Cole Haan's Creative Director will partner with the SVP Marketing and VP Brand Design & Retail to craft the narrative, aesthetic, feel and voice for this iconic American Brand. As a part of Cole Haan's leading global men's and women's footwear and accessories company this position will create best-in-class consumer focused storytelling, design & branding across our portfolio of products for our multigenerational consumer. The Creative Director will work cross-functionally throughout our product creation process from start to finish to partner on our seasonal narrative direction, brand, product and innovation storytelling to define our seasonal look, feel, voice and execution. In addition, in the role of Creative Director, you will be tasked with building world class creative and production teams focused on ideas not items to create industry leading conceptual design solutions across all communication channels including but not limited to site, UX, e-commerce, brand/social content, paid/social performance media, retail and wholesale. CORE ACCOUNTABILITIES:
- Oversee the design, storytelling, creative direction, and execution of global Multichannel Brand creative strategy in alignment with the Cole Haan consumer across all touchpoints, including brand campaigns
- Partner with Product Creation and Brand Marketing on seasonal strategic creative direction and execution
- Lead, inspire, enable, and energize the Cole Haan Brand Design team, inclusive of designers, copyrighters, asset creation, retail design and creative operations
- Review, critique, and guide work generated by the team and creative agency partners
- Provide thought-leadership in establishing, implementing, and improving direction, goals, and process for the team
- Be a student of consumers: of trends, innovation, technology, retail, competitors and culture.
- Listen, learn and mine insights that direct the brand into amazing places and platforms.
- Hands-on execution of conceptual and expressive brand design across all surfaces and channels for the brand
- Collaborate and co-create with outstanding creative partners. Appoint and direct world-class agencies, freelancers, creative/artistic, producers that elevate the team and the work. Demand only the best. Accept only the best.
- Ensure we lead the competition by pioneering consumer connected work with excellent design skills and taste in graphic design, typography, photography, illustration, layouts, color strategy, 3D, motion, interactive, and spatial and experiential design
- Understand the user experience across multiple channels and surfaces, to provide best-practice critiques and recommendations
- Optimize the way the Cole Haan creative team works across channel and cross-functional partners to meet strategic company and marketing goals
- Demonstrate financial accountability in connection to Brand Concept and execution across multiple channels.
- Create strong partnerships with cross-functional partners inclusive of brand marketing, product design, product marketing, product development, brand & product operations, and sales.
- Drive a culture of teamwork and cross functional collaboration. Ensuring all opportunities and initiatives are integrated and gain maximum exposure externally and internally.
- Create a culture of proactive and open-communication to share brand creative expertise and integrate across the entire business.
- Partner with Marketing Leadership to drive the business. and maximize the best brand practices and opportunities.
- Bachelor's degree in graphic design/communication design, Art and/or Science
- 10+ years of relevant experience in Brand Design, Graphic Design or Agency related experience; preferably with global Brand and/or leading Creative Agency space
- High level of experience and success in managing across a multi-disciplined team of designers and cross-functional partners-must include demonstrated proficiency in driving UX design teams
- High proficiency and leadership experience managing multiple projects/workstreams across multiple timelines
- Extensive experience delivering across multi-channel, large-scale, initiatives, experience driving changes in operational processes and aligning teams to a strategic vision
- Strength in presenting to large audiences, communicating brand concepts and practical applications to brand communications
- Strong knowledge and passion for design, fashion, music, sports, arts, culture, and marketplace trends
- Hands on graphic design skills within traditional (dress/casual) and technical (sport) footwear
- Must have a high degree of proficiency conceptualizing and using all related Macintosh systems and digital design platforms (InDesign, XD, illustrator, Photoshop, Premiere, PowerPoint/Keynote, MIRO)
- Must be proficient in the creation of compelling and professional presentations that represent the ethos and aesthetic of Cole Haan
- Ability to work under deadlines, manage multiple priorities, work independently and collaboratively, take initiative, and pay close attention to detail
- Fluent in English with excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Experience across the full palette of brand expression: website, email, social media, paid media, retail, print, OOH, film, motion, experiential and events
- Experience making operational contributions at both strategic and tactical levels
- Experience developing and optimizing systems, tools, processes and workflows for creative teams
- A link to an online portfolio showcasing your work (include link on your resume)
Base Salary Range: $195,000 - 235,000* annually + bonus potential Bonus Eligibility: Yes, eligible for annual target bonus based on company and individual performance Benefits Offered: Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Care, Health Savings Accounts, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Vacation Time, Sick Time, Paid Parental Leave, Holidays and Cole Haan Discounts *Rate of pay dependent upon candidates' relevant skills, experience, and location This position is not available to be performed in Colorado. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Cole Haan is committed to meeting the spirit as well as the letter of the law. We have been, and continue to be, committed to Equal Opportunity Employment and equal treatment of all qualified individuals -- regardless of race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, disability, or any other factors that are not job related