Sr. Art Director, Retail and In-Store Design

About Arc Worldwide

Arc is the leading creative engine within Publicis’s group of commerce agencies. In an era of unprecedented change, where shopping happens anywhere and everywhere, we believe that brands not present at the moment of desire will be resisted. Which is why everything we do is in service of creating Irresistible Commerce — breakthrough creative solutions fueled by data-driven insights. It’s a proven approach that’s earned us recognition as WARC’s #1 Specialty Retail Agency, along with accolades from Adweek, ANA Reggie Awards, and Effies. And we do it all in an irresistible culture that’s put Arc on the AdAge Best Places to Work list.

Overview

We’re looking for a Senior Art Director with extensive experience in print-focused retail and brand design to join our team! In this role, you will sit squarely at the intersection of retail design, brand design, and creative concepting with an emphasis on brand, consistency, and craft. In partnership with cross-functional production, copy, design, and creative teams, you will work directly with the client to provide strategic creative recommendations that align with the client’s brand objectives and budget. You will concept and design retail signage, displays, and other print-focused assets and collateral as well as oversee, manage, and art direct photoshoots to create visual images that pop and will stop people in their tracks. You will also have the opportunity to provide guidance and mentorship to more junior team members. This is a role that blends hands-on design with creative concepting to deliver engaging, beautiful, high-impact work that is innovative, modern, and on-brand.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a hybrid role based out of either our Chicago, Boston, on New York City offices and will require onsite engagement an average of 3-4 days/week. All candidates should be commutable to one of those locations and willing to commit to a hybrid schedule.

Responsibilities

• Develop creative concepts that meet client business and brand objectives and strategies.
• Create production-ready design assets and materials including POS/POP displays, banners, signage, endcaps, window clings, tentcards, and similar retail/in-store campaign and marketing deliverables.
• Support and/or own design execution from concept through delivery, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and polish at every step.
• Partner with cross-functional teams including production, design, copy, and client stakeholders to bring designs to life.
• Lead project teams, mentor more junior designers, and support the creative process throughout all stages of production.
• Maintain rigorous attention to detail, QA-ing designs for visual accuracy, brand alignment, and campaign consistency.
• Present work clearly and confidently, articulating design rationale and tradeoffs.
• Support multiple concurrent projects and campaigns while managing priorities, timelines, and feedback efficiently.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional experience in art direction or design with a focus on retail, in-store, or shopper marketing concept and design, preferably within an advertising agency, in-house agency, or consultancy environment.
• Bachelor's degree in graphic design or a similar field preferred; experience may be substituted.
• Prior experience designing and concepting for print-focused shopper marketing and retail campaigns including in-store collateral such as POS, POP, displays, banners, etc.
• Prior experience partnering directly with clients to confidently present work, articulate rationale for creative decisions, and workshop and brainstorm iterative changes to ongoing projects.
• Experience art directing photoshoots and integrating high-quality photography into marketing displays and materials.
• Experience extending physical/in-store retail and shopper campaigns into the digital space preferred.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite; additional experience with 3D/rendering tools preferred.
• An eye for high-end photography and design including expertise in design principles such as layout, typography, color, composition, and current design trends.
• An understanding of the print production process (including substrates, die lines, etc.) strongly preferred.
• Comfort operating with a high level of ownership, autonomy, and accountability.
• Ability to accept and synthesize feedback quickly while maintaining design integrity.
• Experience working within a cross-functional, multi-disciplinary team on shopper-focused campaigns.
• Experience partnering directly with clients to confidently present work, articulate rationale for approach in the context of both business and user needs, and workshop and brainstorm iterative changes to ongoing projects.
• A natural sense of urgency and an ability to work quickly, efficiently, and accurately within tight deadlines and constantly-evolving project parameters, scope, and goals.
• Flexible and adaptable with an ability to manage and prioritize multiple concurrent projects.
• Highly collaborative but independently capable.
• A portfolio showcasing print-focused brand, retail, and shopper marketing campaigns and assets is REQUIRED and should be submitted at the time of application.

Additional Information

The Power of One starts with our people! To do powerful things, we offer powerful resources.

Our Best-in-class Wellness And Benefits Offerings Include

• Paid Family Care for parents and caregivers for 12 weeks or more
• Monetary assistance and support for Adoption, Surrogacy and Fertility
• Monetary assistance and support for pet adoption
• Employee Assistance Programs and Health/Wellness/Comfort reimbursements to help you invest in your future and work/life balance
• Tuition Assistance
• Paid time off that includes Flexible Time off Vacation, Annual Sick Days, Volunteer Days, Holiday and Identity days, and more
• Matching Gifts programs
• Flexible working arrangements
• ‘Work Your World’ Program encouraging employees to work from anywhere Publicis Groupe has an office for up to 6 weeks a year (based upon eligibility)
• Business Resource Groups that support multiple affinities and alliances

The benefits offerings listed are available to eligible U.S. Based employees, are reviewed on an annual basis, and are governed by the terms of the applicable plan documents. We also offer medical and voluntary benefits to our freelancers and temporary employees. Voluntary benefit options include supplemental medical insurance, transportation, and parking benefits, legal benefits, pet insurance, and auto and home insurance. You must be actively employed for 90 consecutive calendar days in order to be eligible for Publicis medical and voluntary benefits. You will also be eligible to participate in the Publicis 401(k) Plan after you complete 1,000 work hours in a consecutive 12-month period.

Arc is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our employment decisions are made without regard to actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, medical condition as defined by applicable state law, genetic information, marital status, military service and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances.

If you require accommodation or assistance with the application or onboarding process specifically, please contact USMSTACompliance@publicis.com. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Key skills/competency

• Retail Design
• Brand Design
• Creative Concepting
• Print Design
• Art Direction
• Client Partnership
• Project Management
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Typography
• Layout Design