Art Director

At Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Partnership (MLSE), we are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that is representative of our community and where all employees feel they belong and can reach their full potential. We are Canada’s preeminent leader in delivering top quality sport and entertainment experiences and one of North America’s leading providers of exceptional fan experiences. We are the parent company of the National Hockey League’s Toronto Maple Leafs, the National Basketball Association’s Toronto Raptors, Major League Soccer’s Toronto FC, the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts and development teams with the Toronto Marlies (American Hockey League), Raptors 905 (NBA G League), Toronto FC II (MLS NEXT Pro League) and Raptors Uprising Gaming Club, the Toronto Raptors Esports franchise in the NBA 2K League.

MLSE owns and/or operates all the venues our teams play and train in, including Scotiabank Arena, BMO Field, Coca-Cola Coliseum, Ford Performance Centre, BMO Training Ground, and OVO Athletic Centre. We also provide fans in Toronto with incredible live music and entertainment events, as well as exceptional culinary experiences through our restaurants (e11even and RS) and clubs (Hot Stove Club, ScotiaClub and Platinum Club). Through MLSE Foundation, we have invested more than $45 million into Ontario communities since 2009 and with MLSE LaunchPad, we provide a place where youth facing barriers use sport to recognize and reach their potential.

We achieve all of this through our Common Purpose - to unite and empower our employees to create extraordinary moments for our fans and each other. Come be a part of the team.

As the Art Director, you are responsible for working directly with a copywriter to respond to incoming partner briefs with innovative and exceptional creative campaign work. This is more than creating good looks. This is a commitment to build new experiences and create interactions that connect our fan base to partner brands in compelling and meaningful ways. You will see a series of projects through ideation and pitch phase to production and realization.

Position Type: 4 Month Contract 

• A creative influence. You want to work on brands people love at a scale of millions in the age of instant reactions, trending hashtags, and trend influencers. You want to create stories that fans will wear, hold in their hands, interact with across every platform, and be overwhelmed by in the middle of Dundas Square.
• Impact. This is an opportunity to join an organization rich in history and at the cutting edge of storytelling. You will be a game-changer, expanding the footprint and the reach of our teams, our Live events, and our Foundation to include an evolving, new audience and retain the fans that have always been here.
• Pride. As part of the MLSE team, you will play a critical role in creating an elevated experience. No other company in Toronto can make you feel the way MLSE can. We have 5 championship rings from 5 different teams; and have hosted a massive celebration parade that filled the streets of Toronto, uniting millions of fans.

Be part of the action and the experience. You will:

• Lead. You will oversee team members in the development of creative; develop strategic design solutions based on the insights from the creative brief, team members, and Creative Director. You will collaborate with our production team, including vendors and agencies, providing the direction and supervision required to produce approved creative.
• Create. You will execute layouts across digital, social, print, and outdoor, as well as collateral and merchandise. You will present concepts to the Creative Director, Brand, and Product teams for approval to ensure all creative meets the brief and creative standards. You will collaborate fully with Designers, Animators and all Creative, Accounts, Product, Brand, and Digital team members.
• Manage. You will maintain quality and budget throughout the production process. You will attend briefings, brainstorms, production meetings, and presentations. You will contribute to selecting photographers or illustrators in the final execution and visualization of the creative concept, supervising vendors and freelancers. You will review and proof all production materials on assigned projects.

Note: Before reviewing the qualifications listed below, we want you to know that we understand you may not meet all the qualifications described and have other relevant expertise and experience. We invite you to please share this with us in the "Message to the Hiring Manager" section of our online application.

• The passion. You are all-in when it comes to eliciting emotion in people through the work you do. And frankly, it breaks your heart when some of your best designs have low engagement. While the quality and the outcome are tied closely, there are factors beyond your control (global pandemics, losing seasons), but you never stop putting everything into your work. Here's what ours looks like. Now show us your portfolio and your range.
• The education and experience. You have a degree or diploma in design or a related area, combined with experience at an integrated agency creating work spanning various mediums (digital, OOH, broadcast, print, etc.). You have taken on the role of an Art Director, overseeing internal and external sources and being hands-on during photo shoot production, and post-production for all traditional media.
• The expert knowledge. You have an exceptional artistic eye for design and layout, creative approach, and originality that is on-trend. You have expertise in a range of tools, including the Adobe Suite and Figma. You have an understanding of responsive web design and development and the possibilities and limitations of animation.
• The personality. You have a positive, optimistic attitude and a team-first mentality. You are easy-going, and focused, and you embrace a diversity of thought, style, and ideas. You can build relationships and work well with a wide array of personalities. You want to sit down with your peers every couple of weeks for a bite to eat, a coffee, cola, or pint, and socialize, learn more about each other.
• The Team Spirit. You and the copywriters, production team and Creative Director will work as a team. Team means a lot to us, for obvious reasons. The team does its best when everyone brings their best and whole selves, and yet also commits to listening, being empathetic and building on the ideas of your teammates.

Apply by: January 17th, 2025

Experience the thrill of the Sports & Entertainment industry in a flexible (hybrid) work environment that supports employee wellbeing.

As a part of our recruitment process AI may be utilized to: screen applications, assess qualifications, and enhance candidate selection. We remain committed to ensuring a fair and equitable hiring experience for all candidates.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. 

At MLSE, we are committed to building an equitable, diverse and inclusive organization.

We are an equal opportunity employer and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, record of offences, marital status, family status or disability. MLSE will provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities in the job application process. If you have difficulty using our online application system and you need an accommodation due to a disability, please email [email protected]. Please note this email is only for accommodation requests. Resumes sent to this email address will not be considered. 

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