Art Director

Position: Art Director

Department: Content (Creative)

Level: Director

Reporting Relationship: Head of Creative

Status: Full-Time (Exempt)

Position Overview

We're seeking a passionate and visionary Art Director to shape and lead the Carolina Panthers' visual identity across all platforms. This creative leader will transform strategic concepts into compelling, high-impact visuals that energize fans and elevate our brand presence, whether through digital, social, in-stadium, at retail, or through partnerships. Beyond hands-on design work, the Art Director will manage and inspire a talented team of designers to consistently deliver bold, breakthrough creative.

Primary Responsibilities

• Work with the Head of Creative to create design projects as assigned applying imagination, creativity, and originality from brainstorming phase through to print/production.
• Set the visual tone and art direction for seasonal campaigns, player promotions, and major events (ex. Regular season, playoffs, draft, theme nights, etc.)
• Complete design projects within designated timeframes.
• Own and evolve the team's visual identity, ensuring consistency and freshness across platforms.
• In coordination with the Head of Content, present creative concepts to internal stakeholders and senior leadership
• Manage and mentor a team of designers while fostering a high-performance, collaborative creative culture
• Stay up to date with trends in sports design, pop culture, and fashion.
• Assist with copywriting, copyediting and proofreading as assigned.
• Work efficiently with internal departments and external clients to meet design needs and goals and ensure high level of satisfaction of graphic design projects.
• Oversee the request process for design projects received from across the organization.
• Participate as requested in all departmental and Club events including home and away gameday activities with a focus on digital content creation and support
• Help maintain brand consistency across all Club assets including internal departments, advertising, partner activations, etc.
• Establish and manage annual departmental budget in a manner that efficiently deploys our resources.
• Perform various other tasks that may be assigned from time to time by the Head of Creative or other executive leadership.
• Position requires routine face-to-face personal interaction with staff, senior level executives, players, coaches and ownership; therefore, job responsibilities must be physically performed in the Club offices and not in a telecommuting manner.

Minimum Qualifications

• At least 5 years in graphic design, visual communications, digital media or other relevant experience

• Experience leading a high-performing team of creative professionals

• Strong portfolio showcasing campaign development, branding, and logo design
• Expert knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
• Understanding of motion graphics and its tools such as Adobe After Effects are a plus
• Strong graphic design knowledge and experience including a solid understanding of layout, hierarchy, typography, color theory, patterns and other design principles.
• Excellent storytelling and visual communication skills
• Working knowledge of the printing process and press checks.

• Proven ability to apply working knowledge of creative writing, copywriting and copyediting skills.
• Ability to maintain confidential and/or proprietary information
• Must be able to work non-traditional hours, including nights, weekends and holidays when necessary.
• Must pass pre-employment screens

Skills for Success

• Strong organizational and time management skills with ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks in a high-energy environment.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to create and maintain solid working relationships at all levels across the organization and externally.
• Possess excellent attention to detail and an ability to produce high-quality, accurate work within designated deadlines.
• Ability and internal drive to demonstrate a positive, winning attitude and a strong work ethic in the performance of all job responsibilities.

Physical Requirements

• Sitting at a desk and computer for long periods of time.
• Bending, standing, reaching, kneeling, and lifting technology equipment and office materials.
• Walking throughout the stadium facility, sometimes for an extended period of time.

Work Environment

• This job operates in a professional office environment (mostly office environment, outside in a stadium facility at times which may include inclement weather conditions).

The Carolina Panthers are an equal opportunity at-will employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of age, race, religion, color, disability, sex, sexual orientation, or national origin.