Associate Art Director

Were looking for a passionate Associate Art Director with a consumer-first mindset and a strong understanding of packaging, brand systems, and food styling to join our Brand Creative team at The Krusteaz Company. In this role, youll lead design initiatives within an engaged team that values collaboration and shares a goal of creative excellence. This is a hands-on design role, developing end-to-end creative solutions for consumer-facing packaging, campaign assets, digital commerce, and corporate communication initiatives. If youre a strategic thinker who is big on talent but low on ego, with a bias for problem-solving, optimism, and curiosity, wed love to meet you! What youll do: - - Translate business objectives and consumer insights into high-performing design outcomes for complex packaging and brand initiatives. - - Work collaboratively and interactively with designers, freelancers, and agency partners. - - Invite diverse inputs and expertise to inform human-centered, data-driven solutions. - - Be a champion for the consumer and the brand to drive creative work. - - Present to stakeholders and leaders with confidence, articulating a clear design rationale and a point-of-view (POV) to influence decision-making. - - Develop engaging materials that work across print and digital mediums and channels. - - Manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment. - - Develop/direct the approach, treatments, talent, and styling for photo shoots. - - Work with studios and stylists to create on-brand, mouth-watering food visuals. - - Create 3-D renders, evaluate color proofs, and attend press checks when needed. - - Ensure consistent application of brand and quality standards for every execution. - - Evolve brand books and style guidelines to ensure they are current and relevant. - - Lead creative projects with external design partners and vendors, providing strategic direction and effectively communicating feedback to guide successful iterations. Who you are: - - A strategic designer who knows how to leverage creative impact to drive business results. - - An expert at crafting and operationalizing brand and design systems across touchpoints. - - Experienced at achieving brand consistency across mediums/channels. - - A holistic problem-solver who thinks broadly and has a high attention to detail. - - Skilled at active listening and engaging in productive dialogue about creative work. - - Self-motivated with a bias for action, accountability, and exceptional time management. - - An expert at navigating ambiguity in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. - - Positive, empathic, and team-oriented, maintaining professionalism under pressure. - - Open to feedback, demonstrate humility, and facilitate direct, honest conversations. - - Someone with a strong aptitude for learning and applying new technologies and tools. - - A composed, dynamic presenter who can articulate how design delivers on the brief. Education and/or Experience: - - Bachelors or Graphic Design Degree/Certification or equivalent experience/training. Minimum 8 years of experience working in a design r