## Primary Location
Newell Rubbermaid is a global marketer of consumer and commercial products that touch the lives of people where they live, work and play. We are committed to building consumer and commercial Brands That MatterTM while leveraging the benefits of being one company: shared expertise, operating efficiencies, and a culture of innovation. Our globally recognized brands include Sharpie, Paper Mate, DYMO, EXPO, Waterman, Parker, Rolodex, IRWIN, LENOX, Rubbermaid, Graco, Calphalon, Goody and Teutonia.
*Job Summary:*
The Senior Manager, Creative Design manages the creative strategy and execution for one or more brands and/or product groupings within a brand, from project initiation through asset delivery. The Senior Manager, Creative Design leads the creative development and execution of the brand’s guidelines and all related marketing materials, the visual assets management and the quality control, as well as the project coordination. The Senior Manager, Creative Design manages a team of designers, production specialists and project managers, and is responsible for attracting, developing and retaining creative design talents, internal and/or external resources. The Senior Manager, Creative Design partners with marketing and industrial design teams and domain peers to build a creative center of excellence within Newell Rubbermaid.
*Job Responsibilities*:
Needs Assessment:
* Works collaboratively with brand and channel teams to understand the marketing strategies for projects and campaigns that support the overall marketing brand strategy for the GBU.
* Provides tools for marketing, brand and channel teams to help generate efficient and comprehensive creative briefs.
* Evaluates the content of some creative briefs as needed, based on complexity and strategic level of project or campaign.
* Shares creative brief content with the Manager, Creative Design and recommends translation of the strategy and needs assessment information into visual execution plans.
* Partners with the Director, Creative Design in RFP and agency selection and partnership agreement development.
Creative Direction:
* Supports the Director, Creative Design in developing an effective brand visual identity.
* Sets the overall tone and strategy of the projects.
* Leads the development of the brand style guide including logo, product branding (online/offline), typography, packaging, photography, illustration, multimedia, video, and activation materials.
* Leads the translation of the brand ID into environment and product photography with the guidance of the Director, Creative Design. Coordinates the development of brand core visuals, pack shots and beauty shots, from brief to print.
* Leads brainstorming sessions to generate creative ideas and fosters an environment conducive to best-in-class creative development.
* Presents creative directions with rationale to marketing teams.
* Maintains creative marketing trends knowledge and best practices.
Creative Production:
* Guides the creative design team to translate the brand visual identity guidelines into concrete creative solutions.
* Approves day-to-day (maintenance) activation materials (in-store materials, light point-of-sale materials, collaterals, sell-in materials, 2D 3D mock-ups, packaging adaptations, advertising materials, promotional goodies, and video productions).
* Ensures quality creative/editorial content delivery on-time and on budget.
* Provides communication, creative tools and shares best practices with the regional teams to ensure materials are consistent with global brand style guides (and product launch creative guidelines).
* Attends onsite press approvals and/or approves production proofs, draw-downs as needed per project.
External Vendors Management:
* Directs activities of external agencies and related vendor relationships, holds agency partners accountable to program goals.
* Ensures budgets are properly allocated, maximizes agencies’ contribution within their scope of work, and obtains fair value for agency services while responsibly managing financial budgets and determining ROI.
Resource Management:
* Manages the Manager, Creative Design, Production Specialist, and Production Artist to produce highly effective creative executions including: brand identity, packaging, POP, promotions, print/web advertising, web design, direct mail, collateral, video, and events.
* Oversees project management teams to ensure they are partnering with business segment teams to build project timelines for all projects and ensure segment strategic objectives are met and achieve annual financial objectives.
* Manages the day-to-day team (internal or external) to execute on the project strategy.
Visual Assets Management:
* Leads strategy of visual asset system (including training, etc.).
* Leads quality control systems.
* Sets expectations for the creative design team on acceptable tolerances for quality output of color and print.
Traffic Management:
* Manages traffic coordinator for permanent optimized workflow system.
Organization Role and Structure and Talent Management:
* Assigns employees clearly defined projects and tasks, and coaches and develops their skills. Completes My Action Plan (MAP) process for self and approves all direct reports MAPs.
* Collaborates with creative design peers to share best practices and foster inspiration.
* Uses appropriate decision-making and approval processes in a timely manner.
* Agrees to a clear statement of work or project scope and compensation for all creative agencies / external resources before beginning work.
* Participates in and helps organize recruiting events.
## Organization
* University degree or college diploma in graphic design, art or related field. Graduate level preferred.
* 8+ years of experience in a creative design position, including 3+ years management experience.
* Experience leading the creative development and related executions for a brand.
* Highly proficient in Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, MS Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint.
* Understands production/print workflow.
* Exceptional aesthetic sense and intuitive understanding of design principles.
* Highly detail-oriented.
* Passionate about design and knowledgeable about the industry, trends, and marketplace.
* Knowledgeable about design language and production process and players.
* Exceptional written, verbal and visual communication skills.
* Excellent presentation skills.
* Pragmatic with excellent problem solving and decision-making skills.
* Strong interpersonal skills with ability to:
* University degree or college diploma in graphic design, art or related field. Graduate level preferred.
* 8+ years of experience in a creative design position, including 3+ years management experience.
* Experience leading the creative development and related executions for a brand.
* Highly proficient in Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, MS Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint.
* Understands production/print workflow.
* Exceptional aesthetic sense and intuitive understanding of design principles.
* Highly detail-oriented.
* Passionate about design and knowledgeable about the industry, trends, and marketplace.
* Knowledgeable about design language and production process and players.
* Exceptional written, verbal and visual communication skills.
* Excellent presentation skills.
* Pragmatic with excellent problem solving and decision-making skills.
* Strong time management skills (with solid multi-tasking, organizational and prioritization skills). Able to work within tight deadlines.
* Demonstrates a high degree of flexibility and a “can do” attitude.
* Strong business acumen.
* Strong time management skills (with solid multi-tasking, organizational and prioritization skills). Able to work within tight deadlines.
* Demonstrates a high degree of flexibility and a “can do” attitude.
* Strong business acumen.
* Strong interpersonal skills with ability to:
* Demonstrate passion for a brand and infuse other people with that passion.
* Drive consensus, foster creative collaboration.
* Facilitate meetings and brainstorming sessions.
* Work directly with both internal and external partners (especially creative agencies) in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
*Primary Location:* Michigan-Kalamazoo
*Organization:* Development
*Schedule:* Full-time
*Req ID:* 1402607