Design Director

CBX • New York, NY

10d • $140,000 - $160,000

About The Position

The Design Director leads creative vision and design delivery for key client engagements at CBX, a brand and design agency. Partnering with creative, strategy, client services, and senior leadership, the director shapes brand programs, leads multidisciplinary teams, and presents work with strategic clarity and conviction.

The role owns creative vision and design quality for assigned clients and brand programs, translating research, strategy, and business objectives into briefs, brand platforms, design systems, and clear creative directions. It also involves leading ideation and review sessions, managing designers and project teams, building senior client relationships, supporting project scopes and budgets, and coaching design talent.

Success means delivering distinctive, strategically grounded work on time and within agreed scope; earning client and internal approval; developing strong client relationships and design teams; and contributing to new business, agency thought leadership, effective processes, and a collaborative culture.

Requirements

• At least 8 years of progressive experience in brand design, including significant experience leading creative work in a branding, design, or integrated agency environment.
• Portfolio demonstrating exceptional concept development, brand identity, design systems, storytelling, and execution across multiple channels and touchpoints.
• Ability to connect brand strategy, category and competitive insights, audience needs, and business goals to clear creative direction.
• Experience leading, mentoring, and reviewing designers at different levels while managing multiple projects and priorities.
• Strong client-facing and presentation skills, including the ability to influence senior stakeholders, navigate feedback, and constructively defend a point of view.
• Excellent judgment, communication, and organizational skills.
• Working knowledge of agency scoping, resourcing, budgets, and project economics.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's degree in design or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Responsibilities

• Own the creative vision and overall design quality for assigned clients and brand programs, ensuring work is strategically grounded, distinctive, and effective across touchpoints.
• Translate research, strategy, and business objectives into creative briefs, brand platforms, design systems, and clear directions for the team.
• Lead kickoffs, ideation sessions, critiques, and design reviews; provide timely, actionable feedback and determine when work is ready for client presentation.
• Direct and manage designers and project teams by setting roles, priorities, timelines, and expectations while balancing creative quality, resources, and deliverables.
• Build senior client relationships as a trusted brand advisor; present work, explain recommendations, and guide productive decision-making.
• Partner with client services and strategy on scopes, staffing, schedules, and budgets; monitor hours and deliverables to support efficient, profitable project delivery.
• Coach and develop design talent through feedback, career guidance, performance input, and capability-building opportunities.
• Surface project risks early and adjust resources proactively to support delivery within agreed scope and hours.
• Contribute creative leadership to new business, agency thought leadership, stronger processes, and a collaborative agency culture.

What This Job Offers

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