📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Director, Creative Services
🔹 Company: RG Barry Brands
🔹 Location: Columbus, Ohio (Hybrid)
🔹 Job Type: On-site
🔹 Category: Apparel & Fashion
🔹 Date Posted: April 20, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site with hybrid flexibility
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Strategic leadership and oversight for creative direction and execution of seasonal channel assets
- Management of graphic design, photography studio operations, creative project management, copywriting, corporate projects, and visual merchandising teams
- Innovation and technology initiatives to streamline creative workflows and enhance departmental productivity
- Cross-functional collaboration with digital, print, retail, and corporate teams to ensure brand consistency and excellence
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of strategic thinking, leadership, and creative problem-solving to manage multiple teams and projects simultaneously.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Leads strategic direction for creative execution across digital, print, retail, and corporate channels, ensuring alignment with overarching brand strategies
✅ Acts as primary project manager for all creative requests, overseeing ticket prioritization, project timelines, and completion according to department specifications
✅ Directs the art direction strategy, maintaining brand consistency while fostering innovation and differentiation among the brands
✅ Oversees development and execution of e-commerce creative assets, UX research, enhancements, and continuous improvement initiatives
✅ Supervises creative support provided to retail and wholesale e-commerce teams, ensuring exceptional visual and strategic quality
✅ Provides senior-level leadership to creative, corporate projects, and visual merchandising teams, promoting high performance, collaborative environment, and professional growth
✅ Ensures efficient workflow, resource management, and effective prioritization to meet deadlines and business objectives
✅ Directs visual merchandising initiatives, maintaining brand standards across retail and wholesale channels
✅ Leads the Corporate Projects function, aligning strategic corporate initiatives with creative direction and brand presentation
✅ Champions emerging technologies and innovative tools, incorporating AI-driven design solutions, digital asset management systems, automation, and advanced 3D technology development to enhance team capabilities, creative output, and departmental efficiency
✅ Represents the department in executive-level presentations and strategic planning sessions
✅ Performs other senior management-level duties as required
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high degree of multitasking, requiring strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in a related design field (BS/BA) with an emphasis in graphic / interactive design
Experience: 10+ years of agency or in-house experience in interactive and print design with premium or luxury consumer brands
Required Skills:
- Proven leadership and management experience supervising creative professionals
- Proficient in Adobe CS5 Creative Suite: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Flash, Dreamweaver
- Strong project management skills with the ability to coordinate multiple work streams for on-time project delivery
- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills
- Self-motivated with a high level of organization, attention to detail, and goal-oriented
- Flexible/adaptable attitude with a “startup” mentality
Preferred Skills:
- Familiarity with emerging AI-driven creative solutions
- Experience with digital asset management systems
- Knowledge of emerging technologies and advanced 3D technology development
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with experience in luxury or premium consumer brands and a strong portfolio demonstrating their creative vision and leadership skills will be highly competitive for this role.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $150,000 - $180,000 per year (Based on industry standards for a Director-level role in the Apparel & Fashion industry with 10+ years of experience in Columbus, Ohio)
Benefits:
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) plan with company match
- Paid time off (vacation, sick, and holidays)
- Employee discounts on products
- Professional development opportunities
Working Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week, with flexible hybrid work arrangement
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards and may vary depending on the candidate's experience and qualifications.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Apparel & Fashion
Company Size: 51-200 employees
Founded: 1947
Company Description:
- RGB is a consumer-driven, data-informed, multi-channel, digitally-led brand management platform developed to accelerate growth and innovation for lifestyle consumer brands.
- Founded in 1947 by Florence Melton, RGB launched a suite of comfortable lifestyle products under the Dearfoams brand and has since expanded its offering to comfortable footwear and lifestyle products.
- Today, RG Barry brands include Dearfoams, Baggallini, Columbus Product Group, and the soon-to-be-launched, Planet A.
Company Specialties:
- Consumer-focused, digitally-centric, earth-first brands
- Premium and luxury consumer brands
- Multi-channel distribution and data-centric approach
Company Website: http://www.rgbarry.com
ASSUMPTION: RG Barry Brands is a well-established company in the Apparel & Fashion industry with a strong focus on consumer-driven, data-informed brands.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Senior-level, management position
Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and oversees multiple teams, including graphic design, photography studio operations, creative project management, copywriting, corporate projects, and visual merchandising
Work Arrangement: Hybrid work arrangement with a combination of on-site and remote work
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to grow within the creative services department or explore other leadership opportunities within the company
- Opportunities to expand skills and knowledge through innovative technology initiatives and collaboration with cross-functional teams
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential for the right candidate, with opportunities to make a substantial impact on the company's creative direction and brand presentation.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Hybrid work environment with a combination of on-site and remote work
Office Location(s): Columbus, Ohio (13405 Yarmouth Road NW, Pickerington, Ohio 43147, US) and Boston, Massachusetts (266 Summer Street, 8th Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02210, US)
Geographic Context:
- Columbus, Ohio is the state capital and the most populous city in Ohio, offering a diverse range of cultural attractions, entertainment, and recreational opportunities
- Boston, Massachusetts is a major hub for technology, healthcare, and education, providing access to a vibrant professional network and cultural scene
Work Schedule: Full-time, 40 hours per week, with flexible hybrid work arrangement
ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement offers candidates the best of both worlds, allowing for flexibility while also fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Phone or video screening to assess communication skills and cultural fit
- In-depth interview with the hiring manager to discuss the role, responsibilities, and qualifications
- Portfolio review and presentation to showcase creative vision and leadership skills
- Final interview with key stakeholders to assess fit and make a hiring decision
Key Assessment Areas:
- Creative vision and leadership skills
- Project management and organizational skills
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Problem-solving and decision-making abilities
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare a portfolio showcasing your creative vision, leadership, and management skills
- Research the company and industry to demonstrate your understanding of RG Barry Brands and the Apparel & Fashion industry
- Practice your presentation and be prepared to discuss your creative process, leadership style, and management approach
ATS Keywords: Graphic Design, Project Management, Visual Merchandising, Creative Direction, Team Leadership, E-commerce, Adobe Creative Suite, Photography, Copywriting, Innovation, Communication, Problem Solving, Detail Orientation, Interpersonal Skills, Technology Initiatives, Organizational Skills
ASSUMPTION: The interview process for this role will be comprehensive and competitive, focusing on the candidate's creative vision, leadership skills, and management abilities.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Adobe CS5 Creative Suite: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Flash, Dreamweaver
- Monday.com (project management tool)
- Digital asset management systems (e.g., Brandfolder, Bynder, Canto DAM)
- AI-driven creative solutions (e.g., Adobe Sensei, Runway ML, DeepArt)
- Advanced 3D technology development tools (e.g., Blender, 3ds Max, Maya)
ASSUMPTION: The required tools and technologies for this role are industry-standard and widely used in the Apparel & Fashion industry.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Consumer-focused and data-informed
- Multi-channel and digitally-led
- Earth-first and sustainable
Work Style:
- Collaborative and innovative
- Results-driven and entrepreneurial
- Adaptable and flexible
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you balance maintaining brand consistency while fostering innovation and differentiation among brands?
- How do you prioritize and manage multiple projects and teams simultaneously to meet deadlines and business objectives?
- How do you incorporate emerging technologies and innovative tools to enhance team capabilities, creative output, and departmental efficiency?
ASSUMPTION: RG Barry Brands values candidates who are consumer-focused, data-driven, collaborative, innovative, and adaptable, with a strong entrepreneurial spirit.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple teams and projects simultaneously, requiring strong organizational skills and multitasking abilities
- Balancing brand consistency with innovation and differentiation across multiple brands
- Keeping up with emerging technologies and AI-driven creative solutions in a rapidly evolving industry
- Adapting to a hybrid work environment and fostering a collaborative and innovative team culture
ASSUMPTION: The potential challenges for this role are significant but offer opportunities for growth and learning, particularly for candidates with strong leadership, management, and creative problem-solving skills.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role differs from other creative services director positions in its focus on luxury and premium consumer brands, requiring a strong understanding of high-end aesthetics and branding strategies
- Compared to other roles in the Apparel & Fashion industry, this position offers a unique blend of creative direction, project management, and leadership responsibilities
- Career progression in this role may lead to other senior leadership positions within the company or opportunities to grow within the creative services department
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique combination of creative and management responsibilities, making it an attractive opportunity for experienced professionals seeking to advance their careers in the Apparel & Fashion industry.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a comprehensive creative strategy for a new product launch, including digital, print, retail, and corporate channels
- Managing a team to create and implement a visual merchandising campaign that drives sales and enhances brand presence in retail stores
- Leading a project to integrate AI-driven creative solutions into the creative services department's workflow, enhancing efficiency and output
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects demonstrate the range of responsibilities and leadership opportunities available in this role, from strategic planning and execution to team management and innovation.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does the company support the integration of emerging technologies and AI-driven creative solutions into the creative services department?
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 90 days, and how will success be measured?
- How does the company foster a collaborative and innovative work environment, particularly in a hybrid setting?
- What opportunities are there for professional growth and development within the creative services department or the company as a whole?
- How does the company approach sustainability and earth-first initiatives in its products and operations?
ASSUMPTION: These key questions will help candidates better understand the role, the company culture, and the opportunities for growth and development.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare a portfolio showcasing your creative vision, leadership, and management skills
- Research the company and industry to demonstrate your understanding of RG Barry Brands and the Apparel & Fashion industry
- Practice your presentation and be prepared to discuss your creative process, leadership style, and management approach
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your continued interest in the role
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
