Design Director

POSITION SUMMARY

This role uses its extensive design background to assist in leading the creative team to produce content incorporating innovative design along with targeted messaging; focused on visual design. This role is a hands-on professional with the ability to apply his/her advanced knowledge of the client’s market, its brand visual identities, and overall design best practices to execute on visual design and story through appropriate technology for desired end marketing use (digital, print, etc.). The Design Director is responsible for leading the design oriented creative vision as well as being integral to the wider creative vision for the group.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

• A degree in Art or Animation. A combination of education and work experience can be substituted. 7+ years’ experience managing a design team
• Demonstrated experience driving design direction for a team
• Demonstrated experience in project management
• Excellent ability to collaborate with others and present creative ideas for successful adoption
• Conceptual thinker who can brainstorm to solve problems and identify priorities for design execution against strict quality or brand standards
• Confident and professional communicator at all levels of an organization
• Excellent attention to detail in deadline driven, pressured environment
• Advanced designer, able to define visual characteristics and understand the client’s identity to create innovative visual design elements.
• Understanding of digital design best practices for email, websites, and channel platforms
• Understanding of design within motion and animation, as well as channel best practices
• Understanding of print design and production
• Aware of new technologies/AI
• Comprehensive understanding of all aspects of design
• Proficient use of Adobe Creative Suite - Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat (plus an understanding of After Effects and Premiere)
• Proficient use of Figma
• Must be able to work with others in a highly creative and collaborative environment. Must be able to critique other’s work and receive criticism from others
• Must be an enthusiastic and inspiring team leader, as well as able to work on your own
• Confidence and great communication skills (written and verbal) at all operational and organizational levels
• Able to meet tight deadlines under pressure and problem solver

JOB DUTIES

(* denotes an “essential function”)

• Champion Creative Excellence: Set and enforce high standards for design quality, inspiring the team to deliver innovative, world-class creative work.
• Ensure Creative Continuity: Review and refine all creative outputs to maintain consistency in tone, style, and storytelling across brands and channels.
• Integrate Creative Technology: Advocate for and embed creative technologists within the team, fostering a mindset that embraces emerging tools, automation, and AI-driven design solutions.
• Channel Expertise: Drive deep understanding of print and digital ecosystems, ensuring creative is optimized for each medium while maintaining a unified brand experience.
• Lead and Inspire: Mentor designers and cross-functional partners, cultivating a collaborative environment that encourages experimentation and bold ideas.
• Client Partnership: Collaborate with creative studio director to serve as a trusted creative advisor, confidently presenting concepts and guiding clients through ideation, reviews, and approvals.
• Guide Designers Through Project Delivery: Assign work and provide direction throughout the creative process to ensure successful outcomes.
• Review and Approve Creative Work: Maintain quality and consistency by reviewing all projects and ensuring alignment with brand standards.
• Provide Design Leadership Across Channels: Deliver guidance across brands and mediums, including both digital and print, to ensure cohesive creative execution and platform expertise.
• Drive Innovation in Design: Leverage deep expertise in visual design and development to inspire innovative solutions from ideation through execution and delivery.
• Implement Scalable Design Systems: Develop modular frameworks to improve efficiency and maintain consistency across projects.
• Manage Talent and Resources: Oversee internal design teams and freelancers, fostering collaboration and maintaining high standards.
• Collaborate Globally: Work across design and production groups worldwide to uphold best practices and deliver exceptional creative quality.
• Document and Share Best Practices: Contribute to knowledge-sharing initiatives to elevate design standards across the organization.

Creative team management and delivery

• Lead project status meetings with creative teams
• Lead creative brainstorms and team development meetings
• Manage projects from concept to completion in both a creative and technical capacity
• Work with project managers on resource scheduling
• Assist project management team in delegating work within team and to remote outsource partners to fulfill project goals

Creative leadership

• Drive the design orientated creative vision for the projects
• Inspire team to do great work
• Communicate with the client and Producer, Account Manager to articulate our creative/technical responses to manage expectations.
• Manages the day-to-day operation of more junior designer roles, focusing on visual design elements, to successfully incorporate design with messaging
• Understand the client and brands aesthetic and apply to the different project briefs
• Assist in building and implementing new approaches to design work

Client facing/relationship building activity.

• Lead clients through all stages of project/production, including briefings, ideation, reviews

Maintain collaborative relationships with all internal and external stakeholders; be seen as a trusted creative partner within the agency.