative thinker who can provide a solid portfolio of inspiring ideas and packing mockups
• Understanding of marketing campaign development and the various mediums to execute an integrated campaign (e.g. print; video, digital; photography; variety of media outlets)
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud environment applications (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat)
• Print, digital, video, social, outdoor, corporate publications design, prototyping, and production, including detailed management of high volume of design files, and vendors, to see print creative lifecycle through to completion
• Typography knowledge
• Use visual and creative sensibilities to translate creative concepts into materials for the internal and external consumer
• Basic retouching skills
• Flexible and quick to respond to changes in business priorities
• Ability to work under creative direction and respond well to feedback and critique from coworkers, executives, and manufacturers
• Proven ability to work effectively and efficiently under multiple, occasionally competing deadlines
• Proactive and solutions oriented with a positive attitude to challenges

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in a retail food brand environment
• Knowledge about natural and organic products and supplements

Benefits

• Birthday Bonus Pay
• Vitamin Bucks (up to $2,080 earned as store credit annually)
• Holiday Pay for 5 Holidays - Stores Closed
• Paid Time Off (sick days and vacation) that Increases with Tenure
• Paid Nutrition Education
• good4u Crew Member Discount
• {N}power Program (customer appreciation and rewards program)
• Regular, Scheduled Pay Increases
• Advancement Opportunities and Career Development
• Health and Wellness Program
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Employee Referral Program
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Paid Parental Leave
• Paid Medical Leave (through company paid short-term disability insurance)
• Company Paid Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Company Paid Life Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits Including Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, Long-Term Disability Insurance, Term Life Insurance
• Retirement Savings Plan (401k) with discretionary Company Match
• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with Company Match