Design Director, AI

Jellyfish•New York, NY

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

As a Design Director in the production and adaptation space, you will lead a talented team of multi-disciplinary designers in creating compelling, high-quality content for some of the world’s best-known brands. This role combines hands-on design work with leadership of a globally dispersed team, ensuring creative excellence across static, motion graphics, illustration, social media content, and branded assets for various touch points. Your expertise in static and motion design, along with your ability to effectively adapt and localize content for different markets, will be crucial in meeting client needs. You’ll oversee asset management, implement templated approaches for localization efforts, and leverage AI tools such as Pencil Pro to streamline and enhance the design process. You will lead by example, fostering a collaborative environment while maintaining high standards of creativity and execution. Your ability to stay current with the latest design trends, push boundaries, and work efficiently under tight deadlines will be essential in delivering exceptional content that resonates across diverse platforms. This is a flexible, hybrid position based out of our NYC office. The salary range for this role is between $134,000-165,000 USD, annually and final offer is dependent on experience.

Requirements

A minimum of 7 years of professional experience in a relevant design role within an agency or brand environment.
Proven success working with globally recognized brands, adapting design solutions to fit diverse markets.
Expertise in design tools including Figma, Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, and Premiere Pro.
Strong proficiency in motion design and video editing, with a solid understanding of 3D animation tools (e.g., Blender) considered a bonus.
Extensive experience in producing digital and social assets, both static and motion, for global audiences.
Proven track record of leading and mentoring diverse design teams across multiple time zones.
Strong understanding of visual storytelling, with the ability to transform complex concepts into clear and engaging designs.
In-depth knowledge of social media and paid media design best practices.
Creative problem solver, able to push design briefs and deliver innovative solutions.
Excellent organizational skills with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects under tight deadlines.
Strong communicator, comfortable presenting design concepts and guiding a team through feedback and revisions.
A keen eye for design trends, tech innovations, and cultural references, ensuring your work stays on-point and ahead of the curve.
Familiarity with AI-driven tools like Pencil Pro for content adaptation and optimization across projects, ensuring efficiency and alignment with brand guidelines.
Able to adapt to and lead in a fast-paced environment, taking on multiple projects and responsibilities while maintaining a high level of inspiration and organization.

Nice To Haves

Experience in 3D design (e.g., Blender) considered a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead and inspire a globally dispersed design team, fostering a strong sense of community and ensuring consistent delivery of high-quality work.
Regularly check in with designers to support their professional development, providing guidance to ensure design excellence.
Actively participate in project reviews, collaborating with the project team to ensure that all briefs are met and creative output aligns with client expectations.
Lead weekly design huddles and ensure open communication channels within the design community.
Attend monthly meetings with the Creative and Experience Network to stay aligned with overall creative strategies and initiatives.
Oversee the production and adaptation of content across multiple channels, ensuring that both static and motion graphics meet brand guidelines and project requirements.
Utilize AI tools such as Pencil Pro to streamline the design process, adapting content efficiently and maintaining high creative standards for both static and motion designs.
Ensure the integration of Pencil Pro's capabilities for generating and iterating design assets quickly, enabling the team to optimize workflows and speed up the adaptation process.
Maintain proficiency in design tools, including Figma as well as Adobe Suite (After Effects, Photoshop, Illustrator). Experience in 3D design (e.g., Blender) considered a plus.
Collaborate closely with creative teams and project managers to ensure briefs are clearly understood and executed.
Lead by example, providing hands-on design leadership and delivering high-quality assets while mentoring your team members.
Manage and prioritize multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery without compromising on quality.
Stay up-to-date with design, technology, and social media trends to inspire and guide the team.
Ensure designs are adaptable to various platforms, including social media and digital touch points, while maintaining consistency with brand identity.
Provide constructive feedback and revisions in a timely manner, pushing the boundaries of creativity while staying aligned with client needs.
Create, review, and optimize content for localization and adapt assets for different regions while keeping the brand message intact.
Maintain a high level of organization in project management, ensuring clear and efficient workflows.
Able to step in to resolve issues with projects either internally or externally.
Present ideas and design solutions to internal teams, VPs of Creative, and clients, ensuring clarity and impact in every presentation.
Cultivate a creative environment where feedback is welcome, and continuous improvement is encouraged.