Senior Director, Creative - Ann Taylor

Brand Overview:

ascena retail group, inc. is a leading national specialty retailer offering apparel, shoes, and accessories for women under the Premium Fashion segment (Ann Taylor, LOFT, and Lou & Grey), Value Fashion segment (maurices and dressbarn), Plus Fashion segment (Lane Bryant and Catherines), and for tween girls under the Kids Fashion segment (Justice). ascena retail group, inc. operates ecommerce websites and approximately 4,800 stores throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.Ready to ? We currently have an opportunity for a Senior Director, Creative - Ann Taylor to join our team located at our Times Square Tower-ANN-New York, NY 10036.

Position Overview:

Senior Director - Creative

Ann Taylor

About the Position:

The Senior Director, Creative is a strategic and conceptual leader with strong design skills and experience across all channels. They will lead development of fully integrated seasonal campaigns that incorporate brand advertising, marketing, direct mail, digital experience and content features, promotions, and store experience in order to push the brand aesthetic, voice and experiences to continue the evolution. They will supervise both visual imagery and copy and will cultivate and recruit top creative talent. They will provide leadership to the team in developing on-brand campaigns that are relevant and exciting, utilize storytelling, inspiring sharing, increasing brand engagement and driving conversion across all channels.

Responsibilities:

• Leads and develops a high-performing team; providing inspiration, direction, and coaching to achieve consistent, strong marketing
• Owns creative strategy and delivers innovative solutions that support merchandising, marketing and branding goals
• Helps set creative direction and provides hands-on guidance throughout the duration of the projects. Including Advertising, Direct Mail, Collateral, Windows and In-store and .com experience.
• Works with business partners to establish strategic and creative approaches for all projects
• Drives innovation through the use of data and understanding of culture and platform culture to push creative execution and user experience on all digital channels
• Ensures that the integrity of the brand is present in all facets of the brand experience - balancing creative needs with financial goals
• Partners closely with Design and Merchandising to develop seasonal brand stories and messaging - combining design intent with business objectives to deliver compelling creative strategies and messaging
• Ensures growth and learning of the individuals on the creative team; providing real time feedback and coaching
• Inspires creative collaboration across the organization and builds a high-energy culture of performance
• Oversees budget responsibilities for creative services expenses such as freelance employee costs, training, travel and other team expenses

Requirements:

• Exceptional communication skills: Verbal, written, interpersonal and inter-departmental
• Strong creative instincts balanced with very solid strategic and analytical capabilities
• Experience in vertical specialty retailing with a strong brand image as well as a proven track record in brand repositioning/re-positioning
• Thought leadership: A strong point of view; ability to contribute to the strategic development of an assignment; creative ideas and the ability to promote conceptual thinking among the team
• A strong ability and experience in leading, directing and managing a group of cross-disciplinary teams
• Ability to balance multiple priorities, solve complex problems while maintaining flexibility in fast-paced environment
• A team player that possesses strong leadership and communication skills, inspiration and vision
• Experienced in various forms of media and have displayed financial creativity in leveraging marketing dollars
• Superior graphic design and typography skills and photoshoot experience
• Collaborate closely with brand agency in the development of brand advertising and marketing campaigns that are integrated and maximize investment in creative art buy and production
• Proficient Mac and/or PC skills, with exceptional knowledge/experience in Microsoft Office
• Advanced Adobe Creative Suite skills - Illustrator, InDesign, Flash, Dreamweaver, Photoshop
• Ability to direct outside vendors (photographers, production companies, etc.)
• A minimum of 10 years’ experience in the creative industry
• 8 years management experience
• Bachelor's degree in graphic design or equivalent work experience
• All candidates must possess an excellent portfolio

Location:

Times Square Tower-ANN-New York, NY 10036

Position Type:

Regular/Full time

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Company is committed to hiring and developing the most qualified people at all levels. It is our policy in all employment decisions to ensure that all associates and potential associates are evaluated on the basis of qualifications and ability without regard to sex (including pregnancy), race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability that can reasonably be accommodated without undue hardship, genetic information, military status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected classification under applicable law. We do not discriminate in any of our employment policies and practices. All associates are expected to follow these principles in all relationships with other associates, applicants, or others with whom we do business.

The Company welcomes applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the application process.

Note to Applicants: Smoking is prohibited in all indoor areas of the Company unless designated smoking areas have been established by a particular location in accordance with applicable law.

Note to Rhode Island Applicants: The Company is subject to Chapters 29 - 38 of Title 28 of the General Laws of Rhode Island, and is therefore covered by the state’s workers’ compensation law.