Associate Design Director

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Associate Design Director

Company: Klick

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design / Marketing / Healthcare

Date Posted: 2026-08-19

Experience Level: 7-10 years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the establishment of visual direction and comprehensive design strategy for significant healthcare marketing campaigns and initiatives.

• Mentor and guide a team of talented designers, fostering their professional growth and ensuring the delivery of exceptional creative output.

• Oversee the execution of complex, multi-asset design projects from concept to completion, ensuring brand consistency and strategic alignment.

• Act as a critical bridge between creative strategy and design execution, translating abstract concepts into tangible, impactful visual solutions that resonate within healthcare industry constraints.

• Drive innovation in design by exploring and integrating emerging creative technologies, including generative AI, to enhance ideation and asset production.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as an Associate Director, indicating a significant level of responsibility beyond senior individual contributor roles. The emphasis on "healthcare campaigns" and "bridging creative strategy with design delivery" suggests a need for strategic thinking and a strong understanding of the pharmaceutical and life sciences marketing landscape, including regulatory considerations. The hybrid work model implies a need for strong self-management and effective remote collaboration skills.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Establish overarching visual direction and core design strategy for major healthcare campaigns, ensuring alignment with client positioning and brand objectives.

• Develop and maintain robust design systems and comprehensive guidelines to ensure visual consistency and brand integrity across all creative executions, from digital platforms to print collateral and experiential activations.

• Lead and mentor junior designers, fostering a collaborative and productive team environment, while conducting thorough design reviews to uphold quality standards and creative ambition.

• Translate strategic concepts and creative briefs into polished, on-brand visual solutions, demonstrating advanced proficiency across print, digital, and experiential mediums.

• Collaborate closely with Art Directors and Creative Strategists to craft compelling visual narratives that effectively support client positioning and communicate complex healthcare information.

• Present design concepts, strategies, and final work to clients with confidence and clarity, effectively articulating rationale and managing feedback to drive projects toward successful approval and implementation.

• Ensure all design outputs adhere to relevant healthcare industry regulations, accessibility standards, and digital production workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus on strategic leadership (establishing direction, developing systems) and hands-on execution oversight (mentoring, reviews, execution). The specific mention of "healthcare brand constraints" and "accessibility standards" underscores the need for domain-specific knowledge in the life sciences sector and a commitment to inclusive design practices.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio and relevant experience are paramount. Candidates with degrees in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Fine Arts, or related fields will possess a foundational understanding.

Experience: 7-10 years of progressive experience in graphic design or digital design, with a significant portion within advertising, marketing, or creative agencies. Demonstrated experience in a leadership or supervisory capacity is essential.

Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) for sophisticated visual asset creation and manipulation.

• Advanced proficiency in Figma for collaborative design, prototyping, and design system management, particularly for digital interfaces.

• Proven ability to establish clear visual direction and design strategy for complex campaigns.

• Demonstrated experience leading and mentoring design teams, fostering creative development and ensuring quality output.

• Portfolio showcasing a strong track record of delivering integrated creative solutions across multiple channels (print, digital, experiential).

• Experience in developing and implementing design systems and guidelines for consistent brand application.

• Strong understanding of creative strategy and the ability to translate briefs into compelling visual narratives. Preferred Skills:

• Award-winning work or recognized design achievements that demonstrate industry impact.

• Experience with design thinking methodologies to approach problem-solving from a user-centric perspective.

• Familiarity with User Experience (UX) methodologies to inform design decisions and enhance user journeys.

• In-depth knowledge of digital production workflows, including pre-press, web development handoff, and asset optimization.

• Strong understanding of digital accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) to ensure inclusive design.

• Experience with responsive design principles across various digital platforms and devices.

• Exposure to and practical application of emerging creative technologies, such as generative AI tools for ideation, asset creation, and concept development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "heavy emphasis on digital design is preferred" combined with advanced Figma proficiency indicates a strong need for digital-first thinking and expertise in modern digital design workflows. The preference for UX methodology and accessibility standards suggests a focus on user-centricity and inclusive design within the healthcare context.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio is mandatory, showcasing a breadth of experience in establishing visual direction and leading design execution for significant campaigns.

• Demonstrate the ability to develop and implement cohesive design systems and guidelines that ensure brand consistency across diverse marketing materials and channels.

• Include case studies that highlight your leadership in managing multi-asset projects, detailing your role in mentoring designers and overseeing the execution process.

• Present examples of integrated creative work that effectively bridges creative strategy with impactful visual design, particularly within the healthcare sector.

• Showcase projects that illustrate your understanding of translating complex briefs into clear, compelling visual narratives for both print and digital platforms. Process Documentation:

• Be prepared to discuss your process for translating strategic concepts and creative briefs into actionable design direction and execution plans.

• Detail your approach to leading design reviews, providing constructive feedback, and maintaining high standards of quality and creative ambition.

• Explain your methodology for collaborating with cross-functional teams, including art directors, creative strategists, and account management, to ensure seamless project progression.

• Be ready to articulate your process for presenting design work to clients, managing feedback, and navigating the approval process through to final implementation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a portfolio is critical. Candidates should curate their submissions to specifically highlight leadership, strategic design thinking, experience with design systems, and execution across multiple channels, with a clear emphasis on digital and healthcare-related work if possible. Demonstrating a structured process for managing projects and client interactions will be key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: CAD $140,000 - $160,000 per year.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health and dental coverage, typical for full-time roles in Canada.

• Opportunities for professional development and continuous learning, aligning with Klick's commitment to growth.

• Access to Klick's award-winning culture, recognized for its people-first approach.

• Participation in a hybrid work model, offering flexibility between in-office collaboration and remote work.

• Potential for involvement in cutting-edge projects within the life sciences and healthcare sector.

• Employee assistance programs and wellness initiatives.

Working Hours: The role is listed as full-time, typically implying a 37.5 to 40-hour work week. The hybrid nature suggests flexibility in scheduling, with specific in-office days to be coordinated with the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for an Associate Director level role in Toronto, reflecting the experience required and the specialized nature of healthcare marketing. The explicit mention of a "people-first culture" and "award-winning" status suggests a strong emphasis on employee well-being and professional satisfaction. The hybrid model is clearly stated.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Klick operates within the dynamic Life Sciences and Healthcare sector, providing a unique environment for creative professionals. This sector demands a blend of scientific accuracy, regulatory compliance, and compelling creative communication.

Company Size: The Klick Group comprises over 500 professionals, indicating a substantial, well-resourced organization with diverse capabilities. This size allows for specialization and deep expertise across various disciplines.

Founded: Founded in 1997, Klick has a long-standing history and proven track record in the industry, fostering stability and a wealth of experience.

Team Structure:

• The "Creative Craft" team is a dedicated unit within Klick, focused on bringing ideas to life through storytelling, design, and experience.

• This team collaborates closely with other disciplines such as medical experts, data scientists, AI specialists, and client service teams, emphasizing a holistic, integrated approach to client solutions.

• The Associate Design Director will likely lead a pod or sub-team of designers, reporting into a Creative Director or Head of Design. Methodology:

• Klick emphasizes a blend of imagination, strategy, and data science to create emotionally resonant and culturally relevant work.

• The company fosters cross-disciplinary collaboration to simplify complexity and humanize healthcare communications.

• Design is seen as a crucial element that drives engagement, understanding, and meaningful action across all channels.

Company Website: https://klick.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Klick's positioning as a multi-disciplinary ecosystem, particularly its focus on "best-in-class marketing and advertising, media, medical affairs and communications, market access, real-world evidence, and technology and analytics consulting" powered by "medical experts and award-winning data science and AI capabilities," is crucial context. This means the design team operates within a highly informed, data-driven, and scientifically grounded environment, requiring designers to be both creative and analytical.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at an Associate Director level, signifying a progression from senior designer or art director roles. It involves significant leadership, strategic input, and client-facing responsibilities, with a focus on shaping the visual identity and direction of major campaigns.

Reporting Structure: The Associate Design Director will likely report to a Creative Director, Head of Design, or a similar senior leadership position within the Creative Craft team. They will, in turn, manage and mentor a team of graphic and digital designers.

Operations Impact: The design leadership provided by this role directly impacts the effectiveness of Klick's client campaigns. By establishing strong visual direction and ensuring high-quality execution, the Associate Design Director contributes significantly to client brand perception, engagement rates, and ultimately, the success of marketing initiatives in the highly competitive healthcare sector. This role is pivotal in translating strategic objectives into visually compelling and impactful communications.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to progress to Creative Director or Head of Design roles, leading larger teams and broader strategic initiatives.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas such as digital design leadership, design systems architecture, or emerging technology integration within creative workflows.

• Industry Recognition: Contributing to award-winning work that can elevate both personal and Klick's industry reputation.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Gaining exposure to and collaboration with Klick's data science, AI, and medical affairs experts, fostering a more holistic understanding of healthcare marketing.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Associate Director" title implies a role that is on the cusp of senior leadership. Growth paths should emphasize not just managing more designers, but also taking on more strategic oversight, potentially influencing Klick's overall creative technology strategy or leading larger, more complex client engagements.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Klick operates with a hybrid work model, suggesting a blend of collaborative in-office work and remote flexibility. Their offices are designed to foster collaboration and innovation.

Office Location(s): Toronto, Ontario, Canada is the primary location for this role, with potential for interactions with global teams across various international offices.

Workspace Context:

• The Toronto office environment likely supports a collaborative culture, with shared workspaces, meeting rooms, and areas conducive to team brainstorming and client presentations.

• Access to cutting-edge technology and design tools, including advanced software and potentially hardware for creative production, is expected.

• Opportunities for spontaneous interaction and knowledge sharing with a diverse range of professionals across design, strategy, data science, and medical affairs.

Work Schedule: Full-time, with a hybrid arrangement. This implies a structured work week with designated in-office days for team collaboration and meetings, balanced with the flexibility of remote work for focused individual tasks and deep work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role means candidates should be comfortable with both independent work and in-person collaboration. Understanding how Klick facilitates seamless communication and project management across these different work modes will be important.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess experience, qualifications, and alignment with the role's requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A key stage will involve presenting your portfolio, articulating your design philosophy, strategic approach, and leadership experience. Be prepared to discuss specific projects in detail, explaining your process, challenges, and outcomes.

• Skills Assessment: This may include a design challenge or a discussion around specific technical skills (e.g., Figma workflows, design system application, AI tool usage).

• Team/Leadership Interviews: Discussions with potential peers, direct reports, and senior leadership to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, and leadership potential.

• Final Round: Likely with senior creative leadership to discuss strategic vision and overall fit with Klick's objectives.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 5-7 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate your ability to establish visual direction, lead teams, and deliver integrated creative across multiple channels, with a preference for digital and healthcare examples.

• Highlight Leadership: For each project, clearly articulate your role as a leader, how you mentored designers, and how you managed the execution process.

• Showcase Strategy: Explain the strategic thinking behind your design decisions. How did you interpret the brief? What was the client's objective? How did your design strategy address it?

• Demonstrate Process: Detail your workflow, from initial concepting and ideation through to final execution and implementation. Include examples of how you developed design systems or guidelines.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics or qualitative feedback to demonstrate the impact of your design work on campaign success or brand perception.

• Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your approach to healthcare constraints, accessibility, emerging technologies, and your leadership style.

Challenge Preparation:

• If a design challenge is presented, focus on understanding the brief thoroughly and articulating your thought process clearly.

• Be prepared to discuss how you would approach a similar challenge in a real-world healthcare marketing scenario.

• Practice presenting your work concisely and persuasively, focusing on strategy and impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is paramount. Candidates must be prepared to not just show work, but to talk through it strategically, demonstrating leadership and a deep understanding of the creative process and its business impact, especially within the healthcare context.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Advanced proficiency required in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign for a wide range of graphic design and digital asset creation tasks.

• Figma: Advanced proficiency is a key requirement for collaborative design, prototyping, design system management, and efficient digital workflow.

• Design Systems Tools: Experience with tools or methodologies for building and managing design systems (often integrated within Figma or standalone platforms).

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed as a primary design tool, an understanding of how design impacts analytics and reporting (e.g., conversion rates, engagement metrics) is beneficial. Familiarity with data visualization principles could be an asset. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the core design function, but awareness of how design assets are deployed within marketing automation platforms or CRM systems might be beneficial for understanding the broader campaign lifecycle. Emerging Technologies:

• Generative AI Tools: Familiarity and practical experience with AI tools for ideation, asset production, and concept development are highly desired.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "Advanced proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite" and "Advanced proficiency with Figma" highlights these as non-negotiable technical skills. The inclusion of "Generative AI tools" points to Klick's forward-thinking approach and a desire for candidates who are exploring new creative frontiers.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• People-First Culture: Klick is consistently recognized for its commitment to its employees, fostering an environment where individuals can thrive and grow. This translates to a supportive, collaborative, and inclusive workplace.

• Innovation & Creativity: A strong emphasis on pushing creative boundaries, embracing new technologies (like AI), and developing award-winning work.

• Data-Driven Approach: While creative, Klick integrates data science and analytics to inform strategy and measure impact, suggesting a value for intelligent, evidence-based decision-making.

• Collaboration: A culture that encourages cross-disciplinary teamwork, breaking down silos between creative, strategy, medical, and technology departments.

• Client Focus: Dedication to helping life sciences brands achieve their full potential through best-in-class solutions.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expect close collaboration with strategists, medical writers, account managers, and data scientists to ensure creative work is strategically sound, scientifically accurate, and medically compliant.

• Mentorship & Peer Learning: The role involves mentoring junior designers, and the company culture likely supports continuous learning and knowledge sharing among peers.

• Feedback-Oriented: A culture that values constructive feedback to elevate creative output and foster continuous improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: Klick's multiple awards for "Great Place to Work," "Best Workplace for Women," "Best Workplace for Inclusion," and "Most Admired Corporate Culture" are strong indicators of their commitment to a positive and equitable work environment. This should be a key consideration for candidates assessing cultural fit.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Healthcare Nuances: Navigating the complex regulatory environment, scientific accuracy requirements, and ethical considerations inherent in healthcare marketing while maintaining creative excellence.

• Balancing Creativity with Constraints: Effectively translating strategic objectives and client needs into visually compelling designs that adhere to strict brand guidelines, accessibility standards, and industry regulations.

• Leading Diverse Teams: Mentoring and guiding designers with varying skill sets and experience levels, ensuring consistent quality and fostering professional development.

• Integrating New Technologies: Staying abreast of and effectively integrating emerging technologies like generative AI into design workflows, which can present technical and conceptual challenges.

• Client Management: Presenting and defending design strategies to clients, managing feedback, and ensuring alignment on creative direction.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Skills: Opportunities to hone skills in digital design, design systems, and potentially UX/UI design.

• Emerging Technology Exploration: Hands-on experience with generative AI and other new creative technologies, positioning you at the forefront of industry innovation.

• Healthcare Industry Acumen: Deepening understanding of the pharmaceutical and life sciences sector, its communication challenges, and regulatory landscape.

• Leadership Development: Gaining experience in team management, strategic planning, and client leadership within a renowned agency.

• Cross-Disciplinary Knowledge: Learning from experts in data science, medical affairs, and media to build a more holistic understanding of integrated marketing campaigns.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a significant opportunity to grow within a specialized and highly respected agency. The challenges are directly tied to mastering the complexities of healthcare marketing and leading creative teams in an innovative environment.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you established the visual direction for a major campaign. What was your process, and what were the key strategic considerations?" (Focus on your strategic thinking, process, and how you translated objectives into visual identity.)

• "How do you balance creative ambition with the constraints of healthcare regulations and brand guidelines?" (Prepare to discuss your understanding of healthcare marketing challenges and your approach to compliant creativity.)

• "Walk me through your process for developing and implementing a design system. What are the key components and benefits?" (Demonstrate your understanding of scalable design and brand consistency.)

• "How do you mentor and lead junior designers? Describe a situation where you provided feedback that significantly improved a designer's work." (Highlight your leadership style, coaching abilities, and impact on team development.)

• "How would you approach integrating generative AI tools into our design workflow? What are the potential benefits and risks?" (Showcase your forward-thinking mindset and awareness of new technologies.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Klick and our work in the life sciences sector?" (Research Klick's recent campaigns, awards, and their unique ecosystem.)

• "How does Klick's people-first culture align with your professional values?" (Reflect on your own work preferences and how Klick's stated values resonate.)

• "Describe your experience working in a hybrid environment. How do you ensure effective collaboration and productivity?" (Be ready to discuss your remote work strategies and in-office collaboration preferences.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Arc: Structure your portfolio presentation with a clear beginning (the brief/challenge), middle (your strategic approach, design process, leadership), and end (the outcome/impact).

• Focus on Strategy: For each project, emphasize the why behind your design decisions, linking them back to client objectives and strategic goals.

• Highlight Leadership: Clearly delineate your role and responsibilities, especially in leading teams and managing projects. Use "I" when discussing your direct contributions and "we" when discussing team efforts you led.

• Showcase Versatility: Present a range of work that demonstrates your ability across different channels (print, digital, experiential) and your proficiency with key tools like Figma.

• Prepare for Technical Deep Dives: Be ready to discuss your technical workflow, your experience with design systems, accessibility considerations, and your exploration of AI tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily rely on the portfolio. Candidates must be prepared to articulate their strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and technical expertise with confidence, using specific examples from their work.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Associate Design Director position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on SmartRecruiters.

• Portfolio Preparation: Curate your most impactful design leadership projects. Ensure your portfolio clearly demonstrates your ability to establish visual direction, lead teams, develop design systems, and deliver integrated creative across multiple channels. Prioritize examples that showcase your strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, and impact, especially within digital and healthcare contexts.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight your 7-10 years of agency experience, leadership responsibilities, advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Figma, and any experience with generative AI or healthcare marketing. Use keywords from the job description, such as "visual direction," "design strategy," "mentorship," "Figma," and "healthcare campaigns."

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on storytelling, strategic rationale, and your leadership approach. Prepare to discuss how you handle creative challenges, manage client feedback, and integrate new technologies. Research Klick's recent work and company culture to tailor your responses.

• Company Research: Gain a deep understanding of Klick's ecosystem, their approach to life sciences marketing, and their award-winning culture. Familiarize yourself with their commitment to innovation and their people-first philosophy.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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