Who We Are:
Based in Stratford, Ontario, the Stratford Festival is one of the world’s foremost repertory theatre companies. It operates year-round, presenting a season of about a dozen plays each year between the months of April and November, a rich stream of digital content and hundreds of events designed to deepen understanding of the plays. For every person a theatregoer sees on our stages, we have seven people working behind the scenes, some of the world’s most dedicated and experienced arts workers.
The Stratford Festival is committed to ongoing work to support equity, inclusion, anti-racism and anti-oppression in all areas of our work. These areas include play selection, casting, marketing and public relations efforts, education programs, production, design, recruitment of staff and volunteers, and the composition of the Board of Directors.
Why You Should Apply:
Creative work environment
Paid operational shutdown in December, with flexibility of days being used at alternative times during the year
Group Insurance Benefits
Employer matched RRSP
Employee Assistance Program to encourage work-life balance and strong mental health
Complimentary & discounted ticket offers and events
Employee discounts on merchandise and event space
Being a part of the magic of live theatre!
The Senior Graphic Designer holds a pivotal role in crafting internal and external marketing and communication assets across diverse media channels. Reporting to the Senior Manager, Marketing Production, this position is essential in shaping the visual identity of the Stratford Festival. The Senior Graphic Designer oversees and guides the efforts of both in-house and freelance graphic designers, ensuring a cohesive and compelling execution of the Festival's visual brand across various platforms.
Responsibilities:
Conceptualize and design internal and external marketing and communication assets, translating abstract creative briefs into visually engaging collateral across various media channels.
Demonstrate advanced knowledge of the Stratford Festival brand and processes, ensuring brand consistency among the graphic design team and freelance designers.
Collaborate closely with the Director of Content and Editorial to establish the overall tone of the season's creative endeavours, as well as the look and feel of each season’s print materials.
Foster a positive team environment that emphasizes mentorship and innovation, promoting a culture of mutual support and professional development.
Review and provide constructive feedback on team members' design work daily, acting as the first reviewer in the proofing workflow to ensure projects stay on schedule.
Work closely with the Senior Manager, Marketing Production to advise the graphic design team on work reviews conducted every three months.
Participate in cross-departmental collaborations to ensure seamless alignment of creative efforts across the organization.
Attend dress rehearsals to evaluate on-the-run photography selects for promotional use and demonstrate expertise in retouching this photography.
Continuously review and modify design processes to enhance workflow efficiency within the graphic design team.
Stay updated on design trends and best practices to ensure the Stratford Festival's visual identity remains fresh and relevant.
Proactively address challenges during on-site press approvals, collaborating closely with print vendors and the design team to meet quality and timeline requirements.
Maintain and back up archival files daily.
Adhere to the Stratford Festival Health & Safety Commitment and Procedures, and ensure that safe work practices and policies are supported and enforced within reporting structure.
Perform other duties as assigned
Minimum Qualifications:
Post-secondary diploma program, typically a two year program, or equivalent, (i.e. Community college, Technical Institute or Trade School, etc.) in in Graphic Design.
6 to 8 years of related experience
Advanced knowledge of Adobe Create Cloud Suite.
In-depth knowledge of colour theory, typography, layout and composition.
Strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills to address design challenges
Ability to interpret and respond to creative briefs effectively.
Familiarity with Basecamp, PageProof and Microsoft Office tools.
Behavioural Competencies:
Critical thinking: effectively and efficiently contextualize situations, explore alternatives and select optimal solutions
Time Management: efficiently allocate and use time to meet goals and deadlines, prioritize tasks as necessary.
Adaptability / Agility: seamlessly adjust to changes in environment or situation; readily learn alternative approaches and methods
Attention to Detail: meticulously review work and ensure accuracy and precision in all tasks.
Problem-Solving: able to identify challenges, analyze root causes, and develop practical solutions.
Organization skills: create structure and optimally use resources to achieve results and ensure productivity
Teamwork: readily work with others towards a shared goal, actively support teammates and recognize everyone’s contributions
Initiative: proactively execute tasks and resolve issues with minimal guidance
This full-time temporary posting is for an existing vacancy located in Stratford, Ontario and will begin in February 2026. This position requires the candidate to work onsite. Regular work hours for this position are Monday to Friday, but may require the candidate to work holiday and weekend hours as scheduled.
Job Type: 13-month full-time contract Starting in February 2026
Annual Salary: $56,037.80–$70,051.80 annually (equivalent to $30.79–$38.49 per hour)
Shared Values:
Inclusion: contribute to an environment where everyone is welcome, valued and respected; consistently demonstrate an open-mindedness and intellectual curiosity that promote and celebrate the diversity of perspectives.
Innovation: put experience and knowledge into creative problem-solving and the continuous improvement of the organization.
Rigor: show integrity in behaviour, attention to detail in work and commitment to excellence and professional evolution
Caring: be empathetic, understanding and attentive to others
Connection: establish and maintain trusting relationships that are respectful and constructive
Who Should Apply:
We welcome applicants of every identity, and encourage applications from Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, Deaf, disabled and 2SLGBTQ+ folks. We are committed to accommodating people with disabilities throughout the recruitment process and beyond. If you require accommodation (including, but not limited to, an accessible interview site, alternative format documents, ASL Interpreter or Assistive Technology) during the recruitment and selection process, please let our recruitment team know.
No candidate will meet every desired qualification. If your experience looks a little different from what we've identified and you think you can bring value to the role, we’d love to learn more about you!
If you would like to contribute your own remarkable talents to North America’s largest not-for-profit theatre, we’d like to hear from you.
