Creative & Brand Design Manager

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Creative & Brand Design Manager

Company: Zymo Research Corporation

Location: Tustin, CA

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Marketing & Design Operations

Date Posted: November 04, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and manage a creative team of three, fostering professional development and a collaborative environment to drive high-quality brand design output.

• Own and refine Zymo Research's visual identity across all digital and print touchpoints, ensuring a consistent and compelling brand presence.

• Serve as a hands-on graphic designer, producing key corporate brand assets and establishing a clear design direction for company-wide initiatives.

• Develop and maintain comprehensive brand guidelines and design systems to empower internal teams and external partners.

• Partner with Marketing and Commercial leadership to translate brand strategy and complex scientific information into effective visual communications.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a "player-coach" position, requiring a blend of strategic leadership and direct design execution. The focus on "corporate brand programs and company-wide initiatives" suggests a significant emphasis on internal branding, corporate communications, and high-level marketing collateral, rather than solely product-specific design. The need to translate complex scientific information into accessible visuals highlights a critical GTM and MarOps function within a life sciences context.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Creative Team Leadership: Manage, coach, and develop the creative team through clear expectations, regular feedback, performance reviews, and professional development plans.

• Workload Management: Assign work based on priorities, team capacity, and individual strengths; coordinate timelines and workloads with project managers and Marketing leadership.

• Artistic Direction: Provide art direction and constructive design feedback that enhances the team's judgment, skills, and creative independence.

• Brand Identity Ownership: Own and refine Zymo Research's visual identity across digital, print, social media, email, presentations, events, and product collateral.

• Visual Principle Translation: Translate brand strategy into clear visual principles for typography, layout, color, imagery, iconography, and visual hierarchy.

• Lead Design Review: Serve as the lead reviewer for brand design, ensuring all major creative assets are clear, polished, consistent, and aligned with the company's brand direction.

• Hands-On Design Production: Personally develop creative concepts and produce finished graphic design, with a primary emphasis on corporate brand programs and company-wide initiatives.

• Template Development: Create and refine templates for presentations, social media, email, brochures, product sheets, events, and internal communications.

• Brand Guideline Management: Lead the development and maintenance of the brand guide, expanding it into a practical system for everyday design decisions.

• Creative Operations Improvement: Partner with project and operations leads to enhance creative briefs, project intake, review cycles, approvals, and delivery workflows.

• Asset Management: Maintain organized asset libraries, approved templates, source files, and version control for efficient material retrieval and reuse.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Marketing, Commercialization Managers, scientific and technical contributors, and Web teams to translate communication objectives into effective visual design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "creative operations and quality" and "brand guidelines and design systems" points to a need for strong process orientation, akin to MarOps or RevOps functions, focused on standardizing and optimizing creative output. This includes workflow improvements, asset management, and template creation, which are critical for maintaining brand consistency at scale.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, Marketing, or a related field is typically expected for this level of responsibility, though significant relevant experience can be substituted.

Experience: A minimum of five years of experience in graphic design, brand design, visual identity, or art direction, with a proven track record of managing and developing creative team members.

Required Skills:

• Graphic Design Proficiency: Demonstrated expertise in creating compelling visual assets across various mediums (digital and print).

• Brand Design & Visual Identity: Strong understanding and practical experience in developing and maintaining a cohesive visual identity.

• Team Leadership & Management: Proven ability to manage, coach, and develop a creative team, including performance management and professional development.

• Adobe Creative Cloud: Hands-on proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop is essential for design production.

• Presentation Design: Strong skills in creating professional and impactful corporate presentations.

• Brand Guideline Development: Experience in creating and implementing comprehensive brand guidelines and visual systems.

• Typography & Layout: Excellent command of typography, layout design, and visual hierarchy principles.

• Creative Review & Art Direction: Ability to provide clear, constructive feedback and art direction to designers.

• Project Management Collaboration: Ability to coordinate timelines and workloads with project managers and stakeholders.

• Communication & Collaboration: Excellent verbal and written communication skills for effective cross-functional collaboration.

Preferred Skills:

• Life Sciences/Biotech Industry Experience: Familiarity with the nuances of branding and design in technical B2B, life sciences, biotechnology, or healthcare sectors.

• In-House Creative Team Leadership: Experience leading an in-house creative function.

• Figma & UX Design Systems: Familiarity with Figma, web, and UX design systems and their integration with broader brand identity.

• Photography/Video Direction: Experience directing photography, video visuals, or campaign imagery.

• AI Creative Tools: Experience utilizing AI or emerging creative tools to enhance visual exploration and production efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for translating "complex information" and the "preferred experience in life sciences" strongly suggest that candidates with experience in technical B2B marketing or highly regulated industries will have a significant advantage. This implies a need for not just aesthetic skill, but also the ability to understand and visually represent scientific concepts accurately.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrated Design Work: A robust portfolio showcasing a range of personal design projects, highlighting strong typography, layout, and visual hierarchy.

• Brand Consistency Examples: Clear examples of how you've executed and maintained a consistent brand identity across diverse channels (digital, print, social, etc.).

• Brand Guideline/System Development: Evidence of creating or significantly contributing to brand guidelines, style guides, or design systems.

• Template Design: Examples of designed templates for common marketing and corporate materials (e.g., presentations, brochures, social media).

• Management Experience: While not always directly visual, descriptions or case studies demonstrating your approach to team leadership, art direction, and workflow management are valuable.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Optimization Examples: Showcase instances where you improved creative workflow, intake processes, review cycles, or asset management systems.

• Brand Standard Implementation: Detail your process for developing, communicating, and ensuring adherence to brand standards.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration Processes: Illustrate how you've established effective processes for collaborating with marketing, product, and technical teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role that emphasizes "corporate brand programs" and "creative operations," a portfolio should ideally not just showcase finished designs but also demonstrate the strategic thinking and process improvements behind them. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their approach to brand stewardship, team development, and operational efficiency within a creative context.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The estimated base compensation range for this position is $100,000 - $115,000 annually.

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance Coverages

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Sessions

• Vacation Time plus Company Holidays

• Paid Sick Leave

• Generous 401(K) with matching

• Employee Referral Bonus

• Complimentary fruit, snacks, and beverages

• Complimentary catered lunches on Thursdays

• Complimentary EV Charging

• Cell phone stipend

Working Hours: The role is listed with an expected 40 working hours per week. Given the on-site requirement and the "player-coach" nature, a standard business day with potential for occasional extended hours during critical project phases or deadlines is anticipated.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is a baseline. Actual compensation will be determined by factors including geographic location, candidate experience, and other job-related criteria. The comprehensive benefits package is typical for a mid-to-large sized company and includes several attractive perks that contribute to employee well-being and convenience.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Biotechnology / Life Sciences. Zymo Research specializes in providing innovative, reliable, and high-quality research tools and products for DNA, RNA, epigenetics, microbiomics, protein, and yeast-based research.

Company Size: Zymo Research is recognized as a significant player in its field, indicated by its "Top Workplace" awards and the mention of a team of three direct reports, suggesting a medium to large organizational structure.

Founded: 1994. With a history spanning over three decades, Zymo Research has established itself as a reputable and enduring company in the scientific community.

Team Structure:

• The Creative team consists of three direct reports, implying a focused, specialized unit within a larger marketing or communications department.

• The role reports to Marketing or Commercial leadership, indicating close alignment with Go-To-Market (GTM) strategies.

• Significant cross-functional collaboration is expected with Marketing, Commercialization Managers, scientific and technical contributors, and Web teams. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: While not explicitly stated, the emphasis on brand strategy and translating complex information suggests a need for data-informed creative decisions.

• Process Optimization: The role involves improving creative briefs, intake, review cycles, and workflow, indicating a focus on efficient and streamlined operations.

• Brand Stewardship: A core methodology involves maintaining and evolving a consistent visual identity across all company communications.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Zymo Research's commitment to scientific advancement and its "Top Workplace" accolades suggest a culture that values innovation, quality, employee well-being, and collaboration. The "player-coach" aspect also points to a hands-on, results-oriented environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a mid-to-senior level position within the marketing and design function, bridging individual contributor design expertise with team management and strategic brand oversight. It's a critical "player-coach" role that offers significant impact on the company's external perception and internal communication consistency.

Reporting Structure: The Creative & Brand Design Manager will report to Marketing or Commercial leadership, indicating a direct line of influence on GTM strategy and brand execution. They will manage a team of three designers.

Operations Impact: The role's impact is substantial, directly influencing how Zymo Research is perceived by its scientific community, potential clients, partners, and employees. Effective brand design and visual identity are crucial for establishing credibility, communicating value, and supporting sales and marketing efforts in the competitive biotechnology sector. This role ensures that the visual representation of the brand is as innovative and reliable as the company's scientific products.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Expansion: Potential to grow the creative team, take on broader marketing responsibilities, or move into a Director-level role overseeing more extensive creative functions.

• Strategic Brand Influence: Opportunity to shape and evolve Zymo Research's brand identity, contributing to long-term company strategy and market positioning.

• Industry Expertise Development: Deepen understanding of branding within the life sciences and biotechnology sector, becoming a subject matter expert.

• Process Improvement Leadership: Lead initiatives to further optimize creative operations and MarOps efficiency within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique blend of creative leadership and operational impact, providing a strong foundation for career advancement in brand management, marketing operations, or creative direction within specialized industries.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site. The position is based at Zymo Research's facility in Tustin, CA.

Office Location(s): 2961 Dow Ave, Tustin, CA, 92780. This location is within Orange County, California, offering access to a vibrant business community.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role requires close collaboration with various internal teams, suggesting an office environment that supports teamwork and communication.

• Tools and Technology: Access to the Adobe Creative Cloud suite is fundamental, with preferred familiarity in tools like Figma and AI creative tools. The company likely provides necessary hardware and software for design and team management.

• Team Interaction: As an on-site role, there will be ample opportunity for direct interaction with the creative team, Marketing colleagues, and other stakeholders, fostering a dynamic and integrated work experience.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is 40 hours per week, expected to be performed on-site during regular business hours. Flexibility may be available, but the core responsibilities and team leadership necessitate consistent presence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement suggests a company culture that values in-person collaboration and team cohesion, which can be beneficial for creative synergy and direct management. The Tustin location offers proximity to other businesses and amenities in the Orange County area.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process: The interview process likely involves several stages designed to assess creative talent, leadership potential, strategic thinking, and cultural fit.

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to gauge basic qualifications and creative aptitude.

• Skills Assessment/Portfolio Review: A deeper dive into your portfolio, discussing specific projects, design decisions, and your approach to brand strategy and execution. Expect to present key pieces and articulate your rationale.

• Management & Strategy Interview: Questions focused on your leadership style, experience managing teams, experience with brand guidelines, and how you would approach specific challenges at Zymo Research.

• Cross-Functional/Stakeholder Interviews: Conversations with Marketing and Commercial leaders to assess collaboration skills and alignment with business objectives.

• Final Interview: May involve senior leadership to discuss overall fit and strategic vision for the creative function.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best represent your skills in brand design, visual identity, leadership, and corporate communications.

• Showcase Process: For each selected project, be prepared to walk through the brief, your concept development, design rationale, execution, and any measurable impact or outcome.

• Highlight Management: If possible, include a project where you led a team or mentored designers, explaining your role in their development and the project's success.

• Demonstrate Brand Stewardship: Clearly show how you've developed or maintained brand standards and ensured consistency.

• Tailor to Zymo: Emphasize projects that align with Zymo Research's industry (biotech/life sciences) or demonstrate your ability to translate complex information visually.

• Technical Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your proficiency with Adobe Creative Cloud and any other relevant design tools.

Challenge Preparation:

• Brand Audit/Critique: Be prepared to discuss your thoughts on Zymo Research's current brand presence or a hypothetical design challenge related to the company's products or mission.

• Creative Brief Interpretation: You might be given a hypothetical creative brief and asked to outline your approach to developing design concepts and managing the project.

• Workflow Improvement Proposal: Consider how you would approach improving the creative operations or brand guideline adherence within the described team structure.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the "player-coach" nature, interviewers will be looking for a candidate who can not only produce excellent design but also effectively lead and develop a team, manage processes, and strategically align creative output with business goals. A portfolio that demonstrates both execution and strategic thinking is crucial.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Cloud: Essential suite including Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop for graphic design and production.

• Presentation Software: Strong proficiency with tools like Microsoft PowerPoint or Google Slides for creating corporate presentations is a must.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed as a primary tool for this role, understanding how design impacts metrics (e.g., engagement on social media, conversion rates on landing pages) is valuable. Familiarity with analytics platforms could be a plus. CRM & Automation:

• No direct CRM or automation tool requirements are listed for this design-focused role, but understanding how creative assets are deployed through marketing automation platforms (e.g., email marketing software) or integrated into CRM campaigns is beneficial. Other Potential Tools (Preferred):

• Figma: Increasingly popular for collaborative design, UI/UX, and design systems.

• AI Creative Tools: Mentioned as a preferred skill, indicating potential use for ideation, asset generation, or efficiency.

• Project Management Software: Familiarity with tools used for team coordination and workflow management (e.g., Asana, Trello, Monday.com).

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technical requirement is deep proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud for graphic design. Familiarity with collaborative design platforms like Figma and emerging AI tools suggests a forward-thinking approach to creative production, which is advantageous.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Quality: Aligned with Zymo Research's mission to provide innovative, reliable, and high-quality research tools. This translates to a commitment to design excellence and creative problem-solving.

• Collaboration: A strong emphasis on working closely with Marketing, Commercial, scientific, and technical teams to achieve shared goals.

• Efficiency & Process: Driving improvements in creative workflows, project intake, and brand standard adherence to optimize team effectiveness.

• Impact-Driven: Focusing on how design contributes to scientific advancement and the company's overall success and market perception.

Collaboration Style:

• Partnership-Oriented: Working hand-in-hand with Marketing and Commercial leadership to translate strategy into visual assets.

• Cross-Functional Integration: Actively involving designers early in project planning and collaborating with subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

• Feedback Culture: Providing and receiving constructive feedback to elevate the team's skills and the quality of creative output.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's "Top Workplace" awards suggest a culture that values employee contribution, engagement, and mutual respect. For this role, a collaborative, proactive, and quality-focused approach would be highly valued.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Leadership and Execution: Effectively managing a team while maintaining a significant individual design workload requires strong time management and prioritization skills.

• Translating Complex Science: Visually representing intricate scientific concepts in an accessible and accurate manner for diverse audiences.

• Maintaining Brand Consistency: Ensuring brand integrity across a wide array of internal and external touchpoints, especially with a growing company.

• Evolving Creative Landscape: Keeping pace with design trends, new technologies (like AI), and evolving digital platforms.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Techniques: Opportunities to explore new design software, AI creative tools, or specialized design areas.

• Leadership Development: Formal or informal training in people management, strategic planning, and cross-functional leadership.

• Industry Immersion: Gaining deeper expertise in the biotechnology and life sciences industry, enhancing the ability to create relevant and impactful designs.

• Process Improvement Initiatives: Leading projects to refine creative operations, implement new systems, or enhance workflow efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents a significant opportunity to impact a scientific company's brand identity. The challenges are typical of a player-coach role, requiring a versatile skillset and adaptability. The growth potential lies in both creative leadership and operational excellence.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your approach to managing a creative team while also contributing as an individual designer. How do you prioritize and balance these responsibilities?" (Focus on time management, delegation, and clear communication.)

• "How would you go about developing or refining Zymo Research's brand guidelines to ensure consistency across all departments and external communications?" (Discuss process, stakeholder involvement, and practical application.)

• "Imagine you need to create a corporate presentation explaining complex scientific research. What steps would you take to ensure the design is clear, engaging, and scientifically accurate?" (Highlight research, collaboration with SMEs, visual hierarchy, and storytelling.)

• "How do you provide constructive feedback to designers to help them improve their skills and grow professionally?" (Emphasize specific examples, actionable advice, and a supportive approach.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What are your impressions of Zymo Research's current brand presence, and where do you see opportunities for enhancement?" (Show you've researched their website and marketing materials.)

• "How do you foster a collaborative environment within a creative team and with other departments like Marketing and Science?" (Discuss communication strategies, feedback mechanisms, and cross-functional partnership.)

• "How do you measure the success or impact of your design work, particularly in a corporate branding context?" (Talk about brand consistency audits, stakeholder feedback, and alignment with business objectives.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative is Key: For each portfolio piece, tell a story: the challenge, your solution, your process, and the outcome.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics or qualitative feedback to demonstrate the effectiveness of your designs.

• Showcase Leadership: If you have examples of mentoring, art direction, or managing projects with a team, highlight them.

• Brand Systems Focus: Be ready to discuss your experience with brand guidelines, design systems, and template creation in detail.

• Industry Relevance: Emphasize any work related to life sciences, biotechnology, or technical B2B marketing.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare to discuss specific examples from your portfolio that showcase your leadership, brand development, process improvement, and hands-on design skills, especially in contexts similar to Zymo Research's industry.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Creative & Brand Design Manager position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on the TriNet platform.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your experience in team leadership, brand identity management, corporate design, and proficiency with Adobe Creative Cloud. Use keywords from the job description such as "visual identity," "brand guidelines," "art direction," and "creative operations."

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that demonstrate your skills in brand design, corporate communications, and team leadership. Ensure it clearly showcases your ability to maintain brand consistency and translate complex information visually. Be prepared to discuss your process for each piece.

• Prepare for an Interview: Research Zymo Research's mission, products, and current brand presence. Think about how your skills and experience align with their needs, particularly in the biotechnology sector. Prepare specific examples for behavioral and situational questions related to leadership, design strategy, and creative operations.

• Understand the "Player-Coach" Dynamic: Be ready to articulate how you effectively manage and mentor a team while also executing hands-on design work.

⚠️ 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.