Jillson & Roberts | Art Director (Full-Time, On-Site) | santa ana, ca

Who We Are

Jillson & Roberts is an industry leader in premium, artistic, and sustainable gift giving accessories. Our gift wrap, gift bags, enclosure cards, decorative mailing products (and more) are made with the ecology of the Earth in mind. Our goal is to create the most beautiful, and highest quality products in our field, in a manner that is sustainable and forward thinking. Our solar powered headquarters are located in Santa Ana, CA.

Role Summary

J&R’s in-house creative team is looking for an Art Director to provide daily creative leadership, vision, organization and superior quality standards for all art related needs within the company. We are looking for an enthusiastic leader, with departmental management experience in the paper, stationery, or gift industry. They must be passionate about good design, love print and pattern, and enjoy managing, motivating and supporting a team of three full-time designers. Please note this is an on-site, full-time position.

Key Job Roles

• Be a visionary, creative lead for the department and the company, making sure to maintain and evolve our brand as an on-trend design leader, in a premium market.
• Manage the day-to-day workflow of the art department while also managing larger seasonal, annual or as-needed deadlines. This includes management of art creation, product production, presentations, marketing, imagery needs, maintenance of project management protocols, along with any other company needs that require the art department’s skill-set.
• Maintain a high level of quality standards and accountability as the final sign off, for all art files that go to production, and for all projects that are completed internally and externally from the Art Department.
• To be not only the leader/organizer of, but also a hands-on part of, the art department as needed to complete projects.
• Become knowledgeable in all aspects, processes, and procedures within the department, so-as to best guide and manage their successful completion.
• Grow and evolve the department by looking for, and thinking about, ways to improve procedures or processes for better efficiency, quality and overall success of the department.
• Act with integrity, inclusivity, honesty, openness, kindness, and creative vision. And from that basis, foster a fun, well organized, supportive and successful art department.
  
  

Key Skills For Success In This Role

• 3 years minimum experience leading an in-house creative team, in a related industry.
• A BFA or equivalent degree in a design related field.
• Results-oriented, empathetic, motivating leader and mentor, with a track record of growing artists skills and bringing out their best work.
• Demonstrated experience managing deadlines and taking projects from concept to completion.
• Able to work strategically and delegate tasks efficiently, while also eager to pitch in on any level of project as needed to achieve the best outcome.
• Extremely detail oriented and organized.
• Must be able to multi-task, prioritize, and be adaptable within a busy department, so-as to maximize productivity and quality, while maintaining full accountability for all of the art department deliverables.
• Ability to problem solve and ideate simple efficient solutions for complex issues that may arise.
• A clear understanding of current trends in the paper, stationery and gift industries. Along with a natural interest and aptitude for staying up on new and evolving trends in pop-culture, fashion, design and other areas that help keep you inspired, and ahead of what our customers are going to want to buy next season.
• Expert in Adobe PSD, AI and INDD.
• A strong understanding of production art and proofing for manufactured paper goods.
• A strong understanding of how to gauge, maintain, and improve QC on physical product.
• Strong communication skills, to convey artistic direction, and give constructive, actionable feedback as needed. Additionally, to communicate confidently with buyers, sales representatives etc, and be a strong representative for our brand.
• Must be able to both see the wholeness/big picture, and also the nitty gritty details, on a daily basis, and across a range of projects and goals. And connect the dots on how to get from the big ideas to successfully executed final products/solutions.
• Your dedication, passion, and attention to detail will make our brand, our products, our art department team, and our work environment better!
  
  

NO APPLICATIONS WILL BE REVIEWED WITHOUT A PORTFOLIO