Senior Design Director

The Senior Design Director will be a creative visionary behind our Creative Studio's design output, leading the development of high-quality assets across all production elements. This role requires a strategic thinker with a strong portfolio and the ability to inspire and mentor a team of designers. You will work closely with the Creative Directors, Tech Operations Lead, and various design teams to ensure that our outputs not only meet but exceed client expectations. The Design lead will report directly to the Head of Studio.

As a key leader in the studio, you will be responsible for maintaining design excellence while collaborating on process improvements that leverage technology for scaling design operations. Your leadership will ensure that all creative outputs align with the brand’s identity and maintain a high standard of quality.
You will also learn the Code and Theory brand guidelines and style systems inside and out and be able to deliver and deploy them across multiple needs for internal and external branded content, pitch assets, thought leadership and case studies.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Lead and inspire the design team in producing innovative and compelling assets for production design, deck design, display ads, and social content
• Foster a creative environment that encourages collaboration and experimentation
• Work closely with the Creative Director to define the studio’s design vision and strategic direction
• Collaborate with the Tech Operations Lead to establish design standards and optimize design workflows
• Oversee the end-to-end design process, from concept creation to final execution, ensuring alignment with client objectives
• Provide guidance and support to the design team, ensuring consistency and quality across all projects
• Establish and maintain quality benchmarks for design outputs, conducting regular reviews to ensure adherence to standards
• Review and approve design concepts, providing constructive feedback to enhance creative quality
• Stay informed about design trends, emerging technologies, and industry best practices to drive innovation within the studio
• Implement new design techniques and tools to enhance creative output
• Mentor and develop junior designers, providing training and opportunities for professional growth
• Conduct workshops and creative sessions to enhance the skills and knowledge of the design team
• Monitor team performance and project outcomes, providing insights and recommendations for improvement
• Collaborate with the Project Manager to assess project timelines and resource allocation

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

• Experience in design, with a strong focus on production design in advertising or marketing
• A strong portfolio demonstrating a diverse range of design work and innovative thinking across various media.
• Proven ability to lead and manage design teams effectively, fostering a collaborative environment
• Excellent knowledge of design software (Adobe Creative Suite, Figma) and emerging design technologies
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills for effective collaboration with cross-functional teams
• Ability to analyze design trends and project data to inform creative decisions

ABOUT US

Born in 2001, Code and Theory is a digital-first creative agency that sits at the center of creativity and technology. We pride ourselves on not only solving consumer and business problems, but also helping to establish new capabilities for our clients. With a global client roster of Fortune 100s and start-ups alike, we crave the hardest problems to solve. We have teams distributed across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. The Code and Theory global network of agencies is growing and includes Kettle, Instrument, Left Field Labs, Create Group, Mediacurrent, Rhythm, and TrueLogic.

Striving never to be pigeonholed, we work across every major category: from tech to CPG, financial services to travel & hospitality, government and education to media and publishing. We value the collaboration with our client partners, including but not limited to Adidas, Amazon, Con Edison, Diageo, EY, J.P. Morgan Chase, Lenovo, Marriott, Mars, Microsoft, Thomson Reuters, and TikTok.

The Code and Theory network is comprised of nearly 2,000 people with 50% engineers and 50% creative talent. We’re always on the lookout for smart, driven, and forward-thinking people to join our team.

This is a full-time role, based in the United States. The target range of base compensation for this role is $200,000 - $215,000. Actual compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience and location.