Senior Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Graphic Designer

Company: Assemble

Location: Toronto, ON, CA

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Services

Date Posted: June 30, 2025

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and drive the design, production, and delivery of high-quality print, digital, and AV assets across multiple brands and events.

• Manage and oversee daily creative workflows, ensuring projects stay on schedule and are accurately tracked.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and external vendors to ensure brand consistency and quality.

• Uphold brand consistency and visual standards across all creative outputs, contributing to key initiatives like rebrands and campaigns.

• Guide and support freelance and junior design staff, providing templates, guidelines, and resources.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title specifies "Senior Graphic Designer," the responsibilities lean towards a hybrid creative and operational role, involving workflow management, vendor coordination, and team guidance. This suggests a need for strong organizational and project management skills in addition to design expertise, aligning with operations-focused roles.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Manage and oversee daily creative workflows, ensuring projects stay on schedule and are accurately tracked in Asana.

• Coordinate with outsourced design vendors to maintain alignment with brand standards and quality expectations.

• Conduct final QA and sign-off on all creative assets before delivery.

• Collaborate with the Director on large-scale or high-impact initiatives (e.g., rebrands, campaigns, sponsorship rollouts).

• Assist in allocating tasks by assessing project scope and team capacity.

• Uphold brand consistency and visual standards across all creative outputs.

• Support onboarding by providing templates, guidelines, and resources to freelance and junior design staff.

• Contribute to the development and execution of event signage, sales enablement materials, social content, and other cross-functional creative needs.

• Oversee and guide a team of freelance professionals to ensure timely, high-quality deliverables are aligned with project objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on design work and operational oversight. The emphasis on "managing creative workflows," "coordinating with vendors," "allocating tasks," and "overseeing freelance professionals" strongly aligns with operations management principles within a creative context.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Degree or diploma in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, or a related field.

Experience: 3+ years of professional graphic design experience, with at least 2+ years in a leadership capacity.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop).

• Strong portfolio demonstrating skills in layout, typography, and branding fundamentals.

• Proven ability to take initiative and lead others in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

• Detail-oriented, organized, and able to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, multi-brand environment.

• Willingness to learn, take direction, and work in a collaborative team effort.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with Premiere Pro and After Effects.

• Basic knowledge in Figma and WordPress.

• Familiarity with email design tools, content management systems (CMS).

• Foundational UX/UI concepts.

• Ability to travel to the U.S. for event support as needed.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 2+ years of leadership experience, coupled with managing workflows and guiding freelance teams, indicates a need for operational leadership skills. Proficiency in project tracking tools like Asana and managing multiple brands points to operational efficiency and process adherence.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A strong portfolio showcasing a range of design work, emphasizing layout, typography, and branding fundamentals.

• Demonstrations of ability to maintain brand consistency across various mediums (print, digital, AV).

• Examples of managing multiple projects concurrently, highlighting organizational skills and attention to detail.

• Case studies or examples that illustrate leadership in design projects or guiding other designers.

Process Documentation:

• Evidence of managing creative workflows, potentially including project timelines and task management examples.

• Examples of preparing files for print and digital output, demonstrating technical proficiency and adherence to specifications.

• Instances where brand guidelines were strictly followed or developed.

• Contributions to large-scale initiatives like rebrands or campaign rollouts, showcasing strategic design thinking.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio for this role should not only display creative talent but also demonstrate project management capabilities, such as workflow oversight, vendor coordination, and quality assurance processes, which are core to operations.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: CAD $60,000 - $70,000 per year.

Benefits:

• A competitive compensation package.

• A hybrid work model blending office and remote work (estimated 3 days in-office).

• A Flexible Paid Time Off Policy.

• 12 paid company holidays.

• Summer Hours to promote work-life balance.

• Comprehensive group benefits including health, dental, and flexible spending accounts.

• Occasional opportunities to travel and experience events in person.

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week, with potential for flexibility through the hybrid model and summer hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range of $60,000 - $70,000 CAD for a Senior Graphic Designer with leadership experience in Toronto aligns with industry standards for mid-level roles. The benefits package emphasizes work-life balance and comprehensive health coverage, common in professional services firms.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Business Services / Peer Insights / Executive Platforms.

Company Size: Likely between 50-200 employees, based on the description of a fast-paced, growing, collaborative environment with a team of professionals and freelance support.

Founded: Information not explicitly provided, but the company operates multiple brands (Executive Platforms, Board.org) suggesting a mature organizational structure.

Team Structure:

• The role reports to a Director, indicating a hierarchical structure within the creative or marketing department.

• Collaboration with various internal teams (sales enablement, marketing, event teams) is expected.

Methodology:

• Emphasis on peer intelligence and connecting senior decision-makers for insights.

• Data-driven decision-making and a focus on actionable insights for clients.

• A commitment to brand consistency and high-quality creative outputs that support business objectives.

Company Website: www.theassemble.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Assemble's focus on "peer insights" and "executive platforms" suggests a data-informed and client-centric approach, which likely extends to their internal operations and creative processes. The company culture is described as ambitious, collaborative, and fun, with a strong emphasis on showing up because "we want to."

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Mid-Senior, with a clear pathway towards leadership within the creative function. The role involves managing workflows and junior talent, positioning it as a stepping stone to Creative Lead or Art Director roles.

Reporting Structure: Reports directly to a Director, providing visibility to senior leadership and opportunities to influence creative strategy.

Operations Impact: The Senior Graphic Designer's work directly impacts brand perception, sales enablement materials, event presence, and overall marketing effectiveness, contributing to Assemble's growth and client engagement.

Growth Opportunities:

• Opportunity to lead significant creative initiatives and shape brand visual identity.

• Potential for career advancement into management roles within the creative department.

• Exposure to diverse industries through Assemble's various brands and events.

• Development of project management and team leadership skills in a dynamic environment.

• Continued learning and development through potential exposure to new design tools and techniques.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a blend of creative contribution and operational leadership, providing a clear growth path for individuals looking to advance their careers in design management and operations. The emphasis on "real room to grow your career in a high-growth environment" is a strong indicator of potential advancement.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model, with a requirement to be in the downtown Toronto office for a portion of the week.

Office Location(s): Downtown Toronto, ON, CA (Postal Code M5H 3B7).

Workspace Context:

• A collaborative office environment is implied, fostering interaction and idea sharing.

• Access to necessary design tools and technologies within the office.

• Opportunities for cross-functional interaction with marketing, sales, and event teams.

• The office setting likely supports the "ambitious, collaborative, and full of momentum" company culture.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week), with the benefit of summer hours and a hybrid arrangement offering some flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model suggests a balance between structured office time for collaboration and independent work, typical of modern professional environments. The downtown Toronto location offers accessibility and a vibrant work setting.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial screening to assess qualifications and experience, likely focusing on portfolio and leadership capabilities.

• Interviews with the hiring manager (Director) and potentially other team members to evaluate design skills, operational management approach, and cultural fit.

• A practical design exercise or case study might be involved to assess problem-solving skills and creative execution under pressure.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate a portfolio that clearly demonstrates your design skills, versatility across different mediums (print, digital, AV), and understanding of branding.

• Include examples that highlight your leadership experience, such as managing projects, guiding junior designers, or coordinating with vendors.

• Showcase your ability to manage multiple projects by presenting organized workflows or case studies that emphasize efficiency and timely delivery.

• Be prepared to discuss your process for file preparation for print and digital outputs, and your approach to maintaining brand consistency.

Challenge Preparation:

• If a design challenge is given, focus on understanding the brief, adhering to brand guidelines, and delivering a polished output within the given timeframe.

• Be ready to articulate your design choices and how they align with project objectives and brand strategy.

• For operational aspects, prepare to discuss how you would manage competing priorities, coordinate with external resources, and ensure quality control.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely assess both creative and operational competencies. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience in managing design projects, workflows, and teams, in addition to showcasing their design portfolio.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Cloud Suite: InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop (essential).

• Premiere Pro, After Effects (preferred).

• Figma (basic knowledge required).

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Content Management Systems (CMS) (familiarity preferred).

• Email design tools (familiarity preferred).

• Integration tools (not explicitly mentioned, but could be relevant for digital asset deployment).

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud is paramount. Experience with Asana for workflow management is a key operational requirement. Familiarity with Figma and WordPress suggests a need for adaptability in digital design and content platforms.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Collaboration: Working effectively with internal teams and external vendors.

• Efficiency: Managing workflows, meeting deadlines, and ensuring timely delivery of assets.

• Quality: Upholding brand consistency and delivering high-quality creative outputs.

• Initiative: Taking ownership of projects and leading others proactively.

• Adaptability: Willingness to learn, embrace new tools, and work in a fast-paced environment.

Collaboration Style:

• Close collaboration with the Director and cross-functional teams to align creative efforts with business goals.

• Effective coordination with outsourced design vendors to ensure seamless execution.

• Supportive and guiding interaction with freelance and junior design staff.

• A culture that values sharing knowledge and working together to achieve common objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to value a proactive, collaborative, and results-oriented approach. The emphasis on "showing up because we want to" suggests a positive and engaging work environment where employees are motivated by purpose and team spirit.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing multiple brands and projects simultaneously, requiring robust organizational and prioritization skills.

• Ensuring consistent brand representation across diverse marketing materials and events.

• Managing and guiding freelance professionals to maintain quality and meet deadlines.

• Adapting to the fast-paced nature of a growing company and evolving creative needs.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen expertise in Adobe Creative Suite and explore preferred tools like Premiere Pro and After Effects.

• Develop leadership and team management skills by overseeing freelance designers.

• Gain experience in large-scale creative projects such as rebrands and integrated campaigns.

• Enhance operational skills through managing creative workflows and project tracking.

• Learn about various industries through Assemble's diverse event and content offerings.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant opportunities for professional growth by tackling complex creative and operational challenges, fostering leadership skills, and contributing to a dynamic company.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• How would you manage the creative workflow for multiple brands simultaneously, ensuring deadlines are met and quality is maintained?

• Describe your experience leading freelance designers or junior team members. How do you ensure their work aligns with brand standards and project objectives?

• Walk us through your process for preparing design files for both print and digital outputs. What are the key considerations for each?

• How do you ensure brand consistency across a variety of marketing materials and platforms?

Company & Culture Questions:

• Why are you interested in Assemble and our mission?

• How does your design philosophy align with our collaborative and fast-paced culture?

• How do you handle constructive feedback on your designs or project management approach?

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Organize your portfolio to highlight projects that demonstrate your leadership, workflow management, and brand consistency skills, not just aesthetic design.

• For each project, be prepared to discuss:

  • The problem or objective.
  • Your specific role and contributions (especially leadership aspects).
  • The process you followed (including any workflow management or coordination).
  • The tools and software used.
  • The outcome and impact.

• Be ready to discuss how you prepare files for print and digital and your familiarity with Asana or similar tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to discuss their experience in managing creative operations, leading teams, and ensuring brand integrity, in addition to showcasing their design portfolio. Highlighting experience with project management tools like Asana will be crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided ADP link.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to emphasize your leadership experience, project management skills (especially workflow tracking and vendor coordination), and ability to maintain brand consistency across multiple projects.

• Resume Optimization: Highlight achievements related to managing creative workflows, supporting junior staff, and contributing to significant branding initiatives. Use keywords such as "workflow management," "brand consistency," "team leadership," "Adobe Creative Cloud," and "project coordination."

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, leadership approach, and operational strategies for managing creative projects. Prepare to walk through your portfolio, focusing on examples that demonstrate your ability to lead and organize.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Assemble's brands (Executive Platforms, Board.org) and their mission of providing peer insights. Understand their company culture as described (ambitious, collaborative, fun) and how your skills and working style would 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.