Graphiste principal·e (Contrat 12 mois) // Senior Graphic Designer (12-Month Contract)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphiste principal·e (Contrat 12 mois) // Senior Graphic Designer (12-Month Contract)

Company: SSENSE

Location: Montréal, Quebec, Canada

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Operations

Date Posted: 2026-06-19

Experience Level: Mid-Senior (4-6 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Responsible for the high-quality execution of creative assets across digital, print, and social channels, ensuring strict adherence to the SSENSE visual identity.

• Translates creative briefs and predefined concepts into polished, production-ready deliverables for campaigns and evergreen content.

• Collaborates closely with Marketing, Studio, Editorial, and Product teams to ensure on-brief and on-time delivery of assets.

• Optimizes workflow efficiency and manages multiple projects simultaneously to meet tight deadlines without compromising design integrity.

• Supports key performance indicators (KPIs) such as production efficiency, asset quality, and brand consistency at scale.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is critical for maintaining SSENSE's strong brand presence across all customer touchpoints. The focus on production efficiency and brand consistency at scale indicates a need for robust process management and a deep understanding of GTM (Go-To-Market) campaign timelines. The hybrid work arrangement suggests a need for strong remote collaboration and self-management skills.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Execute high-quality graphic design assets across digital, print, and social channels, translating creative briefs into refined, production-ready deliverables.

• Ensure strict adherence to SSENSE brand guidelines, templates, and design systems for all outputs, maintaining rigorous layout and typographic precision.

• Prepare, finalize, and perform quality control on design files for web, mobile, social media, and print formats to guarantee technical excellence and readiness for distribution.

• Partner effectively with cross-functional teams including Marketing, Studio, Editorial, and Product to intake briefs, clarify requirements, and iteratively incorporate feedback.

• Prioritize and manage multiple design projects simultaneously, optimizing workflow efficiency to meet tight deadlines while upholding design integrity and brand standards.

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of design processes and asset production workflows to enhance efficiency and quality.

• Stay abreast of fashion and e-commerce industry trends, competitor activities, and emerging design platforms to inform creative execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "production-ready assets" and "technical excellence" suggests this role requires a strong understanding of pre-press and digital asset specifications, not just creative concepting. The mention of "workflow efficiency" and "iteratively incorporate feedback" points towards agile methodologies and a collaborative approach to design problem-solving within a fast-paced e-commerce environment.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field (or equivalent professional experience).

Experience: 4–6 years of professional graphic design experience, ideally within the fashion, media, e-commerce, or agency sectors.

Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign).

• Working knowledge of Figma for design collaboration and asset handoff.

• Strong command of layout principles, typography, and grid systems.

• Proven experience in executing designs within established brand guidelines and design systems.

• Demonstrated ability to produce production-ready assets for web, mobile, social media, and print formats.

• Excellent prioritization and project management skills to handle a complex personal portfolio and meet tight deadlines.

• Clear verbal and written communication skills for articulating creative ideas and requirements.

• Professional bilingual proficiency in English and French. Preferred Skills:

• Deep understanding of the fashion and e-commerce landscape, including industry publications and competitor trends.

• Experience with motion graphics or video editing software for social media assets.

• Familiarity with content management systems (CMS) or digital asset management (DAM) systems.

• Experience in A/B testing creative assets for performance optimization in digital marketing campaigns.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for bilingual proficiency (English/French) is crucial for a Montreal-based role at SSENSE, indicating the need to create and disseminate assets in both languages seamlessly. The preference for e-commerce and fashion experience highlights the need for an understanding of brand aesthetics and customer engagement within this specific market.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated selection of high-quality graphic design projects showcasing expertise across digital, print, and social media channels.

• Demonstrations of successful execution within strict brand guidelines and established design systems, highlighting precision in layout and typography.

• Examples of production-ready files prepared for various platforms (web, mobile, social, print), illustrating technical proficiency.

• Case studies that detail the creative brief, design process, challenges encountered, and the final outcome, emphasizing problem-solving and iterative design.

• Evidence of collaboration and feedback integration, showing how input was incorporated to refine final deliverables. Process Documentation:

• Ability to articulate and document design workflows from brief intake to final asset delivery, including quality control checkpoints.

• Examples of how design processes were optimized for efficiency and scalability in previous roles.

• Understanding of version control and asset management best practices to ensure organized and accessible design files.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Graphic Designer role, the portfolio should not only showcase aesthetic quality but also demonstrate a deep understanding of production processes, brand governance, and the ability to translate creative briefs into technically sound assets for diverse channels. The emphasis on "production-ready" and "technical excellence" means portfolio pieces should reflect this capability.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Senior Graphic Designer with 4-6 years of experience in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the estimated salary range is CAD $70,000 - $90,000 annually. This estimate considers the contract nature of the role and the high cost of living in Montreal.

Benefits:

• Extended health and dental benefits, including comprehensive mental health programs and coverage.

• Parental top-up program.

• Generous employee discount on ssense.com.

• Access to telemedicine and employee and family assistance program.

• Savings and retirement plan matching contributions.

• Gender Affirmation Coverage.

• Opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies and an innovative team.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with flexibility expected to meet project deadlines. The role is hybrid, requiring approximately 2 days per week in the Montreal office.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary is estimated based on typical compensation for a Senior Graphic Designer in Montreal, factoring in the contract duration and the company's likely position in the luxury e-commerce market. The benefits package is comprehensive, reflecting SSENSE's commitment to employee well-being.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Luxury E-commerce, Technology, Fashion Retail. SSENSE operates at the intersection of technology and high fashion, curating a sophisticated online marketplace for established and emerging luxury brands. This context implies a culture that values innovation, aesthetic excellence, and a deep understanding of market trends.

Company Size: Large (500-1000 employees). A large company size suggests a structured environment with established processes, opportunities for cross-functional collaboration, and potential for career growth within various departments.

Founded: 2010. SSENSE's relatively recent founding alongside its rapid growth indicates a dynamic, forward-thinking company culture that embraces technology and innovation to disrupt the traditional fashion industry.

Team Structure:

• The Graphic Designer will likely be part of the Creative department, potentially within a larger Marketing or Studio team.

• This team is expected to be comprised of various creative specialists (copywriters, art directors, other designers) who work collaboratively on campaign development and execution.

• Reporting likely to a Creative Lead or Art Director, with close collaboration with Marketing Managers, Project Managers, and Product teams. Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making, leveraging analytics to inform creative strategies and optimize asset performance.

• Agile and iterative design processes, allowing for rapid adaptation to feedback and market changes.

• Strong emphasis on brand consistency and quality control across all creative outputs.

• Collaborative approach to project management, ensuring alignment and efficient execution across inter-functional teams.

Company Website: https://careers.ssense.com

📝 Enhancement Note: SSENSE's positioning as a technology platform in the luxury fashion space suggests a culture that blends creative ambition with technical rigor. The company's rapid growth implies a fast-paced environment where adaptability and efficiency are highly valued.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Individual Contributor. This role is for an experienced designer who can independently execute complex design tasks, manage their workload, and contribute to process improvements. It represents a significant step beyond a junior or mid-level designer, requiring a strong portfolio and proven ability to deliver high-quality work consistently.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Graphic Designer will report to a Creative Lead or Art Director, working within a broader Creative or Marketing team. This structure allows for guidance and mentorship while providing autonomy in daily tasks.

Operations Impact: This role has a direct impact on SSENSE's brand perception, customer engagement, and ultimately, conversion rates. High-quality, on-brand creative assets are crucial for attracting and retaining customers in the competitive luxury e-commerce market. Efficient production of these assets directly supports marketing campaign timelines and overall business objectives.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Potential to specialize in specific areas like digital campaign design, social media content creation, or print collateral development.

• Leadership: Opportunity to mentor junior designers or lead specific design projects.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Deepen understanding of marketing, e-commerce, and product development through close collaboration.

• Skill Development: Continued learning in advanced design software, emerging digital trends, and the luxury fashion market.

📝 Enhancement Note: As a 12-month contract role, the primary growth opportunity is direct experience within a leading luxury e-commerce platform and the potential for conversion to a permanent role or leveraging this experience for future senior design positions. The emphasis on "Senior" indicates expectations of autonomy and proactive contribution.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid. The role requires a blend of remote work and in-office presence, offering flexibility while maintaining in-person collaboration opportunities.

Office Location(s): SSENSE's headquarters are located at 333 Rue Chabanel O, Montréal. This is a well-established creative hub, likely offering a modern and collaborative workspace designed to foster innovation.

Workspace Context:

• The Montreal office is expected to be a vibrant, creative environment, reflecting SSENSE's brand identity.

• Access to state-of-the-art design tools and technology, including high-performance workstations and relevant software licenses.

• Opportunities for spontaneous collaboration with colleagues from various departments, fostering a dynamic and engaging work atmosphere.

• A focus on efficient workflow management, with dedicated spaces for team meetings and project reviews.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 per week), with the expectation of flexibility to meet project deadlines, particularly during campaign launches or critical business periods. The hybrid model typically involves 2 days per week in the office.

📝 Enhancement Note: A hybrid environment in a creative industry like fashion e-commerce suggests a need for a workspace that balances focused individual work with collaborative team sessions. The office location in Montreal's Chabanel area is known for its industrial-chic aesthetic, which likely extends to the SSENSE workspace.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

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

• Technical Interview: A discussion focused on your design skills, software proficiency (Adobe Creative Suite, Figma), and production knowledge. You may be asked to walk through specific projects from your portfolio.

• Design Challenge/Case Study: You may be given a design task or a case study to assess your problem-solving skills, creative approach, and ability to work within brand constraints. This could involve critiquing existing assets or designing new ones based on a brief.

• Cross-functional Interview: A meeting with potential collaborators from Marketing, Studio, or Product teams to evaluate communication, collaboration skills, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A final discussion with the hiring manager to assess overall fit, career aspirations, and confirm understanding of the role's responsibilities and expectations.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best demonstrate your proficiency in graphic design, digital execution, brand consistency, and production readiness relevant to SSENSE's luxury e-commerce context.

• Highlight Process: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your creative process, challenges, solutions, and the impact of your design. Emphasize how you ensured brand consistency and technical quality.

• Showcase Software Skills: Include examples that highlight your advanced skills in Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and your experience with Figma.

• Demonstrate Production Readiness: Ensure your portfolio includes examples of assets that are clearly production-ready, illustrating your understanding of file preparation for various channels.

• Bilingualism: If possible, include projects that were executed in both English and French, or be prepared to discuss how you approach multilingual design.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brand: Thoroughly research SSENSE's current campaigns, visual identity, and target audience.

• Practice Brief Interpretation: Be ready to deconstruct a creative brief and articulate your initial design thoughts and strategy.

• Time Management: If given a challenge, plan your time effectively to ensure you can deliver a well-thought-out solution within the allocated timeframe.

• Articulate Your Rationale: Be prepared to clearly explain your design choices, their alignment with the brief, and how they support SSENSE's brand goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: Success in this application process hinges on a strong portfolio that directly addresses the requirements for brand consistency, technical production quality, and efficient execution within a luxury e-commerce framework. Being prepared to discuss your process and rationale for design decisions is key.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Advanced proficiency required in Photoshop (image manipulation, digital asset creation), Illustrator (vector graphics, logos, icons), and InDesign (layout, print collateral, digital publications).

• Figma: Working knowledge for collaborative design, prototyping, and asset handoff, indicating a move towards modern design workflows.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary tool for this role, an understanding of how design impacts key metrics (e.g., click-through rates, conversion rates, engagement) is beneficial. Familiarity with analytics platforms like Google Analytics or internal reporting dashboards may be advantageous for understanding asset performance. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this role, but an awareness of how creative assets are deployed through marketing automation platforms or CRM systems can provide context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite is a given, but the explicit mention of Figma indicates SSENSE's adoption of collaborative, modern design tools. This suggests a dynamic workflow where designers can easily share and iterate on designs.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence and Precision: A commitment to producing high-quality, error-free work that upholds the SSENSE brand standard.

• Collaboration and Communication: Openness to feedback, active participation in team discussions, and clear articulation of ideas across departments.

• Efficiency and Timeliness: A dedication to optimizing workflows and meeting deadlines consistently, critical for a fast-paced e-commerce environment.

• Brand Stewardship: A deep respect for and adherence to brand guidelines to maintain a cohesive and premium visual identity.

• Innovation and Adaptability: Willingness to explore new design approaches and adapt to evolving industry trends and technologies.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Working closely with Marketing, Studio, Editorial, and Product teams to ensure design aligns with broader campaign objectives and product strategies.

• Iterative Feedback Loop: Actively seeking and incorporating feedback from stakeholders to refine designs and ensure successful project outcomes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Contributing to a team environment where best practices in design and production are shared and discussed.

📝 Enhancement Note: SSENSE's culture likely emphasizes a blend of creative artistry and business acumen. The values reflect a need for designers who are not only skilled artists but also reliable, communicative, and business-minded professionals who can contribute to the company's commercial success.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Speed and Quality: Meeting tight production deadlines inherent in e-commerce while maintaining the high visual standards expected of a luxury brand.

• Navigating Iterative Feedback: Effectively incorporating feedback from multiple stakeholders without compromising the integrity of the design vision.

• Maintaining Brand Consistency at Scale: Ensuring a unified brand experience across a vast array of digital and print assets.

• Adapting to Evolving Trends: Staying current with rapid changes in digital design, social media aesthetics, and e-commerce best practices.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Software Training: Opportunities to deepen expertise in Adobe Creative Suite and Figma, potentially exploring new features or plugins.

• Industry Exposure: Gaining insights into the luxury fashion and e-commerce sectors through daily work and exposure to industry trends.

• Cross-functional Understanding: Developing a broader business perspective by working closely with marketing, product, and editorial teams.

• Portfolio Enhancement: Building a strong portfolio with high-impact projects for a globally recognized luxury brand.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a contract role, the "growth" is primarily experiential and portfolio-building. The challenges present opportunities to hone critical design operations skills like efficiency, stakeholder management, and brand governance under pressure.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to translate a complex creative brief into a series of high-quality, on-brand assets for a specific channel (e.g., social media campaign, website banner). What was your process?" (Focus on brief interpretation, execution, and channel optimization.)

• "How do you ensure brand consistency across multiple design deliverables, especially when working with established brand guidelines?" (Highlight your understanding of brand systems, templates, and attention to detail.)

• "Walk me through a project where you had to incorporate significant feedback from multiple stakeholders. How did you manage the revisions and ensure the final output met project goals?" (Demonstrate collaboration, communication, and iterative design skills.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What appeals to you about SSENSE and our position in the luxury fashion e-commerce market?" (Research SSENSE's brand, mission, and recent campaigns.)

• "How do you stay updated on design trends within the fashion and e-commerce industries?" (Showcase your industry awareness and proactivity.)

• "Describe your experience working in a hybrid environment. What strategies do you use to maintain productivity and collaboration?" (Highlight your self-management and communication skills.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly state the objective, your role, the challenge, your solution, and the outcome.

• Highlight Key Skills: Point to specific examples that demonstrate your proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Figma, layout, typography, and production readiness.

• Emphasize Brand Adherence: Clearly show how you applied brand guidelines and maintained visual consistency.

• Discuss Production Details: Be ready to talk about file formats, resolution, color modes, and other technical aspects relevant to asset delivery.

• Bilingual Examples: If you have them, showcase projects that demonstrate your ability to design for both English and French markets.

📝 Enhancement Note: Be prepared to discuss not just your design aesthetic, but your process, your technical skills, and your ability to integrate into a collaborative, fast-paced operational environment. Your portfolio is your primary tool; ensure it directly addresses the needs outlined in the job description.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the SSENSE Careers portal via the provided link.

• Curate your portfolio: Select your strongest 3-5 projects that best showcase your skills in graphic design execution, brand consistency, production readiness, and experience with digital, print, and social assets. Ensure your portfolio clearly demonstrates your proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite and Figma.

• Tailor your resume: Highlight your 4-6 years of experience, emphasizing roles in fashion, e-commerce, or agency environments. Quantify your achievements where possible, focusing on efficiency, quality, and brand impact. Ensure your bilingual capabilities are clearly stated.

• Prepare your portfolio presentation: Practice walking through your selected projects, articulating your design process, challenges, solutions, and the impact of your work. Be ready to discuss how you ensure brand consistency and production-ready outputs.

• Research SSENSE: Familiarize yourself with SSENSE's brand, current campaigns, target audience, and recent developments in the luxury e-commerce space to better articulate your interest and cultural fit.

⚠️ 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.