Dir Creative Strategy & Production - Post Consumer Brands

Headquartered in Lakeville, Minn., Post Consumer Brands, a business unit of Post Holdings, Inc., is dedicated to providing people and their pets with delicious food choices for every taste and budget. The company’s portfolio includes beloved brands such as Honey Bunches of Oats®, PEBBLES®, Grape-Nuts® and Malt-O-Meal® cereal, and Peter Pan® peanut butter, as well as Rachael Ray® Nutrish®, Kibbles ‘n Bits® and 9Lives® dog and cat food. As a company committed to high standards of quality and to our values, we are driven by one idea: To make lives better by making delicious food accessible for all. For more information about our brands, visit www.postconsumerbrands.com and follow us on LinkedIn for the latest news.

Post Consumer Brands recently acquired several iconic pet food brands, venturing into a new market while remaining true to our purpose to provide delicious and accessible food that our consumers love. We’re always searching the center store for the next exciting product to add to our portfolio, and right now, we’re growing and need passionate, driven individuals with diverse perspectives to help us reach greater heights. That’s where you come in. Join a team where your voice is not only heard but valued. Make a real impact on brands enjoyed by millions of people and their pets.

At Post Consumer Brands, we take pride in our longstanding legacy of making one of every five breakfast cereals families eat daily. Today, we’re just as focused on our future as we expand our grocery business with different shelf-stable foods, including snacks and peanut butter. We are committed to providing accessible and delicious food for families, and we’re always searching the center store for the next exciting product to add to our portfolio. As we soar to new heights, we need creative, determined individuals from all walks of life to join our team, where your unique perspective and ideas are acknowledged and valued. Be a part of a company that empowers you to make a difference that’s evident on grocery store shelves and families’ tables across North America.

Post Consumer Brands corporate headquarters in Lakeville, Minn. is about 20 miles south of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Lakeville has all the benefits of smaller town living with access to everything a large metropolitan area has to offer. Join more than 400 team members collaborating on the two-building campus to help put breakfast on the tables of millions of consumers in North America. 

Post Consumer Brands (PCB) is seeking a strategic design leader to join our Creative Studio. This Studio responsible for developing and executing creative ideas and content for various grocery product categories, defining brand visual identity and creating content for all media and communication channels.

This role is responsible for leading a cross-functional team responsible for creating, developing and championing action-led ideas that deliver value to the consumers we serve.  The incumbent must have a proven track record of both creating and inspiring innovative, effective marketing communications campaigns that both build brands and drive sales.

This person is equally at ease creating high-production value TV spots as well as quick turn, low cost, buzz generating social posts, and everything in between (including packaging executions).

The Creative Director should be an exceptional strategic thinker and capable of influencing at senior levels and with fellow creative team members. They should enjoy leading and mentoring creative teams. Extensive digital experience is required.

This individual will be responsible for the following:       

Brand Visual Identity:

• Assess and refresh the PCB Grocery brand’s visual identities, ensuring it reflects the brand's current direction

Brand Guidelines:

• Develop and maintain updated brand guidelines that capture shifts in the brand identity, and ensure they are adhered to across all marketing and communication materials

Creative Team Leadership:

• Manage and lead the Creative team, providing in-house creative services that include graphic design, campaign asset development, copywriting, and video production
• Manage the production process for major campaigns (alongside agency partners) and the production of internal video and photography assets

Production Management:

• Lead all production efforts for CPB Grocery, working with external agency partners and the internal team to streamline process and optimize spend

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Collaborate effectively with the Director of Brand, Marketing team members, and other stakeholders to ensure creative initiatives align with strategic objectives

Brand Governance and Quality Control:

• Maintain a high standard of creative output, ensuring that all creative materials are of the highest quality, on-brand, and aligned with PCB’s messaging

Requirements:

• Lead design strategy, creative development and production for PCB’s internal creative team
• Manage and supervise the Creative Services team of 7 individuals, to provide high-quality marketing, advertising and brand communications
• Cost-effectively manage Creative Services functions - exploring and implementing opportunities for automation and AI to improve speed and levels of customization
• Oversee the creative development and production of photography, videography and editing
• Provide on-time delivery and follow-through of all creative output while achieving budget goals
• Be the lead partner with IMC and Brand Marketing to assure seamless alignment in all "storytelling" and value to the end consumer
• Develop and maintain a clear and compelling brand strategy that aligns with the company's mission, values, and objectives
• Define brand visual identities with fixed and flexible assets that will build brand equity, differentiate in market and connect with target audiences
• Create creative brand playbooks to support the consistent activation of brand elements into each marketing asset
• Oversee the development and execution of advertising and marketing communications including corporate and product collateral, creative campaign rollout, digital and social media, website etc
• Manage and support graphic design, photo art direction, copy editing and videography including all phases of the creative process
• Develop and grow AI capabilities across the team and routines to improve personalization and speed of copy writing and graphic design development
• Provide creative direction and leadership to Creative Staff
• Develop and oversee an advertising review and documentation process to ensure compliance with all laws, rules, and regulations, and to ensure all advertising claims are sufficiently supported
• Manage creative priorities, planning and organizing, problem solving, communication (oral and written) and making group presentations as required
• Manage internal workflow and balance with the use of outside contract labor, when needed
• Supervise and develop a staff of 9 employees, including establishing and documenting goals and objectives, and performance management
• As needed, augment the team, working closely with Human Resources to recruit and effectively on-board high caliber talent
• Maintain flexibility in work schedule to meet business needs
• Participate and provide leadership in inter-departmental meetings, projects, and informal activities
• Support the company and other departments wherever and whenever your skills and experience would be beneficial

• BA degree in graphic design, fine arts, advertising, or a related field.
• 10+ years of senior-level design experience, with team management experience preferred
• Fundamental knowledge of core design principles (typography, design & layout, and composition)
• Expert knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite including InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator
• Excellent knowledge of web/digital design
• Video Editing and design a plus
• Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) with advanced PowerPoint knowledge preferred
• Good collaboration and communication skills.
• Great time management and multi-tasking skills.
• Ability to resolve complex design and communication issues