Associate Creative Director, Brand

Jackman; Toronto; On-site; CAD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Jackman is seeking an Associate Creative Director to lead day-to-day creative on flagship brands, translating strategy into bold, effective work and guiding the design team.

You will collaborate with Creative Directors, Strategy, design, and project managers, mentor juniors and freelancers, and help scale the Reinventionist Mindset across the agency.

This role demands entrepreneurial thinking, strong presenting skills, and a positive, collaborative leadership style.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of hands-on brand design experience across identity and retail/experiential environments.
• Proven leadership of interdisciplinary creative teams.
• Strong ability to connect business goals to creative outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Drive strategic creative ideas aligned with business goals.
• Inspire bold thinking and curiosity.
• Craft and present strategic creative with Directors.
• Lead internal brainstorms and critiques.
• Provide clear direction and maintain focus.
• Partner across Strategy, PMs, and EPs.
• Support EP meetings and presentations.
• Develop team through coaching and feedback.
• Champion Jackman culture and Reinventionist mindset.

Skills

Brand design

Creative leadership

Presentation skills

Stakeholder management

Collaboration

Strategic thinking

Mentoring

Freelancer management

AI curiosity

Job description

We are Reinventionists. We partner with ambitious leaders to unlock the full growth potential of their business. As one integrated team connecting insights, strategy, brand and value creation, we turn aspiration into market reality, faster than anyone. We know that when leaders, strategies and creative align, everything accelerates.

Life at Jackman is anything but ordinary. We're strategists who think like creatives and creatives who think like strategists. We show up curious, leave our egos at the door and want to see the person next to us succeed. Every Thursday, the whole team gathers around the same table to share a meal. We run Workshops that sharpen our thinking and host in-house Collisions, where different minds run into each other on purpose. We're also pet lovers, musicians, cinephiles, screenwriters, wine enthusiasts and Ironman competitors. Your boldness and curiosity are welcome.

Role.

As an Associate Creative Director, you partner closely with Creative Directors to lead the day-to-day creative on specific brands and engagements. You bring the creative vision to life by connecting strategy to creative and turning big thinking into bold, effective work that helps our EPs reach their full potential. Working alongside the Strategy team, you drive the development of strategic creative ideas, guide the team through execution, and support the growth of the designers around you. Your multidisciplinary background and strong conceptual thinking make you the bridge between strategic intent and outstanding creative outcomes.

Responsibilities.

• Drive strategic creative ideas. Align strategic intent with creative outcomes so every concept supports broader business goals and delivers measurable impact.
• Inspire bold thinking. Encourage the team to push creative boundaries and build a culture of curiosity, innovation and risk-taking.
• Craft and present strategic creative. Develop presentations that connect directly to the strategy, and partner with Creative Directors to present and advocate for the work, internally and externally.
• Facilitate creative discussions. Lead internal brainstorms and critiques that encourage constructive debate and push ideas further.
• Lead with clarity and positivity. Give clear direction, keep the team focused and solution-oriented, and help other Jackman teams understand shifts in strategy or direction.
• Partner across teams. Work closely with Strategy, Project Managers and EPs to solve problems early and keep projects moving.
• Be a reliable partner to EPs. Meet deadlines, take ownership of issues, and support Creative Directors in EP meetings, presenting when prompted.
• Develop our people. Structure and delegate work effectively, coach junior team members and freelancers, and give clear, direct feedback.
• Champion Jackman culture. Build morale, strengthen connections across the organization, and model the Reinventionist Mindset and Jackman values.

Who You'll Work With.

• Creative Directors: Partner with them to present and advocate for creative work, support them in EP meetings and own day-to-day creative delivery.
• Strategy team: Be a respected peer and thought partner, connecting strategic intent to creative outcomes.
• Design team and freelancers: Lead, direct and develop them through structured delegation, in-the-moment coaching and clear feedback.
• Project Managers: Help solve problems, keep workstreams on track, and manage project profitability.
• Engagement Partners: Be a reliable, accessible partner who presents with confidence and helps build trust-based relationships.

Skills and Experience.

• 10+ years of hands-on brand design experience, with a portfolio spanning identity, packaging and retail or experiential environments.
• Thinks like an entrepreneur: takes an early spark or an unclear brief and builds it into a strong creative direction without waiting to be told.
• Thrives on a lean, high-performing team that punches above its weight. This isn't a standard agency, and you're energized by the scope, pace and impact that come with it.
• Proven success leading and developing interdisciplinary creative teams, including freelancers.
• A strategic thinker who connects business goals to creative outcomes and wants to push creative boundaries.
• Strong presenting and facilitation skills, with a track record of advocating for and selling great work.
• The ability to stay above the workstream, connect the moving pieces, set clear direction, and know when to go deep and when to stay high-level.
• A collaborative, solutions-focused leader who stays positive and adaptable as timelines and priorities shift.
• Curiosity about new tools and technologies, including AI, to raise both creativity and efficiency.

At Jackman, we are committed to providing an environment that is inclusive and accessible. We are an equal opportunity employer and considers all applicants for employment without discrimination. Please let us know if accommodation for the recruitment/interview process is required and we will work with you to make sure your needs are met.