Design Director

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Director

Company: Mammoth Brands

Location: New York, NY

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Creative & Design / Brand Management

Date Posted: 2026-06-25T16:20:57

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the overarching visual identity and brand design for the Lumē and Mando brands, ensuring cohesive and impactful creative output across all consumer touchpoints.

• Serve as a player-coach, blending strategic creative direction with hands-on design execution to maintain high craft standards and mentor a growing design team.

• Develop and implement scalable design systems, templates, and workflows to empower the creative team for consistent, high-quality content generation.

• Drive the conceptualization and execution of major brand initiatives, including campaign work, new product packaging, and in-store activations, setting new creative benchmarks.

• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and mentorship, guiding designers to elevate their craft and achieve defined growth goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a critical leadership function within a dynamic consumer packaged goods (CPG) company, focusing on brand evolution and creative excellence. The "player-coach" aspect indicates a need for a hands-on leader who can both strategize and execute, essential for a growing team and evolving brands.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Oversee and maintain the visual identity, brand guidelines, and packaging systems for both Lumē and Mando across all channels, including digital, retail, social media, and video.

• Conceptualize, develop, and lead major brand moments and campaigns, ensuring alignment with brand strategy and consumer understanding.

• Build and document robust, scalable design systems, including templates, style guides, and workflows, to ensure consistency and efficiency in creative production.

• Actively mentor and develop the design team through structured feedback, regular design critiques, and personalized growth plans.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional partners in Brand, Marketing, Retail, and Product development to translate strategic objectives into compelling visual solutions.

• Remain hands-on with design execution, utilizing tools like Adobe Illustrator and Figma to refine key visuals, unlock creative challenges, and demonstrate best practices.

• Ensure brand standards are rigorously applied and consistently communicated across all creative assets before deployment.

• Participate in brief kickoffs and strategic discussions to shape the creative direction of new product launches and brand initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus on strategic leadership and tactical execution, characteristic of senior creative roles in fast-paced CPG environments. The emphasis on design systems and cross-functional collaboration is crucial for scaling creative operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating a deep understanding of design principles and brand building is paramount. Equivalent practical experience will be considered.

Experience: Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in brand design, visual identity development, and creative direction, with a significant portion spent in a leadership or senior design capacity within the CPG or a related consumer-facing industry.

Required Skills:

• Proven expertise in developing and maintaining visual identities and brand systems for consumer brands.

• Demonstrated ability to lead design across multiple channels, including packaging, digital, campaign creative, and retail environments.

• Strong strategic thinking with the ability to translate brand strategy and consumer insights into impactful visual decisions.

• Exceptional craft and a well-developed point of view on visual design, with a keen eye for detail and aesthetics.

• Proficient in hands-on design execution using industry-standard software such as Adobe Illustrator, Figma, and potentially other design and prototyping tools.

• Natural mentorship and coaching abilities, with a track record of developing and guiding creative talent.

• Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous or rapidly evolving environments, driving projects forward with incomplete information.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams. Preferred Skills:

• Experience in a "player-coach" role where both strategic leadership and hands-on design execution were required.

• Familiarity with design system implementation and maintenance.

• Experience working with or within a modern CPG company, understanding the unique demands of the sector.

• Knowledge of retail merchandising and in-store activation design principles.

• Experience managing and directing external agencies or freelancers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "10+ years" experience level and the "player-coach" requirement strongly suggest this role is for a seasoned design leader who is comfortable with both high-level strategy and detailed execution. The emphasis on CPG is critical, as it implies an understanding of unique market dynamics and consumer engagement strategies in this sector.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a strong point of view on visual identity and brand design, demonstrating leadership and hands-on craft across multiple channels.

• Case studies that highlight the development and execution of packaging designs, demonstrating an understanding of CPG product presentation.

• Examples of digital and social media creative, illustrating adaptability to different platforms and audience engagement strategies.

• Documentation of design systems, style guides, or brand guidelines, showcasing the ability to create scalable and consistent frameworks.

• Projects that illustrate the ability to translate brand strategy and consumer understanding into tangible visual outcomes. Process Documentation:

• Evidence of developing and implementing design workflows that enhance team efficiency and creative output.

• Examples of how you have mentored designers, including structured feedback mechanisms and growth goal setting.

• Demonstrations of cross-functional collaboration processes, showing how you've partnered with marketing, product, and retail teams.

• Case studies detailing how you've managed major brand initiatives from concept to execution, including campaign work or product launches.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Design Director role, the portfolio is the primary evaluation tool. It should clearly demonstrate not only aesthetic capabilities but also strategic thinking, leadership, and process-oriented approaches to design management and execution. Quantifiable impact, where possible, will be highly valued.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $158,400 - $198,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.

• 401k match to support retirement savings.

• Equity in Mammoth Brands, offering a stake in the company's growth.

• Flexible time off and working hours to promote work-life balance.

• Learning & Development (L&D) stipend for professional growth and skill enhancement.

• Generous sabbatical program: 4 weeks after 5 years, 6 weeks after 10 years, and 8 weeks after 15 years of service.

• Extensive paid parental leave: 20 weeks fully paid for birth-giving parents, and 16 weeks fully paid for all other paths to parenthood.

• Regular in-person and virtual social events, including happy hours, team-building activities, and parties.

• Complimentary products from Mammoth Brands' family of brands.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with flexible working hours available. The company operates on a hybrid model, requiring in-office presence on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is competitive for a Design Director role in New York City, aligning with industry benchmarks for experienced creative leaders in the CPG sector. The benefits package is robust, with notable offerings like equity, generous parental leave, and sabbaticals, indicating a commitment to employee well-being and long-term retention.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), focusing on personal care and health products. Mammoth Brands operates as a modern CPG company, building and scaling direct-to-consumer brands.

Company Size: Mammoth Brands is a significant player, indicated by its growth and portfolio of brands (Harry's, Flamingo, Lume, Mando, Coterie). While the exact employee count isn't stated, its acquisition history and scale suggest a mid-to-large size organization with a considerable operational footprint.

Founded: The company's origins trace back to 2013 with the founding of Harry's. This relatively recent founding, combined with rapid growth, suggests a dynamic, entrepreneurial, and innovative culture.

Team Structure:

• The Creative team for Lumē and Mando is described as small, ambitious, and foundational to brand transformation.

• The Design Director will report to the Head of Creative for Lumē & Mando.

• The role involves managing all designers across both Lumē and Mando brands.

• Close collaboration is expected with Associate Creative Directors (ACD) for Copy and Art Direction, as well as with Brand, Marketing, Retail, and Product teams. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Brand Building: Mammoth Brands focuses on solving unmet consumer needs and challenging the status quo, implying a data-informed approach to product development and marketing.

• Customer-Centricity: The company prioritizes direct relationships with customers and understanding their needs, influencing brand strategy and creative output.

• Entrepreneurial Spirit: Despite its growth, Mammoth Brands aims to maintain a "small, scrappy, entrepreneurial culture," fostering innovation and agility.

• Impact-Oriented: A strong emphasis is placed on making a positive impact, both through product innovation and community giving.

Company Website: mammothbrands.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Mammoth Brands' culture appears to blend entrepreneurial drive with established CPG operational rigor. The "create things people like more" ethos suggests a focus on quality, innovation, and consumer delight, which will be reflected in the creative output expected from this role.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is a senior-level Design Director position, signifying a significant leadership opportunity within the creative function. It demands a blend of strategic vision, creative craft, and team management, placing it at a pivotal point for career progression.

Reporting Structure: The Design Director reports directly to the Head of Creative for Lumē & Mando, indicating a direct line of communication to senior creative leadership. They will manage a team of designers, forming a core part of the brand's creative engine.

Operations Impact: The Design Director's impact is central to the success of Lumē and Mando. By owning and evolving their visual language, this role directly influences brand perception, consumer engagement, market differentiation, and ultimately, sales performance. The work done now is explicitly stated to "define what these brands look and feel like for years to come," underscoring its strategic importance.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Expansion: Potential to grow into a more senior creative leadership role (e.g., VP of Creative) as the company and its brands continue to expand.

• Strategic Influence: Opportunity to shape the long-term creative vision and brand strategy for a portfolio of rapidly growing CPG brands.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning through hands-on work, mentorship from the Head of Creative, and the L&D stipend, allowing for specialization or exploration of new creative disciplines.

• Cross-Functional Acumen: Deepen understanding of CPG operations by working closely with marketing, product, and retail teams, broadening strategic perspective.

• Mentorship Advancement: Develop advanced coaching and team-building skills by leading and growing a design team.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant growth potential, not just within design but also in broader brand strategy and leadership within the CPG space. The emphasis on building and evolving brands provides a unique opportunity to leave a lasting mark.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Mammoth Brands operates from a large, well-appointed office space in SoHo, New York City, spanning 70,000 square feet. The description highlights perks like a rooftop, stocked kitchens, and dedicated meeting spaces, suggesting a collaborative and amenity-rich environment.

Office Location(s): Primarily New York, NY, with a specific mention of their SoHo office.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model (in-office Tuesday-Thursday) is designed to foster collaboration, with specific days offering catered lunches and bagels to encourage team interaction.

• Tools & Technology: The office is equipped to support creative work, and the role demands proficiency in digital design tools like Figma and Adobe Illustrator. Access to internal systems and potentially a robust creative tech stack is implied.

• Team Interaction: The role involves close collaboration with various internal teams (Creative, Brand, Marketing, Retail, Product) and direct management of a design team, emphasizing a high degree of interpersonal engagement.

Work Schedule: The standard workweek is 40 hours, with flexible working hours. The hybrid model mandates in-office presence on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, with flexibility for remote work on other days.

📝 Enhancement Note: The New York City office environment is positioned as a significant perk, designed to enhance collaboration and employee experience. The hybrid model is a common and expected structure for creative roles in this industry, balancing flexibility with in-person teamwork.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio will be conducted by the recruiting team to assess alignment with the role's requirements and assess your creative output.

• Hiring Manager Interview: An in-depth discussion with the Head of Creative, focusing on your leadership philosophy, design approach, experience with brand systems, and ability to mentor. You'll be expected to walk through key portfolio pieces.

• Team & Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with potential direct reports (designers) and key cross-functional partners (e.g., Brand, Marketing leads) to evaluate collaboration style, communication skills, and cultural fit.

• Practical Exercise/Case Study (Potential): You may be asked to present a strategy for evolving one of the brands, or critique existing creative, demonstrating your strategic thinking and design point of view.

• Final Round: Potentially a meeting with senior leadership to discuss vision and strategic impact.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best represent your leadership, strategic thinking, and hands-on craft in brand identity, packaging, and campaign design.

• Tell the Story: For each project, clearly articulate the business challenge, your role, the strategic decisions you made, the creative process, and the quantifiable results or impact achieved.

• Showcase "Player-Coach" Ability: Include examples where you both directed a team/project and were hands-on with execution. Highlight your ability to articulate design rationale clearly.

• Highlight Design Systems: If you have experience building or managing design systems, dedicate a section or specific case study to this, demonstrating scalability and consistency.

• Tailor to CPG: Emphasize projects relevant to the CPG sector, demonstrating an understanding of consumer behavior, retail environments, and packaging effectiveness.

Challenge Preparation:

• Brand Evolution Strategy: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach evolving the visual identity of Lumē or Mando, considering their current market position and future ambitions. Focus on strategic rationale over purely aesthetic preferences.

• Design System Framework: Think about how you would structure a design system for these brands, outlining key components and implementation strategies.

• Mentorship Approach: Be ready to articulate your philosophy and methods for mentoring designers, providing specific examples of how you've coached individuals to improve their craft and career.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess a candidate's strategic capability, creative leadership, hands-on skills, and ability to integrate into a collaborative, fast-paced CPG environment. A strong, well-articulated portfolio is non-negotiable.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Expert proficiency required in Adobe Illustrator for vector graphics and brand identity work. Adobe Photoshop for image manipulation and digital assets is also essential.

• Figma: Critical for collaborative design, prototyping, design system development, and cross-functional sharing. This is explicitly mentioned as a tool the candidate will use.

• Prototyping Tools (e.g., Adobe XD, InVision): May be used for digital design and user experience workflows, though Figma often encompasses these capabilities.

Analytics & Reporting: While not directly managing analytics, the Design Director must understand how to interpret data related to consumer engagement, campaign performance, and brand perception to inform design decisions. Familiarity with tools that provide such insights (e.g., Google Analytics, social media analytics platforms) is beneficial.

CRM & Automation: Not directly relevant to the core design responsibilities, but an understanding of how design assets are deployed through marketing automation platforms or integrated into CRM-driven customer journeys can be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma and Adobe Illustrator is non-negotiable for this role, as they are the primary tools for creative execution and design system development. The ability to leverage these tools effectively for both individual contribution and team direction is key.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• "Create Things People Like More": This core ethos drives a commitment to quality, innovation, and exceeding consumer expectations across all aspects of the business, including design.

• Customer-Centricity: A strong focus on understanding and serving the consumer, ensuring that design decisions are grounded in user needs and market relevance.

• Ambition & Drive: The company fosters an environment where individuals are encouraged to be ambitious, take initiative, and contribute to significant growth and brand building.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: While entrepreneurial, Mammoth Brands values working together to achieve common goals, emphasizing cross-functional partnerships and mutual support.

• Impact & Purpose: A commitment to making a positive impact, both through better products and community contributions, suggests a desire for meaningful work.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The role requires close collaboration with Brand, Marketing, Retail, and Product teams, necessitating clear communication and a partnership-oriented approach.

• Direct & Specific Feedback: The company values direct, specific, and constructive feedback, particularly in creative critiques and mentorship, aimed at genuine improvement.

• Agile & Iterative: Given the emphasis on building and evolving brands, a collaborative style that embraces iteration, learning, and adaptation is likely favored.

• Transparency: Operating in a "small, scrappy, entrepreneurial" culture often implies a degree of transparency and open communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture leans towards a blend of entrepreneurial spirit and a strong focus on consumer needs and quality. The expectation for direct feedback and collaborative problem-solving is central to how teams operate and grow.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Brand Evolution Complexity: Leading the visual evolution for two distinct brands (Lumē and Mando) simultaneously, each with different audiences and strategic goals, requires strong organizational and strategic skills.

• Balancing Player & Coach Roles: Effectively managing time and energy between hands-on design execution and team leadership/mentorship can be demanding.

• Maintaining Craft with Scale: As the team and brands grow, ensuring that design quality and brand consistency are maintained across an increasing volume of work.

• Navigating Ambiguity: Working in a relatively young, fast-growing company means adapting to evolving briefs, strategies, and organizational structures.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring all stakeholders are aligned on creative vision and execution, especially when balancing diverse perspectives from Brand, Marketing, and Product.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic Brand Leadership: Deepen expertise in CPG brand strategy, market positioning, and long-term brand building.

• Design System Mastery: Gain extensive experience in architecting, implementing, and scaling complex design systems for multiple brands.

• Mentorship & Team Building: Develop advanced leadership and coaching skills by nurturing a team of designers.

• Cross-Disciplinary Exposure: Enhance understanding of marketing, product development, and retail operations through close collaboration.

• Industry Engagement: Utilize the L&D stipend for relevant workshops, conferences, or courses to stay abreast of design trends and leadership best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a senior creative leader in a high-growth company, focusing on balancing multiple brand needs, managing a team, and maintaining quality amidst rapid development. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering a path to broader strategic influence and leadership.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your philosophy on building and evolving a visual identity for consumer brands. How do you balance maintaining brand equity with driving innovation?"

• "Walk us through a time you led a significant brand transformation or campaign. What was your role, the strategy, the execution, and the impact?"

• "How do you approach developing and implementing a design system? What are the key components, and how do you ensure its adoption and maintenance?"

• "Describe your approach to mentoring designers. How do you provide feedback that is both constructive and motivating?"

• "How do you translate consumer insights and brand strategy into tangible design decisions? Can you provide an example?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on what you know about Mammoth Brands, Lumē, and Mando, what are your initial thoughts on their current brand identities and potential areas for growth?"

• "How do you see your 'player-coach' approach fitting into our team structure and creative process?"

• "Describe a challenging cross-functional collaboration you've experienced. How did you navigate it to achieve a positive outcome?"

• "What are your expectations regarding work-life balance and flexibility within a hybrid work environment?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, use a clear story arc: Problem/Brief -> Your Role & Strategy -> Process & Execution -> Outcome & Impact.

• Highlight Leadership & Craft: Explicitly point out where you led teams, made strategic decisions, and were hands-on with execution.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data (e.g., sales uplift, engagement metrics, efficiency gains) to demonstrate the effectiveness of your designs.

• Showcase Design Systems: Dedicate time to explaining your design system thinking and how it drives consistency and efficiency.

• Be Prepared for Critiques: You may be asked to critique existing creative or propose solutions to hypothetical design challenges. Articulate your reasoning clearly and constructively.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on articulating your strategic design thinking, leadership capabilities, and hands-on craft. Be ready to back up your claims with specific examples from your portfolio and demonstrate an understanding of the CPG landscape and Mammoth Brands' specific brands.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Design Director position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on greenhouse.io.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date, showcasing your strongest work relevant to brand identity, packaging, digital, and campaign design. Tailor your selection to highlight leadership and "player-coach" capabilities.

• Tailor Your Resume: Align your resume with the job description, emphasizing years of experience, leadership roles, CPG industry exposure, and proficiency in key tools like Figma and Adobe Illustrator. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your design philosophy, leadership approach, and key portfolio projects. Be ready to discuss how you translate strategy into visual execution and mentor design teams.

• Research Mammoth Brands: Familiarize yourself with Lumē and Mando's current brand presence, target audiences, and the broader Mammoth Brands ecosystem. Understand their mission and values.

⚠️ 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.