Associate Graphic Design Manager (Hybrid or Remote)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Associate Graphic Design Manager (Hybrid or Remote)

Company: Stryker

Location: Portage, Michigan, United States / Florida, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design / Marketing

Date Posted: 2026-04-30

Experience Level: 6+ years professional graphic design experience

Remote Status: Hybrid or Remote or Onsite

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the development of high-impact visual communications aligned with strategic business goals to elevate brand perception and inspire internal and external audiences.

• Lead creative initiatives across internal communications, leadership messaging, promotional materials, and events within a matrixed, regulated global environment.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver strategic, brand-aligned creative solutions that advance business objectives.

• Manage outsourced creative projects, ensuring timely, on-scope, and on-budget delivery.

• Champion Stryker’s brand identity by training teams and enforcing adherence to visual guidelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as an "Associate Manager" but described as an "individual contributor." This suggests a senior individual contributor role with significant leadership in creative direction and project management, rather than direct people management. The emphasis on driving strategic business goals and elevating brand perception indicates a focus on GTM (Go-To-Market) enablement through compelling visuals.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead creative ideation sessions and guide the development of marketing communication materials across multiple channels, including digital, print, and event-specific assets.

• Strategize and develop graphics and visuals for company events, trade shows, product launches, promotions, posters, advertising, social media, email communications, Highspot, and other materials, encompassing concept development, layout design, and final artwork creation.

• Manage outsourced creative projects, providing clear direction to external agencies or freelancers and ensuring deliverables meet quality standards, timelines, and budget constraints.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (e.g., Marketing, Communications, Product Management) to translate complex messaging strategies into compelling and visually effective executions.

• Oversee and manage the creative review process, facilitating stakeholder alignment and securing necessary approvals for all design drafts to ensure consistency and strategic fit.

• Maintain organized and efficient file systems for all creative assets, ensuring proper naming conventions, version control, and readiness for deployment across various platforms.

• Experiment with and propose innovative design concepts and visual approaches to maximize impact, engagement, and audience resonance for various campaigns and initiatives.

• Champion Stryker’s brand identity and visual guidelines across the organization, providing training to internal teams and actively enforcing adherence to ensure brand consistency and integrity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic creative thinking and hands-on execution management. The mention of "Highspot" suggests a need for proficiency in sales enablement platforms, which is a key component of GTM operations. The role requires strong project management skills to handle multiple initiatives and external vendors.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Minimum of 6 years of professional graphic design experience, with a focus on developing marketing and communication materials.

Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, specifically InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premiere Pro for creating high-quality visual assets.

• Strong understanding of marketing communications principles and their application in visual design.

• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain strong brand identity and visual guidelines.

• Experience in leading creative ideation sessions and providing clear creative direction.

• Proven project management skills, including managing timelines, budgets, and external vendor relationships.

• Excellent collaboration and communication skills to effectively work with cross-functional teams and secure stakeholder alignment.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience within the medical device industry or other highly regulated marketing environments.

• Working knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for understanding digital design constraints and opportunities.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) for reporting, communication, and presentation purposes.

• Familiarity with sales enablement platforms like Highspot.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Associate Manager" title combined with 6+ years of experience indicates a senior individual contributor role with significant responsibility. The preferred skills suggest that experience in a regulated industry and understanding of digital development basics are highly valued, adding a layer of complexity beyond standard graphic design roles.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a range of design projects, including marketing campaigns, digital assets, event materials, and internal communications.

• Demonstrations of strategic thinking behind design choices, illustrating how visuals supported specific business or marketing objectives.

• Examples of projects managed from concept to completion, highlighting project scope, challenges, and successful outcomes.

Process Documentation:

• Case studies or project examples that detail the design process, including ideation, collaboration, feedback incorporation, and final execution.

• Documentation of experience in managing outsourced creative projects, detailing the briefing, review, and approval workflows.

• Examples of how visual guidelines were developed, implemented, or enforced to ensure brand integrity.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role focused on driving strategic business goals through visuals, the portfolio should emphasize the impact of the design, not just the aesthetics. Candidates should be prepared to discuss how their designs contributed to engagement, brand perception, or specific GTM objectives.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• USN: $77,700 - $129,500 USD Annual

• US5: $81,600 - $136,000 USD Annual

• US10: $85,500 - $142,500 USD Annual

• US15: $89,400 - $148,900 USD Annual

• US20: $93,200 - $155,400 USD Annual

• US30: $101,000 - $168,400 USD Annual

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary ranges are broad and appear to be tied to internal Stryker grading systems (USN, US5, US10, etc.), indicating that the final offer will depend on the specific grade assigned to this role and the candidate's qualifications and experience. The highest range suggests potential for a senior individual contributor or a role with significant strategic impact. Researching Stryker's internal compensation bands or comparable roles in the medical device industry in Michigan or Florida would be beneficial.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Retirement savings plan (e.g., 401(k)) with company match.

• Paid time off (PTO), including vacation, sick leave, and holidays.

• Life and disability insurance.

• Professional development opportunities, including training and tuition reimbursement.

• Employee assistance program (EAP).

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours, likely around 40 hours per week.

• The role offers work flexibility, allowing for remote, hybrid, or onsite arrangements, which can provide autonomy in managing personal schedules around core working hours.

• Travel Percentage: 10%

📝 Enhancement Note: The flexibility in work arrangement (Remote, Hybrid, Onsite) is a significant benefit, allowing operations professionals to tailor their work environment. The 10% travel indicates that while remote work is an option, there will be requirements for in-person collaboration or event support.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Medical Devices & Healthcare Technology

Company Size: Large Enterprise (Stryker is a Fortune 500 company with over 40,000 employees globally). This size implies a structured environment with established processes, significant resources, and opportunities for large-scale impact.

Founded: 1941. Stryker has a long history of innovation and growth, indicating a stable and established organization with a deep understanding of its market.

Team Structure:

• The Graphic Design Manager will likely be part of a broader Marketing or Communications department.

• They will operate as a senior individual contributor, collaborating closely with marketing managers, product managers, brand strategists, and potentially sales enablement teams.

• Reporting structure is likely to a Director or VP level within Marketing or a specialized Creative Services function.

Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is expected, with design choices informed by market research, campaign performance data, and audience insights.

• Workflow planning and optimization will be essential to manage multiple projects and deadlines efficiently.

• Automation and efficiency practices may involve leveraging design tools, templates, and potentially project management software to streamline creative processes.

Company Website: https://www.stryker.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Working within a large, regulated industry like medical devices means design must be accurate, compliant, and sensitive to specific audience needs. The emphasis on brand identity and adherence to guidelines is paramount due to regulatory requirements and brand reputation management.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a senior individual contributor path within the creative and marketing operations domain. It offers significant autonomy and the chance to influence strategic GTM initiatives through visual communication. It’s a step above a standard graphic designer, requiring leadership in creative direction and project management without direct reports.

Reporting Structure: The Associate Graphic Design Manager will likely report to a Marketing Director, Creative Director, or a senior manager overseeing brand and communications. This position will involve frequent interaction with various departments, including sales, product management, and corporate communications, requiring strong stakeholder management skills.

Operations Impact: The role directly impacts revenue enablement by creating compelling marketing materials that support product launches, sales initiatives, and brand awareness campaigns. Effective visual communication can lead to improved lead generation, higher conversion rates, and stronger brand loyalty.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like digital design, motion graphics, or specialized medical illustration.

• Leadership: Transition into a formal management role, leading a team of designers, or move into a senior strategic role focusing on brand strategy or creative direction.

• Cross-functional Mobility: Leverage design and communication skills to move into roles within marketing strategy, product marketing, or sales enablement operations.

• Industry Expertise: Develop specialized knowledge in the medical device sector, becoming a go-to expert for regulated creative communications.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a strong foundation for a career in marketing operations or GTM strategy, especially for those with a creative background. The ability to translate business objectives into impactful visuals is a highly transferable skill.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role supports Remote, Hybrid, or Onsite work. For hybrid or onsite, Stryker's offices are typically modern, professional environments designed for collaboration.

Office Location(s): Primarily Portage, Michigan, and various locations in Florida. Candidates can choose their preferred work arrangement.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Even for remote or hybrid workers, collaboration is key. Expect frequent virtual meetings, use of collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Teams), and potential for in-person team gatherings or site visits.

• Operations Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (Adobe Creative Suite) and potentially project management or DAM (Digital Asset Management) systems.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for interaction with designers, marketers, and other creative professionals, fostering a culture of shared learning and creative exchange.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, with flexibility in how hours are structured, accommodating core business needs and collaboration schedules. The 10% travel requirement means some days will involve being offsite.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid/remote flexibility is a major draw. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate how they maintain productivity, collaboration, and brand adherence regardless of their work location.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, interest, and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Creative Challenge: A deeper dive into the candidate's portfolio, likely including a discussion about specific projects and their strategic impact. A practical design challenge may be assigned to assess skills in a real-world scenario.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion with the hiring manager about role responsibilities, team dynamics, and strategic expectations.

• Cross-functional Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with key collaborators (e.g., Marketing Managers, Product Managers) to assess communication, collaboration, and strategic alignment.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader to discuss overall fit and long-term vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Strategic Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the objective, your role, the process, and the measurable results or impact. Focus on how your design solved a business problem or achieved a marketing goal.

• Highlight Versatility: Include examples across different mediums (digital, print, event) and for various audiences.

• Demonstrate Brand Stewardship: Show how you've applied or developed brand guidelines effectively.

• Prepare for a Design Challenge: Be ready to tackle a prompt that mimics real-world tasks, focusing on creative problem-solving under constraints.

• Articulate Your Process: Be prepared to walk through your design process, from brief interpretation to final delivery, emphasizing collaboration and stakeholder management.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Stryker’s brand and recent marketing campaigns.

• Practice creating compelling visuals for a hypothetical product launch or internal initiative within a set timeframe.

• Prepare to present your design rationale clearly and concisely, addressing how it meets the brief's objectives and aligns with brand standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is critical. Candidates should curate it to highlight strategic GTM support and creative leadership, rather than just aesthetic appeal. Be ready to defend design choices with business rationale.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro (essential for core design tasks).

• Microsoft Office Suite: Word, Excel, PowerPoint (for communication, reporting, and presentations).

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly mentioned, familiarity with analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, social media analytics) to understand campaign performance and inform design decisions would be beneficial.

CRM & Automation:

• Highspot: Mentioned as a platform for materials, indicating potential need for integration or content creation for sales enablement.

• Understanding of how design assets are used within CRMs or marketing automation platforms (e.g., Marketo, HubSpot) can be an advantage.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in the core Adobe Suite is non-negotiable. Familiarity with Highspot is a significant plus, as it bridges creative output with sales enablement operations.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Focus: Design solutions that resonate with target audiences (healthcare professionals, patients, internal stakeholders).

• Innovation: Continuously seek new and impactful design approaches.

• Collaboration: Work effectively with diverse teams to achieve shared goals.

• Integrity & Compliance: Uphold brand standards and adhere to regulatory requirements in all creative work.

• Excellence: Strive for high-quality, impactful design that drives business results.

Collaboration Style:

• Proactive and communicative, especially in a remote/hybrid setting.

• Ability to provide and receive constructive feedback in a professional manner.

• Comfortable working with cross-functional teams to translate complex requirements into clear visual solutions.

• Willingness to champion brand standards while also being open to new ideas and approaches.

📝 Enhancement Note: Stryker, as a large and regulated company, likely emphasizes professionalism, accountability, and adherence to process. The ability to balance creative vision with corporate requirements is key.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing creative expression with strict regulatory compliance in the medical device industry.

• Managing competing priorities and tight deadlines across multiple projects and stakeholders.

• Effectively communicating design rationale and securing buy-in from diverse, potentially non-design-oriented stakeholders.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Gain in-depth knowledge of the medical device industry and its unique marketing challenges.

• Develop expertise in sales enablement platforms and their integration with creative assets.

• Opportunities to lead creative strategy for major product launches and company-wide initiatives.

• Potential for mentorship from senior marketing and creative leaders within Stryker.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique opportunity to apply creative skills in a high-impact, regulated environment, which can be both challenging and rewarding for professional growth.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance brand guidelines with a creative concept. How did you approach it?" (Assesses understanding of brand stewardship and creative problem-solving).

• "Walk us through a complex marketing campaign you designed. What were the objectives, your role, and the outcomes?" (Evaluates strategic thinking and impact measurement).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Stryker and the medical device industry?" (Assesses research and genuine interest).

• "How do you stay current with design trends and emerging technologies?" (Probes for continuous learning and innovation).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: For each project, present: 1. The Challenge/Objective, 2. Your Solution/Process, 3. The Outcome/Impact. Use clear, concise language.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data (e.g., increased engagement, conversion rates, positive feedback) to demonstrate the effectiveness of your designs.

• Highlight Collaboration: Discuss how you worked with teams and stakeholders.

• Be Prepared for Live Critiques: Some companies may present a quick design task or ask for critique of existing materials.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should be prepared to link their design work directly to business objectives. The interview will likely assess not just creative skill but also strategic thinking, communication, and adaptability within a corporate structure.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the Stryker Careers portal (https://stryker.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/StrykerCareers/job/Portage-Michigan/Graphic-Design-Lead--Hybrid-or-Remote-_R560135).

• Curate your portfolio: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate your ability to drive strategic business goals through visual communication, manage complex projects, and adhere to brand standards. Ensure each project clearly outlines the objective, your process, and the measurable impact.

• Tailor your resume: Highlight keywords from the job description, such as "Adobe Creative Suite," "marketing communications," "brand identity," "project management," and any experience in regulated industries or with sales enablement platforms like Highspot. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Prepare your narrative: Practice articulating your design process, your strategic thinking behind your creative choices, and your ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams. Be ready to discuss specific projects in detail and how they contributed to business outcomes.

• Research Stryker: Familiarize yourself with Stryker’s mission, values, products, and recent marketing campaigns. Understand their commitment to innovation and their position within the medical device industry.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.