Apparel Senior Graphic Designer & Colourist
About The Position
As an Apparel Senior Graphic Designer & Colourist at CTC, you will be a key partner within the design organization, driving business objectives forward and shaping the creative vision for our diverse apparel collections across Mark’s, Sport Chek, Sport Experts, and Canadian Tire Retail (CTR). Success in this role means embracing our four True North mindsets—Growth, Performance, AI First, and Customer—as the foundation for how we think, behave, and collaborate. These mindsets shape how we lead, innovate, and execute, ensuring every decision and interaction is guided by a commitment to continuous learning, delivering results, leveraging technology, and putting the customer at the center of everything we do. Your agility, creativity, and focus will be instrumental in seasonal success. You will demonstrate strategic thinking, proactive problem-solving, and a commitment to excellence, making a significant positive impact on team efficiency, creative output, and business results. You will foster a growth mindset, invest in continuous learning, and encourage others to capitalize on opportunities and lessons learned. Inclusive behavior, authentic collaboration, and a genuine approach to teamwork are essential.
Requirements
- Post-secondary education in Graphic Design, Fashion Design, Textile Design, or a related field.
- Proven experience in a senior graphic design or colorist role within the fashion or design industry; previous experience in apparel development is an asset.
- Strong artistic ability and proficiency in graphic design, illustration, and design software (e.g., Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Clo3D, NedGraphics).
- Demonstrated expertise in color theory, print development, and graphic workflow optimization.
- Knowledge and experience in PLM systems is an asset.
- Deep understanding of market trends, materials, colors, technologies, and sustainability practices.
- Excellent communication, time management, leadership, and teamwork skills.
- Attention to detail and a keen eye for color, texture, and style.
- Ability to manage multiple projects, lead teams, and work to deadlines.
- Strong portfolio showcasing expertise in graphic design, color management, and fashion design across various categories.
- Must be willing and able to occasionally travel for visits to factories, market shops, attend trade shows, and industry events.
Responsibilities
- Establish and maintain standards for tracking graphics and color usage across all banners, ensuring consistency and quality.
- Prepare post-mortem analyses for previous Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter seasons to evaluate adoption rates of prints/graphics and inform future creative development.
- Analyze sales history and brand/category overdevelopment to make strategic plans for working with external contractors and improving efficiency.
- Lead the development and execution of custom graphics projects, balancing creativity with cost-effectiveness.
- Identify and implement opportunities to repurpose graphics/prints as carryover/archive, supporting time and cost savings targets.
- Build and manage graphic/print stage gates within the master calendar process to maximize development time and improve quality.
- Oversee PLM product ownership for graphics and color, ensuring accurate documentation and process adherence.
- Collaborate on Coupa requirements, problem-solving as new challenges arise.
- Research emerging trends in graphics, color, textiles, and techniques, incorporating AI and digital tools to inspire innovative designs.
- Integrate CLO3D into the design and development workflow, using it as a visual aid for scale and placement to improve print/graphic scale and accuracy in renderings.
- Maintain detailed design records and specifications for each garment.
- Present concepts and finished designs to creative directors, merchant teams, clients, or buyers for feedback and approval.
- Adjust designs based on feedback, ensuring all garments meet brand standards and market needs.
- Evaluate the performance of freelance graphic designers, tailoring individual responsibilities to reduce internal re-work, optimize team efficiency, and effectively manage the graphic development budget.
- Review approvals of strike offs and lab dips to ensure alignment with intended color direction and that the overall color palette and story are consistently achieved for each brand.
- Ensure adherence to sustainability principles and contribute to ongoing improvements toward more sustainable practices.
- Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and growth-oriented environment, encouraging others to try new things and supporting their development.
- Focus on utilization rate for net new artwork development.
- Achieve a rework percentage for seasonal artwork as carryover/archive to strengthen OPEX with time and cost savings.
- Meet all design milestones, ensuring timely and high-quality delivery of graphics and prints.
- Conduct regular check-ins with PD, managers, and design team; attend seasonal buying intention meetings.
- Integrate CLO3D into the development of print/graphic renderings and color pallets for upcoming seasons.
Benefits
- Comprehensive benefits and retirement programs
- Performance incentives
- Continuing Education Programs
- Other perks to support your well-being
- Career growth opportunities
- Product discounts
- store discounts
- supported learning through our Triangle Learning Academy
- Canadian Tire Profit Sharing
- retirement and savings programs for eligible employees
- mental health benefits in the amount of $5,000 per year for benefits-eligible employees and their families
- total well-being, and mental health tools and resources for all employees
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
Associate degree
