Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

Why J.McLaughlin?

J.McLaughlin was founded in 1977 by brothers Kevin and Jay McLaughlin with a mission to create an American Sportswear brand that offered two key components: classic clothing with current relevance and a retail environment that has a neighborhood feel. The J.McLaughlin brand has always been more about style than fashion: straightforward, unpretentious, and devoid of the superfluous. Our clothing is rooted in the tradition of sport, work, and play. With over 150 retail locations, each store is entirely unique, attentively designed to reflect the town's color, character, and architecture. This attention to detail extends to exemplary customer service and local philanthropic engagement.

Our “Culture of Kindness” creates an environment with respect, politeness, consideration, and empathy that creates a family like atmosphere and focuses on giving back to the community. The company has an entrepreneurial spirit which fosters great experience and career opportunities, complemented with our great incentive benefits programs.

Overview

J.McLaughlin is a specialty American Sportswear and Accessories brand headquartered in New York. J.McLaughlin has the reputation for being “local and loyal”, building meaningful relationships within the each community and providing customers with highly personalized service. We are a growing company with a focus on our culture of kindness, cultivating an exceptional atmosphere in which to work and shop.

The Art Director will be responsible for leading the concepting, development, and execution of compelling brand visuals across print, digital, and experiential platforms reporting to our Head of Creative Marketing & Communications. This individual will oversee a team of graphic designers and a copywriter while collaborating cross-functionally with marketing, merchandising, e-commerce, and retail teams. This is a hands-on, highly creative role that requires strong people management, presentation, and organizational skills, along with the ability to think strategically and execute tactically. This role is primarily based in our corporate office in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

About the role

Essential Functions:

Creative Leadership & Concepting

• Lead and develop creative concepts that elevate the J.McLaughlin brand across all customer touchpoints.
• Translate seasonal campaigns and marketing strategies into compelling, brand-right visuals and storytelling.
• Champion innovation in visual storytelling, exploring new formats and ideas to surprise and delight customers.
• Ensure creative consistency across all channels: email, social media, web, direct mail/catalog, in-store, packaging, events, and advertising.

Design & Execution

• Graphic Design and Art Directing of all campaigns
• Direct and lead the design of marketing assets (print and digital), including campaign, catalog, digital assets, paid media, signage, and experiential activations.
• Review and approve all final assets for visual quality, brand integrity, and clarity of message.
• Maintain and evolve brand guidelines to ensure consistency while allowing room for innovation.

Team Leadership & Management

• Manage and mentor a team of graphic designers and copywriters and any freelance support to execute on campaigns, fostering a collaborative and productive creative environment.
• Provide clear art direction and constructive feedback that inspires high-quality work and professional growth.
• Set project priorities, delegate tasks, and oversee timelines to ensure efficient execution.
• Oversee and manage campaign budgets

AI, Technology & Innovation

• Leverage AI tools (e.g., for image editing, content generation, creative exploration) to drive efficiency and creativity.
• Stay informed of emerging design technologies, trends, and platforms; bring fresh ideas to the team regularly.

Project & Cross-functional Collaboration

• Partner with design, marketing, e-commerce, and merchandising to align creative with business goals and timelines.
• Present concepts and creative strategies to senior leadership with clarity, confidence, and rationale.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring deadlines, budgets, and brand standards are met.

Additional Job Responsibilities:

• Other related duties as assigned

Qualifications

• 8+ years of professional design experience, with at least 2-3 years in a leadership or Art Director role.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating high-level concepting and design across digital and print.
• Proven experience managing and mentoring creative teams (graphic design, copywriting).
• Expertise in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator), Figma, and other relevant tools.
• Knowledge of motion design or video editing is a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to use AI tools in a creative capacity (e.g., Midjourney, ChatGPT, Adobe Firefly).
• Excellent organizational, time management, and presentation skills.
• A proactive, positive attitude with a collaborative, solutions-oriented mindset.
• Experience in fashion, retail, or lifestyle brands.

What Success Looks Like

• Elevated, cohesive visual campaigns that drive engagement and brand equity.
• A highly motivated and inspired creative team producing top-tier work.
• Cross-functional teams aligned and supported by creative deliverables that meet or exceed expectations.
• Forward-thinking experimentation with new creative tools and formats, including AI and emerging tech.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.
• Must be able to access and navigate each department at the organization's facilities.

J.McLaughlin is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status..

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