Company: Rakuten Kobo

Location: Toronto, ON

Expected salary:

Job date: Sat, 12 Jul 2025 05:50:33 GMT

Job description: Job Description:Here at Rakuten Kobo Inc. we offer a casual working start-up environment and a group of friendly and talented individuals. Our employees rank us highly in terms of commitment to work/life balance. We realize that for our people to be innovative, creative and passionate they need to feel valued and supported. We believe in rewarding all our employees with competitive salaries, performance based annual bonuses, stock options and training opportunities.If you’re looking for a company that inspires passion, personal, and professional growth – join Kobo and come help us on our mission of making reading lives better.The Role:Rakuten Kobo is looking for a visionary and highly collaborative Global Creative Director to lead the evolution and execution of our global creative strategy. You’ll drive the expression of the Kobo brand across every customer touchpoint, ensuring consistency, quality, and innovation from marketing campaigns and product packaging to in-store and co-branded partner communications.This is a critical leadership role that blends high-level brand stewardship with day-to-day creative direction. You’ll lead a talented in-house creative team of designers and writers, and collaborate closely with marketing, product, CRM/Digital and retail teams across regions. If you’re passionate about storytelling, design, digital experiences, and mentoring creative talent, this is your opportunity to shape how the world sees and experiences Kobo.What You’ll Do:Brand & Creative LeadershipDefine and own the global creative strategy in alignment with Kobo’s brand vision, business goals, and customer needs.Act as the brand’s creative guide and guardian, ensuring cohesive and compelling brand expression across all channels, markets, and experiences.Lead the development of big-picture creative concepts and campaigns that build brand equity, drive customer engagement, and support innovation and growth.Drive Team Management & CollaborationLead, mentor, and develop an internal team of copywriters and designers, collaborating closely with external creative partners/agencies.Provide clear direction, set high standards, and routinely review work to elevate creative quality and effectiveness.Create a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team culture that values innovation, craft, and open communication.Set clear expectations, provide constructive feedback, and support career development through coaching and goal-setting.Lead Creative Execution & OversightOversee creative execution across channels including digital campaigns, website, blog, email, social media, paid media, packaging, in-store materials, and partner co-marketing assets.Lead the development of compelling, on-brand content, from website copy and social posts to email campaigns, video scripts, and advertising materials.Provide hands-on art and copy direction to ensure all creative outputs meet the highest standards of storytelling, visual excellence, and audience engagement.Collaborate closely with creative operations and production teams to effectively scope projects, define deliverables, and streamline workflows for efficient, high-quality execution.Steer Cross-Functional Creative AlignmentCollaborate with Marketing, Product, Content, Digital/CRM and Retail teams to align creative with campaign objectives, user experience, and business strategy.Translate creative briefs into thoughtful, effective concepts that bring the brand to life with clarity and purpose.Lead ideation sessions and persuasively present creative ideas to internal stakeholders and executive leadership, clearly articulating their strategic value and creative utility.Champion Innovation, Insights & OptimizationStay at the forefront of industry trends, emerging creative technologies, and shifting consumer behaviors to keep Kobo’s creative work fresh and future-forward.Champion experimentation with new formats such as motion, interactive content, AI-generated creative, and localized storytelling—to enhance impact and relevance.Review creative performance metrics and translate insights into actionable improvements that elevate future campaigns and deepen customer engagement.What You’ll Bring15+ years of experience in senior creative roles, ideally in a global creative leadership position.Proven success leading creative teams and delivering innovative work across digital, social, mobile, packing, retail and print platforms.A strong portfolio showcasing creative excellence in branding, campaign work, content and retail marketing.Deep expertise in visual storytelling, copywriting, brand strategy, and creative execution.Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to translate complex business challenges into elegant, compelling creative solutions.Demonstrated leadership and people management skills, with a passion for coaching and developing talent.Experience working cross-functionally in agile environments, particularly with product, retail, and marketing teams.Strong communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills—comfortable influencing at all levels.Bachelor’s degree in Design, Communications, Marketing, or a related field.Experience in the publishing, e-commerce, or technology industries is a plus.The Perks:

• Flexible hours and hybrid remote working environment
• Subsidized in-office lunches
• Full benefits starting from your first day
• Paid Volunteer days, unlimited sick days, and 3% RRSP matching
• Monthly commuting allowance for those who are hybrid
• Lifestyle spending account
• Talent and development training budget
• Free Kobo device + free weekly e-book or audiobook
• Weekly Kobo Tech University sessions
• Maternity/paternity leave top up
• Dog friendly office

About Rakuten Kobo Inc.
Owned by Tokyo-based Rakuten and headquartered in Toronto, Rakuten Kobo Inc. is one of the most advanced global ecommerce companies, with the world’s most innovative e-reading services offering more than 6 million eBooks and audiobooks to 30 million + customers in 190 countries. Kobo delivers the best digital reading experience through creative innovation, award-winning e-readers, and top-ranking mobile apps. Kobo is a part of the Rakuten group of companies.Rakuten Kobo Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Accessibility accommodations for candidates with disabilities participating in the selection process are available on request. Any information received related to accommodation needs of applicants will be addressed confidentially.Rakuten Kobo would like to thank all applicants for their interest in this role however only qualified candidates will be shortlisted.Beware of fraudulent job offers claiming to be from Rakuten. Rakuten does not send unsolicited job offers or request money during the recruitment process. Learn more: https://rakutenemploymentalert.com/#RKIND

Job Summary: Global Creative Director at Rakuten Kobo Inc.

Company Overview:
Rakuten Kobo Inc. fosters a casual, start-up culture, prioritizing work/life balance and employee support. They offer competitive salaries, performance-based bonuses, stock options, and training opportunities, aiming to inspire personal and professional growth.

Role Responsibilities:
As the Global Creative Director, you’ll shape and oversee Kobo’s creative strategy, ensuring authentic and cohesive brand expression. Key responsibilities include:

• Creative Leadership: Define and manage the global creative strategy aligning with brand vision and business goals.
• Team Management: Lead and mentor an internal team of creatives, fostering a collaborative and inclusive culture.
• Creative Execution: Oversee content creation across various channels (digital, print, etc.), ensuring high standards in storytelling and design.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work with multiple departments (Marketing, Product, etc.) to align creatives with broader objectives and present ideas to stakeholders.
• Innovation & Optimization: Stay updated with industry trends and use insights to enhance creative effectiveness.

Candidate Requirements:

• 15+ years in senior creative roles, ideally with global experience.
• Proven leadership in delivering innovative work across various platforms.
• Strong portfolio in branding and digital marketing.
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Relevant degree in Design, Communications, or Marketing; industry experience in publishing or tech is beneficial.

Perks and Benefits:

• Flexible hours and hybrid work options.
• Subsidized lunches and full benefits from day one.
• Paid volunteer days, unlimited sick leave, and an RRSP matching plan.
• Free Kobo device and e-books, along with a lifestyle spending account.
• Dog-friendly office and maternity/paternity leave top-up.

Company Commitment:
Rakuten Kobo Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, providing accommodation for candidates with disabilities as needed. They maintain a policy against fraudulent job offers.

For more information, visit their recruitment website.