Principal Designer

People Inc • New York, NY

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

People Inc. is seeking a Principal Designer to lead highly visible work across events, brand identity, websites, investor communications, and workplace environments. The role works directly with the Chief Communications Officer and Chief Design Officer. Projects may begin without a defined brief, requiring the designer to frame the problem, establish creative direction, and determine the appropriate outcome. The Principal Designer leads designers and external partners on a project basis while remaining hands-on in the work.

The position works across corporate, brand, communications, and experiential design, partnering with senior leadership and designers across the organization. The Design Group supports Revenue Design, Brand & Editorial Design, Product & UX Design, Design Systems, Creative Operations, Transactional Creative, and Events.

The role is hybrid, with the ability to work remotely up to two days per week. The listed New York salary range is $130,000–$150,000. Actual pay may vary based on factors including work location, experience, and performance. Other compensation may include annual bonuses and short- and long-term incentives.

Requirements

• 10 or more years of professional design experience.
• A strong portfolio demonstrating refined taste and sound creative judgment across multiple disciplines and formats.
• A track record of turning loosely defined problems into clear creative direction and finished work.
• A history of delivering high-impact design work to a high creative standard.
• Experience working directly with senior executives and public-facing leaders, including presenting, explaining, and evolving work with them.
• Ability to lead complex projects and direct designers, agencies, and creative partners.
• Broad expertise across brand, corporate communications, print, digital, presentation, experiential, environmental, and campaign design.
• A clear point of view about design and the ability to advocate for it.
• Ability to move between concept development, creative direction, and hands-on design.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud and Figma.
• Experience using AI and emerging design tools, including Claude, Codex, and Google AI Studio, to improve work quality, speed, or workflow.
• Working knowledge of motion and video workflows and the ability to help direct them.
• Ability to work independently and bring the right people into the work.
• A collaborative, direct, and low-ego approach, with the confidence to challenge an idea when there is a better one.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's degree in design, graphic design, visual communication, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead high-visibility work from problem definition through final execution, including People Inc. Villa at Cannes, People Talks, Dinner with People, and Brand Showcases.
• Lead design work for People Inc. and People Incorporated websites, corporate and brand identity, and presentation systems.
• Develop Investor Relations materials, including earnings decks, campaigns, and employee communications.
• Lead office and experiential design, video walls, sizzle reels, and other motion-led experiences.
• Work with senior leadership and cross-functional partners to establish creative direction, present work, make decisions, and maintain a high standard of craft.
• Define loosely structured problems and develop clear creative approaches before execution.
• Direct designers, agencies, and creative partners project by project; provide feedback, run creative reviews, and mentor designers and emerging leaders.
• Introduce tools and approaches, including AI, when they improve the quality or efficiency of the work.
• Remain accountable for the quality of results without requiring an ongoing people-management structure.

Benefits

• Annual bonuses and short- and long-term incentives may be available.
• Medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage.
• Unlimited paid time off.
• Adoption or surrogate assistance.
• Donation matching.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Basic life insurance and basic accidental death and dismemberment insurance.
• Supplemental life insurance and supplemental accident insurance.
• Commuter benefits.
• Short- and long-term disability coverage.
• Health savings and flexible spending accounts.
• Family care benefits.
• 401(k) savings plan with a company match.
• 10–12 paid holidays annually.
• Paid parental leave for birthing and non-birthing parents.
• Voluntary benefits, including pet insurance and accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity health coverage.

What This Job Offers

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