Senior Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Graphic Designer

Company: Riverside Natural Foods Ltd.

Location: North York, Ontario, Canada

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Marketing / Creative & Media / Art & Design

Date Posted: 2026-01-19

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive visual concept development and hands-on execution for campaigns, product launches, and brand moments across social, digital, email, retail, and paid media.

• Translate strategic briefs into scalable creative systems and high-quality assets for multiple markets, ensuring brand integrity and consistency.

• Create engaging multimedia assets, including GIFs and short-form video, to support campaign ideas and enhance brand storytelling.

• Prepare files for print production, including layout refinements, color correction, and pre-press setup, with meticulous attention to detail.

• Continuously research and integrate emerging design trends, tools, and omnichannel best practices to elevate creative output and innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a "Senior" Graphic Designer within a fast-growing, B-Corp certified company. The emphasis on "develop and own creative concepts" and "lead visual concepting" suggests a need for strategic thinking beyond just execution. The mention of "chart your own path to success" and "building the process – fast!" indicates an entrepreneurial spirit and a proactive approach to problem-solving within a dynamic environment. The focus on the U.S. market and reaching millions of families highlights the significant impact this role will have.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and own creative concepts and visual ideas for campaigns, product launches, and brand moments, then design and execute these ideas across social, digital, email, retail, and paid media.

• Lead visual concepting and hands-on execution for MadeGood Global, translating strategic briefs into scalable creative systems and high-quality assets for multiple markets and channels.

• Work within established brand guidelines and design systems while pushing creative thinking, ensuring consistency, quality, and scalability across all creative outputs.

• Partner closely with cross-functional teams, including designers, copywriters, marketers, and external agency teams, to ensure every creative output stays true to the MadeGood brand.

• Design, adapt, and optimize assets across a wide range of touchpoints, including digital and retail media, email, social, websites, PDP pages, print ads, POS, sell sheets, and more, maintaining brand integrity across formats and platforms.

• Create engaging multimedia assets, including GIFs and short-form video, to support campaign ideas and brand storytelling across channels.

• Prepare files for print production, including layout refinements, color correction, and pre-press setup, with a high level of attention to detail across typography, imagery, and layout.

• Stay current on emerging design trends, tools, and omnichannel best practices to continuously elevate creative thinking, concept development, and execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate a blend of high-level conceptualization and detailed execution. The emphasis on "owning creative concepts" and "leading visual concepting" suggests that this is not a purely production-focused role. The broad range of touchpoints (social, digital, retail, print, web, email, POS) requires versatility and adaptability. The mention of "preparing files for print production" and "pre-press setup" points to a need for technical proficiency in print design workflows.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Minimum 5-7+ years of experience in a graphic design role, either in-house or at an agency.

• Experience in food and beverage, CPG, or adjacent consumer categories is preferred but not required.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, XD, Figma).

• Strong understanding of design fundamentals, including layout, typography, color theory, and branding.

• Proven experience partnering closely with copy teams, working collaboratively to concept, refine, and execute strong creative across channels.

• Range: Ability to move from creative concepting to thoughtful layouts, design systems, and high-quality tactical executions.

• Ability to manage multiple design projects simultaneously while balancing priorities, timelines, and deliverables in a fast-paced environment.

• Strong communication skills and a collaborative mindset, with the ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams.

• Detail-oriented approach to design production with a commitment to maintaining brand consistency.

• Solid understanding of web design principles, including responsive design.

• Awareness of accessibility standards, including AODA requirements.

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with multimedia tools such as Premiere Pro and After Effects.

• Experience in the food and beverage, CPG, or adjacent consumer categories.

• Familiarity with the U.S. consumer market.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement of 5-7+ years aligns with a senior-level role. The explicit mention of Adobe Creative Suite, along with XD and Figma, indicates a modern design tech stack. The emphasis on "range" from concept to execution and managing multiple projects points to the need for strong organizational and time management skills. The inclusion of AODA requirements suggests a commitment to accessibility standards in design.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A portfolio showcasing a strong range of creative concept development from ideation to polished execution across various media (digital, print, social, etc.).

• Demonstrations of ability to translate strategic briefs into compelling visual narratives and scalable design systems.

• Examples of work that highlight a deep understanding of typography, layout, color theory, and branding principles.

• Case studies or examples illustrating collaboration with copywriters and cross-functional teams to achieve unified campaign goals.

Process Documentation:

• Examples demonstrating the process of preparing files for print production, including pre-press considerations and attention to detail.

• Showcases of how design concepts are adapted and optimized for different platforms and markets.

• Evidence of staying current with emerging design trends and integrating new tools or techniques into the design process.

• Portfolio pieces that reflect an understanding of web design principles and responsive design application.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not explicitly stated, a Senior Graphic Designer role, especially one focused on concepting and execution across multiple channels, would necessitate a strong portfolio. The emphasis on "owning creative concepts" and "designing assets across retail media, print ads, digital banners, email, website, social, partnerships, and key brand moments" implies that the portfolio should reflect this breadth of work. The mention of "preparing files for print production" and "pre-press setup" suggests that practical production skills should also be evident.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $85,000 - $95,000 CAD per year

Benefits:

• Comprehensive benefits program with costs covered by Riverside.

• RRSP matching or 401k matching.

• Eligibility to participate in Riverside's Profit Sharing Plan.

• Employee-Led Resource Groups (ERGs) championing mental health, sustainability, diversity, women, and LGBTQ+ rights.

• Riverside University program for career development.

Working Hours:

• Full-time (typically 40 hours per week), with an expectation of flexibility to meet project demands in a fast-paced environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided directly in the job description. The benefits listed are extensive and go beyond standard offerings, including profit sharing and specialized ERGs, which speaks to the company culture. The "40 hours" is a standard expectation, but the context of a "fast-paced environment" and "rolling up your sleeves" suggests potential for overtime or a need for strong time management.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Food & Beverage / Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)

Company Size: Riverside Natural Foods Ltd. is a $300 million+ Canadian-based, family-owned business. This size indicates a company that is established and growing, offering stability while retaining some of the agility of a smaller organization.

Founded: Riverside Natural Foods Ltd. is family-owned. The founding date is not specified, but the company's growth trajectory and B-Corp certification suggest a modern, values-driven approach.

Team Structure:

• The role reports to the Sr. Omnichannel Production Manager, indicating a structured marketing/creative department.

• Collaboration is emphasized with cross-functional partners, including designers, copywriters, marketers, and external agency teams.

Methodology:

• The company operates with a "Triple-Bottom Line" approach, prioritizing people, planet, and profit.

• They embrace a "learn-as-we-go" methodology, encouraging continuous improvement, owning mistakes, and iterating quickly.

• The culture values "teamwork, humility, respect, ownership, adaptability, grit, and fun."

• There's a strong emphasis on transparency and fairness, particularly in compensation and job posting practices.

Company Website: www.riversidenaturalfoods.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's identity as a B-Corp certified, Triple-Bottom Line organization is a significant cultural differentiator. This means that operations and business decisions are guided by social and environmental impact alongside financial performance. The "climb together" metaphor speaks to a challenging but rewarding journey, emphasizing grit and shared purpose. The flat organization structure with "few silos" suggests direct access to leadership and a less bureaucratic environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Graphic Designer role, indicating a significant level of experience and responsibility. It requires not only execution skills but also the ability to lead creative concepts and contribute to strategic visual direction.

Reporting Structure: The role reports to the Sr. Omnichannel Production Manager. This structure suggests a focus on production efficiency and campaign execution within the broader marketing function.

Operations Impact: The Senior Graphic Designer's work will directly impact the brand's visual presence across all consumer touchpoints, influencing brand perception, consumer engagement, and ultimately, sales performance. Their role is critical in shaping how MadeGood is perceived globally, especially in the key U.S. market.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Continuous learning and development are encouraged through the "Riverside University" program and tuition reimbursement. Staying current with design trends and tools will be key for growth.

• Leadership Potential: The emphasis on "owning creative concepts," "leading visual concepting," and having "real creative ownership" suggests pathways to creative leadership roles, potentially as a Creative Lead or Art Director, as the company continues its ambitious growth.

• Broad Exposure: The "flat organization with few silos" and access to founders and production staff offers unique opportunities to understand the business holistically and contribute to shaping the company's future direction.

• Industry Impact: Contributing to a rapidly growing, values-driven brand like MadeGood provides opportunities to build a strong portfolio and reputation within the CPG and "better-for-you" snack market.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title, combined with the company's ambitious growth plans and "learn-as-we-go" ethos, suggests that this role offers significant opportunities for individual growth and the chance to shape processes and brand direction. The emphasis on personal development and carving one's own path is a strong indicator of potential career progression within the organization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The job is described as "On-site" in North York, Ontario. The company mentions an "open concept work environment that embodies our Values." This suggests a collaborative and potentially dynamic workspace.

Office Location(s): North York, Ontario, Canada.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative: The open concept and "few silos" suggest a highly collaborative environment where interaction with various teams is frequent and encouraged.

• Dynamic: The "fast-paced environment," "test-and-learn," and "building the process – fast!" aspects indicate a workplace that values agility and quick adaptation.

• Hands-on: The role requires hands-on execution, and the company culture emphasizes "rolling up your sleeves."

• Values-Driven: The entire workspace is designed to embody the company's core values, fostering a culture of respect, teamwork, and fun.

Work Schedule:

• Full-time employment is expected. While a standard 40-hour work week is likely, the emphasis on a fast-paced environment and ambitious growth suggests that flexibility and dedication to meeting deadlines will be important.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "on-site" requirement is clear. The description of an "open concept work environment" and "few silos" points to a culture of transparency and easy communication, which is beneficial for a creative role requiring close collaboration. The mention of steel-toed shoes for employees (even when dressed up) hints at a pragmatic, down-to-earth culture that values all aspects of the business, from the plant floor to the boardroom.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a review of resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and creative fit.

• Portfolio Review: A critical component. Candidates should be prepared to walk through their portfolio, highlighting relevant projects, their creative process, and the impact of their design work.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with marketing, copywriting, and potentially production teams to assess collaboration skills and understanding of brand strategy.

• Conceptual/Creative Challenge: A potential exercise to assess immediate creative thinking, problem-solving, and ability to work within brand guidelines under pressure.

• Cultural Fit Assessment: Discussions focused on how candidates align with Riverside's values (teamwork, humility, ownership, grit, fun, values-led, courageous determination).

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Range: Include examples of work across digital (social, banners, web), print (ads, POS, sell sheets), and multimedia (GIFs, short video).

• Highlight Concept to Execution: Demonstrate your ability to develop a creative idea and then execute it meticulously across various touchpoints.

• Detail Your Process: For key projects, explain your thought process, how you collaborated with stakeholders (copywriters, marketers), and how you iterated based on feedback.

• Quantify Impact (if possible): If any of your designs led to measurable results (e.g., increased engagement, improved conversion rates), highlight this.

• Focus on Brand Consistency: Show examples of how you maintained brand integrity across different campaigns and platforms.

• Include Print Production Examples: If possible, show examples that demonstrate your understanding of print-ready files and pre-press considerations.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brand: Thoroughly research MadeGood and Riverside Natural Foods. Understand their mission, values, target audience, and current marketing efforts.

• Practice Conceptualizing: Be ready to brainstorm creative ideas quickly based on a given brief, focusing on the MadeGood brand voice and values.

• Prepare for Production Questions: Be ready to discuss file preparation, color correction, typography, and design system principles.

• Articulate Your Values Alignment: Prepare to speak to how your work style and personal values align with Riverside's core values.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "developing creative concepts," "hands-on execution," and "a wide range of touchpoints" necessitates a portfolio that clearly demonstrates both strategic thinking and practical design skills. The "test-and-learn" and "build the process – fast!" aspects suggest that interviewees should be prepared to discuss their adaptability and problem-solving approaches.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

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

• Prototyping/UI Tools: XD, Figma (essential).

• Multimedia/Video Tools: Premiere Pro, After Effects (asset, but highly beneficial).

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this design role, but understanding how design assets are deployed through marketing automation platforms or CRM-related campaigns is advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required tools are standard for a senior graphic designer. The "preferred" mention of Premiere Pro and After Effects indicates an increasing need for motion graphics and video content creation within marketing. The absence of explicit CRM/automation tool requirements suggests this role is focused purely on the creative asset development and production side, rather than campaign execution or data analysis.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Values-led: Decisions and actions must align with the company's core values (respect, teamwork, resourcefulness, fun, integrity). There's a strong emphasis on ethical practices and avoiding "winning at all costs."

• Courageous Determination: Willingness to tackle challenges, ask tough questions, test and learn, and persevere to find solutions in a fast-paced, growing environment. Grit and resourcefulness are highly valued.

• Humility: Acknowledging the company's position in the market, avoiding arrogance, and fostering a supportive environment where everyone contributes and takes turns leading.

• Continuous Improvement: A commitment to constantly enhance processes, products, and operations for better efficiency, sustainability, and customer appeal. Owning mistakes and learning from them is integral.

• Ownership: Taking responsibility for tasks and outcomes, actively contributing to the company's growth and success.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Strong emphasis on working closely with designers, copywriters, marketers, and agency teams to ensure cohesive brand messaging and execution.

• Flat Hierarchy & Open Communication: The "few silos" and "access to everyone" culture encourages open dialogue, idea sharing, and direct communication across all levels.

• Test-and-Learn Environment: A willingness to experiment, iterate, and adapt designs based on feedback and performance, fostering a dynamic and responsive creative process.

• Supportive & Respectful: The company culture promotes mutual respect and support among team members, even while facing challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's values are heavily emphasized throughout the job description. A candidate's ability to demonstrate alignment with these values (e.g., demonstrating humility, grit, a proactive approach to problem-solving, and a commitment to continuous improvement) will be as important as their design skills.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Rapid Growth & Process Building: As a company doubling its business by 2027, there will be a constant need to adapt, scale, and potentially build new processes and systems to support marketing efforts. This requires adaptability and comfort with ambiguity.

• Balancing Creative Vision with Brand Consistency: Effectively translating high-level creative concepts into scalable assets that maintain brand integrity across diverse channels and markets will be a key challenge.

• Fast-Paced Execution: The need to "move quickly," "test and learn," and "build the process – fast!" means designers must be highly efficient and able to deliver quality work under tight timelines.

• Navigating Ambiguity: The statement "We’re still determining who we are and what we can be" suggests that the company is in a phase of significant evolution, requiring individuals who can thrive in an environment where not all paths are clearly defined.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Skill Expansion: Opportunity to work across a vast range of marketing touchpoints, potentially gaining experience in motion graphics, short-form video, and advanced digital design techniques.

• Creative Ownership & Impact: Direct influence on brand visuals for a growing, values-driven company, with the potential to shape brand perception and strategy.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Exposure to company founders and leadership, combined with a culture that encourages carving one's own path, provides opportunities for mentorship and development towards leadership roles.

• Industry Exposure: Deep dive into the CPG and "better-for-you" food industry, particularly within the significant U.S. consumer market.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are framed as opportunities for growth. The emphasis on "building the process – fast!" and "proceeding imperfectly" means candidates should be comfortable with iteration and not afraid to experiment and learn on the fly.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Conceptualization & Brand Alignment: "Describe a time you developed a creative concept from scratch for a campaign. How did you ensure it aligned with the brand's core message and target audience?" (Focus on MadeGood's values and U.S. market).

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: "Walk us through a project where you collaborated closely with copywriters or marketers. How did you handle differing opinions or feedback to achieve a unified creative vision?"

• Problem-Solving & Adaptability: "Describe a situation where you had to adapt a design quickly due to changing project requirements or tight deadlines. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?" (Highlight grit and resourcefulness).

• Process Improvement: "How do you approach preparing design files for print production? What are the key considerations for ensuring quality and consistency?" (Demonstrate attention to detail and technical knowledge).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do your personal values align with Riverside's core values (Values-led, Courageous Determination, Humility, Continuous Improvement)?" Be prepared with specific examples.

• "What excites you about MadeGood's mission and products?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly articulate the brief/challenge, your role, your creative process, the solution, and the impact (if quantifiable).

• Highlight Range of Work: Ensure your presentation covers digital, print, social, and any multimedia assets.

• Emphasize Concept to Execution: Show how you can take an idea from a rough concept to a polished, final asset.

• Demonstrate Technical Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your software usage and any print production considerations.

• Showcase Collaboration: If possible, highlight projects where teamwork was crucial to success.

• Keep it Concise: Focus on your strongest, most relevant projects and be mindful of time.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on values and the "build the process – fast!" mentality, interviewers will likely probe for candidates who are not only skilled designers but also proactive, adaptable, and aligned with the company's ethos. Be prepared to discuss how you handle ambiguity and contribute to a learning culture.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your resume and a link to your online portfolio to careers(AT)riversidenaturals.com, with "Senior Graphic Designer" in the subject line, or click the apply button.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects relevant to CPG, food & beverage, and campaigns across digital, social, email, and retail media. Showcase your ability to develop concepts and execute them hands-on.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly states your years of experience (5-7+), proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and other relevant tools, and any experience with U.S. consumer markets or CPG. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Values Alignment Preparation: Be ready to articulate how your personal values and work style align with Riverside's core values (Values-led, Courageous Determination, Humility, Continuous Improvement, Ownership).

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Riverside Natural Foods and the MadeGood brand. Understand their mission, values, target audience, and recent marketing efforts.

⚠️ 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.