Group Creative Manager

Glen Raven is recruiting for a Group Creative Manager, which will join a dynamic and growing Brand Activation team, a sub-team of the corporate Marketing Department and operates as an internal agency to the parent company of Glen Raven. The Brand Activation team services all divisions and brands within Glen Raven, most notably powerful consumer brands like Sunbrella, and well-established trade brands.

The GCM will hold several key responsibilities, from overseeing, refining, and upholding global brand guidelines and visual positioning for all portfolio brands, to influencing creative brand direction, and fostering a talented team of designers, writers, and freelancers. The GCM will also collaborate with agency partners to ensure brand consistency across all touchpoints.

The GMC will provide a strong creative perspective that is balanced with business acumen, lead creative for both B2B and B2C markets, enjoy building and developing teams, and is excited by the challenge of supporting operational efficiencies while developing compelling ideas.

The Group Creative Manager will have high visibility within the organization, nurture the evolution of our brands, and be a creative thought-partner in bringing our go-to-market strategies to life.

Creative Duties

• Responsible for developing distinct creative vision and ideas, for the Glen Raven portfolio of brands, that bring annual strategies to life in compelling ways.
• Develops and oversees visual, written, and design guidelines across all touchpoints.
• Ensures all creative deliverables, including production, is delivered on-time and with high quality.
• Effectively concepts and brings creative strategies to life in support of marketing campaigns, by collaborating and guiding the creative team towards the successful execution of work.
• Facilitates creative project kick offs, brainstorming sessions and concepting exercises as required.
• Actively engages in creative direction reviews against the brief, encouraging creative development when needed.
• Manages print production process including quoting, technical specs, proofing, on-press reviews, and final quality approvals.
• Assists in the build and management of a visual content program, exercising a nimble approach to photography and video content creation.
• Willing and able to be hands-on to take creative assignments, execute layouts, comps, presentations, and storyboards for a variety of creative projects.
• Has a keen eye for written and visual content associations and works with copywriter(s) to fluidly build and maintain content library.
• Enthusiastically brings best practices, experiences, and new ways of working to the team to promote creative leadership within the company.

Process Duties

• Works in partnership with internal client teams to review annual marketing plans and calendars to forecast creative pipeline and align resources at quarterly and annual timeframes.
• Co-manage the intake of projects with Marketing Project Managers through Marketing Project Management System to accurately assign work to the in-house creative staff and/or identify external or freelance resources.
• Manages creative project timelines and creative resource assignments, to effectively meet project milestones, maximize talent and achieve project completion.
• Helps to craft, implement, apply, and measure the creative process through day-to-day interactions with direct reports, as well as cross-functionally to influence streamlined workflows.
• Leads the creative process with project teams from brief alignment to wireframing to final execution, while maintaining accountability towards established creative processes.
• Skilled at interpreting and engaging on creative briefs and work orders. Is comfortable inquiring and partnering with internal client to gain clarity on brief elements.

Developmental Duties

• Stays aware of industry trends and competition and works to integrate opportunities into creative operations.
• Is creatively curious and brings new thinking / approaches to the creative strategies that aid setting our brands apart within our industries.
• Coach, train, and mentor creative teams. Optimize team structure for increased effectiveness and efficiency.

• Reports directly to and partners closely with the Director, Brand Activation to steer vision and executional excellence for all creative and brand activation projects.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, Marketing/Advertising, or related field.

Experience

• 10 years professional experience in developing brands and creative programs, with experience in an agency model or in-house corporate marketing structure.
• 5 years of experience managing/leading a creative team
• Related experience working on B2B and B2C brands.
• Portfolio of diverse capabilities including (print, digital, social, web, media, in-store POP, packaging, tradeshows, photography, videography, sample tools, production, etc.).

Key Skills

• Passionate creative who embodies creativity, vision, and new ideas with a drive to deliver design excellence
• Strong storyteller and ability to articulate creative reasoning
• Displays and practices a creative agency model mindset
• Embraces a high-performing team mentality and is highly effective in managing people and processes
• Ability to collaborate and work closely with cross-functional teams
• Proven track record in creative project management and delivering on time and budget
• Experience creating visual content and staying imaginative in the rapid pace of content demand
• Comprehensive understanding of printing, production techniques, and emerging trends
• Understanding of retail (in-store, ecom) and winning at shopper choice
• Fair and objective in providing and receiving creative feedback
• Strong organization, prioritization, and decision-making skills
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and leadership skills with an ability to stay calm under pressure
• Self-motivated, strong work ethic and professional character
• Positive and flexible mindset with ability to pivot on shifting priorities
• Ability to function well in a fast-paced environment under tight deadlines
• Experience working directly with outside vendors and resources and can negotiate when needed
• Ability to source freelance talent to maintain active pool of skilled specialists
• Strong empowerment, collaboration, resourcefulness, and creative critical thinking skills
• Expert in Adobe Creative Suite
• Proficient in MS Office Suite, and Project Management Software Systems (Workfront)