Design Director

SketchDeck

2h • $95,000 - $110,000 • Remote

About The Position

SketchDeck is hiring a Design Director to lead creative direction and client work in a flexible, remote-first environment. The role focuses on developing and delivering creative pitches, setting design and brand vision across accounts, leading high-level creative projects, and mentoring designers. The Design Director works closely with Project Managers to oversee team work and success and reports directly to the VP, Creative Impact.

The role combines client project leadership, account and brand strategy, new business development, and team development. The Design Director partners with clients and internal teams to scope work, set creative direction, lead presentations and reviews, maintain account-level design quality, identify opportunities to expand client relationships, and strengthen team processes and capabilities. SketchDeck is an entrepreneurial environment where priorities may shift quickly and the role may involve supporting new work and other teams.

Requirements

• At least 7 years of creative and art direction experience, including at least 4 years in a fast-paced agency environment.
• Proven ability to lead strategic, cross-channel creative work from concept through execution across marketing, branding, and communications.
• Strong communication skills and ability to shape and share a compelling creative vision aligned with business goals.
• People leadership experience mentoring creative teams, inspiring innovation, and delivering impactful work on time and within budget.
• Expert-level skills in Adobe Creative Suite, including Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop, and in Figma.
• Collaborative approach and ability to work closely with project managers, developers, and QA.
• Demonstrated success working with large, enterprise-level clients, understanding complex needs, and delivering standout solutions.
• Strong client skills, efficient design processes, prioritization and project management skills, and entrepreneurial instinct.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with Google Slides and PowerPoint.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Project Managers on scoping and estimating higher-level creative projects, supporting large corporate accounts with fast-paced deadlines.
• Lead internal and external kickoff calls, creative presentations, and problem-solving meetings with clients, Project Managers, and designers.
• Brainstorm live with clients, propose creative ideas, ask focused questions, and adapt recommendations as new information emerges.
• Shift between accounts and tasks, reprioritize as needs change, and communicate tradeoffs.
• Determine which projects need high-level strategic input and which can be led by a Brand Manager.
• Coordinate project needs, timelines, team skills, and creative staff availability with Project Managers.
• Set up briefs and provide creative direction and inspiration to the design team.
• Work with Project Managers to define team workflows and scopes of work.
• Lead communication from brainstorming through final production and provide creative reviews and feedback to designers.
• Assign team members to projects and build collaborative, strategy-led teams.
• Drive design excellence and push creative boundaries where appropriate.
• Onboard new client accounts by reviewing brand materials, setting up brand pages, and integrating accounts into SketchDeck workflows.
• Build creative partner relationships with clients, understand their goals, and learn their brand guidelines and preferences.
• Maintain and improve account-level design quality; train designers to keep brand pages, templates, Adobe CC libraries, and brand assets updated.
• Identify opportunities to elevate existing brands and train and mentor designers and Brand Managers on those brands.
• Set high standards as an authority on brand and design and provide creative and management input for new accounts.
• Identify opportunities to expand services within client accounts and develop and present proposals and pitches to prospective clients.
• Support Business Development teams with creative concepts for new accounts and work.
• Make design tools accessible, train designers, and provide design inspiration.
• Share responsibility for managing team talent and assist with recruiting as needed.
• Escalate issues and important opportunities to the Director of Design.
• Keep designers inspired and engaged with clients’ brands.
• Contribute ideas to improve design team structure, processes, and development.
• Lead internal SketchDeck projects, including portfolio work, designer assessments and levels, internal trainings, and new designer interviews.
• Maintain effective communication across teams and set clear goals.

Benefits

• 401(k) with company match.
• Fully remote working environment.
• Paid time off that grows with tenure.
• Annual company retreat.
• Computer hardware of your choice, up to $2,500.
• $500 toward office setup expenses.
• Opportunity to work with a talented team of designers, team members, and engineers.
• Discretionary performance bonus of $5,000.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed