Company Description
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.
Job Description
As the Associate Creative Director of our blue vertical, you lead creative campaign development for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Marlies, and Toronto Argonauts to create award-winning campaigns, immersive fan experiences, and new commercial opportunities. Our team verticals build the brands from the inside out, from jerseys and team spaces to season launches and fan experiences.
This position requires innovative, creative leadership. This vertical is positioned to take our team brands to new audiences by expertly crafting awareness and conversion-based campaigns. The ACD will lead creative and campaign development from ticketing activations to virtual member experiences and requires an always curious attitude to connect with a new emerging fanbase.
This position demands expert collaboration. This vertical is meant to be a leader in sport, an expert consultant in how brands, sports, and entertainment connect with fans + community. This position will collaborate with front office, content, and digital experts, and be able to translate business problems into creative possibilities.

Position Type: 3 Month Full Time Contract

• Manage and foster a team of art directors, designers, and freelance writers to ensure career growth, training, and development.
• Convert brand and company objectives into creative opportunities through presentation decks and pitches, creating campaign frameworks for our design, content, and digital teams to intersect.
• Develop and approve tone, core language, and visual identity for all campaigns.
• Present concepts to internal and external clients for approval to ensure all creative meets the brief and creative standards.
• Ensures campaigns and campaign deliverables are on budget and schedule.
• Identify and develop an external roster of creators, photographers, and freelancers to help develop specialized campaigns.
• Review and proof all content and production materials to ensure campaign and brand consistency.
• Work with our brand strategy and commercial marketing leads to pitch and execute team-led campaigns. You are the point person in the story and theme, curating looks across all mediums.
• Collaborate with our Experiential and PR teams to help on special live event branding and experiences.
• Work with game presentation to consult and assist on our in-arena experiences.
• Work with our product team to brainstorm and explore innovative, creative solutions that enhance the fan experience.
• Work with our Brand and Strategy team to maintain brand guidelines, developing brand governance, templates, and creative solutions to support the business.
• Collaborate with Retail and Front office to develop our Jersey strategy, On-field wear, and capsule collections.

Qualifications

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.

• 5-7 years of successive agency experience in a leadership position collaborating with complex or international brands.
• Experience with managing a team of 3 or more direct reports.
• Strong Portfolio: Include pitch decks or case studies that can demonstrate originality and multi-disciplinary thinking throughout your work.
• You excel at motivating and leading those around you, pushing creativity to the next level.
• Strong cross-functional bridge builder: You can influence and inspire through ideas.
• Extensive experience with creative development tools (Creative Cloud suite, Figma, Word).

Additional Information

Please refer the Job description for details