Director, Production Design - In-store and Retail Environments

Company Description

We're a team of makers and dreamers, turning strategic ideas into flawless retail executions. We collaborate closely with our clients to elevate the expected and embrace the new, the next, and the complex.

Nothing is impossible— If you can shop it, we can do it.

Overview

We’re looking for a Director of Production Design with extensive experience in print-focused in-store and retail work to join our team!

In this role you will oversee the creation of graphic assets that align with the brand's aesthetics and uphold rigorous production standards. You will guide and mentor your team, ensuring they excel in both creative and technical aspects of their work. You will collaborate with other departments, leveraging your deep expertise in graphic design, production, mechanical building, printing, and digital post operations to support cross-functional initiatives and drive strategic goals.

This role requires a blend of creative vision, technical expertise, leadership acumen, and strategic thinking, all aimed at driving the success of the production design department and the organization.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a hybrid role based out of our Cincinnati office and will require onsite engagement an average of 3 days/week. All candidates should be commutable to the Cincinnati metro and willing to commit to a hybrid schedule.

Responsibilities

• Lead initiatives to improve processes, developing tools and provide recommendations to enhance efficiency and the quality of client deliverables.
• Develop and implement a strategic vision for the team, aligning design output with broader company objectives and market trends.
• Manage, mentor, and guide junior designers and team members, providing constructive feedback and fostering professional growth.
• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including clients, vendors, and cross-functional leaders, ensuring alignment and collaboration across all teams.
• Monitor day-to-day staff coverage, including in-office attendance and PTO, ensuring resource forecasting aligns with agency plans.
• Create on-brand, production-ready design assets and materials including instore displays, banners, signage, window clings, and similar deliverables.
  
  

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressively-responsible professional experience in graphic and production design with a focus on leading in-store, retail, or shopper marketing design teams; prior experience within an advertising agency, in-house agency, or consultancy environment is preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in graphic design or a similar field preferred; experience may be substituted.
• Prior experience leading teams in the on-time, on-brand, and on-budget design, production, and delivery of print-focused retail or shopper campaigns including in-store, POS, POP, displays, banners, signage, etc.
• Prior experience partnering directly with clients to confidently present work, articulate rationale for approach in the context of both business and user needs, and workshop and brainstorm iterative changes to ongoing projects.
• Deep understanding of the full print production and design process from concept to design to production.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, Keynote, and PowerPoint; additional experience with 3d/rendering tools preferred.
• An eye for high-end photography and design.
• Expertise in design principles including layout, typography, color, composition, and current design trends.
• Knowledge of prepress, mechanical building, and the print production process including substrates, die lines, etc.
• Comfort operating with a high level of ownership, autonomy, and accountability.
• Ability to accept and synthesize feedback quickly while maintaining design integrity.
• Experience leading and working within a cross-functional, multi-disciplinary team on retail- and instore-focused campaigns.
• A natural sense of urgency and an ability to work quickly, efficiently, and accurately within tight deadlines and constantly-evolving project parameters, scope, and goals.
• Flexible and adaptable with an ability to manage and prioritize multiple concurrent projects.
• Highly collaborative but independently capable.
• A portfolio showcasing print, in-store, retail, and/or shopper marketing campaigns and assets is REQUIRED and should be submitted at the time of application
  
  

Additional Information

The Power of One starts with our people! To do powerful things, we offer powerful resources. Our best-in-class wellness and benefits offerings include:

• Paid Family Care for parents and caregivers for 12 weeks or more
• Monetary assistance and support for Adoption, Surrogacy and Fertility
• Monetary assistance and support for pet adoption
• Employee Assistance Programs and Health/Wellness/Comfort reimbursements to help you invest in your future and work/life balance
• Tuition Assistance
• Paid time off that includes Flexible Time off Vacation, Annual Sick Days, Volunteer Days, Holiday and Identity days, and more
• Matching Gifts programs
• Flexible working arrangements
• ‘Work Your World’ Program encouraging employees to work from anywhere Publicis Groupe has an office for up to 6 weeks a year (based upon eligibility)
• Business Resource Groups that support multiple affinities and alliances
  
  

The benefits offerings listed are available to eligible U.S. Based employees, are reviewed on an annual basis, and are governed by the terms of the applicable plan documents.

We also offer medical and voluntary benefits to our freelancers and temporary employees. Voluntary benefit options include supplemental medical insurance, transportation, and parking benefits, legal benefits, pet insurance, and auto and home insurance.

You must be actively employed for 90 consecutive calendar days in order to be eligible for Publicis medical and voluntary benefits. You will also be eligible to participate in the Publicis 401(k) Plan after you complete 1,000 work hours in a consecutive 12-month period.

Saatchi & Saatchi X is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our employment decisions are made without regard to actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, medical condition as defined by applicable state law, genetic information, marital status, military service and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances.

If you require accommodation or assistance with the application or onboarding process specifically, please contact [email protected].

All of your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Compensation Range: $121,315-$157,700 annually. This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and the Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. Temporary roles may be eligible to participate in our freelancer/temporary employee medical plan through a third-party benefits administration system once certain criteria have been met. Temporary roles may also qualify for participation in our 401(k) plan after eligibility criteria have been met. For regular roles, the Company will offer medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401k, and paid time off. The Company anticipates the application deadline for this job posting will be March 30, 2026.