Art Director

Art Director 

Join our accomplished and growing team of exceptional marketers and ignite a rewarding career! Sparks has locations in London and Waterloo Ontario and we are seeking a talented and experienced Art Director to join our Creative team!

The Art Director is a visionary with a keen eye for design, a strategic mindset, and a passion for storytelling through visual media. As an Art Director, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the creative direction of our projects and leading a team of designers to deliver exceptional work.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop and execute creative concepts for advertising campaigns across various media channels, including digital, print, web, brand, video and events.
• Lead and mentor a team of designers, providing guidance, feedback, and support to ensure high-quality deliverables.
• Collaborate closely with copywriters, account managers, and clients to understand project requirements and deliver solutions that meet or exceed expectations.
• Oversee the entire creative process, from initial concept development to final execution, ensuring consistency and alignment with brand guidelines.
• Stay up-to-date with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices to continuously bring fresh ideas and innovative approaches to our work.
• Present and articulate creative concepts to clients, effectively communicating the rationale behind design decisions.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to project timelines and budgets.

Qualifications & Skills 

• College or University-level education in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, Advertising, or a related field.

• Proven experience (5+ years) as an Art Director in an advertising agency or similar environment.

• Strong portfolio showcasing a diverse range of creative work across different media platforms including digital, print, web, brand, video and events.

• Exceptional design skills with proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and other relevant design tools such as Figma, Adobe After Effects, etc.

• Knowledge of UX/UI best practices and accessibility design compliance.

• Excellent leadership and team management abilities, with a track record of guiding and inspiring creative teams.

• Proven ability to present/pitch to a room full of prospective or current clients and articulate the rationale behind our creative strategy.

• Strong understanding of branding, typography, colour theory, and layout design principles.

• Ability to think strategically and translate marketing objectives into compelling visual concepts.

• Outstanding communication and presentation skills.

• Detail-oriented, organized, and able to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines.

What Sparks Has to Offer

• Competitive salary and benefits package

• A collaborative and innovative work environment

• Professional development opportunities and room for career growth

• Flexible work environment (remote, with select in-office opportunities based on location)

Sparks is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.  We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, record, record of offenses, marital status, family status or disability.

This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits and training. Should you require any special accommodations to apply for this job, please reach out to us at careers@sparksmc.com and we would be happy to accommodate.

We would like to thank all applicants for their interest in this position, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.