Graphic Design Manager
📍 Job Overview
Job Title: Graphic Design Manager
Company: Lorna Jane
Location: Eagle Farm, Queensland, Australia
Job Type: Full-Time
Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design / Marketing / Retail Management
Date Posted: May 13, 2026
Experience Level: 5-10 Years
Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Role Summary
-
Lead and mentor a team of six talented designers, fostering a collaborative and high-performing creative environment.
-
Drive the conceptualization and execution of integrated marketing campaigns across all channels, including digital, print, motion, and retail environments.
-
Maintain and elevate the brand's visual integrity and storytelling across all creative outputs, ensuring premium, global-standard quality.
-
Collaborate closely with the Head of Marketing and other stakeholders to align creative vision with commercial objectives and brand strategy.
-
Focus on continuous improvement, exploring new technologies and design directions to keep the brand at the forefront of the industry.
📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior creative leadership opportunity, emphasizing a hands-on approach to both team management and direct creative contribution. The "lead from the front" and "seat at the head of the table" language indicates a high level of autonomy and strategic input expected from the candidate. The focus on a female-founded brand and "activewear" suggests a strong connection to lifestyle and wellness, which should be reflected in the creative output and candidate's portfolio.
📈 Primary Responsibilities
-
Provide creative leadership and day-to-day direction for a team of six graphic designers, ensuring efficient workflow and high-quality output.
-
Develop and execute innovative campaign ideation and concept development that aligns with Lorna Jane's brand ethos and marketing objectives.
-
Oversee the creative output for digital assets, motion graphics, print materials, global campaigns, and retail environments.
-
Ensure meticulous image retouching and finishing to uphold premium, global-standard quality across all visual assets.
-
Design and manage the creation of in-store signage and retail asset creation for Lorna Jane's global store network.
-
Uphold brand integrity by ensuring every asset produced is accurate, polished, and consistently on-brand.
-
Present and effectively communicate creative concepts and strategies with clarity and conviction to stakeholders.
-
Coach, mentor, and develop junior designers, fostering their professional growth and nurturing the next generation of Lorna Jane creatives.
-
Proactively research and stay ahead of emerging technologies, design trends, and industry best practices to drive continuous improvement within the creative team.
📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership, hands-on creative execution, and team development. The emphasis on "brand integrity," "premium, global-standard quality," and "commercial mindset" indicates that the candidate must balance artistic vision with business objectives and brand consistency. The role requires managing creative output across diverse channels, demanding versatility and a comprehensive understanding of different media.
🎓 Skills & Qualifications
Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Arts, Marketing, or a related field is generally expected for a leadership role of this nature.
Experience:
-
A minimum of 5 years in a creative leadership role, with a strong preference for experience within the fashion, apparel, lifestyle, or premium retail sectors.
-
Proven track record in leading integrated campaigns from initial concept through to final delivery.
Required Skills:
-
Creative Leadership: Ability to guide, inspire, and manage a design team to achieve ambitious creative goals.
-
Campaign Ideation & Concept Development: Expertise in generating original ideas and translating them into compelling visual concepts for marketing campaigns.
-
Brand Storytelling: Proficiency in crafting narratives through visuals across various platforms, including campaign, digital, print, and retail.
-
Cross-Channel Creative Execution: Skill in producing high-quality creative assets for digital (web, social), motion graphics, print collateral, and physical retail spaces.
-
Image Retouching & Finishing: Advanced proficiency in retouching and post-production techniques to achieve premium visual standards.
-
Stakeholder Management: Confidence and skill in managing relationships with various stakeholders, effectively communicating creative vision and gaining buy-in.
-
Team Mentoring & Development: Experience in coaching and growing designers, fostering their skills and career progression.
-
Brand Integrity Management: A keen eye for detail and a commitment to maintaining consistent brand standards across all creative outputs.
-
Presentation & Communication: Ability to articulate creative ideas, strategies, and feedback clearly and persuasively.
-
Commercial Acumen: Understanding of how creative output drives commercial outcomes and a balanced approach to achieving both.
Preferred Skills:
-
Experience with motion graphics software (e.g., After Effects) for dynamic content creation.
-
Familiarity with retail design principles and in-store visual merchandising considerations.
-
Knowledge of emerging design technologies and trends relevant to the apparel and lifestyle industries.
-
Experience working with global brands and understanding international market nuances.
-
Proficiency in project management tools to oversee multiple creative projects simultaneously.
📝 Enhancement Note: The required experience level (5+ years in a creative leadership role) combined with the emphasis on fashion/apparel/retail suggests that candidates with a background in these specific industries will have a distinct advantage. The portfolio requirement is critical, needing to showcase not just aesthetic talent but also strategic thinking and leadership capabilities.
📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements
Portfolio Essentials:
-
A strong and diverse portfolio showcasing conceptual thinking, precise execution, and a clear understanding of brand building through design.
-
Case studies demonstrating the end-to-end leadership of integrated campaigns, highlighting strategic thinking, creative direction, and successful outcomes.
-
Examples of creative output across digital platforms (e.g., social media campaigns, website graphics), motion graphics, print collateral, and retail environments.
-
Evidence of ability to maintain brand integrity and uphold premium, global-standard quality in all presented work.
Process Documentation:
-
Showcase experience in establishing and refining creative workflows, from brief intake to final asset delivery.
-
Demonstrate a structured approach to concept development and iterative design processes.
-
Include examples of how creative feedback was managed and integrated to improve final output.
-
Illustrate how brand guidelines were applied and enforced within the design process.
📝 Enhancement Note: For a Graphic Design Manager role, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to go beyond just showcasing visual talent; it must demonstrate leadership, strategic thinking, and the ability to manage complex creative projects and teams. The "process documentation" aspect implies that candidates should be prepared to discuss how they achieve results, not just what results they achieve.
💵 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range:
Based on industry benchmarks for a Graphic Design Manager with 5-10 years of experience in a leadership role within the Australian fashion/retail sector, and considering the location in Eagle Farm, Queensland, the estimated salary range is AUD $110,000 - $150,000 per annum. This estimate accounts for the senior leadership responsibilities, team management, and the company's global brand presence.
Benefits:
-
Wellbeing Culture: Access to Lorna Jane's "Move, Nourish, Believe" wellbeing initiatives and year-round calendar of activities.
-
Career Progression: Genuine opportunities for career advancement and significant creative influence across the business.
-
Exclusive Team Discounts: Significant discounts on Lorna Jane products for employees.
-
Birthday Off: Paid day off on your birthday.
-
Team Investment: A supportive and collaborative team environment with a Head of Marketing invested in team success.
-
Global Brand Impact: Opportunity to contribute creatively to a globally recognized brand.
Working Hours:
The role is advertised as full-time, typically implying around 38-40 hours per week. While on-site, the company culture suggests an environment where dedicated professionals can achieve significant impact, with potential for flexibility managed by the Head of Marketing, as long as team and project needs are met.
📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on general Australian market data for similar roles and experience levels, adjusted for the specific industry and location. The benefits listed are directly from the job description and emphasize the company's focus on employee wellbeing and growth. The "40 hours" is an assumption for a standard full-time role.
🎯 Team & Company Context
🏢 Company Culture
Industry: Fashion / Apparel / Lifestyle / Retail. Lorna Jane is a globally recognized, female-founded brand that pioneered activewear. Its market position is built on purpose, movement, and empowering women through their clothing. The company culture is deeply rooted in its "Move, Nourish, Believe" philosophy.
Company Size: While not explicitly stated in the provided data, Lorna Jane is a globally recognized brand with a significant presence, suggesting it is a medium to large enterprise with multiple retail locations and a substantial corporate team. This implies a structured environment with established processes but also room for creative impact.
Founded: 1987. Founded by Lorna Jane Clarkson, the brand has a long history of innovation and leadership in the activewear space, emphasizing its enduring commitment to women's fitness and wellbeing.
Team Structure:
-
The Graphic Design team consists of six talented designers.
-
This team operates within the Marketing department, reporting to the Head of Marketing.
-
The Head of Marketing is described as present, engaged, and invested in the team's success, creating space for creative thinking and best work.
Methodology:
-
Creative Output Driven: The core methodology revolves around producing high-impact creative assets that drive brand perception and commercial outcomes.
-
Brand-Centric Approach: All creative work is guided by a strong adherence to brand identity, storytelling, and the "Move, Nourish, Believe" philosophy.
-
Collaborative Process: The team is described as collaborative and fun, suggesting a process that encourages idea sharing and mutual support.
-
Data-Informed (Implicit): While not explicitly stated, a commercial mindset implies that creative decisions will likely be informed by performance data and market insights, especially for campaigns.
-
Continuous Improvement: Emphasis on staying ahead of new technologies and design directions points to an adaptive and forward-thinking process.
Company Website: https://www.lornajane.com/
📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is a significant differentiator, built around a strong brand purpose and a holistic approach to wellbeing. Candidates should resonate with this ethos. The established nature of the brand implies a need for a leader who can work within an existing framework while also driving innovation.
📈 Career & Growth Analysis
Operations Career Level: This is a senior-level Creative Leadership role. It is not a traditional "operations" role in the sense of revenue or sales operations. However, it is a management position within a key functional area (Creative/Marketing) that directly impacts the business's GTM (Go-To-Market) strategy through visual communication and brand representation. The scope is broad, covering strategy, execution, team management, and brand stewardship across multiple channels.
Reporting Structure: The Graphic Design Manager reports to the Head of Marketing. They will, in turn, manage a team of six graphic designers. This structure places the role at a critical juncture for translating marketing strategy into visual reality.
Operations Impact: While not a direct "operations" role, the Graphic Design Manager's impact is significant on the business's commercial outcomes by:
-
Brand Perception: Shaping how the brand is perceived globally through consistently high-quality, aligned creative assets.
-
Customer Engagement: Creating compelling visuals that attract and engage the target audience across all touchpoints.
-
Campaign Effectiveness: Ensuring that visual elements of campaigns are strong, on-brand, and contribute to conversion goals.
-
Retail Experience: Designing impactful in-store visuals that enhance the customer shopping experience and drive sales.
-
Team Development: Building a strong creative team that can consistently deliver high-quality work, supporting the overall marketing and business objectives.
Growth Opportunities:
-
Creative Influence: Significant scope to shape the brand's visual direction and impact global campaigns.
-
Leadership Development: Opportunity to hone management and leadership skills by leading a team of six designers and influencing marketing strategy.
-
Brand Stewardship: Become a key guardian of a globally recognized brand's visual identity.
-
Cross-Functional Exposure: Work closely with marketing leadership and potentially other departments, gaining broader business acumen.
-
Industry Advancement: Experience within a leading fashion/lifestyle brand can be a strong stepping stone for further senior creative roles in similar industries.
📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a leadership position within the creative function, crucial for the Go-To-Market strategy. The "impact" described relates to how creative output drives business results, fitting the broader definition of operations that supports revenue generation and brand growth. The growth opportunities are focused on creative leadership and strategic influence.
🌐 Work Environment
Office Type: The job is listed as "On-site" in Eagle Farm, Queensland. This suggests a corporate office environment where the creative team works collaboratively. Given the company's focus on wellbeing and active lifestyles, the office environment may be vibrant and conducive to creative thinking, potentially with amenities that support this.
Office Location(s): Eagle Farm, Queensland, Australia. This is a commercial/industrial area in Brisbane, likely accessible by public transport or car.
Workspace Context:
-
Collaborative Hub: The design team likely works in a shared studio space or open-plan office designed to foster collaboration and idea exchange.
-
Creative Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software and hardware will be provided. The role requires staying ahead of new technologies, implying an investment in up-to-date tools.
-
Team Interaction: Frequent interaction with the design team, Head of Marketing, and potentially other marketing colleagues, product teams, or retail operations for asset requirements.
Work Schedule: Primarily a standard full-time work schedule (e.g., Monday-Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM), but given the leadership and creative nature of the role, there may be flexibility as long as deadlines are met and team management is effective. The emphasis on "leading from the front" suggests a commitment that may extend beyond strict hours when required for major projects or campaign launches.
📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement means candidates will be working within a physical office environment. The description implies a dynamic and creative workspace that aligns with Lorna Jane's brand values.
📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process
Interview Process: The process is likely to involve several stages to assess creative talent, leadership capabilities, and cultural fit:
-
Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and experience against the core requirements.
-
Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion with the Head of Marketing to evaluate leadership style, strategic thinking, and brand alignment. This stage will heavily involve portfolio review and discussion of past projects.
-
Creative Challenge/Presentation: Candidates may be asked to complete a short creative brief or present a case study from their portfolio, demonstrating their approach to concept development, execution, and problem-solving relevant to Lorna Jane's brand.
-
Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with members of the design team and potentially other key stakeholders (e.g., from marketing, retail) to assess collaboration style and cultural fit.
-
Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership to confirm fit and discuss the role's strategic importance.
Portfolio Review Tips:
-
Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase leadership, campaign experience, and versatility across different media (digital, print, motion, retail).
-
Highlight Leadership: For team projects, clearly articulate your role, creative direction, and how you mentored or guided others.
-
Showcase Conceptual Thinking: Emphasize the "why" behind your designs – the strategic intent, target audience, and brand objectives.
-
Demonstrate Execution Excellence: Ensure all presented work is polished, error-free, and meets high-quality standards, especially image retouching.
-
Tell a Story: Structure your portfolio presentation to tell a compelling narrative about your career progression and impact. Use case studies to detail challenges, solutions, and outcomes.
-
Brand Alignment: Show how your work aligns with or can be adapted to a lifestyle/fashion brand like Lorna Jane.
Challenge Preparation:
-
Understand the Brand: Deeply research Lorna Jane's current campaigns, brand messaging, target audience, and aesthetic.
-
Anticipate Creative Briefs: Be prepared for a brief that might involve developing concepts for a new campaign, redesigning a retail asset, or creating social media content.
-
Focus on Strategy: For any challenge, think about the strategic objectives first, then how design can achieve them.
-
Showcase Leadership: If the challenge involves a team element (hypothetical or actual), demonstrate how you would lead and delegate.
-
Practice Presentation: Be ready to clearly articulate your ideas, justify your design choices, and respond to feedback constructively.
📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily rely on portfolio assessment. Candidates should prepare to discuss their leadership philosophy, creative process, and how they drive results through design. The "creative leadership" aspect means candidates should be ready to discuss managing creative talent and vision.
🛠 Tools & Technology Stack
Primary Tools:
-
Adobe Creative Suite: Proficiency in Photoshop (for image retouching and finishing), Illustrator (for vector graphics and branding), InDesign (for print layout and collateral), and potentially After Effects (for motion graphics).
-
Design & Prototyping Tools: Familiarity with tools like Figma or Sketch might be beneficial for digital asset creation and collaboration.
-
Project Management Software: Experience with tools like Asana, Trello, Monday.com, or similar for task management, workflow tracking, and team collaboration.
Analytics & Reporting:
CRM & Automation:
- Not directly applicable to the core design function, but awareness of how creative assets are deployed through marketing automation platforms or CRM systems could be beneficial for understanding campaign integration.
📝 Enhancement Note: The core requirement is advanced proficiency in the Adobe Creative Suite. Experience with motion graphics tools is highly desirable given the mention of "motion" in the creative output responsibilities. Project management tools are essential for a leadership role managing multiple projects and a team.
👥 Team Culture & Values
Operations Values:
-
Creative Excellence: A commitment to producing work that is not only visually appealing but also strategically sound and of the highest quality.
-
Brand Integrity: Upholding the Lorna Jane brand ethos and visual identity across all creative outputs.
-
Collaboration & Teamwork: Fostering a supportive environment where ideas are shared, feedback is constructive, and the team works cohesively towards common goals.
-
Innovation & Growth: Encouraging continuous learning, exploration of new technologies, and a forward-thinking approach to design.
-
Purpose-Driven: Aligning creative work with the brand's mission to empower women through movement and wellbeing.
-
Commercial Awareness: Understanding how creative efforts contribute to business success and making design decisions that balance creativity with commercial objectives.
Collaboration Style:
-
Cross-Functional Integration: The role requires close collaboration with the Head of Marketing and potentially other departments (e.g., e-commerce, retail, product development) to ensure creative aligns with broader business strategies.
-
Feedback-Driven: A culture that embraces constructive feedback for continuous improvement of creative work and team processes.
-
Empowering Leadership: The Head of Marketing fosters an environment where the team feels empowered to do their best work, suggesting the Graphic Design Manager should adopt a similar empowering leadership style.
-
Open Communication: Encouraging open dialogue within the design team to foster idea generation and problem-solving.
📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture values a blend of creative passion, strategic thinking, and a strong sense of purpose, all within a collaborative and supportive framework. Candidates should demonstrate alignment with these values.
⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities
Challenges:
-
Balancing Brand Heritage with Modernity: Evolving the visual identity to stay fresh and relevant while respecting 37 years of brand heritage.
-
Global Consistency: Ensuring creative output is consistently high-quality and on-brand across diverse international markets and retail environments.
-
Managing Creative Demands: Juggling multiple campaign requirements, digital assets, print materials, and retail needs simultaneously across a global scale.
-
Leading and Developing Talent: Effectively mentoring and inspiring a team of designers with varying skill levels and career aspirations.
-
Driving Commercial Impact through Creativity: Proving the direct link between design initiatives and tangible business results (e.g., increased engagement, sales).
Learning & Development Opportunities:
-
Advanced Creative Leadership: Deepening skills in team management, strategic creative direction, and stakeholder influence.
-
Brand Strategy Input: Opportunity to contribute more broadly to brand strategy through visual storytelling and campaign conceptualization.
-
Industry Trends & Technology: Staying at the forefront of design innovation, digital marketing, and emerging creative technologies.
-
Mentorship: Learning from senior marketing leadership and potentially mentoring junior creatives to develop leadership potential within the organization.
-
Cross-Functional Insight: Gaining a deeper understanding of retail operations, e-commerce, and product development through collaboration.
📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to managing a creative function within a large, established global brand. The growth opportunities are significant for someone looking to advance their career in creative leadership within the lifestyle and fashion industry.
💡 Interview Preparation
Strategy Questions:
-
"How would you approach developing a new campaign concept for Lorna Jane, considering our brand ethos of 'Move, Nourish, Believe'?" (Prepare to discuss your ideation process, target audience considerations, and how you'd translate the brand philosophy into visuals.)
-
"Describe a time you had to manage conflicting creative feedback from multiple stakeholders. How did you resolve it while maintaining creative integrity and brand consistency?" (Focus on your stakeholder management, negotiation, and decision-making process.)
Company & Culture Questions:
-
"What resonates with you about the Lorna Jane brand and its 'Move, Nourish, Believe' philosophy?" (Show genuine interest and understanding of the brand's purpose.)
-
"How would you foster a collaborative and innovative environment within your design team, aligning with Lorna Jane's wellbeing culture?" (Discuss your leadership style and team-building strategies.)
Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
-
Structure for Impact: Organize your portfolio logically, perhaps by campaign, media type, or by showcasing your leadership journey.
-
Narrative is Key: For each project, tell a story: the challenge, your strategic approach, your creative solution, your specific role (especially if leading a team), and the outcome/impact.
-
Quantify Success: Wherever possible, include metrics or results that demonstrate the effectiveness of your creative work.
-
Highlight Leadership: Clearly delineate your responsibilities and contributions in team projects. Show how you guided and mentored.
-
Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design choices, technical execution, and your thought process behind key projects.
-
Showcase Brand Versatility: Demonstrate your ability to adapt your style and approach to different brand needs, with a particular focus on lifestyle/fashion.
📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily probe leadership capabilities, strategic thinking, and creative vision. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their management style, problem-solving approaches, and how they align creative output with business goals.
📌 Application Steps
To apply for this Graphic Design Manager position:
-
Submit your application through the provided link on the Dayforce platform.
-
Curate Your Portfolio: Select your strongest 5-7 projects that best demonstrate your creative leadership, campaign execution, and versatility across digital, print, and retail. Ensure each project clearly articulates the brief, your role, your strategic approach, and the outcome.
-
Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 5+ years of creative leadership experience, specifically mentioning any work in fashion, apparel, lifestyle, or premium retail. Emphasize achievements in campaign management, team leadership, and brand storytelling.
-
Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio with a focus on storytelling, strategic thinking, and leadership contributions. Be ready to discuss your approach to creative direction and team development.
-
Research Lorna Jane: Thoroughly understand the brand's mission, values, current campaigns, and target audience. Be prepared to articulate why you are a strong cultural and creative fit.
⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with Lorna Jane before making application decisions.
Application Requirements
Requires over 5 years of creative leadership experience, preferably in fashion, apparel, or premium retail. Candidates must possess a strong portfolio demonstrating conceptual thinking, precise execution, and the ability to lead integrated campaigns.