Brand Design Manager, Executive Communications

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Brand Design Manager, Executive Communications

Company: Ibotta

Location: Denver, Colorado, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design / Management & Leadership

Date Posted: 2026-06-26

Experience Level: 7+ years (with 2+ years management)

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in-office required)

🚀 Role Summary

• Leads the creative execution and strategic development of high-impact communications for C-suite executives, ensuring alignment with brand identity and business objectives.

• Manages and inspires a team of designers, fostering a culture of excellence in visual storytelling and presentation design for executive audiences.

• Serves as a hands-on strategic partner to senior leadership, translating complex information into clear, compelling, and visually powerful narratives for critical internal and external engagements.

• Oversees the design and production of executive assets, including board presentations, investor updates, client pitches, and keynote speeches, often under tight deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Brand Design Manager, Executive Communications," the core responsibilities heavily lean into strategic presentation design and executive stakeholder management. The "Brand Design" aspect appears to be focused on the visual integrity of executive communications rather than broader brand marketing campaigns. This role requires a unique blend of creative leadership, strategic thinking, and direct executive support.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate directly with C-suite executives and senior leadership to understand communication objectives, key messages, and audience needs for diverse engagements such as all-hands meetings, board presentations, investor updates, client pitches, and conference keynotes.

• Act as a strategic thought partner to the executive team, providing expert guidance on storytelling, content structure, and visual communication strategy to enhance message impact and achieve desired outcomes.

• Manage the design and production of high-quality, visually engaging presentations and executive assets, contributing hands-on as needed to ensure meticulous attention to detail and brand consistency.

• Guide the design team in transforming raw content and data into sophisticated, professional, and on-brand slides, leveraging advanced skills in Google Slides, PowerPoint, and design best practices.

• Establish and uphold quality standards for data visualizations, infographics, and other visual elements that simplify complexity and enhance understanding for executive-level audiences.

• Oversee and manage the team's project portfolio simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery and meticulous attention to detail across all executive deliverables.

• Ensure all executive assets strictly adhere to Ibotta's brand guidelines, championing visual excellence and staying current on design trends, tools, and techniques.

• Own the development and ongoing maintenance of executive presentation templates, style guides, and shared asset libraries to ensure brand consistency and efficiency.

• Support the visual identity of executive-led initiatives across broader mediums, including digital collateral, branding assets, and high-level corporate events.

• Thrive in a fast-paced, high-pressure executive environment, modeling adaptability and a calm, confident demeanor for the team, and being available for on-call support during critical periods.

• Work predominantly in-office to ensure seamless collaboration, immediate support, and strong working relationships with the executive team.

• Partner effectively with other departments (e.g., Marketing, Communications, Finance) to gather information and ensure alignment on presentation content and messaging.

• Handle sensitive and confidential information with professional discretion and uphold Ibotta's Core Values.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual role: leading a team and being a hands-on contributor. Emphasis is placed on strategic partnership with executives, requiring not just design skills but also the ability to understand business objectives and translate them into compelling narratives. The requirement for significant in-office presence and on-call availability underscores the critical nature of this role in supporting executive-level needs.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Communications, Marketing, or a related field is typically expected for this level of responsibility.

Experience: 7+ years of experience in creating high-impact presentations for C-suite executives and senior leadership in a corporate environment, including at least 2 years in a people management or team lead capacity.

Required Skills:

• Proven ability to build, develop, and inspire a small creative team while maintaining high personal standards of craft and output.

• A strong portfolio showcasing a range of sophisticated executive-level presentations, demonstrating exceptional design skills, storytelling ability, and data visualization expertise.

• Ability to synthesize complex information and abstract concepts into clear, concise, and visually compelling narratives.

• Mastery of Microsoft PowerPoint and Google Slides, including advanced features, template creation, and integration of multimedia elements.

• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign) for creating custom graphics, layouts, and visual assets.

• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and stakeholder management skills, with a proven ability to build trust with senior executives and influence without authority.

• Proven understanding of corporate branding, messaging, and visual storytelling principles.

• Strong project and resource management skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects and team workloads simultaneously in a deadline-driven environment.

• High level of professionalism, discretion, and experience handling confidential information.

• Proactive, resourceful, and able to work independently while also leading a team with clarity and purpose.

• Flexibility to work non-standard hours and be on-call as required by business needs. Preferred Skills:

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel for data interpretation and chart creation.

• Experience in performance marketing or retail technology industries.

• Familiarity with project management or collaboration tools beyond standard office suites.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio is critical. Candidates should prepare to showcase a diverse range of executive presentations that demonstrate strategic thinking, storytelling, data visualization, and brand adherence. The management experience requirement implies a need for leadership competencies in addition to design expertise.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive collection of executive-level presentations that demonstrate strategic narrative development, with clear examples of how complex information was simplified for C-suite audiences.

• Case studies or specific examples showcasing data visualization and infographic creation, highlighting the ability to translate data into actionable insights and visually appealing formats.

• Demonstrations of on-brand visual design across various executive communication needs, including board decks, investor updates, and keynote presentations.

• Examples of how custom graphics, layouts, and visual assets were created using Adobe Creative Suite to enhance presentation impact.

• Evidence of template creation or contributions to style guides that promote brand consistency and efficiency in executive communications. Process Documentation:

• Examples of how complex information and abstract concepts were synthesized into clear, concise, and visually compelling narratives.

• Documentation of workflow processes used to manage multiple projects and team workloads simultaneously in a deadline-driven executive environment.

• Evidence of how brand guidelines were applied and maintained across all executive assets, ensuring visual excellence and consistency.

• Demonstrations of experience in developing and maintaining executive presentation templates and shared asset libraries.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is the primary tool for demonstrating capabilities. Candidates should curate examples that explicitly show problem-solving in executive communication, strategic narrative construction, and sophisticated visual execution. Quantifiable results or executive feedback, if permissible, would significantly strengthen the portfolio.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $105,000 - $120,000 per year.

Benefits:

• Medical Insurance

• Dental Insurance

• Vision Insurance

• Employee Stock Purchase Program

• 401k Match

• Flexible Time Off

• Paid Parking (Denver office perk)

• Snacks (Denver office perk)

• Occasional Meals (Denver office perk)

• Relocation Bonus (for candidates moving to Denver)

Working Hours: Standard 40-hour work week, with flexibility for non-standard hours and on-call availability as required by business needs, particularly for urgent executive requests or critical periods.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a Brand Design Manager with executive communication and management experience in the Denver market. The inclusion of equity through the Employee Stock Purchase Program and a relocation bonus for out-of-state candidates are significant additions that enhance the overall compensation package. The mention of on-call availability and non-standard hours is crucial for candidates to consider.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Performance Marketing Platform / Retail Technology

Company Size: Ibotta is publicly traded (NYSE: IBTA) and is one of the largest tech IPOs from Colorado, indicating a significant scale of operations, likely hundreds to thousands of employees.

Founded: 2012, with a history of steady growth and innovation in the consumer rewards and performance marketing space.

Team Structure:

• The Brand Design Manager will likely lead a small, focused creative team dedicated to executive communications.

• This team will have direct reporting lines to senior leadership within the marketing, communications, or executive office functions.

• Close collaboration is expected with C-suite executives, senior leadership, and potentially departments like Marketing, Communications, and Finance. Methodology:

• Data-driven insights are central to Ibotta's performance marketing model, suggesting an analytical approach to creative strategy and execution.

• Emphasis on clear, compelling visual storytelling to translate complex business information into accessible narratives.

• A culture that values innovation, ownership, and collaboration, as evidenced by their core values.

Company Website: https://ibotta.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Ibotta's position as a leading performance marketing platform implies a data-centric and results-oriented environment. The core values (Integrity, Boldness, Ownership, Teamwork, Transparency) offer insight into expected behaviors and team dynamics. The company's origin and significant growth suggest a dynamic, potentially fast-paced culture.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a senior-level individual contributor with direct management responsibilities, bridging creative execution with strategic advisory for the highest levels of the organization. It is a pivotal role within the executive communications function.

Reporting Structure: The Brand Design Manager likely reports to a Director or VP level within Marketing, Communications, or directly to an executive office function. The team managed would consist of designers focused on executive presentations.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on how Ibotta's leadership communicates its strategy, vision, and performance to critical stakeholders such as the board of directors, investors, and key partners. High-quality executive communications are essential for maintaining confidence, securing investment, and driving strategic alignment.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to grow into a Director-level role overseeing broader creative or communications functions, or to expand the scope of the executive communications team.

• Strategic Influence: Deeper involvement in strategic planning and narrative development for major company initiatives.

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to become a recognized expert in executive branding and communication strategy within the performance marketing industry.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gaining in-depth understanding of various business units through direct collaboration with C-suite executives on diverse topics.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique path for creative professionals to gain significant executive exposure and strategic influence. Growth potential is tied to demonstrating impact at the highest levels of the company and effectively leading a specialized team.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work environment, requiring 3 days per week in the Denver office.

Office Location(s): Denver, Colorado. Perks include paid parking, snacks, and occasional meals, suggesting a well-equipped and supportive office space.

Workspace Context:

• The in-office requirement is to foster close collaboration, immediate support, and strong working relationships with the executive team, indicating a highly interactive and visible workspace.

• Access to necessary design tools and technology will be provided, supporting the creation of high-impact visual assets.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with senior leadership and cross-functional teams will be frequent, promoting a dynamic and engaging work environment.

Work Schedule: Primarily standard business hours, but with a requirement for flexibility, on-call availability during critical periods, and potential for non-standard hours to meet urgent executive requests. This necessitates strong time management and prioritization skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model emphasizes the importance of in-person collaboration for this role, highlighting the direct support provided to the executive team. Candidates should be comfortable with a structured office presence and the demands of supporting high-priority, often time-sensitive, executive needs.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess experience, leadership capabilities, and design craft.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion focused on leadership style, strategic thinking, and alignment with executive communication needs. Preparation should include examples of team management and stakeholder engagement.

• Team/Peer Interviews: Assessment of collaboration skills, design approach, and ability to work within a fast-paced creative environment.

• Executive Interview(s): Direct interaction with C-suite executives to evaluate strategic partnership potential, communication clarity, and understanding of business objectives. This is a critical stage for showcasing executive presence and impact.

• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where candidates present their work, explaining their strategic approach, design process, and the impact of their contributions on executive communications.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your most impactful executive presentation projects. Prioritize those that demonstrate complex problem-solving, strategic narrative development, and significant visual impact.

• Tell the Story: For each project, clearly articulate the challenge, your strategic approach, your role (especially in management and hands-on design), the solutions implemented, and the measurable outcomes or impact.

• Highlight Management: If possible, include examples of how you guided a team, managed resources, or improved processes within your team's workflow.

• Showcase Versatility: Demonstrate proficiency across different types of executive communications (e.g., internal, external, investor, client) and various design styles while maintaining brand consistency.

• Data Visualization Focus: Ensure at least one example prominently features sophisticated data visualization that effectively communicates complex information.

• Be Prepared for Technical Questions: Be ready to discuss your proficiency with Google Slides, PowerPoint,