Senior Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Graphic Designer

Company: Cresco Labs

Location: Chicago, IL

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Creative & Design Operations

Date Posted: 2026-05-29

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This Senior Graphic Designer role is pivotal in shaping the visual identity and creative output for Cresco Labs' B2B and B2C initiatives, spanning In-Store, E-commerce, CRM, Rewards, Social Media, and Internal Communications.

• The position demands a strategic approach to design execution, ensuring high-quality deliverables across both print and digital mediums for retail and wholesale brands, aligning with a mission to normalize and professionalize the cannabis industry.

• As a senior member of "The HotBox" in-house creative team, this role involves art direction, conceptual development, and ensuring brand integrity across all touchpoints, contributing to a culture of creative excellence.

• A key aspect of this role is mentorship, providing formal feedback and guidance to Mid-Level and Junior Graphic Designers, thereby elevating the overall team's output and fostering professional development within the design function.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Senior Graphic Designer," the responsibilities heavily lean into an Art Director or Design Lead capacity, particularly with the emphasis on mentorship, creative direction, and quality control. This role is not just about individual design execution but also about guiding and elevating the work of others within a specific operational context (the cannabis industry).

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Oversee and lead the end-to-end design process for a wide array of print and digital projects, from initial concept ideation through final delivery, ensuring alignment with project objectives and brand standards.

• Partner closely with the Associate Design Director to translate overarching creative strategies into actionable design plans and execute established design directions across various campaigns and initiatives.

• Drive conceptual development for new campaigns and projects, pushing creative boundaries to elevate the visual quality and impact of all marketing and communication materials.

• Conduct thorough reviews of design work produced by Mid-Level and Junior Graphic Designers, providing constructive, formal feedback to ensure technical accuracy, creative merit, and brand consistency.

• Serve as the final quality control checkpoint for creative assets before they are presented to stakeholders or passed on to external vendors for production, minimizing errors and ensuring a polished final product.

• Actively mentor junior design talent, fostering their skill development, providing guidance on best practices, and supporting their career growth within the organization.

• Manage and prioritize the execution of high-priority, complex, and time-sensitive initiatives, demonstrating strong project management skills and the ability to adapt to fast-paced demands.

• Proactively identify opportunities for process improvement within the creative workflow and champion innovative design solutions that enhance efficiency and creative output.

• Function as a key creative problem-solver for intricate or high-visibility projects, developing strategic visual solutions that address complex business challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on design work, strategic creative leadership, and team management. The emphasis on "elevating creative quality," "mentoring designers," and "serving as a creative problem-solver" indicates a role that requires not only strong design skills but also leadership and strategic thinking within the context of a growing B2B/B2C creative team.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, Visual Communications, or a related field is typically expected for a Senior-level role, or equivalent professional experience.

Experience: 6+ years of professional design experience, gained either in-house at a company or within an agency setting, with a demonstrated progression in responsibilities and project scope.

Required Skills:

• Expert-level proficiency in the Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) with the ability to establish and enforce best practices for its use within a team.

• Demonstrated expertise in After Effects, with the capability to create compelling motion graphics and provide direction for animation projects.

• Proven Art Direction experience, including the ability to support and develop creative concepts, guide visual aesthetics, and lead creative execution for campaigns.

• Deep multi-channel design expertise, encompassing an understanding of how to create effective visuals for print, digital, social media, email, and in-store applications.

• Strong conceptual thinking skills, evidenced by a portfolio that showcases the ability to develop unique and impactful ideas for campaigns.

• Advanced production knowledge, including the ability to review and approve vendor-ready files, ensuring print-readiness and adherence to technical specifications.

• Proficiency in color correction and retouching techniques to achieve high-quality, production-ready visuals that meet brand standards.

• Demonstrated leadership ability, including formal mentorship of junior designers and the capacity to elevate the quality of team output.

• High-level communication skills, with the ability to articulate design concepts clearly, provide constructive feedback, and present to senior stakeholders effectively.

• Ability to balance leadership responsibilities with hands-on design work, quality control, and the management of complex projects simultaneously.

• A strong understanding of how to elevate and evolve visual systems while rigorously maintaining brand integrity across all platforms.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with UI/UX design principles for web and mobile applications.

• Familiarity with project management software (e.g., Asana, Jira, Trello).

• Knowledge of marketing automation platforms and their design implications.

• Experience in a regulated industry, such as CPG, pharmaceuticals, or finance, which shares complexities with the cannabis sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "After Effects required" and "Art Direction experience required" strongly suggests this role will involve significant creative leadership and motion design responsibilities, not just static graphic design. The emphasis on "elevating visual systems" points towards a need for a designer who can think systemically about brand application.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 6+ years of professional design work, with a strong emphasis on leadership and art direction across multiple campaigns.

• Demonstrate elevated conceptual thinking through case studies that clearly articulate the problem, the creative solution, and the impact on business objectives.

• Include examples of multi-channel campaign execution, illustrating how a core concept was adapted and applied effectively across diverse platforms (print, digital, social, etc.).

• Showcase your ability to maintain and evolve visual systems while upholding strict brand integrity, providing examples of how you’ve managed brand guidelines.

• Present work that highlights advanced production knowledge, including examples of print-ready files or vendor-approved assets.

• Include examples of motion graphics or animation projects created using After Effects, demonstrating your capabilities in this area.

Process Documentation:

• Be prepared to discuss your personal design process, from brief interpretation and concept development to execution, review, and final delivery, highlighting your role as a senior contributor.

• Demonstrate how you approach quality control and provide constructive feedback to junior team members, referencing specific examples from your experience.

• Explain your methodology for managing complex, high-priority, and fast-turnaround projects, including any systems or tools you use for organization and efficiency.

• Articulate how you contribute to process improvement and creative innovation within a design team or department.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are heavily geared towards demonstrating leadership, conceptual strength, and multi-channel execution, rather than just individual design output. Candidates should prepare to walk through their portfolio with a focus on their strategic contributions and mentorship capabilities.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $85,000 - $85,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Major Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance: Comprehensive health coverage for employees and potentially dependents.

• 401(K)-Match Program: Retirement savings plan with employer matching contributions, aiding long-term financial planning.

• FSA/HSA Programs: Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Accounts for tax-advantaged healthcare expenses.

• LTD/STD Options: Long-Term Disability and Short-Term Disability insurance to provide income protection.

• Life Insurance and AD&D: Basic life insurance coverage and Accidental Death & Dismemberment benefits.

• Paid Holidays and Paid Time Off: Generous paid time off for rest, rejuvenation, and observance of public holidays.

• Annual Discretionary Bonuses: Potential for performance-based bonuses.

• Stock Options: Opportunity to gain equity in the company.

• Employee Discount Program: Discounts on Cresco Labs products and services.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week.

• While the standard work week is 40 hours, the role's senior nature and the fast-paced industry may require flexibility for urgent projects or deadlines. The on-site requirement suggests a traditional office-based schedule.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary provided is a single point, suggesting it may be the fixed offer for this specific role, or that the range is very narrow. The comprehensive benefits package is competitive and aligns with what would be expected for a senior-level position in a growing company.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Cannabis Industry. This is a highly regulated, rapidly evolving, and socially conscious sector. Cresco Labs emphasizes normalization, professionalism, and integrity, aiming to legitimize the industry through product quality, consistency, and adherence to strict regulations.

Company Size: Cresco Labs is described as one of the largest public, vertically integrated, multi-state operators in the cannabis industry, indicating a substantial organization with a significant employee base and national presence. This size suggests established processes but also potential for dynamic growth and change.

Founded: Founded in 2013. This provides context for the company's maturity within the nascent cannabis industry, suggesting a foundation built on experience and adaptation.

Team Structure:

• The role is part of "The HotBox," Cresco Labs' in-house creative team, indicating a centralized creative function.

• The Senior Graphic Designer reports to the Associate Design Director, suggesting a clear hierarchy within the design department.

• The team includes Mid-Level and Junior Graphic Designers, implying a collaborative environment where senior members are expected to guide and develop junior talent.

Methodology:

• Data Analysis & Insights: While not explicitly detailed for design, the company's mission implies a data-driven approach to product development and customer satisfaction, which likely extends to marketing effectiveness and creative performance analysis.

• Workflow Planning & Optimization: The role of Senior Graphic Designer explicitly includes driving process improvement, indicating a focus on efficient and effective creative workflows.

• Automation & Efficiency: The mention of CRM and E-commerce suggests an awareness of digital tools and automation, though specific design automation tools are not detailed. The emphasis on production-ready files and vendor management also points to process efficiency.

Company Website: Cresco Labs (company-url is null, but typically crescolabs.com or sunnyside.shop for retail)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's mission to "normalize and professionalize cannabis" is a key cultural driver. Applicants should be prepared to discuss how their design work contributes to this mission, emphasizing brand integrity, regulatory compliance, and a sophisticated, polished aesthetic.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior Graphic Designer, indicating a mid-to-senior level of experience within the design field. It requires not only strong individual design skills but also leadership, mentorship, and strategic input into creative direction. This level is often a stepping stone towards Design Lead, Art Director, or similar roles.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Graphic Designer reports to the Associate Design Director. This indicates a clear reporting line within the creative department, with opportunities to learn from and contribute to a higher level of creative leadership.

Operations Impact: The Senior Graphic Designer's work directly impacts revenue by enhancing brand perception, driving customer engagement through visually appealing marketing materials (e-commerce, CRM, social), and supporting retail sales with effective in-store signage and promotional collateral. Their role in maintaining brand integrity ensures consistent messaging across all customer touchpoints, crucial for building trust and loyalty in a regulated industry.

Growth Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Potential to transition into a full Art Director role, taking on greater responsibility for creative concepting and client management within the HotBox team.

• Learning & Development: Opportunity to deepen expertise in motion graphics (After Effects), explore new design technologies, and gain experience in managing visual systems for a large, multi-state operator. Mentorship of junior staff also provides leadership development.

• Leadership Potential: With demonstrated success in mentorship and creative direction, there's a clear path towards leading design projects and potentially managing a small team or a specific creative vertical within Cresco Labs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth trajectory for this role emphasizes moving from senior execution and mentorship to broader creative leadership and strategic influence within the marketing and design operations of Cresco Labs.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is listed as "On-site" in Chicago, IL, indicating a traditional office-based work environment within Cresco Labs' corporate offices. This suggests a structured workplace with opportunities for in-person collaboration.

Office Location(s): Chicago, Illinois, United States. This is a major metropolitan hub, likely offering a dynamic and professional office setting. Specific details about the office amenities or location within Chicago are not provided but can be inferred to be a corporate office environment conducive to creative work.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Being part of "The HotBox" creative team implies a collaborative workspace where designers work together, share ideas, and provide feedback. The on-site nature facilitates spontaneous interaction and team cohesion.

• Operations Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (Adobe Creative Suite, After Effects) is expected. The environment likely supports the production of high-quality print and digital assets, with necessary hardware and potentially specialized equipment for creative tasks.

• Team Interaction: The role involves regular interaction with the Associate Design Director, junior designers, and likely other marketing and creative professionals within Cresco Labs, fostering a communicative and integrated work atmosphere.

Work Schedule: The standard working hours are 40 per week, typical for a full-time, on-site role. However, the demands of a fast-paced industry and senior-level responsibilities may necessitate occasional flexibility to meet project deadlines or urgent needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is crucial for this role, suggesting that in-person collaboration, spontaneous ideation, and direct mentorship are highly valued by Cresco Labs for their creative teams.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely involves a review of your resume and portfolio against the stated requirements, focusing on experience level, technical skills, and leadership examples.

• Portfolio Review & Discussion: A session with the Associate Design Director and potentially other creative leads to delve into your portfolio. Be prepared to discuss your design process, conceptual thinking, art direction contributions, and how you've mentored others. Focus on case studies that demonstrate leadership and impact.

• Skills Assessment (Potential): A practical design exercise or a discussion on handling specific design challenges (e.g., adapting a brand for a new channel, solving a complex production issue) may be included to evaluate your problem-solving abilities and technical command.

• Team/Cultural Fit Interview: An opportunity to meet other members of "The HotBox" team or marketing department to assess collaboration style and cultural alignment with Cresco Labs' mission and values.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a higher-level manager to discuss overall fit and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 4-6 of your strongest projects that best highlight your senior-level capabilities, particularly those demonstrating art direction, mentorship, and multi-channel campaign execution.

• Showcase Leadership: For each project, clearly articulate your specific role, contributions, and any leadership or mentorship aspects. Use phrases like "Led the creative direction for..." or "Mentored junior designer on..."

• Detail Your Process: Be prepared to walk through your design process for key projects, explaining your rationale for design decisions, conceptual development, and problem-solving approaches.

• Highlight Impact: Quantify results where possible. Even for creative roles, demonstrating how your design work contributed to business objectives (e.g., increased engagement, improved brand perception, successful campaign launch) is highly valuable.

• Address Brand Integrity & Systems: Include examples of how you've maintained or evolved brand visual systems, ensuring consistency and quality across different applications.

• Motion Graphics Emphasis: Ensure your After Effects skills are well-represented, either through dedicated motion projects or by discussing how you've integrated animation into broader campaigns.

Challenge Preparation:

• Scenario-Based Questions: Anticipate questions about how you would handle specific design challenges, such as a tight deadline for a critical campaign, resolving creative differences within the team, or adapting a brand for a new market.

• Mentorship Scenarios: Be ready to discuss how you provide feedback, guide junior designers, and foster a positive team dynamic.

• Industry Context: Research Cresco Labs' current branding and marketing efforts. Understand their mission and values, and be prepared to discuss how your design philosophy aligns with them. Consider how you would approach design for a regulated industry like cannabis, emphasizing professionalism and compliance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely focus heavily on the candidate's ability to lead creatively, mentor others, and manage complex projects within the specific context of the cannabis industry. A strong, well-articulated portfolio is essential.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Expert-level proficiency is mandatory. This includes:

  • Adobe Photoshop: For image editing, manipulation, and digital asset creation.
  • Adobe Illustrator: For vector graphics, logos, and illustration.
  • Adobe InDesign: For layout design of print materials like brochures, signage, and internal documents.

• Adobe After Effects: Required for creating motion graphics, animations, and video assets, and for guiding animation direction.

• Microsoft Office Suite (or Google Workspace): For general productivity, presentations, and documentation (Word/Docs, PowerPoint/Slides).

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Platforms (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot): Understanding how design assets integrate into CRM campaigns (email marketing) is important. While not a direct user of the CRM for sales operations, awareness of its design needs is beneficial.

• Marketing Automation Platforms (e.g., Marketo, Pardot): Similar to CRM, familiarity with how visual content is deployed through these platforms for email and campaign management is advantageous.

Other Potential Tools:

• Project Management Tools (e.g., Asana, Jira, Trello): Useful for managing workflow, tracking tasks, and collaborating with team members.

• Digital Asset Management (DAM) Systems: May be used for organizing and distributing creative assets across the organization.

• Prototyping Tools (e.g., Figma, Adobe XD): Increasingly relevant for digital design, though not explicitly mentioned.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis is heavily on Adobe Creative Suite, with After Effects being a critical requirement. The role implies a need for designers to understand how their work integrates into broader marketing technology stacks like CRM and marketing automation.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Normalization & Professionalization: A core value driving the company's approach to the cannabis industry. For design, this translates to creating sophisticated, polished, and credible visuals that avoid stereotypes and project legitimacy.

• Quality & Consistency: High standards for product and brand execution. This means designers must be meticulous, detail-oriented, and committed to delivering flawless work that upholds brand integrity across all touchpoints.

• Integrity & Professionalism: Operating with the highest ethical standards. This applies to design by ensuring compliance with regulations, accurate representation, and a professional demeanor in all client and team interactions.

• Social Equity & Educational Development (SEED™ Initiative): A commitment to diversity and inclusion. While not a direct design value, understanding and respecting this initiative can inform inclusive design practices and respectful representation in visuals.

• Passion for the Industry: A requirement for this role, indicating a team that is driven by the mission and excited about contributing to the growth and evolution of the cannabis sector.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The role necessitates close collaboration with marketing, sales, and retail teams to ensure creative outputs align with business objectives and brand strategy. This requires strong communication and an understanding of diverse stakeholder needs.

• Process Review & Feedback Culture: The Senior Graphic Designer is expected to review and provide feedback to junior designers, fostering a culture of constructive critique and continuous improvement within the HotBox team.

• Knowledge Sharing: Mentoring junior designers implies a willingness to share expertise, best practices, and creative insights to elevate the entire team's capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should emphasize how their design approach and collaborative style align with Cresco Labs' mission to professionalize the cannabis industry, highlighting their commitment to quality, integrity, and sophisticated brand representation.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Regulatory Landscape: The cannabis industry is heavily regulated. Designers must be adept at creating compelling visuals while adhering to strict legal requirements and restrictions on messaging and imagery. This requires a keen eye for compliance and adaptability.

• Balancing B2B & B2C Aesthetics: The role requires creating distinct yet cohesive visual experiences for both wholesale partners (B2B) and direct consumers (B2C), demanding versatility in design approach and understanding of different audience needs.

• Maintaining Brand Consistency Across Diverse Channels: With a wide range of deliverables (in-store, digital, social, CRM, etc.), ensuring a unified brand message and visual identity requires robust systems and diligent execution.

• Fast-Paced Environment & Tight Deadlines: The dynamic nature of the industry and the demands of a growing company mean designers must be able to manage multiple high-priority projects simultaneously under pressure.

• Mentorship & Leadership Demands: Balancing hands-on design work with the responsibilities of mentoring and elevating junior team members requires strong time management and interpersonal skills.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Through mentorship and exposure to complex projects, there's a significant opportunity to grow into a more senior art director or design leadership role.

• Industry-Specific Expertise: Gaining deep knowledge of visual communication strategies within the regulated cannabis market, understanding nuances of compliance and consumer engagement.

• Motion Graphics Mastery: Further developing expertise in After Effects and animation principles, potentially leading to more advanced motion design projects.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Learning about other areas of marketing, sales, and retail operations, providing a holistic view of business strategy and how design supports it.

• Leadership Development: The mentorship aspect of the role provides direct experience in developing and guiding talent, a crucial skill for future leadership roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should demonstrate an understanding of these challenges and frame them as opportunities for growth, showcasing their problem-solving abilities and desire to contribute to a complex, dynamic industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance creative vision with strict brand guidelines or regulatory constraints. How did you approach it?" (Focus on showcasing your understanding of brand integrity and compliance.)

• "Walk us through a complex multi-channel campaign you led or significantly contributed to. What was your role in concept development and execution?" (Prepare a detailed case study from your portfolio.)

• "How do you approach mentoring junior designers? Describe a situation where you provided feedback that significantly improved a designer's work." (Highlight your leadership and communication skills.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about the cannabis industry, and how do you see design contributing to its normalization and professionalization?" (Connect your passion to the company's mission.)

• "How do you ensure consistency and quality across a wide range of design deliverables for different departments?" (Focus on process, attention to detail, and collaboration.)

• "Describe your experience working in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment. How do you prioritize and manage your workload?" (Showcase your organizational and time-management skills.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, follow a clear story: the business challenge/objective, your creative concept, the execution details (including your specific role and any mentorship provided), and the results or impact.

• Highlight Leadership & Mentorship: Explicitly point out where you led creative direction, art directed, or mentored junior designers. Use phrases like "I guided the junior designer on..." or "As Art Director, I ensured the concept was executed..."

• Emphasize Process & Problem-Solving: Be ready to discuss your design process, why you made certain creative choices, and how you overcame any challenges (e.g., technical, regulatory, stakeholder feedback).

• Showcase Technical Proficiency: Be prepared to discuss your mastery of Adobe Creative Suite and After Effects, and how you use these tools to achieve high-quality results.

• Quantify Impact: If possible, use data to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased engagement rates, positive feedback, successful product launches). If direct metrics aren't available, discuss the intended impact and qualitative feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will be rigorous, focusing on both technical design skills and leadership capabilities. Candidates must be prepared to articulate their strategic thinking, mentorship approach, and understanding of the cannabis industry's unique demands.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Graphic Designer position at Cresco Labs:

• Submit Your Application: Complete the application form through the provided link on Greenhouse.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your resume and portfolio are tailored to highlight your 6+ years of experience, expert Adobe Creative Suite and After Effects proficiency, art direction, mentorship, and multi-channel campaign experience. Select projects that best demonstrate leadership and conceptual thinking.

• Resume Optimization: Clearly articulate your achievements using action verbs and quantify your impact where possible. Emphasize keywords relevant to senior design roles, art direction, and the cannabis industry (e.g., brand integrity, visual systems, regulatory compliance, B2B/B2C creative).

• Interview Preparation: Thoroughly research Cresco Labs, their brands (e.g., Sunnyside), mission, and current marketing efforts. Practice answering common interview questions, focusing on your leadership, problem-solving, and creative strategy. Prepare to walk through your portfolio with confidence, emphasizing your senior-level contributions and mentorship experience.

• Company Culture Alignment: Be ready to discuss your passion for the cannabis industry and how your design philosophy aligns with Cresco Labs' values of professionalism, quality, and integrity.

⚠️ 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.