Creative Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Creative Designer Company: Foodstuffs North Island Location: Foodstuffs Landing Drive, Mangere, Auckland Job Type: Permanent Full Time Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Services Date Posted: 2025-08-18 Experience Level: 2-5 Years Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the creative development and design direction for marketing campaigns and collateral across multiple iconic New Zealand brands.
• Translate marketing briefs into compelling visual concepts and designs, ensuring brand consistency and customer engagement.
• Collaborate within a small, dynamic team to bring innovative creative ideas to life, producing high-impact marketing materials.
• Uphold brand guidelines while actively pushing creative boundaries to ensure standout work in a competitive market.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the provided description focuses on creative design, the context of shaping marketing campaigns and collateral for a large organization like Foodstuffs North Island strongly suggests a role within Marketing Operations or a closely related creative services function. This role will be critical in operationalizing brand messaging and campaign execution through design.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the conceptualization and execution of visual designs for marketing campaigns, including digital assets, print collateral, social media content, and in-store promotions.
• Develop and maintain design systems and brand guidelines to ensure consistency and quality across all brand touchpoints.
• Collaborate closely with marketing, brand, and product teams to understand campaign objectives and translate them into effective visual strategies.
• Manage multiple design projects simultaneously, prioritizing tasks to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Present design concepts and rationale to stakeholders, incorporating feedback to refine and finalize creative outputs.
• Stay abreast of current design trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in visual communication and digital marketing to continuously elevate creative output.

📝 Enhancement Note: Based on the company's industry (retail and grocery) and the role's focus on shaping campaigns and collateral, the primary responsibilities are inferred to include operationalizing marketing strategies through design, managing brand assets, and ensuring visual consistency across various customer touchpoints, which are core functions within Marketing Operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Marketing, or a related field is typically expected for this level of creative responsibility. Equivalent professional experience will also be considered. Experience: 2-5 years of professional experience in graphic design, with a significant portion focused on marketing collateral, campaign development, and brand management. Experience in a fast-paced, multi-brand environment is highly advantageous.

Required Skills:

• Graphic Design Software Proficiency: Advanced skills in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) are essential for creating high-quality visual assets.
• Creative Conceptualization: Ability to generate original, compelling visual concepts from marketing briefs and translate them into engaging designs.
• Brand Development & Management: Solid understanding of brand principles, the ability to work within established brand guidelines, and contribute to brand evolution.
• Digital Marketing Design: Experience designing for various digital channels, including social media, email marketing, web banners, and digital advertising.
• Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving: Aptitude for analyzing design challenges and developing effective visual solutions.
• Communication & Presentation Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale and pitch ideas persuasively to diverse stakeholders.
• Time Management & Prioritization: Proven ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize tasks effectively, and meet tight deadlines in a dynamic environment.
• Attention to Detail: A meticulous eye for detail to ensure accuracy, consistency, and high-quality output in all design work.
• Collaboration & Teamwork: A hands-on, approachable, and sociable approach to working effectively within a collaborative team environment.

Preferred Skills:

• Motion Graphics/Video Editing: Familiarity with tools like Adobe After Effects or Premiere Pro for creating dynamic visual content.
• UI/UX Design Principles: Understanding of user interface and user experience principles, especially for digital marketing assets.
• Print Production Knowledge: Experience with pre-press processes and knowledge of print production methods.
• Photography/Art Direction: Experience in art direction or basic photography for marketing materials.
• Project Management Basics: Familiarity with project management tools and methodologies to manage design workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "2-5 years" experience level is inferred from the description's emphasis on playing a "key role" and leading "creative processes," suggesting a need for more than just junior-level expertise but not yet senior leadership. The required skills are derived from the core responsibilities of translating briefs into visuals and managing brand collateral.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Creative Showcase: A comprehensive portfolio demonstrating a strong track record of creating compelling visual concepts and executing them across various marketing channels and collateral types.
• Brand Consistency Examples: Projects that clearly illustrate the ability to work within brand guidelines while simultaneously pushing creative boundaries.
• Campaign Execution: Case studies or examples of marketing campaigns where design played a pivotal role in achieving objectives, highlighting the process from brief to final output.
• Versatility Demonstration: A range of work showcasing proficiency across different design mediums (digital, print, social) and styles.

Process Documentation:

• While explicit process documentation requirements aren't listed, candidates should be prepared to discuss their design workflow, from brief interpretation and concept development to execution, stakeholder feedback incorporation, and final delivery.
• Demonstrate an understanding of how design processes integrate with broader marketing campaign workflows and timelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a creative role focused on marketing campaigns, a strong portfolio is paramount. The "process" aspect refers to the candidate's ability to articulate their design methodology and how it supports operational marketing efforts, rather than formal process mapping.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: In Auckland, New Zealand, a Creative Designer with 2-5 years of experience can expect a salary ranging from NZD $60,000 to NZD $85,000 annually. This estimate is benchmarked against industry data for similar roles in major metropolitan areas in New Zealand, considering the size and reputation of Foodstuffs North Island.

Benefits:

• Free Carparking: Convenient and cost-saving parking facilities are available.
• Southern Cross Health Insurance: Comprehensive health cover for employees and potentially their families.
• Foodies Superannuation Scheme: A retirement savings plan designed for employees.
• Onsite Café with Subsidised Meals: Access to affordable and convenient dining options.
• Mini Mart: Onsite convenience store.
• 5% Discount at Retail Stores: Savings on purchases at Foodstuffs' retail outlets.
• Flexible Working Options: Potential for adaptable work arrangements to support work-life balance.
• Day Off on Your Birthday: A special day off to celebrate personal milestones.
• Long Service Leave: Additional leave entitlements for continued commitment.
• Inhouse Learning and Development Programmes and Courses: Opportunities for professional growth and skill enhancement.
• Flu Vaccinations: Onsite or subsidized vaccinations to support employee health.
• Social Network Groups (Tribes): Opportunities to connect with colleagues outside of direct work responsibilities.

Working Hours: The role is advertised as Permanent Full Time, which typically translates to approximately 40 hours per week. While flexible working options are mentioned, the core working hours will likely align with standard business operations to facilitate team collaboration and on-site presence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on typical compensation for a Creative Designer with 2-5 years of experience in Auckland, NZ. The benefits listed are directly extracted from the job posting and are a significant draw for candidates.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Foodstuffs North Island operates within the Grocery and Retail sector, a dynamic and fast-paced industry focused on providing essential goods and services to consumers. This context means the creative output will directly impact customer purchasing decisions and brand perception. Company Size: Foodstuffs North Island is a large, established organization, part of a significant player in the New Zealand retail landscape. This size offers stability, resources, and the opportunity to work on high-profile brands with substantial reach. Founded: Foodstuffs was founded in 1922, giving it a long history and deep roots in the New Zealand market. This heritage suggests a culture that values tradition and reliability, while also adapting to modern consumer needs and market trends.

Team Structure:

• The Creative Designer will be part of a "small, collaborative team," likely situated within a larger Marketing or Brand department.
• Reporting structure will likely be to a Creative Lead, Marketing Manager, or Head of Brand, with direct collaboration with marketing specialists, brand managers, and potentially external agencies.
• Cross-functional collaboration is essential, involving close partnerships with marketing, brand, merchandising, and potentially digital teams to ensure cohesive campaign execution.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Creativity: While a creative role, its connection to marketing campaigns implies a need for data-informed decision-making, using insights from campaign performance to refine design strategies.
• Agile Campaign Execution: The "fast-paced, deadline-driven environment" suggests an agile approach to campaign development and design, requiring adaptability and efficient workflow management.
• Brand-Centric Approach: A core methodology will be adherence to and enhancement of brand guidelines to ensure consistent and impactful communication across all touchpoints.

Company Website: https://www.foodstuffs.co.nz/

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding Foodstuffs North Island's position as a major retailer is key. The "small, collaborative team" context suggests a close-knit group where individual contributions are highly visible and impactful, operating within a larger, established corporate structure.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as an intermediate-level Creative Designer. It requires independent execution of design tasks, leadership in creative processes for specific campaigns, and collaboration with cross-functional teams, indicating a step beyond junior design roles. Reporting Structure: The Creative Designer will likely report into a Marketing or Brand management hierarchy, potentially to a Creative Lead or Marketing Manager. This structure allows for guidance and strategic alignment while providing autonomy in design execution. Operations Impact: The Creative Designer's work directly impacts the operational effectiveness of marketing campaigns by translating strategic objectives into visually appealing and engaging content. This influences customer perception, brand recognition, and ultimately, sales performance and market share for Foodstuffs' iconic brands.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Opportunity to develop deeper expertise in specific areas of design, such as digital marketing, retail branding, or packaging design, within Foodstuffs' diverse portfolio.
• Leadership: Potential to grow into a Senior Creative Designer or Art Director role, leading creative projects, mentoring junior designers, and influencing broader creative strategy.
• Cross-Functional Experience: Exposure to various marketing functions can lead to opportunities in broader marketing roles, campaign management, or brand strategy.
• Skill Development: Access to in-house learning and development programs allows for continuous skill enhancement in design software, emerging technologies, and marketing trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth opportunities are inferred from the nature of the role in a large company, offering pathways for both deepening creative expertise and broadening into related marketing or management functions.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based at Foodstuffs Landing Drive, Mangere, Auckland, which is likely a corporate office environment supporting the company's extensive retail operations. This setting would typically offer professional amenities and a structured workspace. Office Location(s): The primary location is Foodstuffs Landing Drive, Mangere, Auckland. This is a specific, on-site location.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The "small, collaborative team" suggests a workspace designed to foster interaction, idea sharing, and teamwork amongst designers and marketing professionals.
• Resource-Rich: As part of a large organization, the workspace is expected to be well-equipped with industry-standard design software and hardware, and potentially access to internal creative resources or libraries.
• Brand Immersion: Working with iconic NZ brands means the environment will likely be visually aligned with the company's diverse portfolio, offering a stimulating creative atmosphere.

Work Schedule: The position is Full Time, implying a standard Monday-Friday work week. While flexible working options are mentioned, the on-site nature of the role and the need for team collaboration suggest a primary commitment to being present in the office during core business hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "on-site" requirement is clearly stated. The workspace context is inferred from the company's size and the mention of a collaborative team, suggesting a professional office setting conducive to creative work and team interaction.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess creative skills, experience, and alignment with the role's requirements.
• Creative Assessment/Task: Candidates may be asked to complete a design task or present a case study from their portfolio that demonstrates their problem-solving abilities and creative process.
• Interviews: Typically involves discussions with the hiring manager and potential team members to evaluate creative vision, technical skills, communication, collaboration style, and cultural fit.
• Final Round: May include a presentation of portfolio work or a more in-depth discussion about strategic thinking and brand application.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Showcase your strongest, most relevant work that aligns with retail and marketing campaign design.
• Showcase Process: For key projects, briefly outline your design process, from brief interpretation to final execution, highlighting problem-solving and decision-making.
• Quantify Impact: If possible, include metrics or results that demonstrate the effectiveness of your designs in achieving campaign objectives.
• Tailor to Foodstuffs: Consider including work that demonstrates an understanding of brand consistency, engaging visuals, and the retail environment.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready to discuss your creative process, how you interpret briefs, and how you approach developing visual concepts.
• Prepare to articulate your understanding of brand guidelines and how you balance creative expression with brand integrity.
• Anticipate questions about your experience with different design software and your ability to manage multiple projects under pressure.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview and portfolio review process is standard for creative roles. The advice focuses on demonstrating not just creative output but also the strategic thinking and process behind it, which is crucial for a role embedded in marketing operations.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential for all design work, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
• Microsoft Office Suite / Google Workspace: For general productivity, communication, and document creation (Word/Docs, PowerPoint/Slides).

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary focus for a designer, familiarity with how design performance is measured (e.g., click-through rates on digital ads, engagement on social media) can be beneficial. Understanding basic analytics dashboards (e.g., Google Analytics, social media analytics) might be a plus.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the designer's core function, but awareness of how marketing automation platforms (e.g., HubSpot, Marketo) or CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) are used to deploy campaigns could provide valuable context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Tools are inferred based on standard industry practices for graphic designers working on marketing collateral. The emphasis is on design software, with secondary consideration for tools that support marketing campaign deployment.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Creativity & Innovation: A drive to produce fresh, engaging ideas and push creative boundaries is paramount.
• Collaboration: A hands-on, sociable, and approachable attitude is key to working effectively within a team and with stakeholders.
• Quality & Detail: A commitment to delivering high-quality work with a sharp eye for detail is expected.
• Adaptability & Learning: Curiosity and a hunger to learn and explore new possibilities are valued in a fast-paced environment.
• Brand Stewardship: A deep respect for brand guidelines and a commitment to maintaining brand integrity across all creative outputs.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expect to work closely with marketing, brand, and potentially product teams, requiring clear communication and a shared understanding of project goals.
• Feedback-Driven: A culture that encourages open feedback and constructive critique to refine designs and improve outcomes.
• Proactive Engagement: A proactive approach to idea generation and problem-solving, contributing actively to team discussions and project development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values and collaboration style are synthesized from the description's emphasis on being "passionate," "collaborative," "sociable," "approachable," and possessing "critical thinking" and a "hunger to learn."

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Brand Consistency with Creativity: The primary challenge will be to adhere to established brand guidelines for iconic New Zealand brands while also injecting fresh, innovative creative concepts.
• Managing Multiple Brand Demands: Working across potentially several brands within Foodstuffs North Island will require managing diverse brand identities, target audiences, and campaign objectives simultaneously.
• Fast-Paced Environment: Thriving under pressure and delivering high-quality work within tight deadlines is a key challenge that requires excellent time management and prioritization.
• Stakeholder Management: Effectively communicating design rationale and incorporating feedback from various stakeholders with potentially differing opinions.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Skill Enhancement: Access to in-house learning and development programs to refine design software skills, explore new creative techniques, and stay updated on industry trends.
• Industry Exposure: Working with well-established New Zealand brands provides exposure to large-scale marketing operations and consumer engagement strategies.
• Career Progression: Opportunities to advance into senior design roles, art direction, or potentially transition into broader marketing or brand management functions within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges are identified by analyzing the core demands of the role (brand management, speed, collaboration) within the context of a large retail organization. Growth opportunities are standard for intermediate roles in such environments.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Creative Process: "Can you walk us through your process for taking a marketing brief from concept to final design, specifically for a retail campaign?" Focus on your workflow, tools, and decision-making at each stage.
• Brand Adaptation: "How do you approach working within strict brand guidelines while still bringing a fresh, creative perspective to a campaign?" Prepare examples where you've successfully navigated this balance.
• Problem-Solving: "Describe a time you faced a significant creative challenge on a project. What was the challenge, how did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" Highlight your critical thinking and resilience.

Company & Culture Questions:

• Brand Understanding: "What are your impressions of Foodstuffs North Island's brands, and how would your design approach contribute to their continued success?" Show you've researched the company and its market position.
• Team Collaboration: "How do you prefer to collaborate with marketing teams and other stakeholders on creative projects?" Prepare examples of your collaborative style and how you handle feedback.
• Impact Measurement: "How do you think creative design impacts marketing campaign success, and how would you measure the effectiveness of your work?" Be ready to discuss how design contributes to business objectives.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: For each piece presented, tell a story: the brief, your concept, your process, the challenges, and the results.
• Visual Clarity: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, visually appealing, and easy to navigate.
• Conciseness: Be prepared to present your most impactful work efficiently, focusing on relevance to the role and company.
• Professionalism: Be articulate, enthusiastic, and confident in presenting your skills and experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation advice is tailored to a creative role within marketing operations, emphasizing the need to showcase not just artistic talent but also strategic thinking, process understanding, and brand awareness.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided Lever link.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date and highlights relevant work, particularly in retail marketing campaigns, digital design, and brand collateral development. Tailor your selection to showcase versatility and adherence to brand guidelines.
• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly articulate your experience with graphic design software, creative process management, campaign execution, and specific achievements in previous roles. Use keywords from the job description naturally.
• Interview Preparation: Practice discussing your design process, how you interpret briefs, and how you handle feedback. Prepare specific examples of past projects that demonstrate your creativity, problem-solving skills, and ability to work within a team.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Foodstuffs North Island's brands, their market position, and recent marketing campaigns. Understanding their business context will help you tailor your answers and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions based on the provided raw data for a Creative Designer role at Foodstuffs North Island. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.