Senior Director, Motion Design

Summary

Join Code and Theory as a Senior Motion Design Director to lead and evolve the motion design practice within their creative production studio. This hybrid role blends visionary thinking, systems-level design, and hands-on motion skills to define how brands move across digital platforms. You will shape the creative direction for all motion design, guiding animation language, establishing design systems, and setting standards for scalable, platform-aware visual storytelling. As a senior leader, you'll mentor and inspire the team, direct vendors, and contribute to all phases of the creative process. Your work will span various projects, from campaign films to UI animations, requiring both creative expertise and efficient execution. You will also collaborate with cross-functional teams and contribute to pitches and presentations.

Requirements

• Professional motion design experience with a strong portfolio that spans brand systems, campaigns, and content design
• Proven leadership experience managing multidisciplinary teams and directing both internal and external creatives
• Deep fluency in Adobe Creative Suite (After Effects, Illustrator, Photoshop, Premiere) and Figma
• Working knowledge of 3D design tools such as Cinema 4D, Blender, or real-time engines like Unreal or Unity
• Strong understanding of both 2D and 3D workflows, with an appreciation for real-time rendering and automation-enhanced motion
• Experience designing motion systems and toolkits, not just one-off animations
• Excellent visual storytelling instincts, with the ability to clearly communicate ideas to clients and collaborators
• Solid project management sensibility—comfortable estimating timelines, defining scope, and resourcing effectively
• You set the bar for what great motion looks like across our campaigns, content, and branded experiences
• You introduce scalable systems that let us produce more motion content—smarter, faster, and with higher impact
• You guide and grow a team of motion talent, helping shape the next generation of creative leaders
• You position motion as a strategic advantage for our clients and for Code and Theory’s future
• This is a full-time role, based in the United States

Responsibilities

• Set the overall creative vision and executional standard for motion across the studio’s campaign, brand, and product work
• Lead concepting, storyboarding, style framing, and motion studies that define the visual identity and animation principles for brands
• Serve as the motion lead on major cross-disciplinary projects, helping shape how ideas come to life through movement
• Build out motion systems and toolkits that balance craft with repeatability—enabling high-volume content production without sacrificing quality
• Guide the development of modular assets, reusable templates, and real-time-ready design systems for both 2D and 3D environments
• Collaborate closely with the Tech Ops and Automation teams to develop smart, scalable workflows that amplify design through technology
• Direct internal motion designers and external vendors across a range of deliverables—from quick-turn social assets to large-scale motion packages
• Own QA and final polish for motion deliverables, ensuring exceptional quality and detail at every touchpoint
• Work hands-on in tools like After Effects, Figma, Cinema 4D, or Unreal when needed—modeling high standards and creative innovation
• Partner with Creative Directors, UX teams, strategists, developers, and producers to integrate motion into every phase of the creative process
• Contribute to pitches, presentations, and creative treatments—representing motion as both a craft and a strategic differentiator
• Support team operations by scoping, resourcing, and structuring motion workstreams effectively
• Mentor mid- and junior-level motion designers, editors, and animators—providing creative direction, technical feedback, and career development support
• Champion a collaborative and growth-oriented culture within the team—one where experimentation, shared learning, and excellence thrive

Benefits

The target range of base compensation for this role is $150,000 - $190,000