Junior Creative Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Junior Creative Designer

Company: Ensemble

Location: Toronto, ON, Canada

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Creative & Media / Marketing / Art & Design

Date Posted: October 15, 2025

Experience Level: 2-5 years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Develop and execute compelling visual assets that support marketing and creative objectives across diverse media platforms, including digital, social, print, and video.

• Champion and meticulously apply documented brand standards to ensure all creative output is consistently eye-catching, memorable, and aligned with approved logos, fonts, and protocols.

• Manage the end-to-end production process with a strong emphasis on precision, from executing video and photo shoots to post-production editing and preparing print-ready files.

• Foster a collaborative and egoless environment, working dynamically with marketing team members and internal partners to drive creative projects forward efficiently and effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a "Junior Creative Designer" with an expected experience range of 2-5 years, indicating a need for foundational design skills and a capacity for growth. The emphasis on "visual storytelling," "brand standards," and "marketing objectives" suggests a strong alignment with marketing operations and GTM strategy support, even though the title is creative. The requirement for video and photo shoot execution points towards a hands-on role with production responsibilities beyond static design.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize and create visually engaging designs for a wide array of media, including digital banners, social media content, email campaigns, web assets, print advertisements, brochures, and video elements.

• Ensure all designs strictly adhere to established brand guidelines, including the correct usage of typography, logos, color palettes, and other visual elements to maintain brand consistency and integrity.

• Meticulously manage production workflows, including preparing and finalizing print-ready files according to precise specifications and quality control standards.

• Lead and execute video and photography shoots, including planning, directing, and conducting post-production editing for video, animation, and photo retouching.

• Proactively manage production budgets, source necessary materials, props, and external resources to ensure project feasibility and cost-effectiveness.

• Demonstrate a high degree of autonomy by planning and executing multiple time-sensitive projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment without compromising quality.

• Actively seek and incorporate feedback from stakeholders and team members, demonstrating adaptability and a commitment to continuous improvement in design output.

• Collaborate constructively and enthusiastically with marketing teams and other internal departments, contributing to a positive and productive creative process from ideation to final delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of creative execution, production management, and collaborative teamwork. The explicit mention of "marketing and creative objectives" and "driving marketing" suggests this role plays a crucial part in supporting Go-To-Market (GTM) initiatives through visual communication. The need to "plan, work autonomously and deliver on multiple time-sensitive projects" indicates a requirement for strong project management skills, akin to those expected in operations roles focused on execution and delivery.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Image Arts, Photography, Digital Production, Graphic Design, or a related creative field.

Experience: Approximately two to three years of professional experience in a creative design role, with a demonstrated ability to produce high-quality visual assets for marketing and digital platforms.

Required Skills:

• Adobe Photoshop Proficiency: Essential for image manipulation, creation, and asset development.

• Typography and Composition: Strong understanding of design principles, including layout, hierarchy, and visual balance.

• Brand Standards Adherence: Ability to consistently apply and maintain documented brand guidelines across all creative output.

• Attention to Detail: Meticulous approach to design production, file preparation, and quality control.

• Digital Marketing Native: Understanding of digital marketing channels and how creative assets perform within these contexts.

• Visual Storytelling: Ability to convey messages and brand narratives effectively through visual mediums.

• Autonomous Work Ethic: Proven capability to manage multiple projects, prioritize tasks, and deliver under tight deadlines with minimal supervision.

Preferred Skills:

• Adobe After Effects & Premiere Pro: Knowledge of these tools for video editing, animation, and motion graphics is highly advantageous.

• Video/Stills Shooting: Experience in planning and executing photo and video shoots.

• Photo Retouching: Advanced skills in digital imaging and retouching techniques.

• Email and Digital Marketing Understanding: Familiarity with best practices and asset requirements for email campaigns and online advertising.

• Microsoft PowerPoint Proficiency: Ability to create visually appealing presentations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Digital Marketing Native" and the preference for video editing tools like After Effects and Premiere Pro suggest that this role is deeply integrated with digital marketing operations and GTM campaign execution. The requirement for a portfolio with "exceptional design work, with video work an asset" underscores the practical, output-driven nature of this position, aligning with operations' focus on tangible results and deliverables.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive online portfolio showcasing a minimum of 2-3 years of design experience, with a strong emphasis on marketing collateral and digital assets.

• Specific examples of work created adhering to strict brand guidelines and demonstrating a keen understanding of visual consistency.

• Case studies or project breakdowns that illustrate the design process from concept to final execution, highlighting problem-solving and strategic thinking.

Process Documentation:

• Evidence of managing design projects from brief to delivery, indicating an organized workflow and project management capabilities.

• Examples of preparing production-ready files for print or digital distribution, demonstrating understanding of technical specifications and quality assurance.

• Documentation or case studies that show how feedback was incorporated into design iterations, highlighting adaptability and collaborative refinement.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a creative role with operational undertones, a portfolio that demonstrates process, efficiency, and adherence to standards is critical. The emphasis on "brand standards," "production process," and "preparing print-ready files" points to the need for candidates to showcase not just aesthetic talent but also a structured approach to design execution, mirroring operational best practices in project management and quality control.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: An estimated annual salary range for a Junior Creative Designer in Toronto, ON, Canada, with 2-5 years of experience, typically falls between CAD $50,000 and $70,000. This estimate is based on market research for similar roles in the Toronto area, considering the specified experience level and the nature of the responsibilities. Factors influencing the exact figure will include the candidate's specific skillset, portfolio quality, and demonstrated experience with relevant software and media.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance plans.

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO), including vacation days, personal days, and public holidays.

• Opportunities for professional development, including workshops, courses, and conferences related to design and digital marketing.

• Employee discounts or special offers on travel packages, aligning with the company's core business.

• Access to proprietary travel platforms and tools that enhance personal travel planning.

• Potential for occasional work-related travel, offering unique professional experiences.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours are typically 40 hours per week. While the role is on-site, there may be occasional flexibility required to meet project deadlines or support time-sensitive campaigns, consistent with a fast-paced marketing environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on industry benchmarks for junior creative roles in a major Canadian city like Toronto. Benefits are standard for full-time positions in larger organizations, with a specific nod to travel industry perks. The mention of "occasional work-related travel" and the "fast-paced environment" suggests a need for adaptability, which is common in operations-adjacent roles.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Travel Agency Consortium / Travel Technology. Ensemble Travel Group operates within the travel and tourism sector, providing services and proprietary platforms to a network of travel agencies. As part of Kensington Tours, it leverages a strong foundation in luxury travel and curated experiences. The company's focus on technology (e.g., ADX platform) indicates a blend of traditional service excellence with modern operational efficiency.

Company Size: Ensemble, as part of Kensington Tours, likely operates within a medium to large enterprise structure. Kensington Tours has been described as having a significant number of employees, suggesting Ensemble benefits from the resources and infrastructure of a larger organization while potentially maintaining a more agile, specialized marketing and creative team.

Founded: Ensemble Travel Group was established in 1968, bringing decades of experience in the travel industry. Its integration with Kensington Tours in June 2022 signifies a period of growth and evolution, likely incorporating new strategies and technologies to enhance its offerings and operational capabilities.

Team Structure:

• The marketing and creative team, to which this role belongs, likely comprises specialists in various disciplines, reporting up to an Associate Creative Director.

• This team collaborates closely with other departments such as sales, technology, product development, and member relations to ensure cohesive brand messaging and operational support.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: While creative, the role is expected to contribute to "marketing and creative objectives," implying that design decisions are informed by performance metrics and market insights.

• Process Optimization: The mention of proprietary platforms like ADX and the goal to "improve efficiencies and earnings" for agents suggests a company-wide focus on operational streamlining and efficiency.

• Agile Execution: Working autonomously on "multiple time-sensitive projects" points towards an agile approach to creative production and campaign deployment within the marketing department.

Company Website: ensembletravel.com (Note: The provided URL was null, this is a placeholder based on company name.)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's history and integration with Kensington Tours suggest a stable yet evolving organization. The emphasis on proprietary platforms and improving "efficiencies and earnings" for members highlights a strong operational mindset within the company, which this creative role will support. Understanding this operational focus will be key for candidates.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This Junior Creative Designer role is an entry to mid-level position within the creative function, acting as a crucial support element for marketing and GTM operations. It demands foundational design skills combined with a nascent understanding of production workflows and brand management. The role is designed for individuals who can execute tasks efficiently and are eager to learn and grow within a specialized creative and marketing context.

Reporting Structure: The Junior Creative Designer reports directly to the Associate Creative Director. This structure provides clear guidance and mentorship, while also allowing for direct contribution to strategic creative initiatives. The role involves close collaboration with other marketing team members and internal partners, indicating a collaborative operational dynamic.

Operations Impact: While a creative role, its impact on operations is significant. By producing high-quality, on-brand marketing collateral and digital assets, the designer directly supports GTM campaigns, enhances Ensemble's brand presence, and contributes to the efficiency of marketing operations. Well-executed visuals can improve engagement rates, reduce bounce rates on digital platforms, and streamline the customer journey, all of which are key operational metrics.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas such as video editing, motion graphics, digital advertising design, or brand identity development.

• Leadership Potential: Progression to a Senior Creative Designer or Art Director role, with increased responsibility for campaign strategy and team leadership.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Potential to gain exposure to other marketing functions or operational areas within Ensemble and Kensington Tours, fostering broader career development.

• Industry Expertise: Developing specialized knowledge in luxury travel marketing and visual communication within this niche sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth trajectory from Junior Creative Designer often involves mastering core design skills, then expanding into production management, campaign support, and potentially leading smaller projects or specific creative streams. This aligns with operations career paths that emphasize increasing scope, responsibility, and strategic input.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Ensemble maintains offices in Toronto and New York, indicating a professional, corporate environment. The Toronto office would likely be a hub for Canadian operations and marketing teams.

Office Location(s): The primary office location for this role is in Toronto, ON, Canada. This suggests a dynamic urban workspace, potentially in a business district, offering good accessibility for employees.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Atmosphere: The description emphasizes working with "marketing team members and other internal partners throughout the entire creative process," suggesting a highly collaborative and interactive workspace designed to foster teamwork.

• Tool Availability: Employees will have access to industry-standard design software and hardware necessary for creative production, likely including high-performance workstations and relevant Adobe Creative Suite licenses.

• Team Interaction: Regular team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and project reviews are expected, providing ample opportunities for interaction and knowledge sharing among creative professionals and marketing strategists.

Work Schedule: The role is on-site, implying a standard office-based work schedule. While typically 40 hours per week, the mention of "multiple time-sensitive projects in a fast-paced environment" suggests that occasional flexibility may be required to meet critical deadlines, a common characteristic in marketing operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is a key differentiator for operations roles that benefit from in-person collaboration, quick feedback loops, and immediate access to resources. This environment is conducive to the detailed, iterative work often required in creative production and marketing support.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of resumes and online portfolios to assess design skills, relevant experience, and adherence to qualifications.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: Candidates will likely present their portfolio, discussing specific projects, their design process, challenges faced, and how they achieved objectives. This stage will also probe understanding of brand standards and marketing impact.

• Technical Assessment/Challenge: Potentially a small design task or a case study related to creating assets for a specific campaign or media type, assessing practical skills and problem-solving abilities under timed conditions.

• Team/Cultural Fit Interview: Meeting with the Associate Creative Director and potentially other marketing team members to evaluate collaboration style, enthusiasm, and alignment with Ensemble's values.

• Final Interview: Possibly with a senior marketing leader to discuss career aspirations and overall fit within the organization.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 5-7 of your strongest, most relevant projects. Prioritize those that showcase versatility across different media (digital, print, video) and demonstrate your ability to meet specific marketing objectives.

• Highlight Process & Problem-Solving: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your role, the challenges you addressed, your design process, and the final outcome. Quantify results where possible (e.g., improved engagement).

• Showcase Brand Adherence: Include examples where you successfully worked within strict brand guidelines. Explain how you maintained consistency while still delivering creative, impactful designs.

• Emphasize Production Skills: If video editing or advanced retouching is a key part of your experience, ensure these projects are prominently featured and well-explained.

• Prepare for the "Why": Be ready to explain your design choices, how they align with marketing goals, and how you incorporated feedback.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brand: Thoroughly research Ensemble Travel Group, Kensington Tours, and their target audience. Familiarize yourself with their current marketing campaigns and visual identity.

• Practice Timed Execution: If a design challenge is anticipated, practice creating assets within a limited timeframe. Focus on delivering a polished concept rather than exhaustive detail.

• Articulate Your Strategy: Be prepared to explain your creative approach, rationale, and how your design would meet specified objectives, even for a hypothetical scenario.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a creative role with operational elements will heavily weigh portfolio strength and the ability to articulate process and impact. Candidates should prepare to discuss not just aesthetics but also the strategic thinking and production efficiency behind their work, akin to how an operations professional would justify a process improvement.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential proficiency in Adobe Photoshop for image editing, manipulation, and asset creation.

• Adobe After Effects & Premiere Pro: Strong preference and asset for video editing, motion graphics, animation, and post-production workflows.

• Microsoft PowerPoint: Required for creating presentations and potentially storyboarding or visualizing campaign concepts.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• No direct CRM or automation tools are specified as required for this design role. However, an understanding of how creative assets are deployed through marketing automation platforms or CRM-driven campaigns would be a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on the Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Photoshop, After Effects, and Premiere, highlights the technical backbone of this role. Proficiency here is non-negotiable for effective creative production. The indirect mention of digital marketing performance suggests a need for designers to be aware of how their work contributes to broader GTM metrics, bridging creative output with operational outcomes.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence in Execution: Commitment to producing high-quality, visually stunning work that meets and exceeds project requirements and brand standards.

• Collaborative Spirit: Fostering a supportive and egoless environment where ideas are shared freely, and team members work together effectively towards common goals.

• Adaptability & Agility: Embracing a fast-paced, entrepreneurial culture that requires flexibility, responsiveness, and the ability to manage multiple priorities efficiently.

• Passion for Travel: A genuine interest in the travel industry and luxury experiences, driving creative output that resonates with the company's mission and target audience.

Collaboration Style:

• Partnership-Oriented: Working closely with marketing team members and internal stakeholders, viewing them as partners in the creative process to ensure alignment and achieve collective objectives.

• Feedback-Driven: Openness to constructive criticism and a proactive approach to incorporating feedback to refine designs and improve outcomes.

• Enthusiastic & Proactive: Bringing a positive attitude and a willingness to contribute beyond defined tasks, supporting teammates and proactively identifying opportunities for creative enhancement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "egoless" and "collaborative" nature of the team culture, combined with a focus on "adaptability and agility," directly aligns with the operational ethos of efficiency, teamwork, and continuous improvement. Candidates who can demonstrate these qualities will likely thrive.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Brand Consistency with Creative Innovation: Meeting the demands of strict brand guidelines while still producing fresh, eye-catching, and memorable creative work.

• Managing Multiple Time-Sensitive Projects: Effectively prioritizing and executing on a high volume of diverse creative tasks under tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

• Adapting to Evolving Marketing Trends: Staying current with digital marketing best practices, design trends, and new media formats to ensure creative output remains relevant and effective.

• Translating Brand Messaging: Effectively capturing the essence of luxury travel and Ensemble’s unique value proposition into compelling visual narratives.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Mastering Advanced Software: Opportunities to gain advanced proficiency in video editing, motion graphics, and animation tools like After Effects and Premiere.

• Specializing in Travel Marketing: Deepening expertise in creative strategies specific to the luxury travel sector, understanding its nuances and consumer drivers.

• Production Management Skills: Gaining experience in shoot planning, execution, budget management, and post-production workflows.

• Cross-Functional Understanding: Learning how creative assets integrate with broader marketing campaigns, GTM strategies, and overall business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are common in creative roles that support dynamic marketing operations. The growth opportunities focus on skill enhancement and specialization, mirroring career progression often seen in operations where deepening technical expertise or expanding into management roles are key pathways.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to work within very strict brand guidelines. How did you ensure consistency while still producing engaging creative work?" (Focus on process, problem-solving, and adherence to standards.)

• "Walk us through a project from your portfolio that you are particularly proud of. What was the objective, your role, the challenges, and the outcome?" (Emphasize strategic thinking, execution, and impact.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Ensemble Travel Group and the luxury travel industry specifically?" (Demonstrate research and genuine passion.)

• "How do you approach collaboration with marketing teams and other internal partners?" (Showcase teamwork, communication, and egolessness.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly state the goal, your specific contribution, the process you followed, the tools you used, and the final results.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use data to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased click-through rates, engagement metrics, successful print runs).

• Highlight Production Workflow: If discussing video or photo projects, explain your role in the production process, from planning to execution and post-production.

• Showcase Adaptability: Be prepared to discuss how you incorporated feedback and iterated on designs, demonstrating your ability to be flexible and receptive.

• Be Enthusiastic and Authentic: Let your passion for design and travel shine through.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation for this role should focus on demonstrating not only creative talent but also a structured, efficient, and collaborative approach, much like an operations professional. Highlighting process, problem-solving, and quantifiable results will be key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Junior Creative Designer position:

• Submit your resume and a link to your online portfolio through the Ensemble careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features work that aligns with marketing objectives, brand consistency, and ideally includes examples of digital assets, print collateral, and any video/motion graphics projects. Tailor your project selection to showcase versatility and problem-solving.

• Resume Optimization: Clearly articulate your experience with Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop essential, After Effects/Premiere preferred), your understanding of digital marketing, and any experience in production or photography. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on the narrative of each project: its objectives, your process, challenges, and outcomes. Be ready to discuss your approach to brand standards and collaboration.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Ensemble Travel Group, Kensington Tours, their target market (luxury travel), and their recent marketing efforts to demonstrate genuine interest and cultural fit.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

---