Job Description

Here at Rakuten Kobo Inc. we offer a casual working start-up environment and a group of friendly and talented individuals. Our employees rank us highly in terms of commitment to work/life balance. We realize that for our people to be innovative, creative and passionate they need to feel valued and supported. We believe in rewarding all our employees with competitive salaries, performance based annual bonuses, stock options and training opportunities.

If you’re looking for a company that inspires passion, personal, and professional growth – join Kobo and come help us on our mission of making reading lives better.

The Role

We are seeking a Design Lead to produce and oversee omni-channel creative solutions that define and re-enforce our brand, while driving our business forward. This role requires a deep understanding of graphic design best practices, industry trends, tooling innovation, and brings a considerate eye on how to develop exceptional creative. This person has rich experience in executing marketing projects from conception to production across various creative mediums. The Design Lead will directly manage our design team, and ensure that we’re developing assets that are consistent with our brand, at a high quality, high volume and on tight timelines.

Responsibilities

Oversee and execute design projects, from conception to delivery
Review Designers’ work to ensure high quality and consistency
Generate ideas to portray concepts and advertise our products/services
Ensure designs are accessible, device and user-friendly
Maintain our asset component library, providing appropriate communication and training to team as needed
Occasionally art direct on set for photography and video needs
Maintain brand consistency throughout all our creative projects
Liaise with various stakeholders to ensure expectations are met
Stay up-to-date with industry developments and tools

Design Leadership

Facilitate stakeholder and peer reviews to drive creative trust and understanding
Challenge the team to push their ideas forward, champion for innovation
Mentor and coach team of designers, providing ongoing feedback
Create a culture of inspiration, trust and creativity

Collaboration

Work alongside various stakeholders and partners to ensure creative output is aligned to business strategy and goals
Establish a culture of respect and transparency

Design Strategy

Lead the design vision of the Creative Ops roadmap
Integrate performance and user testing data into design decisions
Ensure that the team is producing creative at the highest level of efficiency
Ensure appropriate design processes and checkpoints are in place for efficiency and accuracy
Continually seek out design tool enhancements and optimization

Requirements And Skills

Proven work experience as a Senior Designer, Design Lead, Graphic Designer, or similar role
Portfolio of completed design projects
Expert level proficiency in design softwares Figma and Adobe Creative Suite
Strong aesthetic skills with refined sensibility of colors, fonts, layouts and compositions
Attention to visual details
Ability to meet deadlines and collaborate with a team
Ability to articulate and rationalize your concepts or process through white-boarding.

Nice To Haves

Motion design experience
Previous experience working in eReading, eCommerce, entertainment, and software environments

The Perks

Flexible hours and hybrid remote working environment
Subsidized in-office lunches
Full benefits starting from your first day
Paid Volunteer days, unlimited sick days, and 3% RRSP matching
Monthly commuting & internet allowance
Flexible health spending account
Talent and development training budget
Free Kobo device + free weekly e-book or audiobook
Frequent Lunch and Learns Author series
Weekly Kobo Tech University sessions
Weekly trivia happy hours (Thirsty Thursday’s, as we like to call it)
Maternity/paternity leave top up

About Rakuten Kobo Inc.

Owned by Tokyo-based Rakuten and headquartered in Toronto, Rakuten Kobo Inc. is one of the most advanced global ecommerce companies, with the world’s most innovative e-reading services offering more than 6 million eBooks and audiobooks to 30 million + customers in 190 countries. Kobo delivers the best digital reading experience through creative innovation, award-winning e-readers, and top-ranking mobile apps. Kobo is a part of the Rakuten group of companies.

Rakuten Kobo Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Accessibility accommodations for candidates with disabilities participating in the selection process are available on request. Any information received related to accommodation needs of applicants will be addressed confidentially.

Rakuten Kobo would like to thank all applicants for their interest in this role however only qualified candidates will be shortlisted.

#RKIND

Rakuten Kobo Inc.

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