Design Director

Upwork ($UPWK) is the world's work marketplace. We serve everyone from one-person startups to large, Fortune 100 enterprises with a powerful, trust-driven platform that enables companies and talent to work together in new ways that unlock their potential.
Last year, more than $3.8 billion of work was done through Upwork by skilled professionals who are gaining more control by finding work they are passionate about and innovating their careers.
As the Design Director, you will join our in-house team of conceptual problem solvers responsible for defining Upwork's brand through innovative design and systems thinking. You will head a team of the world's best designers to craft beautiful design thinking that drives business objectives. You will guide your team of designers while remaining hands-on with the work, always seeking to set a higher standard for the team and the brand.
Your Responsibilities:

• Develop and lead world class design across a variety of touchpoints including but not limited to: film, OOH, on-platform, web, events, product, packaging, branded entertainment, and more.
• Work alongside the Creative Directors of Art and Copy in driving cohesion and vision for design thinking.
• Lead/mentor in-house design team, hire and attract top talent to the team, and cultivate an environment where designers are doing their best work.
• Build a collaborative culture by working with cross functional teams and stakeholders.
• Lead external teams in design strategy, execution, and design.
• Ability to manage projects and designers working across a wide range of touchpoints.
• Be able to present design concepts and solutions to our internal stakeholders.
• Communicate innovative design solutions to stakeholders in clear, concise ways to both marketing and product audiences.
• Work collaboratively within a cross-functional team environment with art directors, writers, engineers, strategists, producers, designers and production managers
• Create original, breakthrough work in a multi-disciplinary team
• Translate complex strategic approaches and creative concepts into easily accessible design directions/solutions

What it takes to catch our eye:

• 10+ years brand or agency experience
• Experience working on integrated, digital, social and product-first campaigns
• Strong attention to detail
• Self-driven, independent, organized, detail-oriented, excellent multitasking, and the ability to help the team when needed with design in addition to managing the team
• Proficient in InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Figma
• Experience working collaboratively with cross-functional teams
• Excellent communication skills
• Experience with distributed teams

The annual base salary for this position in California and Washington ranges from $161,000 - $263,000. The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum salary for this position in California and Washington, and individual base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Additionally, this position is eligible for the annual bonus plan or sales incentive plan and eligibility to participate in our long term equity incentive program.
Come change how the world works.
At Upwork, you'll shape talent solutions for how the world works today. We are a remote-first organization working together to create exciting remote work opportunities for a global community of professionals. While we have physical offices in San Francisco and Chicago, currently we also support hiring of corporate full-time employees in 19 states in the United States. Please speak with a member of our recruitment team to determine whether you are located in a state in which we are hiring corporate full-time employees.
At the core of our vibrant culture are shared values that form the foundation of our organization. These values revolve around trust, risk-taking, customer focus, and excellence. Our overarching mission is to create economic opportunities so that people have better lives. We foster an environment where individuals are encouraged to bring their authentic selves to work, nurturing personal and professional growth through development opportunities, mentorship programs, and participation in Upwork Belonging Communities.
We take pride in providing exceptional benefits to our employees. These include comprehensive medical insurance coverage for both you and your family, unlimited paid time off, a 401(k) plan with matching contributions, 12 weeks of paid parental leave, and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. To explore these benefits in detail, as well as gain insights into our company values, working principles, and the overall employee experience, we invite you to visit our Life at Upwork page.
Upwork is proudly committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we never discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.
To learn more about how Upwork processes and protects your personal information as part of the application process, please review our Global Job Applicant Privacy Notice