Creative Director

Here at Rakuten Kobo Inc., we offer a casual working start-up environment and a group of friendly and talented individuals. Our employees rank us highly in terms of commitment to work/life balance. We realize that for our people to be innovative, creative, and passionate, they need to feel valued and supported. We believe in rewarding all our employees with competitive salaries, performance-based annual bonuses, stock options, and training opportunities.

If you are looking for a company that inspires passion and personal and professional growth, come join Kobo and help us make reading lives better.

The Role:

Rakuten Kobo is looking for a Creative Director to refine creative strategy across a number of projects and work with an internal team to deliver on Kobo's brand promise in meaningful ways for all customers, across all touchpoints, and all countries.

Reporting to the VP Brand, this role will provide critical direction and support for marketing and creative initiatives, from collaborating in the development of creative briefs to final creative execution. The CD will work closely with the Dir Creative Ops and VP Brand to direct and oversee the rollout of a global initiative touching all owned touchpoints: to build a strong visual/written vocabulary and design system that will take the brand to the next level.

This position requires a passion for innovative ideas while ensuring alignment with business objectives. Strong people, persuasion, and presentation skills are essential. Solid expertise in retail, digital, social, email, print, and the creative development process is key. The ideal candidate must have exceptional communication, relationship-building, influencing, and analytical skills, and will be a brand advocate across the organization.

This person will work collaboratively with a team of in-house graphic designers, copywriters, and external agencies as necessary, focusing on improving efficiency and quality. They will execute designs and assets themselves, including but not limited to proof of concepts with asset mock-ups, a brand guideline book, campaign playbooks, and other high-visibility assets across all channels. A strong design background is important, along with the enthusiasm to create something inspirational and brand-centric. This person will proactively partner and work collaboratively with various stakeholders to bring the brand to life with compelling & engaging copy and beautiful, evocative design in various channels and markets, maintaining a consistent voice with local resonance.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee and execute design projects from conception to delivery.
• Develop and pitch creative concepts. Deliver robust toolkits, advertising material, video assets, and otherwise to support.
• Work closely with Creative Operations, Brand Marketing, and Brand Strategy to ensure concepts and vision are aligned to goals and operational needs.
• Generate ideas to portray concepts and advertise our products/services.
• Ensure designs are accessible, device, and user-friendly.
• Art direct on set for photography and video needs.
• Maintain brand consistency throughout creative projects.
• Liaise with various stakeholders to ensure expectations are met.
• Stay up-to-date with industry developments and tools.

Design Leadership:

• Facilitate stakeholder and peer reviews to drive creative trust and understanding.
• Challenge the team to push their ideas forward, champion for innovation.
• Create a culture of inspiration, trust, and creativity.
• Facilitate creative brainstorms.

Collaboration:

• Work alongside various stakeholders and partners to ensure creative output is aligned to business strategy and goals.
• Establish a culture of respect and transparency.
• Work closely with Design, Copy, and Production Leads to ensure concepts and brand development are aligned and applied to our operational design and copy needs.

Design Strategy:

• Integrate performance and user testing data into design decisions.
• Ensure creative concepts and brand standards are aligned to business goals and operational needs.

The Skillset:

Required:

• 5+ years of experience in a senior creative leadership role.
• Exceptional problem solver that grasps issues at the core level and offers insightful creative solutions.
• Detail-oriented, highly driven, and results-focused.
• Portfolio of completed design projects.
• Expert-level proficiency in design software Figma and Adobe Creative Suite.
• Extensive experience in design, especially digital.
• Proven success in delivering outstanding results with a focus on flawless creative output and innovative, strategic approaches which drive brand loyalty, strong executional abilities, and outstanding customer/partner engagement.
• Strong aesthetic eye with refined sensibility of colors, fonts, layouts, and compositions.
• Attention to detail.
• Ability to meet deadlines and collaborate with a team.
• Ability to articulate and rationalize your concepts or process.

Nice to Haves:

• Motion design experience.
• Previous experience working in eReading, eCommerce, retail, entertainment, and software environments.

The Perks:

• Flexible hours and hybrid remote working environment.
• Subsidized in-office lunches.
• Full benefits starting from your first day.
• Paid volunteer days, unlimited sick days, and 3% RRSP matching.
• Monthly commuting & internet allowance.
• Flexible health spending account.
• Talent and development training budget.
• Free Kobo device + free weekly e-book or audiobook.
• Frequent Lunch and Learns Author series.
• Weekly Kobo Tech University sessions.
• Weekly trivia happy hours (Thirsty Thursday's, as we like to call it).
• Maternity/paternity leave top-up.

About Rakuten Kobo Inc.

Owned by Tokyo-based Rakuten and headquartered in Toronto, Rakuten Kobo Inc. is one of the most advanced global e-commerce companies, with the world's most innovative e-reading services offering more than 6 million eBooks and audiobooks to 30 million+ customers in 190 countries. Kobo delivers the best digital reading experience through creative innovation, award-winning e-readers, and top-ranking mobile apps. Kobo is a part of the Rakuten group of companies.

Rakuten Kobo Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Accessibility accommodations for candidates with disabilities participating in the selection process are available on request. Any information received related to accommodation needs of applicants will be addressed confidentially.

Rakuten Kobo would like to thank all applicants for their interest in this role; however, only qualified candidates will be shortlisted.