At Orchard Brands (a subsidiary of Bluestem Brands) we strive to be the premier provider of distinctive lifestyle apparel through our Portfolio of Heritage Brands. Being uniquely advantaged at the intersection of value and exclusivity, we endeavor to build community, loyalty and emotional connection with our customers.

We are currently seeking an Art Director to join our Orchard Brands Draper's & Damon's Team. This Role will be based out of our Middleton, MA office which operates in a Hybrid work setting.

*To be considered for this Role, you must submit a Portfolio with your Application*

As the Art Director for Draper’s & Damon’s, you will work collaboratively with and lead our team of Designers acting as the primary creative resource for the Merchandising Team. You will provide conceptual guidance and deliver the foundations for catalog, direct mail and media creative.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for maintaining the integrity of the creative strategy while working with project team.

Continually interacts with the merchants, gaining in-depth product knowledge and delivering conceptual guidance in the formulation of a creative strategy.

• Acts as an account representative for advertising, representing our product lines.
• Assures creative standards are met in production of all materials while executing to the brand.
• Develops and presents concepts to set the direction for a project. Provides creative competitor analysis in the concept development meeting.
• Maintains a sense of aesthetic consistency in all design work. Requires current and evolving sense of design.
• Responsible for providing the project team with updates from Merchants about feature changes, color changes etx.
• Manages multiple, concurrent projects, prioritizing workload and working collaboratively with the Design Team to deliver high level end products on deadline.
• Problem solves to deliver great ideas under tight deadlines, while working with a project team to keep projects on schedule and within budget.
• Responsible for thumbnail layout designs during book building, as well as approval for layouts, mechanicals and photo images. Oversees creative for covers, page 2/3’s and all versioning content.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Art Design or closely related field; +2 - 3 years of experience at an Art Director Level in Fashion Apparel or closely related field OR an equivalent combination of relevant Education and Experience required.
• Expert level skill set in Adobe Suite and creative experience in digital marketing and social media.
• 2 - 3 years of experience working at an in-house creative team or agency
• Strong portfolio demonstrating design skills and conceptual thinking.
• Strong skill set in creative thinking and problem-solving.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the proven ability to communicate effectively at all levels. Experience engaging, presenting, and influencing at an Executive Level.
• Possesses outstanding time management skills and is highly efficient at planning, prioritizing, and executing workload in a fast paced, goal focused, deadline driven environment.
• Extensive experience working with internal and external stakeholders, leading project teams and managing multiple, concurrent projects.

ABOUT BLUESTEM BRANDS

BLST Operating Company (Bluestem Brands) is a group of FinTech, and eCommerce Retail businesses led by our Orchard Brand and Fingerhut Portfolios.

This position falls under our Orchard Portfolio, which is home to four legacy Ecommerce apparel brands – Appleseeds, Drapers & Damons, Blair and Haband. Head to https://www.bluestem.com/our-brands/orchard-brands/ to learn more about who we are and how we build connections and value our customers.

At Orchard, you will find responsive and supportive leaders who empower our employees, knowing they drive our success. We are continually innovating and improving, challenging ourselves to take risks, learn from mistakes, and celebrate success as a team. We also grow careers - giving employees on-the-job stretch assignments, lateral moves to expand their knowledge base, and promotional opportunities that help accelerate their career development.

Join our Orchard Brands Team to be inspired, make an impact, and feel valued every day.

#LI-PD10