Art Director

About Us

McGovern Outdoor is passionate about creating beautiful and tasteful gifts. We keep people connected with the places they love and the adventures they live for by delivering a premium line of products with a thoughtful blend of form and function that brings them back to their happy place. Today, you can find our products in many State and National Parks, ski resorts, and other cultural destinations. McGovern Outdoor is a 100% remote team.

Position Summary

The Art Director leads the Creative team and is responsible for shaping and executing the overall creative vision for our product line. This role blends strategic leadership with hands-on creative execution — overseeing graphic designers and illustrators, driving design trends and style direction, and collaborating cross-functionally with Sales and Product to ensure our product presentations are compelling and on-brand. The Art Director reports directly to the COO, is on the leadership team, and plays a key role in the growth and market relevance of our product offerings. The Art Director position is full-time. Applicants must be willing and able to attend two quarterly meetings in Warrenville, IL, and have a dedicated, private workspace as a home office.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Creative Strategy & Direction

• Develop and maintain the company's creative strategy, defining design styles, aesthetic direction, and visual standards across all product lines.
• Research and monitor industry trends, consumer preferences, and competitive activity within the market.
• Introduce new design styles and concepts that align with market demand and support product development goals.
• Establish and enforce brand standards and design guidelines across all creative output.

Team Leadership & Management

• Directly manage and mentor a team of graphic designers and illustrators, providing creative direction, feedback, and professional development support.
• Assign projects, manage workloads, and ensure deadlines are met with high-quality output.
• Conduct performance reviews and contribute to hiring decisions for the Creative team.
• Foster a collaborative, innovative, and positive team culture.

Illustration & Hands-On Creative Work

• Create original illustrations for product designs as time and workload permit.
• Contribute directly to design projects during peak periods or when specialized artistic direction is required.
• Maintain a high personal standard of creative output to model expectations for the team.

Sales Collaboration & Trade Show Planning

• Partner with the Sales team to identify and select designs to feature at trade shows, ensuring alignment with sales strategy and customer demand.
• Develop and manage plan-o-grams for trade show booths, organizing product displays to maximize visual impact and customer engagement.
• Attend trade shows as needed to oversee booth setup, creative presentation, and on-site adjustments.
• Gather feedback from trade show events and Sales to inform future creative direction.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, Illustration, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• 5+ years of professional design experience, with at least 2 years in a leadership or senior creative role.
• Demonstrated expertise in illustration, with a portfolio showcasing a range of styles.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign) and other relevant design tools.
• Strong understanding of print production processes and requirements for manufactured goods.
• Proven ability to translate market trends into actionable creative strategy.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.

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Preferred

• Experience in the gift, souvenir, or consumer goods wholesale industry.
• Familiarity with destination retail markets.
• Experience creating plan-o-grams or managing trade show visual merchandising.
• Knowledge of current trends in nature-inspired, travel, and destination design aesthetics.

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $100,000 - $138,000 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Benefits

401(k) with match, profit sharing, BlueCross BlueShield health insurance, employee discount, flexible schedule, generous PTO, paid paternity and maternity leave, and an amazing, supportive team!

Physical Requirements

Travel to trade shows and industry events is required periodically. The role may require extended periods of computer use and the ability to review physical product samples.

Equal Opportunity Employment

McGovern Outdoor is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed. It is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required.