Director, Brand Design

Betterment•New York City, NY

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

Betterment is seeking a Director of Brand Design to raise the ambition and craft of its brand across advertising, web, motion, and sales collateral for its Retail and B2B businesses. The Director will serve as the primary design voice and final decision-maker for the brand design system, maintaining consistency while identifying when the visual identity should evolve. The role is hands-on, leading concept development and art direction on major initiatives and refining work at critical points. The Director will manage and develop a small team of designers, set creative standards, and empower designers to own execution. They will collaborate with marketing, sales, copy, brand operations, external agencies, and senior leadership to set direction, shape briefs, and connect creative decisions to business goals. This role reports to the VP, Brand Creative and is based in Betterment’s New York City office. NYC-based hybrid positions are in-office four days per week, with no required office days during the summer and winter holidays.

Requirements

10+ years of brand or design experience, including experience leading or managing designers.
A strong, well-defined point of view on brand design systems and experience evolving an identity system over time.
Ability to translate business strategy, objectives, and growth goals into a clear creative point of view and compelling work, while shaping briefs and providing direction before execution.
Experience managing and developing designers at varying seniority levels, supporting both craft-focused and people-leadership growth paths.
Track record of cross-functional partnership with copy and brand voice, marketing, operations, and external agencies to keep creative work on-brand and on schedule.
Excellent presentation and communication skills, including representing a team's work and decisions to senior and executive stakeholders.
A portfolio demonstrating range and craft across advertising, web, motion, and sales materials.

Nice To Haves

Experience in fintech, wealth management, or another regulated industry, including work shaped by compliance and disclosure requirements.

Responsibilities

Act as the arbiter of the brand design system and standards, challenging and evolving the system when appropriate.
Review and shape creative briefs before work begins to ensure clear direction and objectives.
Maintain the overall craft standard across advertising, web, motion, and collateral.
Lead concepting and art direction on key initiatives, personally refining work at critical moments and catching execution misses or inconsistencies.
Manage and develop a team of senior designers by setting goals, providing constructive feedback, and improving design execution.
Build and pitch proposals for new design initiatives.
Work with marketing and sales stakeholders to understand assignment goals and measures of success.
Create a team culture that supports creative risk-taking, dissenting opinions, and learning from projects.
Represent the team's work and point of view to senior leadership, explaining creative decisions in business context.
Participate in hiring by leading portfolio review interviews, evaluating candidates, and helping scale the team.
Source and direct vendors and agencies to supplement the team's work.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
Life and AD&D insurance.
Short- and long-term disability coverage.
Infertility support and WPATH-aligned transgender health benefits.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Transit benefits and FSA and HSA options.
Equity for all employees, including new-hire and refresher grants.
Flexible paid time off.
Paid parental leave.
Fully paid four-week sabbatical in the sixth year.
Company-paid professional coaching for all employees.
Day-one 401(k) match and matching on qualified student loan payments.
Potential eligibility for variable compensation in the form of a company incentive bonus.