Manager, Design

SmartBug Media is the full service digital agency of choice for organizations looking to create resilient growth across the entire customer lifecycle. From marketing to sales, revenue operations to customer success, and e-commerce to integration, SmartBug combines sound strategies and technology with top talent to de-risk the future and set the course for continued success. As a fully remote team of over 300 professionals, we believe in delivering exceptional work without compromising work/life balance, no matter where you are. Recognized globally, we've made the Inc. 5000 list seven times, the Adweek 100 four years running, and won numerous Comparably awards for our culture and leadership. We're not just HubSpot's highest-rated partner worldwide but also a two-time HubSpot NA Partner of the Year and proud Elite Partner. Add to that our Master Elite partnership with Klaviyo and our proud partnerships with Shopify and Google.

This position requires a skilled designer with experience in digital, web, and print design. The role manages a team of graphic designers to deliver high-quality design work based on current trends and industry standards and must enjoy working in a collaborative environment. The role works with clients in technology, healthcare, finance, and consumer products and oversees a variety of design needs—e-books, infographics, ads, social media graphics, presentations, web pages, and other brand materials. Experience and understanding of animation and motion graphics is required. Under the direction of the senior director, design, and the manager, design has a key role in shaping the design of not only our current offerings but new services as well.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position will supervise a team of digital designers.

Essential Functions: Design

• 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




ACCOUNT AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT

• 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




TEAM MANAGEMENT

• 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
• Other Duties




Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. 

Competencies

• Customer/Client Focus
• Exacting Attention to Detail
• Communication Proficiency
• Problem Solving/Analysis
• Collaboration Skills
• Teamwork Orientation
• Time Management
• Organizational Skills

Education and Experience

• 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
• Agency experience designing for B2B clients (preferred, but not required)
• Experience working remotely in similar roles (preferred, but not required)

Benefits and Perks:

• 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