Principal, Creative

Job ID: 5466 

Newell Brands is a leading consumer products company with a portfolio of iconic brands like Graco®, Coleman®, Oster®, Rubbermaid®, Sharpie® and Yankee Candle® - and 24,000 talented teammates around the world. Our culture is built on values in action: Integrity, Teamwork, Passion for Winning, Ownership, and Leadership. We work together to win, grow, and make a real impact—supported by a high-performing, inclusive, and collaborative environment where you can be your best, every day.

Summary:

The Principal, Creative delivers expert-level creative work and strategy for one or more brands and/or product groupings within a brand, from project initiation through asset delivery. In this role, you will handle the creative execution of assets against the brand’s guidelines. This effort includes all related marketing materials, visual asset management and quality control, as well as project execution. The Principal, Creative works as part of a team of Designers, and works within a larger team of design specialists, copy writers, and project managers. The Principal, Creative partners with marketing and industrial design teams and domain peers to build a creative center of excellence within Newell Brands.

Responsibilities:

• Well-grounded in all aspects of mastery, demonstrating expert skills and knowledge within the field of Visual Design. Applies design history to concepts, displaying a deep understanding of formulae, typography, art direction, and design philosophy.
• Works with Senior Manager, Creative to deliver the brand strategy, marketing projects, and campaigns.
• Leads long-range projects from a design perspective while identifying additional project extensions to over-deliver a holistic customer experience. Demonstrates strong, self-managed, concept delivery alone and in a group setting, with demonstrated presentation mastery.
• Supports AI-driven initiatives and help identify areas where AI can enhance and support design processes. Utilizes and automates designs with AI tools – Text to image, image to image, and image to 3D software, and automations.
• Presents project proposals with rationale and expert recommendations to marketing teams. Ensures the quality of all creative recommendations presented and assets delivered to consumers.
• Ensures projects to follow a brand visual identity stewarding it across all consumer touch-points. Partners with Manager, Copy to translate projects into concrete creative solutions within the brand identity guidelines.
• Ensures adherence to brand style guides including logo, product branding (online/offline), typography, packaging, photography, illustration, multimedia, video, and activation materials.
• Leads team members to generate creative ideas and fosters an environment conducive to best-in-class creative development. Organizes and leads Creative brainstorming activities and Deep Dive Workshops while having strong influence in the process to produce best-in-class Creative concepts.
• Collaborates with other Principal, Creative design peers to share best practices, fully-leverage resources, and foster inspiration. Leads and participates in weekly critique sessions from the perspective of adding design value that is well grounded in the objective/brief.

• Leading-edge understanding and modeling of design tools, Newell Brands processes, expectations, and procedures. Models and demonstrates best-practices for tools and design quality. Participate in training sessions on AI tools and continuously develop skills to leverage these tools effectively.
• Mentors, guides, and partners within a small team of Designers, working together with other departmental positions to produce highly effective creative content executions, including: packaging, point-of-purchase, promotions, print/web advertising, web design, e-commerce, email marketing, social media content, direct mail, collateral, video, and events.

• Translates briefs and maintains solid relationships with all cross-functional partners. Receives Creative brief content from the Senior Manager, Creative and collaborates with the Manager, Copy in delivering best-in-class execution.
• Provides art direction to designers, agency partners, photographers, and other artists to deliver best-in-class digital and physical assets. Provides art direction of photo and video shoots (direction, storyboards) - provides support to Senior Manager, Creative.
• Ensure proper use of messaging framework and call-to-action strategy for Omnichannel and eCommerce marketing vehicles (emails, banner ads, SEO copy, landing pages, brand pages, etc.). Follows Senior Manager, Creative, to deliver the content development workflow for brand.com eCommerce site traffic drivers (i.e. email, paid social, etc), including working with developers to build, proof and deploy marketing assets.
• Engage with cross-functional subject matter experts to follow best practices for the digital shelf. Implement content governance workflows globally across the enterprise.
• Uses appropriate decision-making and approval processes in a timely manner.

Qualifications:

• University degree or college diploma in graphic design, art or related field. Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• 10-15+ years of experience in a creative/graphic design position, including 5+ years of experience leading the development and execution of multi-channel content and/or digital commercial assets for email, websites, and social media

• Expert knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite including Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects
• Robust experience with asset production from 3D modeling tools: Adobe Substance suite, Keyshot, etc.
• Expert knowledge of design workflows utilizing Generative AI tools: e.g.Firefly, ChatGPT, Midjourney, etc.
• Knowledge of brand and asset management via Adobe Libraries, Adobe Express, and Adobe Experience Manager

• Respected and trusted designer with a proven track record of achievement, and proven experience delivering world-class design across complex programs.

• Strong decision-making skills and an understanding of where projects fit into overall Company and development strategies.

• Art Direction: Ability to synchronize creative across multiple projects. Deep in a detailed understanding of all design components required, including:

• • Demonstrates exceptional mastery in design architecture and systems.
  • Mastery in programs for expert design development and efficient execution. Ability to utilize multiple programs and digital tools for rigorous design exploration and concept development, and direct others to utilize tools appropriately.
  • Video editing/motion graphics experience preferred, Commercial photo studio experience a plus

• Understanding of best practices to leverage UX/UI. Able to collaborate with UI/UX researchers where applicable leveraging vendors and internal expert teams.
• Coding (HTML/CSS) knowledge and understanding of best practices in mobile-first and responsive web development is a plus.
• Experience with Adobe Workfront a plus
• Highly detail oriented. Excellent business acumen.
• Strong time management skills. Demonstrates a high degree of flexibility within tight deadlines.
• Strong written, verbal and visual communication skills. Exceptional presentation skills.
• Pragmatic with excellent problem solving and decision-making skills.
• Ability to travel as needed

Newell Brands (NASDAQ: NWL) is a leading global consumer goods company with a strong portfolio of well-known brands, including Rubbermaid, Sharpie, Graco, Coleman, Rubbermaid Commercial Products, Yankee Candle, Paper Mate, FoodSaver, Dymo, EXPO, Elmer’s, Oster, NUK, Spontex and Campingaz. We are focused on delighting consumers by lighting up everyday moments. Newell Brands and its subsidiaries are Equal Opportunity Employers and comply with applicable employment laws. EOE/M/F/Vet/Disabled are encouraged to apply.