Design Strategist, Team Lead

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Strategist, Team Lead

Company: Superior Glove

Location: Acton, ON, Canada

Job Type: Full Time

Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design / Management & Leadership

Date Posted: 2026-06-25

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and direct the graphic design function, acting as the primary art director for Superior Glove's visual brand.

• Champion and evolve the company's visual identity, brand standards, and design systems across all marketing channels.

• Develop innovative creative concepts and visual strategies for integrated marketing campaigns, product launches, and strategic business initiatives.

• Manage, mentor, and develop a team of graphic designers, fostering a culture of creativity, accountability, and continuous improvement.

• Collaborate closely with the Marketing Manager and cross-functional stakeholders to ensure cohesive and impactful creative solutions that drive business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is crucial for maintaining and elevating Superior Glove's brand presence. The "Team Lead" aspect signifies direct people management and team development responsibilities, while "Design Strategist" emphasizes a proactive, conceptual approach to visual communication that aligns with broader marketing and business goals, rather than just execution. The hybrid nature suggests a need for strong remote collaboration skills alongside in-office team leadership.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Provide overarching creative direction for all marketing touchpoints, encompassing print collateral, digital assets, web design, social media content, video production, motion graphics, event materials, and product marketing collateral.

• Act as the guardian of Superior Glove's visual identity, ensuring adherence to and evolution of brand guidelines, typography, color palettes, and design systems across all output.

• Conceptualize and articulate compelling visual narratives and creative strategies that support marketing campaigns, new product introductions, and key strategic organizational objectives.

• Build strong collaborative relationships with the Marketing Manager and stakeholders from departments such as Sales, Product Development, and Operations to translate business needs into effective creative strategies.

• Conduct thorough reviews of creative work produced by internal designers and external vendors, providing constructive, actionable feedback to elevate quality and ensure brand consistency.

• Lead, coach, mentor, and develop the graphic design team members, facilitating their professional growth through performance management, skill development planning, and regular feedback.

• Oversee and optimize creative workflows, prioritize design projects, and implement project management best practices to ensure timely delivery of high-quality creative assets.

• Cultivate a positive and productive creative environment characterized by collaboration, individual accountability, and a commitment to innovation and excellence.

• Manage relationships with external creative partners, including vendors, freelancers, photographers, illustrators, and advertising agencies, ensuring alignment with brand objectives and project requirements.

• Represent the graphic design function in broader organizational leadership meetings, effectively communicating creative strategies, team progress, and the impact of design initiatives.

• Contribute hands-on design expertise and execution when specialized skills are required or when project volume necessitates direct involvement, particularly in areas like complex visual problem-solving or critical campaign elements.

• Ensure all final creative assets meet rigorous brand compliance, quality assurance, and production specification standards before deployment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership, team management, and hands-on design execution. The emphasis on "brand stewardship" and "design systems" indicates a need for a candidate who can think holistically about the brand's visual language and its application across diverse platforms. Managing external vendors also points to procurement and relationship management skills.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Postsecondary education in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a closely related discipline.

Experience: Minimum of 3 years of dedicated experience in providing art direction, leading creative initiatives, or managing visual brand strategy, complemented by a minimum of 3 years in direct people leadership, including coaching, performance management, and team development.

Required Skills:

• Expert proficiency in the Adobe Creative Cloud suite, specifically InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, and related design applications.

• Deep understanding of branding principles, typography, visual communication theory, digital design best practices, and print production processes.

• Proven ability to lead and manage creative projects from initial concept through final execution, effectively balancing multiple priorities and deadlines.

• Exceptional communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with a demonstrated ability to effectively manage stakeholders at various levels.

• Demonstrated passion for mentoring creative professionals, fostering team growth, and building high-performing design teams.

• Strong organizational acumen, meticulous attention to detail, and the capacity to integrate strategic foresight with practical execution.

• Experience with Microsoft 365, including SharePoint for document management and collaboration.

• Familiarity with project management platforms such as Asana or Monday.com for workflow tracking and task management. Preferred Skills:

• Experience managing remote or hybrid design teams to ensure seamless collaboration and productivity.

• Familiarity with motion graphics software (e.g., After Effects) or video editing tools.

• Knowledge of user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design principles for web and digital applications.

• Experience working within a manufacturing or industrial B2B environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills emphasize advanced technical proficiency in design software and a strong theoretical foundation in visual communication and branding. The leadership experience requirement is significant, indicating the role is not just about individual contribution but about guiding and developing others. The preferred skill of managing remote teams is a nod to the hybrid work environment.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive professional portfolio is mandatory for application. It should demonstrably showcase a breadth of creative work, including examples of art direction, brand identity development, campaign creative, and team leadership impact.

• The portfolio must highlight successful projects across various media, such as print, digital, social media, and potentially video or motion graphics, illustrating versatility and strategic application of design principles.

• Include case studies or project breakdowns that detail your role in concept development, creative strategy, execution, and the resulting impact or outcomes.

• Demonstrate your ability to manage creative workflows, from brief to final delivery, and showcase how you've ensured brand consistency and quality.

• For leadership aspects, consider including examples of how you've mentored designers, managed projects, or contributed to team development. Process Documentation:

• Evidence of establishing and optimizing design processes, such as creative brief development, concept review cycles, and asset production workflows.

• Examples of how you've implemented or managed design systems to ensure brand consistency and efficiency across projects.

• Documentation of how you've tracked and measured the effectiveness or impact of creative assets, aligning them with business objectives.

• Showcasing experience with project management tools to maintain project timelines, resource allocation, and team accountability.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is critical for this role, as it's the primary means to assess creative talent, strategic thinking, and leadership capabilities. The emphasis on process documentation suggests the company values structured approaches to creative production and brand management, which are key components of effective operations within a creative function.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $70,000 - $85,000 CAD per year.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health and wellness programs, including on-site fitness lessons and equipment, promoting employee well-being.

• Access to unique perks like "Grab and Go" bikes for active commuting or breaks.

• Robust employee recognition programs that reward outstanding contributions.

• Opportunities to participate in a vibrant company culture through community and company events, staff lunch adventures, and annual barbeques.

• Superior Glove is recognized for its commitment to employee engagement and workplace excellence, holding multiple prestigious awards.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours, likely around 40 hours per week, with a hybrid work arrangement allowing for a balance between in-office collaboration and remote flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is competitive for a Design Strategist, Team Lead role in the Acton, Ontario area, considering the experience level and leadership responsibilities. The benefits package emphasizes employee well-being, engagement, and a strong company culture, which are attractive to professionals seeking a supportive work environment.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Manufacturing (Industrial Safety, specifically Hand Protection PPE)

Company Size: Superior Glove is a family-owned company with multiple locations across North America and Honduras, indicating a significant but potentially close-knit operational structure.

Founded: Over 100 years ago, signifying a long-standing history, established market presence, and deep expertise in hand protection innovation.

Team Structure:

• The Design Strategist, Team Lead reports to the Marketing Manager, indicating a clear hierarchy within the marketing department.

• The role directly leads a graphic design team, implying a team size of several designers responsible for various creative outputs.

• Cross-functional collaboration is a key aspect, with expectations to work closely with Marketing, Sales, Product Development, and potentially Operations teams to ensure cohesive brand messaging and product representation. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Creativity: While a creative role, the emphasis on "strategic thinking" and aligning creative solutions with business objectives suggests a data-informed approach to design decisions.

• Process Optimization: The need to manage creative workflows, establish priorities, and ensure timely delivery points to an organized, process-oriented methodology for creative production.

• Brand Stewardship: A core methodology involves championing and evolving brand standards and design systems, ensuring consistency and a strong visual identity across all platforms.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Superior Glove's long history and family-owned nature suggest a culture that values tradition, loyalty, and long-term relationships, while its multiple awards indicate a commitment to excellence and employee engagement. The manufacturing industry context means the design strategy will likely focus on B2B audiences, product features, and safety messaging.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This position is a mid-to-senior level role, specifically a leadership position within the creative and marketing function. It bridges individual contributor expertise with management responsibilities, offering a path for experienced designers to move into leadership.

Reporting Structure: The role reports directly to the Marketing Manager, providing a clear line of management and strategic alignment within the marketing department. This structure allows for direct input into marketing strategy and brand direction.

Operations Impact: The Design Strategist, Team Lead has a significant impact on Superior Glove's market presence, brand perception, and customer engagement. Effective visual communication drives sales enablement, enhances brand loyalty, and supports new product adoption. The role's success is measured by the quality and effectiveness of creative assets in achieving marketing and business goals.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to grow into a Marketing Manager or Director role, overseeing broader marketing functions.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas of design strategy, such as brand system development, digital experience design, or motion graphics.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Potential to lead creative aspects of larger, cross-departmental strategic projects.

• Industry Recognition: Contributing to award-winning campaigns and designs that enhance both personal and company reputation.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear leadership track within a stable, award-winning manufacturing company. The combination of strategic oversight, team development, and direct impact on brand perception makes it an attractive position for experienced designers looking to expand their leadership capabilities and influence.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based at the Global Headquarters in Acton, Ontario, with a hybrid work arrangement. This suggests a professional office setting that supports both in-person collaboration and remote work flexibility.

Office Location(s): Acton, Ontario, Canada. This location is the company's global headquarters, implying a central hub for decision-making and team integration.

Workspace Context:

• The hybrid model necessitates a well-equipped workspace that facilitates seamless transitions between home and office.

• Expect a collaborative environment within the marketing department, with opportunities to interact daily with designers and marketing colleagues.

• Access to necessary design software and technology, including Adobe Creative Cloud and Microsoft 365, will be provided.

• Regular onsite presence is required for team collaboration, training, and oversight, indicating a culture that values in-person connection for critical team functions.

Work Schedule: A standard full-time work schedule (approximately 40 hours per week) is expected, with the hybrid arrangement offering flexibility in how and where some of those hours are worked. This allows for effective management of design projects and team responsibilities while maintaining work-life balance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role is a key feature, balancing the need for in-person leadership and collaboration with the flexibility of remote work. This setup is common in modern creative and operations roles, requiring strong self-management and communication skills from the employee.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications, experience, and creative output.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the Marketing Manager to evaluate your leadership style, strategic thinking, creative vision, and fit with the team and company culture. This stage will likely delve into your experience with brand stewardship and team development.

• Team/Peer Interview: Potentially an interview with members of the design team or other marketing colleagues to assess collaboration skills and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Presentation/Case Study: You may be asked to present a selection of your work from your portfolio, detailing your creative process, strategic rationale, and the impact of your designs. This is a critical step to showcase your art direction and leadership capabilities.

• Final Interview: A final conversation, possibly with senior leadership, to confirm suitability for the role and discuss compensation and benefits.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your art direction skills, leadership experience, and strategic approach to design problems. Include examples of brand identity, campaign creative, and successful project management.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the challenge, your strategic approach, your role (especially as a leader or art director), the solution, and the measurable results or impact. Quantify outcomes where possible.

• Highlight Leadership: If possible, include examples of how you've mentored designers, managed projects, or improved creative processes.

• Demonstrate Brand Understanding: Show how you can interpret and expand upon brand guidelines, ensuring consistency and innovation.

• Technical Proficiency: Ensure your portfolio reflects expert-level skills in Adobe Creative Cloud and other relevant design software.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared to discuss your approach to developing creative briefs and translating them into visual concepts.

• Think about how you would handle common design team challenges, such as conflicting stakeholder feedback, tight deadlines, or team member development needs.

• Familiarize yourself with Superior Glove's current branding and marketing efforts to discuss how you would contribute to and evolve their visual identity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes both creative talent and leadership capabilities. The portfolio review is a crucial component, requiring candidates to articulate their strategic thinking and demonstrate tangible results. Preparation should focus on showcasing leadership in creative environments and understanding the specific needs of a manufacturing brand.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Cloud: Expert proficiency required in InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop for all aspects of graphic design, layout, and image manipulation.

• Microsoft 365: Proficiency with Word, PowerPoint, and Excel for general business operations, presentations, and data handling.

• SharePoint: Familiarity with SharePoint for document management, collaboration, and information sharing within the organization.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly a data analyst role, an understanding of how design impacts metrics (e.g., website engagement, campaign CTRs) is valuable. Experience with web analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics) to understand user behavior related to visual content could be a plus. CRM & Automation:

• Experience with project management platforms such as Asana or Monday.com is required for managing creative workflows, tracking tasks, and ensuring project delivery timelines are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technical requirements revolve around the Adobe Creative Suite for design execution and project management tools for workflow efficiency. Familiarity with Microsoft 365 and SharePoint is standard for corporate roles. While direct analytics tools aren't listed as a requirement, understanding how design influences performance metrics is a strategic asset.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation: A commitment to "Improving Occupational Hand Protection through Innovation" extends to creative approaches, encouraging new ideas and forward-thinking design solutions.

• Quality & Excellence: Evidenced by numerous awards, the company values high standards in products and processes, which translates to a demand for exceptional creative output and brand integrity.

• Family & Collaboration: Being a family-owned business with a focus on fostering an inclusive work culture suggests a value placed on strong relationships, mutual respect, and teamwork.

• Accountability & Performance: The mention of a "high-performing creative culture" and "accountability" indicates an expectation for team members to be responsible for their work and contribute effectively to team and company goals.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The role requires close collaboration with various departments, emphasizing a team-oriented approach to achieve business objectives through unified messaging.

• Mentorship & Development: A strong emphasis on coaching, mentoring, and developing team members highlights a supportive and growth-oriented collaboration style within the design team.

• Feedback Culture: The responsibility to review and provide constructive feedback implies an open communication environment where creative work is refined through collaborative critique.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to be a blend of traditional values (family, long-standing history) and modern best practices (innovation, inclusivity, high performance). The design team's collaboration style will likely be a mix of structured project management and open creative dialogue.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creative Vision with Brand Consistency: Effectively leading creative output while ensuring strict adherence to established brand standards and evolving them strategically.

• Managing Diverse Stakeholder Needs: Navigating the differing priorities and feedback from various departments (Sales, Product, Marketing) to deliver creative solutions that satisfy multiple objectives.

• Leading and Developing a Team: Inspiring and guiding a team of designers, potentially with varying skill levels and motivations, to consistently produce high-quality work and foster professional growth.

• Adapting to Evolving Design Trends & Technologies: Staying current with the latest design tools, platforms, and visual communication trends to ensure Superior Glove's brand remains modern and impactful.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Leadership Skills Enhancement: Opportunities to refine people management, strategic planning, and cross-functional leadership skills.

• Brand Strategy Deepening: Gaining deeper insight into B2B brand strategy within the manufacturing sector and contributing to its evolution.

• Creative Technology Adoption: Exploring and potentially integrating new design software, tools, or methodologies to enhance team output.

• Industry Best Practices: Learning from the company's long history and its continuous pursuit of excellence, as evidenced by its numerous awards.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a creative leadership role, requiring a blend of artistic sensibility, strategic acumen, and interpersonal skills. The growth opportunities are robust, offering a clear path for career advancement within a well-established and respected organization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your philosophy on art direction and how you ensure a consistent yet evolving visual identity for a brand like Superior Glove."

• "Walk us through a time you had to manage conflicting feedback from different stakeholders on a creative project. How did you resolve it?"

• "How do you approach mentoring junior designers? Provide an example of how you've helped a team member develop a specific skill."

• "How would you leverage design to support Superior Glove's B2B sales efforts and product launches?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Superior Glove's brand and how do you see design contributing to its success in the manufacturing industry?"

• "How do you foster a collaborative and high-performing creative culture within a team?"

• "Given our hybrid work model, how would you ensure effective communication and collaboration with your design team?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Organize your portfolio presentation logically, perhaps by project type or by showcasing your leadership journey. Start with a high-level overview of your experience and then dive into 2-3 key case studies.

• Quantify Results: For each case study, clearly articulate the business challenge, your strategic approach, your specific contributions as an art director/leader, and the measurable outcomes (e.g., increased engagement, improved brand perception, successful campaign launch).

• Articulate Your "Why": Be ready to explain your creative decisions, the rationale behind your design choices, and how they align with strategic objectives.

• Demonstrate Leadership: Weave in examples of how you managed projects, mentored designers, or improved processes throughout your presentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a strong understanding of brand strategy, leadership capabilities, and the ability to translate business needs into compelling visual solutions. Quantifiable results and clear articulation of the creative process will be key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Design Strategist, Team Lead position:

• Submit your application through the provided ADP link, ensuring all required fields are completed accurately.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight your art direction, brand leadership, and team management experience. Select projects that demonstrate strategic thinking and successful execution across diverse media, ideally with some relevance to B2B or manufacturing contexts.

• Resume Optimization: Craft your resume to prominently feature your experience in art direction, creative leadership, people management, and proficiency with Adobe Creative Cloud and project management tools. Use keywords from the job description to align with ATS scanning.

• Prepare for Presentation: Practice presenting a selection of your portfolio pieces, focusing on articulating your strategic rationale, creative process, and the impact of your work. Be ready to discuss your leadership approach and team development strategies.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Superior Glove's history, products, current marketing efforts, and award-winning achievements. Understand their position in the manufacturing industry and how their brand identity can be further enhanced through design.

⚠️ 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.