Art Director, Intellectual Property

Who We Are:

Kontoor Brands, Inc. (KTB) is the parent company of Wrangler®, Lee® and Rock & Republic®, with owned manufacturing facilities in Mexico and Nicaragua. Kontoor also owns and operates over 140 retail stores across the globe. Our global company employs more than 15,000 people in 65 countries, with world headquarters in Greensboro, North Carolina, and regional headquarters in Geneva and Hong Kong.

Job Posting:

Art Director – IP Music & Pop Culture

Job Summary

The Art Director’s strategic focus is to bring category expertise to our IP program as a dedicated resource to drive best-in-class creative content and execution across all tiers of business.  The Art Director’s role is in charge of the visuals and aesthetics of a project.  This role will provide effective communication and an entrepreneurial focus to build best-in-class art as a primary focus.  The Art Director will work independently and collaboratively and must be a self-starter.  The AD will have extensive experience creating apparel graphics in the licensed space, working with studios and navigating licensor approvals, legal guidance, and proprietary content. 

The Art Director role will work with studios, and licensing partners to create owned art assets and content for use within assortments at all tiers and channels of business within the IP space.  

The AD will effectively create and manage graphics library, studio assets, and have extensive experience of the ‘ins’ and ‘outs’ of the licensing world as it relates to apparel graphics.   Additionally, this role will have a solid understanding of collection-based graphics and assortments, having worked with brands to gain a strong knowledge of product in both wholesale and retail environments.

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of success in the IP space, experience working with bands and licensed properties for all levels of retail, and the ability to be a creative problem solver.   The ideal candidate will have a solid understanding of market dynamics and key factors related to licensing and be able to articulate graphic stories and collections to key partners.    

Responsibilities

• Create best-in-class artwork for IP initiatives at all tiers of distribution.  
• Manage IP assets, style guides and art approvals to support sell-in for all IP business objectives.  
• Partner with Licensing team to effectively navigate product approvals, new art, and assets with licensors.
• Create trend reports, art briefs, artwork and presentations to support business objectives within IP graphics space.   
• Manage freelance budget for licensed graphics and ensure proper aesthetics within IP artwork and assortments.  
• Bring category expertise in licensing/proprietary graphics to ensure approvals, legal, and studio needs are met.  

Leadership

• Collaborates with strategic partners to align with strategic vision and business objectives within the IP channel.
• Provide category expertise to ensure we are best-in-class within the IP / Licensed graphics space.  
• Able to articulate vision and objectives for all IP graphics needs and assortments with partners and key leaders.  

Requirements

• 10-12 years’ experience within Apparel Graphics market.  
• 5-10 years’ experience within music apparel market.
• Category expert working with artists, studios, licensing, marketing, within wholesale and retail environments.   
• Strong understanding of music, bands, pop culture and current market trends related to licensed apparel.
• Proficiency in graphic design programs, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign
• Effective communication and presentation skills
• Strong attention to detail, problem-solving mindset, strong understanding of design process and sell-in strategies.
• Ability to multi-task and change priority focus quickly without missing deliverable dates.
• Customer focused mindset with a clear understanding of wholesale and retail apparel market dynamics.
• Accountable, efficient and able to produce market leading graphics at a fast pace to support business opportunities.

Why Kontoor Brands?

At Kontoor, we offer a comprehensive benefit package to fit your lifestyle and our benefits are crafted with the same care as our products.

When our employees are healthy, secure and well, they bring their best selves to work. Kontoor Brands supports you with a competitive benefits program that provides choice and flexibility to meet your and your family’s needs – now and in the future. We offer r