Creative Designer (Graphic & Video)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Creative Designer (Graphic & Video)

Company: Sun Life

Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada & Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Marketing / Creative Operations

Date Posted: June 10, 2026

Experience Level: 3-5 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Develop and produce high-quality visual and motion-based assets for digital channels, focusing on graphic design and short-form video content.

• Execute creative briefs with precision, ensuring all deliverables align with brand standards, campaign objectives, and performance needs.

• Collaborate closely with Creative Managers, Designers, Writers, and Marketing partners to bring ideas to life.

• Utilize strong design, animation, and video editing capabilities to support marketing campaigns, social media content, and advertising initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within a "Creative Studio," indicating a centralized function that supports broader marketing and GTM efforts. The emphasis on "performance needs" and "paid social/digital campaigns" suggests a strong connection to revenue-generating activities, making it relevant for those with an operations mindset focused on creative effectiveness and ROI.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and produce high-quality visual assets, including static graphics, motion design, and short-form video content optimized for various digital platforms.

• Edit and assemble video content for social media, digital advertising, and multi-channel campaigns, ensuring consistency in pacing, tone, and visual style.

• Translate creative briefs into compelling visual outputs by applying strong typography, layout, motion, and storytelling principles.

• Create motion graphics and animations that enhance storytelling and engagement across digital touchpoints.

• Execute work within established creative workflows, timelines, and production schedules, contributing to multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.

• Collaborate with Creative Managers, Writers, and Designers to ensure cohesive campaign assets and incorporate feedback from stakeholders to refine outputs.

• Ensure all creative output adheres strictly to brand guidelines and quality standards, maintaining meticulous attention to detail.

• Stay abreast of evolving brand standards, tools, and production processes to maintain relevance and effectiveness.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of creative execution and operational efficiency. The requirement to "execute work within established creative workflows, timelines, and production schedules" and "contribute to multiple projects with established deadlines in a fast-paced, high-volume environment" highlights the need for strong project management and organizational skills, common in operations roles.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, Digital Media, or a related field is typically expected for roles requiring 3-5 years of experience. Relevant certifications in Adobe Creative Suite or motion design can also be valuable.

Experience: 3–5 years of experience in graphic design, motion design, video editing, or a related creative role, with a strong portfolio showcasing social-first work.

Required Skills:

• Graphic Design: Proficiency in creating compelling static visual assets.

• Motion Design & Animation: Expertise in creating dynamic motion graphics and animations.

• Video Editing: Strong skills in editing and assembling video content for digital and social platforms using tools like Adobe Premiere Pro.

• Adobe Creative Suite: Advanced proficiency in After Effects, Premiere Pro, Photoshop, and Illustrator.

• Visual Storytelling: Ability to craft narratives through visual elements.

• Typography & Layout: Solid understanding of design principles for effective communication.

• Digital & Social Media Best Practices: Knowledge of formats, trends, and optimization strategies for various platforms.

• Attention to Detail: Meticulous approach to ensure accuracy and consistency in all deliverables.

Preferred Skills:

• Performance-Driven Creative: Experience creating assets optimized for paid social or digital advertising campaigns.

• Motion Design Systems: Familiarity with developing or working within motion design systems or templated content production.

• Agency/In-house Studio Experience: Prior experience in a professional studio or agency environment.

• Figma or Collaborative Platforms: Knowledge of collaborative design tools like Figma.

• Professional Camera Operation: Proficiency with professional digital SLR video cameras and sound equipment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Must-have" qualifications strongly emphasize technical proficiency in industry-standard design software and a robust portfolio. The "Nice-to-have" skills, particularly those related to performance marketing and templated production, indicate a leaning towards efficiency and measurable creative impact, which is a key aspect of operations.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate Graphic Design Prowess: Showcase a range of static design examples, highlighting layout, typography, and visual hierarchy skills.

• Highlight Motion Design & Video Editing: Include a dedicated section for motion graphics and video editing projects. Showcase examples of animation, pacing, transitions, and storytelling through video.

• Social-First Content Examples: Prioritize work created specifically for social media platforms, demonstrating an understanding of format constraints and engagement strategies.

• Campaign Integration: If possible, include case studies or examples that show how graphic and video assets were used cohesively within larger marketing campaigns.

• Technical Proficiency Showcase: Ensure the portfolio implicitly or explicitly demonstrates proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite tools (After Effects, Premiere Pro, Photoshop, Illustrator).

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Adherence: Be prepared to discuss how you follow established creative workflows, manage feedback loops, and adhere to production schedules.

• Brand Guideline Application: Demonstrate how you interpret and apply brand guidelines consistently across diverse creative outputs.

• Optimization for Channels: Discuss your process for tailoring creative assets for specific digital channels and performance objectives.

• Collaboration Methodology: Be ready to explain your approach to collaborating with cross-functional teams (writers, designers, marketing partners) throughout the project lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not explicitly detailed as "process portfolio requirements," the job description strongly implies the need for a portfolio that showcases not just creative output but also the ability to work within defined processes and deliver results aligned with campaign objectives. Candidates should frame their portfolio around problem-solving and impact.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $58,000 - $93,000 CAD per year.

Benefits:

• Incentive Plans: Eligible Sun Life employees participate in various incentive plans, with payment being discretionary and subject to individual and company performance.

• Hybrid Work Flexibility: Offers the choice and flexibility to work from both the office and virtually, based on business needs, client requirements, and individual needs.

• Professional Development: An environment that encourages learning and personal growth, with opportunities to develop skills and advance careers.

• Health & Wellness Programs: (Implied by company culture and industry standards for large financial institutions) Access to comprehensive health insurance, retirement savings plans, and wellness initiatives tailored to employee well-being.

• Employee Assistance Programs: Support services for employees facing personal or work-related challenges.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week. The hybrid work arrangement allows for flexibility in scheduling, balancing office and remote work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is a good benchmark for a Creative Designer with 3-5 years of experience in the Toronto/Waterloo area. The benefits listed are standard for a large, established company like Sun Life. The "Hybrid Work Flexibility" is a significant benefit for operations professionals who value work-life balance and autonomy.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services / Insurance. Sun Life is a major player in the global financial services industry, offering a wide range of insurance, wealth, and asset management solutions. This industry context implies a need for professional, reliable, and compliant creative output.

Company Size: Large Enterprise (Sun Life is a global organization with a significant employee base). This size suggests established processes, internal mobility opportunities, and a structured environment.

Founded: Sun Life was founded in 1865, indicating a long-standing history, stability, and deep expertise in its field.

Team Structure:

• Creative Studio Environment: The role is part of an in-house Creative Studio, suggesting a centralized team of creative professionals working collaboratively.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Works closely with Creative Managers, Designers, Writers, and Marketing partners, emphasizing a highly collaborative and integrated GTM approach.

• Reporting: Likely reports to a Creative Manager or Lead Designer, within a broader marketing or communications department.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Insights: The company encourages a "data analytics" mindset, suggesting that creative decisions and performance are informed by data.

• Innovation Focus: Emphasis on "exciting initiatives" and "leading-edge projects" indicates a culture that values innovation and continuous improvement.

• Quality & Craftsmanship: Strong emphasis on "craft-focused," "high-quality," and "craft excellence" highlights a commitment to the quality of output.

Company Website: https://www.sunlife.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's industry and size suggest a need for creative solutions that are not only visually appealing but also compliant, secure, and aligned with corporate objectives. The "innovators" and "forward-thinking" language points to a dynamic internal culture within a stable organization.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at an intermediate level, requiring 3-5 years of experience. It's a craft-focused position within a larger marketing or creative operations framework, responsible for executing specific creative tasks with a degree of autonomy.

Reporting Structure: The Creative Designer (Graphic & Video) likely reports to a Creative Manager or a similar leadership role within the Creative Studio. They will collaborate extensively with peers and stakeholders across marketing and potentially other business units.

Operations Impact: While primarily a creative role, the output directly supports marketing campaigns, social media content, and advertising initiatives. Effective creative assets are crucial for driving engagement, brand awareness, and ultimately, customer acquisition and retention, thereby impacting revenue and business growth. The focus on "performance needs" and "performance-driven creative" further emphasizes this link to business outcomes.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas of graphic design, motion graphics, or video editing.

• Creative Leadership: Potential to grow into a Senior Creative Designer role, leading projects or mentoring junior designers.

• Cross-Functional Moves: Possibility to transition into roles with broader marketing operations or campaign management responsibilities, leveraging creative insights.

• Continuous Learning: Access to training, workshops, and exposure to new tools and technologies within the in-house studio environment.

• Industry Exposure: Working on high-visibility campaigns provides exposure to various marketing strategies and channels.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a clear path for technical growth within the creative discipline. For those interested in operations, the emphasis on performance and campaign support provides a foundation for understanding the business impact of creative work, which can lead to roles in marketing operations, campaign management, or even GTM strategy.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid. Employees have the flexibility to work from both the office and virtually, based on the needs of the business, clients, and individual circumstances.

Office Location(s): Primarily based in Sun Life's Waterloo King office, with potential for work or collaboration with teams in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Transportation between locations may be a consideration for hybrid staff.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Studio: The role operates within an in-house Creative Studio, fostering a collaborative environment where ideas are shared and refined.

• Technology & Tools: Access to industry-standard design software (Adobe Creative Suite) and potentially other collaborative creative platforms.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with designers, writers, creative managers, and marketing partners, facilitating knowledge sharing and problem-solving.

Work Schedule: Standard 40-hour work week. The hybrid model offers flexibility, allowing for adaptable scheduling to balance project demands, personal needs, and collaborative requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the work environment is a key factor for many professionals. For this role, it means balancing the need for in-person collaboration and access to specific studio equipment (if any) with the flexibility of remote work for focused design and editing tasks.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess technical skills, experience, and alignment with role requirements.

• Creative Assessment: A potential design or video editing challenge, or a portfolio review session where candidates walk through their work, discuss their process, and explain their creative decisions.

• Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with Creative Managers, potentially Marketing partners, to evaluate collaboration style, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit.

• Final Interview: Discussion with senior leadership to confirm alignment with company values and overall team strategy.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select your strongest graphic design and video/motion design pieces. Prioritize work that demonstrates understanding of digital and social media formats.

• Tell a Story: For each piece, be prepared to articulate the problem you were solving, your creative process, the tools you used, and the impact or outcome of your work.

• Highlight Performance Focus: If you have experience with performance-driven creative, showcase it and be ready to discuss how you optimized assets for specific campaign goals.

• Demonstrate Technical Proficiency: Ensure your work clearly exhibits your command of Adobe Creative Suite and other relevant tools.

• Brand Alignment: Be ready to discuss how you approach working within brand guidelines and how you ensure consistency.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: If given a creative challenge, carefully read and understand the objectives, target audience, and any constraints.

• Process Over Perfection: Focus on demonstrating your problem-solving process, ideation, and how you would approach the task, rather than delivering a fully polished final product under time pressure.

• Time Management: Allocate your time effectively between ideation, execution, and refinement.

• Articulate Your Approach: Be prepared to explain your rationale behind design choices and creative decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a strong portfolio and potential creative challenges indicates that Sun Life values demonstrable skills and a clear understanding of the creative process. Candidates should prepare to speak extensively about their work and how it aligns with business objectives.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential proficiency in After Effects, Premiere Pro, Photoshop, and Illustrator.

• Motion Design Software: After Effects is central for animation and motion graphics.

• Video Editing Software: Premiere Pro is the primary tool for video assembly and editing.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Social Media Analytics Tools: Familiarity with understanding performance metrics from platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, etc.

• Digital Advertising Platforms: Experience with tools like Google Ads or social media ad managers to understand creative performance.

CRM & Automation:

• Figma (Preferred): For collaborative design and prototyping.

• Project Management Tools: Likely use of internal systems for task management and workflow tracking (e.g., Jira, Asana, or similar).

📝 Enhancement Note: The core requirement is deep expertise in Adobe Creative Suite, particularly for motion graphics and video. Familiarity with performance metrics and collaborative tools like Figma is a significant advantage, aligning with a more operations-minded approach to creative production.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Craft Excellence: A strong emphasis on producing high-quality, polished creative work.

• Collaboration: Valuing teamwork and the ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders.

• Innovation: Encouraging fresh ideas and embracing new approaches to creative problem-solving.

• Continuous Learning: A commitment to skill development and staying current with industry trends and tools.

• Performance Orientation: Understanding that creative output serves business objectives and drives measurable results.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Approach: Works closely with Creative Managers, Designers, Writers, and Marketing partners, suggesting a highly integrated and communicative GTM process.

• Feedback-Driven: Open to receiving and incorporating feedback to refine creative outputs.

• Process-Oriented: Adherence to established creative workflows and production schedules.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture appears to strike a balance between creative freedom and operational discipline. Professionals who can deliver innovative creative solutions while respecting processes and collaborating effectively will thrive here.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• High-Volume Production: Managing multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment while maintaining quality.

• Balancing Brand & Performance: Creating visually compelling assets that also meet specific, measurable performance objectives for digital campaigns.

• Evolving Digital Landscape: Staying current with rapidly changing social media trends, platform algorithms, and creative best practices.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring creative output meets the diverse needs and expectations of various stakeholders across marketing and business units.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Tool Training: Opportunities to master new features within Adobe Creative Suite or learn new software relevant to motion graphics and video.

• Industry Trends & Best Practices: Exposure to cutting-edge creative strategies and digital marketing techniques through high-visibility campaigns.

• Mentorship: Learning from experienced Creative Managers and senior designers within the in-house studio.

• Portfolio Expansion: Building a robust portfolio with diverse project types and demonstrable results for career advancement.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents an opportunity to tackle challenges at the intersection of creativity and marketing effectiveness, providing a strong foundation for future growth in roles that require both creative insight and operational acumen.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for creating a short-form video for a social media campaign, from brief to final delivery." (Focus on workflow, tools, and optimization).

• "How do you ensure your graphic designs and videos align with brand guidelines while also meeting campaign performance objectives?" (Highlight balance between creativity and results).

• "Walk us through a project in your portfolio where you had to adapt your creative approach based on feedback or performance data." (Demonstrate adaptability and data-driven decision-making). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Sun Life and this specific role within our Creative Studio?" (Research Sun Life's recent campaigns and values).

• "How do you approach collaborating with non-creative team members, such as marketing managers or data analysts?" (Emphasize communication and understanding of business goals).

• "How do you stay updated on the latest design trends and video editing techniques?" (Showcase a commitment to continuous learning). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Presentation: Begin with an overview of your experience and then dive into 2-3 key projects. For each project, explain the objective, your role, your process, the tools used, and the outcome.

• Quantify Impact: If possible, include metrics or results related to the performance of your creative assets.

• Showcase Versatility: Ensure your presentation highlights both your graphic design and video/motion design capabilities.

• Be Ready for Technical Questions: Prepare to discuss specific techniques you used in After Effects or Premiere Pro.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just creative talent but also an understanding of how creative work supports business objectives, an ability to work within defined processes, and strong collaborative skills.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations-aligned creative position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Sun Life's careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your 3-5 years of experience in graphic design, motion design, and video editing. Specifically, emphasize your proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite and your understanding of digital/social media formats.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly lists your technical skills and any experience with performance-driven creative or in-house studio environments. Use keywords from the job description like "motion design," "video editing," "Adobe Creative Suite," and "social media content."

• Portfolio Preparation: Have your online portfolio ready, showcasing a strong mix of graphic design and video/motion work. Be prepared to discuss your process, challenges, and outcomes for each piece.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Sun Life's brand, recent marketing campaigns, and their commitment to innovation and client service. Understand their hybrid work model and values.

⚠️ 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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