Director, Brand Design

Betterment•New York, NY

1d•$175,000 - $205,000•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 both Retail and B2B businesses. The Director will be the brand’s primary design voice and final authority on its design system, maintaining consistency while identifying when the system should evolve. The role remains hands-on, leading concepting and art direction for major initiatives, refining key work, and contributing wherever craft needs attention. The Director will also lead and develop a small team of designers, set standards, and empower designers to own execution in their areas. The Director will shape creative briefs and provide direction before execution begins, build and pitch design initiatives, and partner with marketing and sales stakeholders to establish project goals and measures of success. They will represent the team’s work to senior leadership, participate in hiring, and source and direct external vendors and agencies. This position reports to the VP, Brand Creative and partners closely with the Director of Copy and the Director of Brand Operations. It is based in Betterment’s New York City office. NYC-based positions are hybrid, with four in-office days per week and no required office days during 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, and to shape briefs and direct work before execution.
Experience managing and developing designers at varying levels of seniority, supporting both craft-focused and people-leadership growth paths.
A 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 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 familiarity with 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 so projects have clear direction and objectives.
Maintain the craft bar across advertising, web, motion, and collateral; lead concepting and art direction for key initiatives and refine work at critical moments.
Manage and develop a team of senior designers by setting goals, providing constructive feedback, and improving execution.
Build and pitch proposals for new design initiatives.
Partner with marketing and sales stakeholders to understand assignment goals and success measures.
Create a team culture that encourages creative risks, dissenting opinions, and learning from projects.
Represent the team’s work and point of view to senior leadership, connecting creative decisions to business context.
Participate in hiring by leading portfolio reviews, evaluating candidates, and helping scale the team.
Source and direct vendors and agencies to supplement the team’s work.