Design Lead

At Pilot, we work with an incredible team who are passionate about coffee and equally committed to quality. To achieve our full potential, we foster an environment where everyone feels included, heard and appreciated. Our values of quality, innovation and relationships are at the heart of everything we do.
JOIN OUR TEAM:We are welcoming applications for a Design Lead to join our in-house Brand Creative team. Do you love bringing brands to life across every channel? Are you ready to shape the look and feel of coffee people love? If so, we would love to hear from you.
Position: Design LeadDepartment: Brand CreativeLocation: 50 Wagstaff Dr.Reports to: Head of Brand CreativeSalary Range: $67,460 - $70,460 per annum
This role is for an existing vacancy.
For this role, we are seeking a creative leader who can own product concept and design from idea to execution, working closely with our Head of Brand Creative. You will think big across campaigns, sweat the small details, and bring bold visual storytelling to every brand in the Pilot Coffee House Portfolio.
Creative Design

• Lead the creative for two beloved brands: Pilot Coffee Roasters and Bridgehead Coffee Co.
• Build multi-channel campaigns that bring brand strategy and business goals to life
• Turn big ideas, product stories, and marketing goals into bold visual storytelling
• Keep our brand standards sharp and always evolving across every touchpoint
• Design across digital, print, retail, packaging, and experiential spaces
• Bring strong typography, layout, and image craft to everything you make

Content Creation

• Lead the creative for coffee launches, seasonal campaigns, collabs, and promos
• Art direct product, editorial, and lifestyle photo and video shoots
• Create scroll-stopping assets for web, email, social, paid ads, and retail
• Make motion graphics and short-form content for social and in-store screens
• Help us capture more (and better) owned content for our channels

Digital Creative

• Design high-performing creative for Meta, TikTok, email, and beyond
• Test, refine, and iterate based on what is actually working
• Balance brand-building with real results: engagement, traffic, and sales

Product Packaging

• Concept and build packaging for coffee releases, retail products, and merch
• Create designs that tell a story and stand out on the shelf
• Bring new products to market alongside teams across the company

Creative Operations

• Partner with Marketing, Retail, Wholesale, CPG, and Leadership teams
• Juggle multiple projects without dropping creative quality or deadlines
• Build standout presentations, sales materials, and branded documents
• Find smarter, faster ways to get great work out the door

Innovation & Trend Leadership

• Stay ahead of design, content, retail, and culture trends
• Bring fresh ideas and formats that keep our brands relevant
• Explore new AI tools and workflows that sharpen our craft

QualificationsMust haves:

• 6+ years of experience in a Graphic Design role, working with an established and strong brand identity
• Completion of post-secondary education in Graphic Design, or a related field. BA, BFA Arts/Fine arts preferred
• Agency or Client-side experience preferred
• Experience designing multi-media applications for omni-channel campaigns
• Proficiency in motion graphics
• Advanced Adobe Creative Suite program skills
• Exceptional typographic, layout and prototyping skills
• Proficiency with 3D and environmental design

Nice to have:

• Interpersonal Skills and High EQ
• Conceptual thinking, self-starter and creative executer
• High level of production skills and expertise

DIVERSITY, INCLUSION + COMPANY PROFILEPilot Coffee Roasters aim to provide a barrier free experience for those looking to join our team and we welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, racialized people, people from gender and sexually diverse communities and / or people with intersectional identities. Accommodations are available on request for people taking part in aspects of the recruitment process.
People requiring accommodation(s) during the recruitment process, can notify their recruiter directly.
Pilot Coffee Roasters is a full-service specialty coffee roastery, training provider and cafe operator with multiple locations across Toronto and wholesale accounts from coast to coast. We focus on Direct Trade partnerships that positively impact the communities at origin, and roast coffees at the vanguard of innovation to offer an unparalleled sensory experience. Visit pilotcoffeeroasters.com for more information.
RECENT ACCOLADES

• Growth 500, Canada's Fastest Growing Companies 2019
• RGD In-House Design Awards 2019, Award of Merit for Branding and Packaging
• Great Place to Work Certified 2019, and recognized on the following sub-lists; Best Workplaces for Inclusion, Best Workplaces for Millennials, Best Workplaces Managed by Women, Best Workplaces in Manufacturing, Best Workplaces in Ontario, and Best Workplaces for Women.

Please note that we will only be contacting applicants who have been selected to move forward in the interview process. No recruitment agencies please.