Design Director (Pepsi)

PepsiCo • New York, NY

17h

About The Position

As the Design Director, you will play a pivotal role in driving comprehensive creative & strategic brand design for Pepsi, PepsiCo Beverages US (PBUS). You will drive the 360º brand vision,inclusive of evergreen visual identity systems, packaging, campaigns, and events across all tentpole platforms from product, innovation, sports and culture. This role is for a highly strategic and innovative thinker who understands the intersection of design, culture, and consumer relevancy. You will report directly to the Senior Design Director, Pepsi, to conceptualize, develop, and execute creative vision that not only aligns with our strategic growth plans but also pushes the boundaries of what’s expected in the market. This role requires a deep understanding of brand design, packaging, cultural trends, consumer behavior, with the ability to collaborate across multiple functions and external partners. Successful candidates will demonstrate superior ability to inspire and engage cross-functional teams, lead and develop talent and team capabilities.

Requirements

• Experience: 12+ years of deep brand design experience, with a proven track record of Creative Leadership and People Management.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Design. A master’s degree is a plus.
• Skills:
• Extraordinary design taste.
• Deep knowledge of brand design, packaging, visual identity, 360.
• Strong strategic and creative thinking abilities, with a keen understanding of cultural and consumer trends.
• Can effectively influence senior levels in the organization across regions and functions
• Excellent project management skills, with the ability to lead complex projects and collaborate across multiple teams.
• Can get things done through formal and informal channels
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, capable of articulating creative concepts to diverse audiences.
• Ability to manage budgets and resources effectively.
• Strong typography, conceptual design skills, and excellence in creating design systems
• Introductory understanding of AI in design and production processes
• Cultural Fit: Highly creative, strategic, and collaborative, with a strong sense of empathy and professionalism. Able to work across diverse teams and represent the company’s values in all external partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Conceptualization: Create holistic and strategic creative concepts that inspire brand love and loyalty. Identifies and promotes self-initiated design programs that generate critical business value. Develops concept decks, internal/external shareouts and post-launch summary reports.
• Innovation & Creativity: Develop wildly innovative and culturally relevant concepts that resonate with target consumer. Push the boundaries of traditional marketing strategies by integrating unexpected partnerships, collaborations, and creative ideas.
• People Leadership & Influence: Energize and lead high-performing team of designers with wide range of skillsets, as well as external design resources and partners. Inspire and influence a broad range of stakeholders, both internal and external, through your creative vision and strategic mindset. Play a key role in elevating the creative direction of our brands and contributing to the overall growth strategy.
• Cultural Expertise: Serve as the leading expert on design and culture within the team. Stay informed about industry developments, competitor strategies, and emerging cultural phenomena to ensure our brands remain at the forefront of consumer relevance.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with brand design, marketing, commercial, Division, PR, and other key stakeholders to ensure the seamless integration of creative concepts across the portfolio. Maintain a high level of collaboration to ensure cohesive brand narratives.
• Budget & Resource Management: Manage assigned project budgets, ensuring creative solutions are developed within financial constraints. Collaborate with internal teams to optimize resources and achieve project goals.
• Performance Metrics: Track and measure the success of creative initiatives through key performance indicators (KPIs) such as PR impact, consumer engagement, earned media, and sales performance. Provide detailed reports on the effectiveness of collaborations and partnerships.

Benefits

• Bonus based on performance and eligibility target payout is 25% of annual salary paid out annually and an additional target payout of 10% of annual salary is paid out over 3 years following the end of the performance period.
• Long term incentive equity may be awarded based on eligibility and performance.
• Paid time off subject to eligibility, including paid parental leave, vacation, sick, and bereavement.
• In addition to salary, PepsiCo offers a comprehensive benefits package to support our employees and their families, subject to elections and eligibility: Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Health, and Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Insurance (Accident, Group Legal, Life), Defined Contribution Retirement Plan.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director