ROLE: ASSOCIATE DESIGN DIRECTOR, INTERNAL BRAND
TEAM: DESIGN, SALT XC
LOCATION: TORONTO (HYBRID)
COMPANY OVERVIEW
Salt is a North American marketing agency that creates connected experiences through creative, digital & media innovation.
Our mission is to “Earn the World’s Attention” and Salt is built to find, develop, execute, and amplify the ideas that are worthy of our clients’ audiences. We’ve structured our agency to do what’s right for our clients – to connect different perspectives, to work across mediums, and to focus on delivering meaningful, effective results.
We’re committed to living up to the values in our name. “Salt of The Earth” means we value collaborative, humble, hard-working people here. We’re looking for people who are as smart as they are kind because we believe the right talent and the right culture help us do what’s right for our clients.
ROLE OVERVIEW
As an Associate Design Director, Internal Brand, you’ll be the guardian of the SALT XC brand, shaping how it looks, feels, and connects across the agency and beyond.
You’ll bring design excellence, brand stewardship and craft to every touchpoint from new business pitches, to culture-shaping initiatives, innovative decks and learning programs. Reporting into the Design Team, you’ll collaborate with Leadership, New Business, Operations, and HR to ensure every asset reflects the bold, connected spirit of SALT.
This is a hands-on role for a designer who thrives on creativity, consistency, and collaboration. You care about the details, love bringing ideas to life, and take pride in making the work and the brand look its best from the inside out.
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
Brand-Aware Design Systems & Execution
- Lead the development of brand-aligned design systems that reinforce consistency, clarity, and creative impact across presentations, digital, print, and experiential mediums.
- Translate brand strategies and guidelines into scalable creative systems that empower teams to deliver at a high standard.
- Oversee the execution of design work across multiple projects — ensuring outputs maintain brand integrity and creative excellence.
- Provide mentorship, direction, and quality oversight for Designers and Senior Designers within the team.
- Collaborate closely with Creative Directors and cross-functional partners to evolve design frameworks and creative methodologies.
Presentation & Stakeholder Communication
- Confidently present design work, creative concepts, and visual strategy to clients and senior stakeholders.
- Lead internal creative reviews with clarity, constructive feedback, and an emphasis on raising creative standards.
- Collaborate across teams to ensure design alignment with business objectives and project timelines.
- Champion strong communication between creative and client teams to ensure a shared understanding of goals, process, and vision.
Strategic Design Thinking
- Translate strategic insights and brand positioning into creative design that drive engagement and differentiation.
- Lead ideation and concepting sessions to push creative boundaries while ensuring alignment and brand objectives.
- Foster a culture of creative problem-solving and curiosity within the design team.
Visual Craft & Attention to Detail
- Maintain hands-on involvement in key design work, setting the standard for visual craft and creative execution.
- Ensure every output meets production standards, with precision in layout, color, typography, and materials.
- Oversee preparation of production-ready files and final deliverables with a focus on accuracy, efficiency, and polish.
- Stay current on design innovations, AI-driven tools, and industry trends to evolve the team’s capabilities and creative approach.
EXPERIENCE & SKILLS
- 7+ years of professional design experience in social, digital, and brand design.
- Expert-level PowerPoint expertise
- Proven ability to balance leadership responsibilities with hands-on creative execution.
- Strong portfolio showcasing conceptual depth, design excellence, and versatility across mediums.
- Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign); familiarity with AI-driven design tools an asset.
- Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills with client-facing experience.
WHAT WE STAND FOR
- Salt of the Earth: We lead with humility, honesty, and heart—always.
- Do What’s Right: No shortcuts. We choose integrity over ease, every time.
- Earn Your Salt: We roll up our sleeves, chase results, and celebrate the journey.
- Make Things Better: We’re solution-seekers, always pushing for smarter ways forward.
- Seek Different Perspectives: Diversity fuels our thinking. Inclusion drives our impact.
