Apparel Senior Graphic Designer & Colourist – Canadian Tire – Calgary, AB

Calgary’s design community has a compelling new opening worth knowing about. Canadian Tire Corporation (CTC) is seeking an Apparel Senior Graphic Designer & Colourist to join their creative team and lead graphic and colour strategy across some of Canada’s best-known retail banners — Mark’s, Sport Chek, Sport Experts, and Canadian Tire Retail. If you’re a seasoned design professional with a strong eye for colour and an appetite for strategic impact, this role puts you at the centre of apparel development for a major national retailer.

Day to day, you’ll be shaping seasonal graphic and colour direction, integrating cutting-edge tools like CLO3D and AI-driven design resources, evaluating freelance talent, and ensuring every collection tells a cohesive visual story. This is a senior-level position that blends hands-on creative work with team leadership and cross-functional collaboration.

About the Role: Apparel Senior Graphic Designer & Colourist

In this position, you’ll establish and maintain standards for graphic and colour tracking across all banners, lead custom graphics projects, and build stage gates within the master calendar to drive quality and efficiency. You’ll conduct post-mortem analyses on past seasons, analyse sales history, and develop strategic plans for working with external contractors — all with a focus on time savings, cost-effectiveness, and creative excellence. Oversight of PLM product ownership for graphics and colour is also a key part of the mandate.

Beyond the individual creative work, this role carries real leadership responsibilities. You’ll evaluate freelance graphic designers, review strike-offs and lab dips, and champion sustainability principles throughout the design and development process. Authentic collaboration, inclusive behaviour, and a genuine growth mindset are fundamental to how the team operates.

Benefits and Salary

The broadband salary range for this position is $79,000 to $131,000 CAD, with a typical hiring range of $79,000 to $105,000 CAD depending on experience, internal equity, and industry benchmarks. CTC also offers a comprehensive benefits and retirement program, performance incentives, continuing education programs, product discounts, and career growth opportunities. Employees benefit from mental health support of up to $5,000 per year, Canadian Tire Profit Sharing, and a flexible benefits package designed to support overall well-being.

Responsibilities

This role spans strategic colour management, seasonal design execution, and team leadership — making every week varied and dynamic. From building graphic stage gates and managing PLM documentation to presenting seasonal concepts to merchant teams, your contributions will directly influence the look and commercial performance of CTC’s apparel collections.

• Establish and maintain standards for tracking graphics and colour usage across all banners to ensure consistency and quality
• Conduct post-mortem analyses for previous Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter seasons to evaluate adoption rates and inform future creative direction
• Lead the development of custom graphics projects, balancing creativity with cost-effectiveness and carryover/archive opportunities
• Integrate CLO3D into the design and development workflow as a visual aid for print scale, placement, and colour accuracy in renderings
• Research emerging trends in graphics, colour, textiles, and techniques, incorporating AI and digital tools to inspire innovative seasonal designs
• Present concepts and finished designs to creative directors, merchant teams, and buyers for feedback and approval
• Review and approve strike-offs and lab dips to ensure alignment with intended colour direction and brand palette consistency
• Evaluate freelance graphic designers, tailoring responsibilities to reduce internal re-work and manage the graphic development budget effectively
• Oversee PLM product ownership for graphics and colour, ensuring accurate documentation and process adherence
• Champion sustainability principles throughout the design process and contribute to ongoing improvements in sustainable practices

Requirements / Skills

The ideal candidate brings a combination of senior-level creative expertise and strategic thinking — someone who can lead a team, navigate complex seasonal timelines, and still produce portfolio-worthy work. CTC values professionals who are proactive, inclusive, and committed to continuous learning.

• Post-secondary education in Graphic Design, Fashion Design, Textile Design, or a related field
• Proven senior experience in graphic design or a colourist role within the fashion or design industry; apparel development experience is a strong asset
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, CLO3D, and NedGraphics or equivalent design software
• Expertise in colour theory, print development, and graphic workflow optimization
• Deep understanding of market trends, materials, technologies, and sustainability practices in apparel
• Strong leadership, communication, and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and guide freelance talent
• Strong portfolio showcasing expertise in graphic design, colour management, and fashion design across various categories
• Willingness to travel occasionally for factory visits, market shops, trade shows, and industry events

How to Apply

To apply, use the official link below to submit your application through Canadian Tire’s careers portal. Make sure your resume and portfolio are current before submitting.

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