Creative Designer Specialist

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Creative Designer Specialist

Company: Santander

Location: Lisboa, Portugal

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Marketing & Communications Operations / Creative Operations

Date Posted: 2026-06-22

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive creative strategy and execution for marketing and internal communications initiatives across the Santander Group.

• Develop innovative visual concepts and design solutions for a wide range of formats, including digital, social media, presentations, video, and physical materials.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and international stakeholders to translate complex briefs into compelling and impactful visual narratives.

• Leverage GenAI tools to enhance creative processes and production efficiency in a dynamic, fast-paced financial sector environment.

• Contribute to a high-performing Communications team recognized for agility, creativity, and execution excellence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is explicitly described as "full stack criativo," indicating a need for a designer capable of conceptualization, design execution, and potentially some level of digital production across various media. This suggests a hands-on role with significant creative ownership, rather than purely management. The emphasis on "transformar ideias em impacto" and "soluções mais relevantes, integradas e com maior impacto" highlights the strategic importance of this role within Santander's communication efforts.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize, design, and execute high-quality visual assets for diverse communication channels, including social media campaigns, internal announcements, executive presentations, and institutional brand moments.

• Translate complex marketing and business objectives into clear, engaging, and aesthetically compelling creative solutions that align with Santander's brand guidelines and strategic goals.

• Manage multiple design projects simultaneously, adapting to evolving priorities, deadlines, and creative briefs while maintaining consistently high standards of quality and execution.

• Collaborate closely with marketing, communications, and business unit teams across different geographies within the Santander Group to ensure integrated and impactful campaign delivery.

• Utilize and explore Generative AI (GenAI) tools to augment the creative process, generate new ideas, and improve production efficiency for design assets.

• Champion a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within the Communications team, contributing to best practices in design, workflow optimization, and creative execution.

• Ensure all creative output adheres to brand identity standards, accessibility guidelines, and legal/compliance requirements relevant to the financial services industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility to "simplificar briefings complexos e transformá-los em propostas claras e eficazes" implies a need for strong analytical and strategic thinking skills alongside creative execution. This role is expected to not just execute, but to interpret and refine strategic direction through design. The mention of working with "equipas de outras geografias do Grupo Santander" highlights the need for strong cross-cultural communication and adaptability.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While specific educational requirements are not detailed, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Arts, Communications, or a related field is typically expected for a Specialist-level role. Equivalent practical experience with a strong portfolio will also be considered.

Experience: A minimum of 2-5 years of professional experience in graphic design, digital design, or visual communications within an agency or in-house corporate setting. Experience within the financial sector or a large, complex organization is a strong advantage.

Required Skills:

• Proven expertise in graphic design principles, typography, color theory, and layout composition.

• Demonstrated ability in developing creative concepts from initial brief to final execution ("full stack criativo").

• Advanced proficiency in industry-standard design software, including Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and Figma.

• Strong visual storytelling skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas through compelling design.

• Excellent attention to detail and a commitment to delivering polished, high-quality work.

• Ability to manage multiple projects concurrently, prioritize tasks effectively, and meet demanding deadlines.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the capacity to collaborate effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders.

• Adaptability and resilience in managing ambiguity, changing priorities, and challenging project requirements. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with video editing and motion graphics software (e.g., Adobe After Effects, Premiere Pro).

• Familiarity and practical experience with Generative AI (GenAI) tools for creative ideation and production support.

• Experience designing for social media platforms and understanding of digital marketing best practices.

• Knowledge of brand management and experience working within established brand guidelines.

• Ability to work on-site in a collaborative team environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "full stack criativo" description strongly suggests that candidates should be comfortable with the entire design lifecycle, from ideation to final asset delivery. The explicit mention of "GenAI Tools" as a requirement, rather than just a preference, indicates that proficiency or at least a willingness to learn and apply these emerging technologies is crucial. The emphasis on "autonomia, sentido crítico e vontade de colaborar" points towards a candidate who can work independently but also integrate seamlessly into a team.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive digital portfolio showcasing a diverse range of creative projects, emphasizing versatility across different formats (digital, print, social media, presentations, video/motion).

• Case studies that demonstrate the candidate's ability to translate complex briefs into clear, effective visual solutions and articulate the creative process and rationale behind their design decisions.

• Examples highlighting strong conceptual thinking, aesthetic sensibility, attention to detail, and execution quality.

• Projects that illustrate experience with brand identity development, campaign execution, and cross-media integration.

• Evidence of proficiency in core design tools such as Adobe Creative Suite and Figma. Process Documentation:

• While not explicitly stated as a requirement for submission, candidates should be prepared to discuss their design process, including:

  • Workflow for concept development and iteration.

  • Methods for managing multiple projects and prioritizing tasks.

  • Strategies for collaborating with stakeholders and incorporating feedback.

  • Approaches to ensuring brand consistency and quality control.

  • Experience in utilizing or exploring new technologies like GenAI within their workflow.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a portfolio that "demonstre versatilidade, sentido estético, pensamento criativo e capacidade de execução em diferentes formatos" is paramount. For a "full stack criativo" role, the portfolio should not just show finished products but also hints at the candidate's problem-solving approach and ability to adapt their skills to various communication needs within a large organization like Santander.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Creative Designer Specialist with 2-5 years of experience in Lisbon, Portugal, the estimated annual salary range typically falls between €28,000 and €40,000 gross per year. This estimate is based on current market data for similar roles in Portugal, considering the cost of living and the specialized skill set required.

Benefits:

• Fair and Competitive Remuneration Package, reflecting the candidate's impact and value.

• BeHealthy Global Wellness Program, supporting holistic well-being.

• Comprehensive parental leave policies.

• Childcare support initiatives.

• Opportunities for global career development and diverse career paths within Santander.

• Paid time off for volunteering activities, encouraging community engagement.

• Access to a wide range of employee benefits designed to support life, goals, and well-being.

Working Hours: The role is full-time, with an expected standard working week of approximately 40 hours. The job description emphasizes an "on site, num modelo próximo, colaborativo e integrado com a equipa" work arrangement, suggesting a traditional office-based schedule.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimations for Lisbon, Portugal, were derived from industry salary benchmarks and cost-of-living data for mid-level creative roles. The provided benefits are directly extracted from the job description and highlight Santander's commitment to employee well-being, family support, and professional growth.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services. Santander operates as a global retail and commercial bank, undergoing a significant transformation towards becoming a technology-driven organization. This context implies a need for creative professionals who can adapt to evolving digital landscapes and communicate complex financial concepts effectively.

Company Size: Santander is a large, global financial institution, employing tens of thousands of people worldwide. This scale offers opportunities for broad impact and exposure to diverse projects, but also requires efficient communication and adherence to established corporate structures and brand guidelines.

Founded: Santander was founded in 18