Design Manager

Summary

Join SmartBug Media, a leading digital agency, as a Design Manager overseeing a team of graphic designers. You will lead design projects, ensuring high-quality work aligned with client needs and industry trends. This fully remote role requires experience in digital, web, and print design, including animation and motion graphics. You will manage client relationships, oversee project timelines, and mentor your team. SmartBug offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, paid time off, a remote work allowance, and professional development opportunities. The ideal candidate possesses a Bachelor's degree in design or equivalent experience, along with 5+ years of agency experience and 1-3 years of people management.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in design or visual communication or equivalent experience
• 5+ years of experience producing design work in an agency environment
• 1-3 years of experience managing people in relevant design roles
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite including InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop
• Comfort in web design software, preferably Figma
• Experience with animation and motion graphics

Responsibilities

• Create high-quality design work demonstrating strong fundamentals of digital and print design
• Translate strategy from a brief into creative and engaging designs
• Own your clients’ visual brand to ensure it is executed across all tactics
• Apply a variety of style guides into design work with ease
• Understand the principles of content marketing strategy and SEO, and the role design plays
• Think critically to solve problems and contribute to concept ideation
• Conduct design research to learn new subjects or industry trends
• Ensure workload is properly resourced and deadlines are met
• Identify barriers to success proactively and independently
• Lead design discovery and presentation calls, and defend the rationale of your designs and that of your team
• Assist with resolving escalations with clients
• Partner with cross-functional agency teams
• Scope projects based on the SmartBug service catalog
• Assist with maintaining the department's design portfolio and ensure all final art files are cataloged and archived
• Provide coaching, training, and onboarding to design staff
• Review new talent applications and interview candidates
• Meet performance targets for effective billing rates, turnaround times, and customer satisfaction
• Conduct quarterly performance assessments and EDPs of staff

Preferred Qualifications

• Agency experience designing for B2B clients
• Experience working remotely in similar roles

Benefits

• Health insurance with company contribution
• Paid maternity and paternity leave
• Paid vacation
• Paid time off
• 4-week paid sabbatical every 5 years of employment
• Monthly remote work allowance
• 401(k) with employer matching
• Flexible spending plan
• Company-funded short-term disability and life insurance
• Long-term disability
• Annual leadership conference, SmartBugaPalooza
• Training budget
• The flexibility of working remotely
• MacBook Air issued to you at time of hire