Art Director

The Company

Roots Corporation is a publicly held Canadian Brand which provides a portfolio of apparel, leather goods, accessories, and footwear for men, women, and children under the Roots brand. Its merchandise includes genuine leather, such as jackets, bags, and luggage; kids & baby clothing; and leather, linens, towels, and accessories. It was founded in 1973 in Toronto, Ontario, by Michael Budman and Don Green. In 2015, Roots was sold to Searchlight Capital Partners LP, an American investment firm, which now holds a majority stake with the founders retaining a minority stake.

The company operates through two segments: Direct-To-Consumer, which accounts for majority revenue, and Partners & Other. The DTC segment sells products through the company’s corporate retail stores and e-commerce. The Partners & Other segment engage in the wholesale of Roots branded products to the company’s international operating partners, and it earns royalties on the retail sales of Roots-branded products. The company has operating stores in Canada, United States, Taiwan, China, and Hong Kong to name a few.

Key Pointers

What Guides Roots

• Community: We are a place of inclusivity, diversity, and open-mindedness. We support one another and the communities here we live and work.
• Genuine: While we draw inspiration from the world around us, we never forget where we have come from – our heritage and Canadian beginnings.
• Integrity: We always strive to do what’s right, and to build trust and lasting relationships with our brand community.
• Freedom: We celebrate the individuality of style as a form of self-expression. We believe everyone should enjoy everyday adventures, living life on their own terms

Purpose of the Position

• Lead the ideation, brainstorming, and collaboration required to deliver compelling omni-channel concepts and visual campaigns & collateral, to support telling brand and product stories
• Determine appropriate creative direction by project, including typography treatments, graphic treatments, photography concept, three-dimensional layout design, moving image, in accordance with channel use.
• Translate business and marketing briefs into compelling creative concepts
• Lead and inspire members of the creative team (Copywriters, Graphic Designers, Developers, Stylists, Photographers) to deliver on creative concepts efficiently and effectively
• Partner with the Marketing Operations team to understand and execute against defined processes, project timelines and budgets
• Partner with the Design team to understand Design inspiration to inform Creative and Styling concepts
• Lead styling team to deliver on brand and collection design inspirations
• Establish and maintain visual standards for the brand, including ecommerce photography tiers, creative photography, models, and styling
• Partner with cross-functional teams to understand creative content performance (i.e., eCommerce, Social, Visual, Paid, PR, etc.) to ensure continuous learning about channel creative best practices
• Flexible team player and creative problem solver, always looking to take the brand to the next level in creative and innovative ways
• Manage and develop the Creative Designer and Styling team

The Candidate

Experience and Professional Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in the creative field.
• BS/BA degree or equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform essential functions of the role.
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize workload, taking responsibility for personal and team deadlines.
• Previous experience of team management in a creative environment.
• Proficiency with all standard creative programs.
• Detail orientated
• Thorough understanding of omni-channel creative channels
• Dedication to teamwork and team development.
• Passion for fashion, retail and the outdoors a benefit.
• A true collaborator who can seamlessly engage with cross-functional teams
• Ability to lead and influence teams and stakeholders
• Exceptional time management, project management and organizational skills.
• Passionate people leader
• Equal parts analytical and creative.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Core Competencies

• Creative Mindset – Think imaginatively with a desire to consider opportunities that effectively challenge the status quo. Demonstrates a forward thinking and exploratory approach to a challenge or problem, with a spirit of finding a solution.
• Collaboration – Work with others to achieve a common goal and better outcome for the organization.
• Initiative – Proactively assess situations, address conflicts, and take action as required without hesitation.
• Strategic Alignment – Able to align to the organization vision and purpose.
• Professional Growth and Development – Demonstrate a visible commitment to learning, growth and responsibility for the future.
• Integrity and Trust – Demonstrate respect, honesty, and transparency in all interactions. Reliable and counted on honoring their words and actions.
• Passion –Demonstrates a deep care and enthusiasm for key aspects of their role, the brand, and the organization

Leadership Competencies

• Leading with Purpose – Energize others by demonstrating passion, commitment and focus.
• Building Effective Teams – Successfully create strong morale and trust, building a cohesive and productive group with a shared goal or vision, while constantly developing others through encouragement, coaching, and feedback.
• Strategic Planning – Develop and execute data-driven long-range goals and plans.
• Executional Excellence – Achieves and implements priorities and objective by creating an environment where problem-solving, teamwork, and strong leadership results in continuous improvement

Keywords: Art Director, Art, Creative, Apparel, Retail

Roots