Associate Design Director, Global Creative - Le Labo
Le Labo fragrances was born in Grasse (France), raised in New York (USA) and offers artisanal genderless scented creations (fine perfumery, home fragrance as well as formulas for body, hair, and face). Le Labo stands for "the lab" in French: Each of our boutique’s function like an open laboratory designed as an entertainment park for the senses where people can take the time to smell and touch raw ingredients in order to awaken their olfactory system and trigger emotions. We freshly hand-blend our fragrances on site, to the order and each label is personalized with the date and place of the formulation as well as a message chosen by our client. Creating soulful Beauty with Care through our craft of slow perfumery is the heartbeat of our company. We work with a community of craftspeople who shape our world: the flower harvesters, the local family farms, the candle hand-pourers, the reclaimed wood artisans, the lab technicians etc.
Joining Le Labo means joining a scented Revolution initiated more than 15 years ago as the antidote to mainstream fragrances and conventional marketing approaches. Being able to nurture our "small" roots and artisanal ethos while scaling our actions to become "big" and reach more people is our current balancing act for which we need support. Check out our manifesto online if you are intrigued, and please only engage if you truly connect with it.
JOB SUMMARY
We are currently looking for an Associate Design Director to join the Le Labo Global Creative team. The Associate Design Director will have strong creative skills and a portfolio of work which demonstrates their passion for illustrative design and typography. They will develop and manage the creative execution process for the creation of digital and printed branded assets to promote the brand equity and business. This role reports directly to the Global Design Director and involves close partnership with the Creative Operations Team and Junior Designers. The Associate Design Director provides full support to our internal clients developing compelling and thoughtful creative assets that support the beauty of our product and the brand story. The Associate Design Director will maintain a strong knowledge of Le Labo, with close attention to the aesthetic, clients, creations/formulas, and ecosystem environment. This role is based in our Williamsburg, Brooklyn office.
OVERVIEW OF PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
DESIGN
Create rich storytelling through dynamic editorial design for both digital and printed platforms.
Develop create assets that have meaningful and measurable impact, achieve strategic goals and satisfies the client requirements.
Ability to create design layouts based on concepts and/or direction from creative briefs
Manage special projects in partnership with the Design Director in various design areas, including packaging, collaborations, the creation of social assets, in-house newsletters, and creative documents / presentations etc.
Act as gatekeeper of brand consistency by reviewing the work of junior designers, comparing new artwork to what we’ve done in the past, making changes that fit the growth of the brand but hold true to our vision.
Manage creative vendors by providing creative briefs that outline the objective, deliverables, timeline, and process along with the creative objective.
Develop and maintain brand standard guidelines for both print and digital.
Design visual assets that constantly push boundaries in terms of creativity, form, and materials.
Build presentation and mood boards – be able to communicate clearly about your ideas.
QUALITY CONTROL
Maintain constant communication with all suppliers to ensure appropriate standards of print and color matching
Ensure the creative direction and consistency of the brand is adhered to through the correct use of logos, typefaces, and imagery across all disciplines
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Manage workload and priorities individually and of vendors to ensure all agreed deadlines are met.
Manage communication with all relevant departments and suppliers.
Awareness and adherence of the launch calendar throughout the year.
Work closely with creative operations on prioritizing, saving working and final files, and delivery of final assets.
CHAMPION AND STEWARD LE LABO VALUES
Commit to broader responsibility & accountability for sustainability, diversity & inclusion while staying true to the Le Labo mission.
Demonstrate kindness and respect, empathy, inclusion, and humility, and ensure these are at the core of all interactions.
Embody the values of the manifesto through our actions, and drive accountability for contributing to the growing internal culture of Le Labo.
Create value and positive impact across all elements of our Brand, operations, teams, partners, and the broader world.
Exude passion for Le Labo and deeply appreciate, understand the Brand DNA.
QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS:
At least 5 years of graphic design experience working either in-house or at an agency or established creative studio.
College degree preferred in a design discipline related to graphic design.
Ability to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines and adapt to changing priorities and creative approach.
Strong Adobe Creative Cloud skills a must – Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
Excellent typographic and design skills. Substantial knowledge of print production including retouching, pre-press, proofing. Solid knowledge of design principles and development.
Must have strong interpersonal skills and is able to work with a range of disciplines (marketing, creative, production, etc.).
Excellent communication skills with the ability to build and maintain good rapport with internal teams as well as external vendors, and handle situations with confidence, tact, and resourcefulness.
Ability to present work to the Creative Director with confidence and compelling narratives
Pro-active attitude and ability to self-manage and work under pressure.
Strong ability to work in an extremely agile way, prioritizing and working alongside the needs of the team; enjoys a fast pace and embraces change.
Has the ability to troubleshoot and problem solve quickly under pressure.
The anticipated base salary range for this position is $81,000 to $133,000. Exact salary depends on several factors such as experience, skills, education, and budget. Salary range may vary based on geographic location. In addition to base salary, this position is eligible for participation in a highly competitive bonus program with possibility for overachievement based on performance and company results.
In addition, The Estée Lauder Companies offers a variety of benefits to eligible employees, including health insurance coverage, wellness and family support programs, life and disability insurance, retirement savings plans, paid leave programs, education-related programs, paid holidays and vacation time, and many others. Many of these benefits are subsidized or fully paid for by the company.
We are an equal opportunity employer. Minorities, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. It is Company's policy not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), gender identity or gender expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition as defined by applicable state or local law, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances. The Company will endeavor to provide a reasonable accommodation consistent with the law to otherwise qualified employees and prospective employees with a disability and to employees and prospective employees with needs related to their religious observance or practices. Should you wish to apply for this position or any other position with the Company and you believe you require assistance to complete an application or participate in an interview, please contact USApplicantAccommodations@Estee.com.
The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) is the global leader in prestige beauty. ELC is the only company focused solely on prestige makeup, skin care, fragrance and hair care with a diverse portfolio of 25+ brands sold in approximately 150 countries and territories. Infused throughout the organization is a passion for creativity and innovation — a desire to push the boundaries and invent the unexpected — as we continue the bold work of the company’s founder Estée Lauder.