Brand Design Manager

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Brand Design Manager

Company: PayJoy

Location: Bogotá, Colombia; Mexico City, Mexico; São Paulo, Brazil

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Brand & Creative Operations

Date Posted: 2026-05-26

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the definition, protection, and evolution of PayJoy's global visual brand identity across all channels and markets, ensuring a cohesive and impactful brand presence.

• Develop and meticulously maintain the comprehensive Brand Design System, encompassing typography, color palettes, iconography, motion graphics, photography guidelines, and overall visual tone.

• Drive the strategic integration of generative AI tools within the creative team's workflows to accelerate image and video production, enhance motion graphics, and optimize creative output without compromising brand quality.

• Provide strong creative leadership and mentorship to a global team of designers, fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and adherence to brand standards.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Product, Marketing, Growth, Content, and Commercial departments, to ensure brand alignment and strategic execution across all business initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Brand Design Manager," the emphasis on AI integration, workflow acceleration, and cross-functional collaboration positions this role firmly within the realm of Creative Operations, with a strong emphasis on process efficiency and technological adoption. This role requires a blend of traditional brand stewardship and forward-thinking operational management.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Brand Strategy & Creative Leadership:

  • Define, protect, and evolve the global visual brand identity across all channels and markets, acting as the ultimate guardian of the PayJoy brand.
  • Develop, document, and rigorously maintain the Brand Design System (typography, color, iconography, motion, photography, visual tone) to ensure scalability and consistency.
  • Partner closely with the Director of Brand to translate overarching business strategies into compelling and effective creative visual directions.
  • Ensure unwavering brand consistency across global campaigns, product interfaces, packaging designs, retail environments, and all digital experiences.
  • Lead comprehensive creative reviews of all deliverables, ensuring adherence to quality standards, strategic alignment, and brand integrity.

• Team Management & Collaboration:

  • Lead, mentor, and inspire a global team of designers, including in-house talent and external agency partners, fostering a high-performance culture.
  • Establish and enforce stringent creative quality standards, efficient review workflows, and constructive feedback frameworks for the design team.
  • Foster seamless collaboration with Product, Marketing, Growth, Content, and Commercial teams to integrate brand vision into all business functions.
  • Manage and cultivate strong, productive relationships with external agencies and creative vendors, ensuring strict brand alignment and cost-effectiveness.

• Artificial Intelligence Applied to Design:

  • Define and champion the adoption strategy for generative AI tools within the creative team's daily workflows, identifying key use cases and implementation pathways.

  • Implement and oversee AI-assisted workflows for image generation, video creation, and motion graphics to significantly accelerate production timelines while maintaining or elevating brand quality.

  • Evaluate and recommend new AI technologies and tools that can further enhance creative efficiency and output for the design team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a significant focus on process management and operational efficiency through AI. The expectation to "define the adoption strategy" and "implement AI-assisted workflows" suggests a proactive, systems-oriented approach beyond traditional design leadership. This role will be instrumental in shaping how creative assets are produced at scale.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in brand design and creative direction.

• At least 3 years specifically in leadership roles, managing design teams, and overseeing creative budgets effectively.

Required Skills:

• Brand Strategy & Visual Identity: Deep understanding of brand architecture, visual identity development, and the ability to translate strategic objectives into compelling visual narratives.

• Design Systems Management: Expertise in creating, implementing, and maintaining comprehensive design systems for consistent brand application across diverse platforms.

• Creative Direction & Leadership: Proven ability to guide creative projects from concept to execution, leading and mentoring design teams to deliver high-quality work.

• Generative AI Proficiency: Hands-on experience or a strong understanding of generative AI tools (e.g., Midjourney, DALL-E, Stable Diffusion, AI video tools) and their application in design workflows for accelerated asset creation.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to work effectively with Product, Marketing, and other business units, fostering strong partnerships and mutual understanding.

• Omnichannel Campaign Experience: A strong portfolio showcasing successful brand design execution across various channels, including digital, print, product, and retail.

• Art Direction Skills: A keen eye for aesthetic quality, composition, and visual storytelling.

Preferred Skills:

• Motion Graphics & Animation: Experience with motion design principles and tools (e.g., After Effects) for creating dynamic brand assets.

• UI/UX Design Principles: Familiarity with user interface and user experience design to ensure brand consistency within digital products.

• Project Management Tools: Proficiency in project management software (e.g., Asana, Monday.com) to manage team workloads and project timelines efficiently.

• Data Analysis for Design: Ability to interpret performance data to inform design decisions and optimize creative strategies.

• Familiarity with Emerging Markets: Understanding of design considerations and consumer behavior in emerging markets, particularly in Latin America.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "generative AI tools" and "AI-powered workflows" is a critical differentiator. Candidates must demonstrate not just design acumen but also technological curiosity and a practical understanding of how AI can revolutionize creative operations. The portfolio requirement for "omnichannel campaigns" emphasizes the need for a holistic brand perspective.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio showcasing a minimum of 5-7 diverse projects that demonstrate your strategic approach to brand design and creative leadership.

• Projects should highlight your experience in developing and evolving visual identity systems for recognized brands.

• At least two case studies must feature the application of AI tools in the creative process, detailing the problem, solution, tools used, and the impact on efficiency or output quality.

• Examples of omnichannel campaigns, illustrating consistent brand application across digital, physical, and product touchpoints.

• Evidence of team leadership, including how you managed designers, provided feedback, and ensured quality control.

Process Documentation:

• Demonstrated ability to document and standardize creative processes, particularly those involving design systems and AI workflows.

• Examples of workflow optimization, showing how you've streamlined creative production cycles for increased efficiency and speed.

• Evidence of establishing quality assurance frameworks for creative deliverables, ensuring brand integrity and strategic alignment.

• Case studies that clearly articulate the ROI or business impact of design initiatives, using quantifiable metrics where possible.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirement is heavily weighted towards demonstrating strategic thinking, leadership, and the innovative application of AI in creative operations. Candidates should prepare to articulate the "why" and "how" behind their design decisions and AI integrations, focusing on tangible outcomes and process improvements.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Based on the locations (Bogotá, Mexico City, São Paulo), the experience level (5-10 years with leadership), and the specialized skills (AI integration, global brand management), the estimated salary range is as follows:

• Bogotá, Colombia: COP 100,000,000 - COP 180,000,000 annually.

• Mexico City, Mexico: MXN 800,000 - MXN 1,500,000 annually.

• São Paulo, Brazil: BRL 120,000 - BRL 220,000 annually.

These ranges are estimates derived from market data for similar roles in these regions, considering the company's industry (FinTech/Financial Services) and the senior nature of the position.

Benefits:

• Local benefits package tailored to the country of hire.

• Company-funded health insurance for the employee and their immediate family.

• Company-funded employee life and disability insurance.

• Generous paid vacation days.

• Unlimited sick leave policy.

• $2,000 USD annual Co-working Travel perk.

• $2,000 USD annual Professional Development perk, encouraging continuous learning and skill enhancement.

• Phone finance allowance.

• Headphone benefit.

• Home office equipment allowance to ensure a productive remote/hybrid setup.

• Wellness perks to support employee well-being.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time work week, estimated at 40 hours. Specific daily schedules may vary based on team needs and global collaboration requirements, with potential flexibility to accommodate different time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary ranges provided are estimates based on current market data for Brand Design Manager roles with significant leadership and AI integration responsibilities in the specified Latin American cities. These estimates account for the cost of living and typical compensation structures for senior roles in these regions. The professional development perk is particularly relevant for a role focused on evolving technologies like AI.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: FinTech / Financial Services (specifically micro-lending and credit access for underserved populations in emerging markets). PayJoy leverages technology, data science, and AI to provide financial stability and opportunities.

Company Size: The provided data doesn't specify exact size, but "served over 18 million customers as of 2025" and "solid profitability for sustainable growth" suggests a well-established, scaling organization, likely in the mid-to-large enterprise category (e.g., 500-5000 employees).

Founded: The founding date is not provided, but the mention of serving 18 million customers by 2025 indicates significant growth and market penetration, suggesting an organization that has moved beyond its startup phase and is now focused on scaling and optimization.

Team Structure:

• Brand & Creative Team: This role will likely lead a global team of designers, potentially including specialists in graphic design, motion graphics, and digital asset creation. The team may consist of both in-house employees and external agency partners.

• Reporting Structure: The Brand Design Manager reports to the Director of Brand, indicating a direct line of responsibility within the broader marketing or brand department.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Will work closely with Product Management, Marketing (Growth, Content), Commercial teams, and potentially Data Science/AI teams, requiring strong communication and collaboration skills to ensure brand consistency and strategic alignment across all touchpoints.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: PayJoy utilizes machine learning, data science, and anti-fraud AI. This suggests a company culture that values data-informed decision-making, which should extend to creative strategy and performance measurement.

• Process Optimization & Scale: The company's focus on "sustainable growth" and serving millions implies a strong emphasis on scalable processes, efficiency, and automation, directly aligning with the AI integration aspect of this role.

• Mission-First Approach: As a Public Benefit Corporation, PayJoy has a clear social mission. This mission should inform the brand's visual communication and resonate with the team's values.

Company Website: https://www.payjoy.com/ (Inferred from domain_derived)

📝 Enhancement Note: PayJoy's mission-driven nature as a Public Benefit Corporation is a key cultural differentiator. The role's success will depend on aligning creative output with this mission while leveraging technology for operational efficiency. The emphasis on AI and data science within the company suggests a progressive and forward-thinking environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior management role, falling into the "Manager" or "Senior Manager" career band within operations and creative leadership. It requires strategic thinking, team leadership, and the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders. The focus on AI integration positions it at the forefront of modern creative operations.

Reporting Structure: The Brand Design Manager reports to the Director of Brand. This provides a clear hierarchical structure within the brand department, offering opportunities for mentorship from a more senior leader and exposure to broader brand strategy.

Operations Impact: This role has a direct and significant impact on PayJoy's brand perception, customer acquisition, and market differentiation. By ensuring a consistent, compelling, and technologically advanced visual identity, the Brand Design Manager influences customer engagement, brand loyalty, and ultimately, revenue growth across multiple emerging markets. The effective integration of AI will also drive considerable operational efficiencies, reducing costs and accelerating go-to-market timelines for creative assets.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to grow into a Director-level role within Brand or Creative, overseeing larger teams or broader strategic initiatives.

• Specialization in AI & Creative Tech: Opportunity to become a recognized expert in applying AI to creative operations, a highly in-demand skill set. This could lead to roles focused purely on MarTech or Creative Technology.

• Broader GTM Strategy Involvement: Deeper engagement with Marketing, Product, and Commercial teams can lead to opportunities in broader Go-To-Market strategy development and execution.

• International Exposure: Managing a global team and brand provides invaluable experience in international market dynamics and cross-cultural collaboration.

• Impact Leadership: Opportunity to lead transformative projects that significantly shape the company's brand and operational capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a unique combination of traditional brand stewardship and cutting-edge operational management through AI. This dual focus provides a distinct career path for professionals looking to bridge the gap between creative excellence and operational efficiency, with strong potential for growth into leadership positions within FinTech or technology companies.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Given the "Hybrid" work arrangement and the mention of "Co-working Travel perk," the work environment is likely a blend of in-office collaboration and remote work. PayJoy likely maintains office spaces in Bogotá, Mexico City, and São Paulo, potentially supplemented by co-working spaces for employees to utilize as needed.

Office Location(s): Offices are expected to be located in major business hubs within Bogotá (Colombia), Mexico City (CDMX, Mexico), and São Paulo (Brazil). Specific addresses would need to be confirmed, but they would likely be in accessible, professional business districts.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and cross-functional collaboration requirements suggest a workspace designed for interaction, team meetings, and brainstorming sessions when in the office.

• Technology-Enabled: Expect access to modern design software, communication tools, and potentially advanced hardware necessary for creative work, including AI-powered applications. The home office equipment allowance reinforces this.

• Global Team Interaction: Opportunities to connect with team members and colleagues across different geographies through virtual collaboration tools.

Work Schedule:

• A standard 40-hour work week is typical for a full-time role.

• The hybrid nature implies flexibility, with potential for some days to be in-office and others remote.

• Given the global team, some flexibility in working hours may be required to accommodate meetings across different time zones (e.g., early mornings or late afternoons).

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work model, combined with a global team and specific perks like co-working allowances, indicates a modern, flexible work environment designed to attract talent across different locations while fostering collaboration and productivity.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Initial Screening: A recruiter or HR representative will conduct an initial screening to assess basic qualifications, alignment with company culture, and interest in the role. Be prepared to discuss your career trajectory and motivations for applying to PayJoy.

2. Hiring Manager Interview: This interview will be with the Director of Brand. Focus on your strategic approach to brand design, leadership philosophy, and understanding of PayJoy's mission. Be ready to discuss your experience managing global teams and your vision for the brand.

3. Portfolio Review & Deep Dive: A dedicated session to walk through your portfolio. Prepare to discuss 2-3 key projects in detail, focusing on your role, strategic decisions, challenges faced, solutions implemented (especially AI integration), and measurable outcomes. Be ready to articulate how you would approach evolving PayJoy's brand.

4. Cross-functional Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with leaders from Product, Marketing, or Commercial teams. These sessions will assess your ability to collaborate, understand business needs, and integrate brand strategy with commercial objectives. Focus on examples of successful cross-functional projects.

5. AI/Technical Assessment (Potential): Depending on the hiring manager's approach, there might be a specific discussion or even a small exercise focused on your practical application of AI tools in design workflows.

6. Final Interview/Offer: A final discussion, potentially with a senior leader, to confirm fit and extend an offer.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your leadership, strategic thinking, AI integration capabilities, and omnichannel experience.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem/brief, your strategic approach, the creative solution, your specific role (especially leadership and AI use), the execution process, and the quantifiable results or impact.

• Highlight AI Integration: Clearly label and explain any projects where generative AI or other AI tools were used. Detail the benefits achieved (e.g., speed, cost reduction, novel creative outputs).

• Showcase Brand Systems: Include examples of how you've built or managed design systems and ensured consistency across various touchpoints.

• Practice Your Narrative: Rehearse your presentation to ensure a smooth, confident, and concise delivery. Be prepared for in-depth questions about your decisions.

Challenge Preparation:

• Hypothetical Brand Challenge: Be prepared for a hypothetical scenario where you need to propose an approach to a specific brand challenge for PayJoy (e.g., launching a new product in a new market, refreshing a specific brand element).

• AI Workflow Design: You might be asked to outline how you would implement a specific AI-driven creative workflow for a given task.

• Focus on Process: Emphasize your process for problem-solving, collaboration, and ensuring quality and consistency, especially when integrating new technologies like AI.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes strategic thinking, leadership, and practical application of AI. The portfolio review is critical, requiring candidates to clearly articulate the business impact of their work and their proficiency with emerging technologies. Preparing specific examples of AI integration will be key.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design Software: Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) is fundamental. Proficiency in After Effects for motion graphics is highly desirable.

• Prototyping/Design Systems: Tools like Figma or Sketch are likely used for design system management and collaborative design.

• Generative AI Platforms: Experience with tools such as Midjourney, DALL-E 3, Stable Diffusion, Adobe Firefly, and potentially AI video generation tools (e.g., RunwayML, Pika Labs).

• Project Management: Tools like Asana, Monday.com, Jira, or Trello for managing team workflows, tasks, and project timelines.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics to understand website traffic and user behavior, informing design decisions.

• Brand Monitoring Tools: Potentially using tools to track brand mentions, sentiment, and competitive analysis.

• Performance Dashboards: Experience with dashboarding tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Looker) to visualize brand campaign performance and ROI.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: While not directly managing CRM, understanding how brand assets are used within CRM campaigns (e.g., Salesforce Marketing Cloud, HubSpot) is beneficial.

• Marketing Automation Platforms: Familiarity with platforms like HubSpot or Marketo for email marketing and campaign execution where brand consistency is key.

• DAM (Digital Asset Management): Experience with DAM systems for organizing, storing, and distributing brand assets globally.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's focus on AI and operational efficiency, proficiency with generative AI tools is paramount. A strong understanding of design system management platforms and project management software is also expected for effective global team leadership and workflow optimization.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-First: A deep commitment to PayJoy's mission of providing financial inclusion for underserved customers, reflected in the brand's visual narrative.

• Innovation & Technology: Embracing new technologies, particularly AI, to drive efficiency, creativity, and competitive advantage.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Open communication, constructive feedback, and a willingness to share knowledge and best practices across global teams.

• Ownership & Accountability: Taking responsibility for brand integrity, project outcomes, and team performance, with a focus on delivering measurable results.

• Speed & Agility: The ability to move quickly, adapt to changing market dynamics, and deliver creative solutions efficiently.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: A proactive approach to partnering with Marketing, Product, and Commercial teams to ensure brand strategy supports overall business objectives.

• Feedback-Driven Improvement: A culture that encourages constructive feedback loops for both creative work and operational processes, fostering continuous improvement.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging team members to share insights, learnings, and best practices, particularly regarding AI tools and design techniques, through regular team meetings or dedicated knowledge-sharing sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's stated principles ("Ownership," "Break Through Walls," "Live Communication," "Focus on Scale," "Speed") strongly indicate a culture that values proactivity, efficiency, and effective teamwork. The Brand Design Manager will need to embody these values in their leadership and collaborative efforts.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Global Consistency with Local Relevance: Ensuring the brand identity remains cohesive worldwide while adapting to diverse cultural nuances and market specificities in Latin America.

• Integrating AI Seamlessly: Effectively embedding new AI tools and workflows into existing creative processes without disrupting output quality or team morale, and managing potential ethical considerations.

• Managing a Distributed Global Team: Overcoming time zone differences, cultural variations, and communication barriers to foster a cohesive and high-performing team.

• Measuring Design Impact: Quantifying the ROI of brand design initiatives and AI-driven creative production for clear demonstration of value to leadership.

• Rapid Technological Evolution: Staying abreast of the fast-paced advancements in AI and creative technologies to ensure PayJoy remains at the cutting edge.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI in Creative Technology: Deep dive into advanced AI applications for design, image/video generation, and workflow automation.

• Global Brand Management: Developing expertise in managing brand perception and execution across diverse international markets.

• Leadership Development: Enhancing skills in managing global, remote, and hybrid teams, fostering cross-cultural collaboration.

• FinTech Industry Insights: Gaining a deeper understanding of the financial services sector and the unique challenges and opportunities within emerging markets.

• Strategic Brand Planning: Opportunities to contribute to higher-level brand strategy and long-term brand vision development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge lies in leveraging AI to enhance operational efficiency without sacrificing brand integrity or the human element of creativity. Successfully navigating this balance, alongside managing a global team, presents significant growth opportunities for a forward-thinking leader.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you define and evolve PayJoy's global visual brand identity to resonate across diverse Latin American markets?" (Focus on strategic approach, research methods, and localization considerations.)

• "Describe your experience implementing generative AI tools in a creative workflow. What were the key challenges, and how did you measure success?" (Prepare specific examples, metrics, and lessons learned.)

• "How would you foster a cohesive and high-performing global design team, considering different time zones and cultural backgrounds?" (Discuss leadership style, communication strategies, and team-building initiatives.)

• "Outline your process for developing and maintaining a comprehensive Brand Design System. How would you ensure its adoption and adherence across different teams and regions?" (Emphasize documentation, accessibility, and training.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about PayJoy's mission as a Public Benefit Corporation, and how would you translate that mission into visual communication?" (Show genuine interest and alignment with company values.)

• "How do you approach collaboration with non-design stakeholders, such as Product or Marketing teams, to ensure brand alignment?" (Provide examples of successful cross-functional partnerships.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: For each project, use a clear narrative: Problem/Objective -> Your Strategy/Approach (including AI if applicable) -> Execution/Solution -> Results/Impact.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use data to demonstrate the success of your work (e.g., increased engagement, improved conversion rates, cost savings from AI efficiency).

• Highlight Leadership & AI: Clearly articulate your leadership role and specific contributions, especially concerning AI integration and team management.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your design choices, technical execution, and problem-solving process.

• Engage and Discuss: Treat it as a collaborative conversation, not just a presentation. Be open to feedback and discussion.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to speak extensively about their experience with AI in design, their leadership capabilities in a global context, and their strategic thinking about brand building in emerging markets. Demonstrating a data-driven approach to creative operations will be crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Brand Design Manager position:

• Submit your application through the provided Lever job portal link.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight relevant projects showcasing global brand management, design system development, leadership of design teams, and, crucially, the practical application of generative AI in creative workflows. Ensure all case studies clearly articulate impact and ROI.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to emphasize leadership experience, global team management, AI tool proficiency, and quantifiable achievements in brand design and creative operations. Use keywords from the job description naturally.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your experience with the strategy and portfolio questions outlined above. Prepare specific examples demonstrating your leadership, AI integration skills, and ability to drive operational efficiency in creative processes.

• Company Research: Deeply understand PayJoy's mission, its target markets in Latin America, and its commitment to technology and financial inclusion. Be prepared to discuss how your vision aligns with the company's values and strategic goals.

⚠️ 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.