Art Director

Job Title : Art DirectorDepartment : CreativeReports to :Director, Content & Creative# Direct Reports : 3-4Perks and Benefits:FREE: breakfast, lunch, parking, on-site gym and training classes, and gym membership at Chicago Athletic Clubs. Free Peloton membership, casual dress environment, access to United Center concert events, competitive total rewards package, full benefits (medical, dental, vision, 401k matching, paid life insurance), comprehensive PTO package, social events, volunteer opportunities, and focused learning and development.What It's Like Working Here:The Chicago Blackhawks experience isn't just on the ice. Our office, located in the United Center, promotes a fun, engaging, fast-paced and collaborative atmosphere where we can celebrate both hockey and each other. Our commitment to curating an environment where all individuals feel empowered to bring their best self to work each day can be seen throughout our organization. Whether you are a job seeker looking to join the organization, a current member of our amazing team, or someone looking to help support our mission, our goal is the same - to reimagine the potential of hockey, which we strive to achieve through memorable, inclusive experiences.The Ideal Candidate:You know and love sports. You are an experienced creative leader obsessed with the craft and application of your skills. Fantastic taste, as well as an understanding of clear, connected digital experiences, is a must. You are inspired by innovative, creative thinking and the power of design to amplify the role of sport in the world. You lead by example when required and consistently guide your team through your creative process and their work. You are committed to a healthy, connected team culture and to working with other cross-functional squads. You value communication, collaboration, and varied perspectives and believe in guiding and growing talent.The Top Shelf:As Art Director, you create the vision and inspire your team to generate a creative product at the highest level. We're looking for someone with a track record of creating famous work for big brands, with experience in sports and entertainment being a big plus. Your keen awareness of cultural subtleties ensures that your creative executions are relevant and resonate deeply with diverse audiences. Managing a team of designers and photographers, you'll cultivate a collaborative environment where creativity can flourish. By building trust-based relationships with clients and our internal team, you'll lead with insight, authority, and professional leadership, guiding us through transformational change.How You'll Contribute:Work with the Director of Content Creative to define and establish creative strategy and transform high-level business requirements into engaging creative, including evolving the organization's brand identity and visual standardsLead and manage a team of designers to ensure surgical execution and consistent delivery of high-quality visual content across all platforms and materials.Develop seasonal style guidelines and campaign "look books," ensuring a strong and distinguishable visual identity to be implemented across all touchpoints.Collaborate with internal teams to conceptualize and execute projects that engage fans and promote the Blackhawks brand.Stay current with design trends and technology, and bring new ideas and techniques to the teamOversee and approve all design projects from concept to completionServe as a design lead in asset creation for all Blackhawks-owned channels, including web, email social media, email, etc.Assist production team(s) on location and in-studio during photo shoots and special events.Player Stats and Qualifications:Bachelor's degree in graphic design or related industry experience.5-7 yearsof relevant experience in a creative role for an entertainment brand, creative agency, or sports team/league, with 1-3 years in a supervisory role.Outstanding Portfolio : You demonstrate exceptional originality, innovation and multi-disciplinary thinking through your work.Leadership Skills : You are a leader who can organize, motivate, and improve the creative output of those around you.Creative Vision : You see the bigger picture and define a creative vision for accounts and the agency, leading to award-winning work.Big Idea Thinker : You go beyond the executional or tactical and develop 'campaignable' thoughts that work across media.Production Expertis e: You understand the critical importance of the production process and are an expert in ensuring it delivers exceptional work.Mentor : You can pass on your experience to others through the generous and patient mentorship of more junior team members.Cultural Player : You are a positive, collaborative, contagious spirit that is integral to creating the agency spirit.A positive attitude, strong work ethic, and "team-first" mentality with an eagerness to learn.Ability to address, adapt to, and overcome challenges in a fast-paced, dynamic environmentDemonstrated aptitude for driving resultsHigh attention to detailDemonstrates Chicago Blackhawks core values of integrity, curiosity, empathy, collaboration, and originalityThe Team:The Chicago Blackhawks started their journey as one of the NHL's "Original Six" professional ice hockey teams in 1926. Members of the Central Division in the NHL's Western Conference and six-time Stanley Cup Champions (1934, 1938, 1961, 2010, 2013, 2015), the team calls the United Center home.Each day the Team works to uphold our mission to reimagine the potential of hockey. At its core, the team and greater organization uphold its mission through its core values centered around integrity, curiosity, empathy, collaboration, and originality. They are fiercely dedicated to evolving and delivering new and legendary fan experiences and captivating new and diverse audiences, both on and off the ice. As part of their unwavering commitment to drive impact and purpose in the Chicago community, the organization opened the Fifth Third Arena (the team's official practice facility and community space for youth hockey development), continues to make expansions to the Chicago Blackhawks Foundation, and acquired the AHL team the Rockford IceHogs.The Chicago Blackhawks continue to grow in its commitments to honor and celebrate Black Hawk's legacy by offering our platforms, making meaningful contributions, collaborating with Native American people, and reimagining ways to support the many Native American people and communities they live amongst and alongside. They engage in this work through their formal partnership with Black Hawk's ancestral tribe, the Sac and Fox Nation of Oklahoma, which the tribe established with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2021.The Chicago Blackhawks is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity at all levels. All individuals, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply. All qualified applications will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender, race, religion or religious creed, color, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state, local law, ordinance, or regulation and will not be discriminated against on these bases.