Design Lead

OverviewTop Hat is looking for a creative Design Lead to shape, elevate, and oversee the full expression of our brand across every channel. This role is both strategic and hands-on: you’ll set the creative direction, mentor the design function, shape design workflows, and collaborate across teams, all while producing polished, high-impact work yourself. We’re looking for someone who thrives at the intersection of vision and execution, equally comfortable guiding brand identity at the big-picture level and rolling up their sleeves to deliver exceptional design. You’ll embrace AI-powered tools, experimenting with new technologies to streamline workflows, push creative boundaries and uncover fresh ways to bring ideas to life For further consideration, please provide us with your portfolio of work to showcase what you\'ve done What You’ll Do Provide creative direction and mentorship to the design function, setting performance standards and fostering a culture of excellence Lead creative direction across all marketing and brand initiatives, ensuring consistency and alignment with company strategy Strategically plan, prioritize, and manage the creative project pipeline, ensuring high-quality, on-time execution of all creative assets and campaigns Conceptualize and design assets for digital, social platforms, sales enablement, events and more Own and project manage creative workflows, timelines, and deliverables, ensuring high-quality, on-time execution Collaborate cross-functionally with Marketing, Web Development, Product, Engineering, and Revenue teams to translate business needs into compelling creative solutions Explore and apply AI-powered creative tools to elevate design output and workflows Provide art direction and feedback to freelancers and partners Champion the brand voice and visual identity, ensuring consistency across all channels and touchpoints Stay current on design trends, AI-powered tools, and best practices to continually raise the creative bar What We’re Looking For 7+ years of professional design experience Proven experience in a leadership capacity (managing, mentoring, or providing art direction to designers, freelancers, or direct reports) Strong portfolio showcasing excellence in brand, marketing, and visual design across multiple mediums Proven ability to set creative direction while remaining hands-on in execution Experience using AI-powered design or creative tools and an interest in experimenting with new technologies to enhance creative output Strong organizational skills with experience managing creative workflows and timelines Demonstrated experience in strategically managing complex, cross-functional projects with defined timelines and deliverables Excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders A passion for building and evolving brands that connect with audiences Why Team Members Love Working At Top Hat A noble mission that creates meaningful, fulfilling work A team that cares deeply for customers and for each other Flexible, remote first work environment Professional learning and development for all role levels An awesome and welcoming Toronto HQ Competitive health benefits that start on day one A management team focused on performance, growth, engagement and connection Our winning strategy and market potential Innovative PTO policy with lots of time and space for self-care Passionate customers that believe in us—and what we do A chance to work with new tech like generative AI—and see the customer impact Job Details Seniority level: Mid-Senior level Employment type: Full-time Job function: Design, Art/Creative, and Information Technology Industries: Software Development Get notified about new Lead Designer jobs in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Toronto, Ontario, Canada $120,000.00-$515,000.00 3 weeks ago Toronto, Ontario, Canada CA$100,000.00-CA$120,000.00 2 weeks ago We’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI. #J-18808-Ljbffr