Design Director

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Director

Company: OLIVER Agency - North America

Location: New York, New York

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Creative Operations / Design Leadership

Date Posted: 2026-09-01

Experience Level: 10+ years

Remote Status: Remote OK (PST or San Francisco Bay Area)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and direct a multi-disciplinary creative team within an embedded, AI-native creative studio for a major B2B tech brand.

• Drive the integration of generative AI tools into creative workflows, establishing quality standards and governance for AI-assisted output.

• Ensure relentless craft and speed in producing flawless assets across various regions, channels, and formats, maintaining brand consistency.

• Partner with business leadership to manage studio operations, timelines, and the overall client experience, fostering strong client relationships.

• Develop team members' skills through coaching and knowledge-sharing, identifying opportunities for process improvement and smarter ways of working.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Design Director within an "AI-native creative studio" embedded with a large B2B tech client. The emphasis on "AI velocity," "agentic approach," and specific AI tool proficiency (Midjourney, Adobe Firefly) indicates a forward-thinking operations model that blends traditional design leadership with cutting-edge technology for high-volume, high-quality output. This is not a typical design management role; it requires a strategic leader who can operationalize AI within a creative production environment.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Direct and develop a multi-level creative team, conducting internal critiques, sharpening executions, and fostering a culture of high standards.

• Contribute directly to concepting and design, bringing hands-on expertise to elevate the team's output at all production stages.

• Serve as the final quality control checkpoint for all creative work produced by the studio, ensuring adherence to brand guidelines, voice, and vision.

• Ensure every asset produced is faithful to the client's brand identity, from flagship campaigns to localized regional content across diverse markets and channels.

• Develop team members' skills and creative output through regular coaching, feedback, and structured knowledge-sharing sessions.

• Identify and implement opportunities to improve creative processes and introduce more efficient operational workflows.

• Build an inclusive, collaborative team culture that leverages diverse perspectives to enhance creative output and working relationships.

• Partner with the OLIVER Business Director to manage studio operations, timelines, and the overall client experience, ensuring seamless delivery.

• Maintain strong, collaborative working relationships with client creative directors, account leads, producers, and project managers to ensure alignment and effective partnership.

• Manage and prioritize team workloads across high-volume delivery cycles, demonstrating agility in adapting to shifting priorities and timelines.

• Lead the integration of generative AI tools into creative workflows, establishing quality standards and governance for AI-assisted output at the studio level.

• Drive AI adoption and share best practices across the creative team and the wider OLIVER network, promoting continuous learning and innovation.

• Apply an agentic approach to complex creative and operational challenges, systematically breaking down problems and identifying efficient, high-quality solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus on creative excellence and operational efficiency, driven by AI integration. The role requires not only artistic direction but also a strong operational mindset for managing high-volume output, team development, and client partnerships within a unique embedded studio model. The emphasis on "agentic leadership" suggests a proactive, problem-solving approach to operational and creative challenges.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Not specified, but a Bachelor's degree in Design, Fine Arts, Marketing, or a related field is typically expected for a Director-level role.

Experience: 10+ years of experience in creative roles, with a significant portion dedicated to leadership and team management in fast-paced, high-volume environments.

Required Skills:

• A strong portfolio demonstrating expertise in brand system development, campaign craft, and multi-format creative execution at scale.

• Proven experience leading and developing multi-disciplinary creative teams in high-volume, fast-paced environments (agency, in-house, or embedded studio backgrounds are all welcome).

• Deep expertise in brand identity and creative systems, with a track record of maintaining quality and consistency across diverse markets, channels, and formats.

• Experience leading creative quality processes, including running critiques, setting standards, and developing team members' output.

• A collaborative, stakeholder-savvy approach, with the ability to build strong working relationships with senior clients, account teams, and cross-functional partners.

• Strategic awareness of how generative AI can enhance creative quality and delivery efficiency.

• Advanced proficiency with generative AI tools, specifically Midjourney, Adobe Firefly, or equivalent.

• Expert proficiency with the Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, etc.) and Figma.

• Agentic leadership: a systematic, goal-oriented approach to complex creative and operational challenges. Preferred Skills:

• Experience setting AI quality standards and governance at a studio or team level.

• Strong understanding of AI capabilities and limitations, with demonstrated critical evaluation of AI outputs.

• Experience in B2B tech marketing or working with global platform companies.

• Familiarity with project management methodologies and tools relevant to high-volume creative production.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements heavily emphasize hands-on creative skills coupled with leadership and operational capabilities, particularly in managing high-volume output and integrating new technologies like generative AI. The specific mention of AI tools and "agentic leadership" points to a need for a candidate who is not only a strong creative director but also an innovative operational leader.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 2-3 comprehensive case studies detailing the development and execution of complex brand systems and multi-channel campaigns at scale.

• Include examples of how you've maintained creative consistency and quality across diverse markets, channels (digital, print, social, video), and formats.

• Demonstrate direct experience leading and mentoring creative teams, including examples of critiques, feedback mechanisms, and team development strategies.

• Highlight instances where you've successfully partnered with clients or internal stakeholders to manage expectations, timelines, and deliver on creative objectives.

• Specifically include examples of how generative AI tools were integrated into the creative process, detailing the impact on efficiency, quality, and innovation. Process Documentation:

• Be prepared to discuss your methodologies for establishing and enforcing creative quality standards and brand guidelines within a high-volume production environment.

• Articulate your approach to leading creative critiques, providing constructive feedback, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement among creative teams.

• Describe your strategies for integrating new technologies, such as generative AI, into existing creative workflows, including governance and best practice sharing.

• Outline your process for managing team workloads, prioritizing projects, and adapting to shifting client needs and timelines in a fast-paced setting.

• Be ready to explain your approach to building and maintaining strong client relationships and collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams (e.g., account management, project management, technical leads).

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio and process discussion expectations are geared towards demonstrating a blend of creative vision, team leadership, operational management, and technological adoption. Candidates must be able to show tangible results from their leadership, particularly in high-volume scenarios and with the integration of AI.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $185,250 - $213,750 USD annually.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.

• Retirement savings plan (e.g., 401(k)) with company match.

• Paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and holidays.

• Opportunities for professional development, training, and continuous learning, particularly in AI and creative technologies.

• Potential for performance-based bonuses or incentives.

• Access to cutting-edge AI tools and technologies.

• Collaborative work environment with a focus on innovation and growth.

Working Hours: Standard full-time position, likely 40 hours per week, with flexibility expected to meet client demands and project deadlines in a high-output studio environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is competitive for a Director-level creative leadership role in a major metropolitan area like New York, especially considering the specialized nature of AI integration and the high-profile client. The benefits package is assumed to be standard for a reputable agency, with an emphasis on professional development relevant to the role's focus on AI and creative innovation.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Marketing & Advertising, specifically focused on building and running bespoke in-house agencies and marketing ecosystems for brands, with a strong emphasis on AI integration.

Company Size: OLIVER operates globally, partnering with over 300 clients in 40+ countries. As part of The Brandtech Group, it leverages a significant network and resources. The specific embedded studio for the B2B tech client will have its own team structure.

Founded: OLIVER was established in 2004, positioning itself as a pioneer in its specialized model.

Team Structure:

• The role leads a multi-disciplinary creative studio team embedded within a global B2B tech client. This team likely includes designers, copywriters, art directors, and potentially project managers or production specialists.

• Collaboration will occur with the OLIVER Business Director, client creative directors, account leads, producers, and project managers.

• The team operates with a "seamless extension" model, requiring deep integration with the client's internal global brand team.

• There's a strong emphasis on cross-functional collaboration within the embedded studio and with the wider OLIVER network for knowledge sharing and best practices. Methodology:

• Data Analysis & Insights: While not explicitly stated for this role, the company's focus on AI and data-driven solutions implies that insights derived from client data and campaign performance inform creative strategy and execution.

• Workflow Planning & Optimization: A core responsibility is to improve creative processes and introduce smarter ways of working, with a significant focus on integrating AI for efficiency and speed.

• Automation & Efficiency: The role is tasked with leading AI integration, driving adoption, and applying an "agentic approach" to challenges, all pointing towards a strong emphasis on automated and efficient creative delivery.

Company Website: [OLIVER Agency Website - Assuming OLIVER.agency or similar, though not explicitly provided in input]

📝 Enhancement Note: OLIVER's unique model of building in-house agencies and its integration with The Brandtech Group's AI focus create a distinct culture. The embedded studio model means the team functions as an extension of the client, demanding high levels of integration, collaboration, and operational rigor. The emphasis on AI is central to their current strategy.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior leadership role (Director level) within a specialized operations model (embedded creative studio). It requires a blend of deep creative expertise, strategic thinking, and operational management, with a focus on leveraging technology (AI) for scale and efficiency. The scope involves direct team leadership, client partnership, and operational oversight of a high-volume creative output.

Reporting Structure: The Design Director will likely report to a senior leader within OLIVER (e.g., a Global Creative Director, Head of Operations, or similar) and will also have a strong dotted-line reporting relationship or close collaboration with the OLIVER Business Director managing the client account. They will directly manage a team of creative professionals.

Operations Impact: The Design Director's impact is critical to the success of the embedded studio and the client's brand. By ensuring high-quality creative output at speed, managing team performance, and effectively integrating AI, they directly contribute to the client's marketing effectiveness, brand consistency, and operational efficiency. Their role is pivotal in demonstrating the value of OLIVER's unique model.

Growth Opportunities:

• Operational Leadership Expansion: Potential to take on broader operational responsibilities within OLIVER, overseeing multiple embedded studios or leading new AI integration initiatives across the organization.

• Strategic Creative Development: Opportunity to influence the strategic direction of creative work for a major global brand, shaping campaigns and brand systems on a significant scale.

• AI Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI-driven creative operations, becoming a thought leader and expert in leveraging AI for marketing and creative production within The Brandtech Group.

• Leadership Mentorship: Develop leadership skills further by mentoring and growing a high-performing creative team, potentially leading to roles with wider team or department oversight.

• Cross-Functional Influence: Gain experience influencing client-side strategy and operations, building strong relationships that can lead to expanded scope and impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique career path for creative leaders who are also adept at operationalizing processes and embracing new technologies. The growth potential lies in expanding operational scope, deepening AI expertise, and influencing strategic creative direction for major brands within a progressive agency model.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is described as "Remote (PST) or San Francisco Bay Area." This suggests a hybrid or fully remote option, with a preference for candidates within the Pacific Standard Time zone or the San Francisco Bay Area. This implies a distributed team structure where collaboration tools are paramount.

Office Location(s): While the role can be remote, the mention of "San Francisco Bay Area" indicates a potential physical hub or a strong presence in that region for client interactions or team meetups. The primary client is a "global platform company serving 85% of the Fortune 500," suggesting a significant corporate presence, likely in a major tech hub.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role demands strong collaboration with both the internal OLIVER team (Business Director, other specialists) and the client's creative and project management teams. This will be facilitated through digital collaboration tools.

• Operations Tools & Technology: Access to and expertise in advanced creative software (Adobe Creative Suite, Figma) and generative AI tools (Midjourney, Adobe Firefly) are critical. Robust project management and communication platforms will be essential for a remote or hybrid setup.

• Team Interaction: Regular virtual meetings, critiques, and workshops will be key for team interaction, knowledge sharing, and maintaining a cohesive team culture despite potential remote work.

Work Schedule: While a standard 40-hour work week is implied, the nature of agency work and client service, especially in a high-volume, fast-paced environment, suggests that flexibility and responsiveness to urgent client needs may be required. This could involve working outside standard hours occasionally.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Remote (PST) or San Francisco Bay Area" designation suggests a flexible work arrangement, but with a geographical focus to align with client needs and potential team collaboration. The environment will be highly digital, reliant on effective remote collaboration tools and practices.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess alignment with the core requirements, particularly experience in creative direction, team leadership, and AI integration.

• Creative/Portfolio Review: A dedicated session to walk through your portfolio. Be prepared to discuss specific projects, your role, the creative process, challenges faced, and the outcomes achieved, with a strong emphasis on brand systems and scaled execution.

• Leadership & Operations Interview: This will likely involve behavioral questions assessing your leadership style, team management approach, problem-solving skills, and ability to handle high-volume, fast-paced environments. Questions will also probe your understanding of operational rigor and client partnership.

• AI Integration Discussion: Expect detailed questions about your experience with generative AI tools, your strategic approach to integrating AI into creative workflows, your understanding of AI governance, and your ability to critically evaluate AI-generated outputs.

• Final Round: Potentially with senior leadership from OLIVER and/or the client, focusing on strategic fit, cultural alignment, and your vision for leading the embedded studio.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Impact: Select projects that best demonstrate your ability to lead creative direction, manage complex brand systems, execute at scale, and integrate AI effectively. Prioritize quality over quantity.

• Tell the Story: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your strategic approach, your leadership role, the challenges encountered (especially operational or AI-related), the solutions implemented, and the measurable results or impact.

• Highlight AI Integration: Dedicate specific sections or projects to showcase how you've used generative AI. Detail the tools used, the workflow adjustments made, the benefits achieved (e.g., speed, efficiency, new creative possibilities), and how you ensured quality and brand consistency.

• Demonstrate Leadership: Use examples that illustrate your ability to mentor, coach, and inspire creative teams, as well as manage stakeholder relationships effectively.

• Be Prepared for Technical Depth: For AI tools, be ready to discuss specific prompts, parameters, and the iterative process of refining outputs.

Challenge Preparation:

• AI Workflow Design: You might be asked to outline a hypothetical AI-integrated workflow for a specific campaign type or asset creation challenge.

• Creative Critique Simulation: Be ready to critique a piece of creative work (provided or from your portfolio) and discuss how you would elevate it, particularly considering AI's role.

• Operational Challenge Scenario: Prepare for questions about how you would manage competing priorities, resolve team conflicts, or address a sudden shift in client requirements in a high-volume studio.

• Brand System Consistency: Be ready to discuss how you ensure brand consistency across a vast array of assets and channels, and how AI can support or challenge this.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess a candidate's holistic capabilities: creative vision, leadership prowess, operational acumen, and advanced technical/AI fluency. A strong portfolio that explicitly demonstrates AI integration and scaled creative execution will be crucial for success.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Generative AI Platforms: Advanced proficiency with Midjourney, Adobe Firefly, and potentially other AI art and text generation tools. Understanding of prompt engineering and AI model capabilities is essential.

• Design Software: Expert proficiency in the Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects – depending on specialization) and Figma for collaborative design and prototyping.

• Brand Management Tools: Familiarity with Digital Asset Management (DAM) systems and brand guideline platforms to ensure consistency.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Performance Tracking: While not a primary responsibility, understanding how to interpret creative performance data (e.g., engagement rates, conversion metrics, brand lift studies) will be beneficial for optimizing creative output.

• Reporting Dashboards: Experience with dashboard tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) may be useful for understanding operational metrics and client reporting.

CRM & Automation:

• Project Management Software: Proficiency with tools like Asana, Monday.com, Jira, or similar for managing high-volume workflows, task allocation, and tracking project progress.

• Collaboration Platforms: Extensive use of tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Google Workspace for communication, virtual meetings, and document sharing.

• Workflow Automation: Understanding of how to leverage AI and potentially other automation tools to streamline repetitive tasks within the creative production pipeline.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is heavily weighted towards creative production tools and, critically, generative AI platforms. The ability to not only use these tools but also to integrate them strategically into operational workflows and set governance standards is a key differentiator.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Ambitious to Succeed: A drive for excellence and a commitment to achieving ambitious goals, especially in delivering high-impact creative work at scale.

• Imaginative: A continuous pursuit of innovative solutions and creative approaches, particularly in leveraging AI to push boundaries.

• Inspirational: The ability to inspire and motivate a creative team, fostering a positive and productive work environment that encourages groundbreaking work.

• Always Learning and Listening: A commitment to continuous learning, staying abreast of AI advancements, creative trends, and client needs, and actively seeking feedback.

• Results-Focused: A strong emphasis on delivering tangible outcomes, exceeding client expectations, and demonstrating the business impact of creative output.

• Actively Pro-Inclusive and Anti-Racist: A commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is valued and respected, and actively working against racism and discrimination.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Seamless collaboration with client-side teams and internal OLIVER functions (e.g., account management, strategy, production) is paramount, acting as a true extension of the client's team.

• Process Review Culture: An openness to iterative feedback and continuous improvement of creative and operational processes, with a focus on efficiency and quality.

• Knowledge Sharing: A proactive approach to sharing best practices, insights, and learnings, especially regarding AI integration and creative techniques, across the team and the broader OLIVER network.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values are strongly aligned with a forward-thinking, results-oriented, and inclusive culture. The emphasis on ambition, imagination, and continuous learning, particularly in the context of AI, suggests an environment that rewards innovation and proactive problem-solving.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Speed and Quality with AI: Effectively integrating generative AI to increase output speed and efficiency without compromising creative quality, brand integrity, or ethical considerations.

• Managing High-Volume Demands: Consistently delivering a large volume of high-quality creative assets under tight deadlines for a major global client.

• AI Governance and Best Practices: Establishing and enforcing clear standards for AI tool usage, output evaluation, and ethical considerations within a creative team.

• Client Relationship Management: Maintaining strong, collaborative partnerships with senior client stakeholders who may have evolving expectations or different levels of AI understanding.

• Team Development and Upskilling: Continuously developing and upskilling a multi-disciplinary team to keep pace with rapid advancements in creative technology, especially AI.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Specialization: Opportunities to become a leading expert in AI-driven creative production, potentially attending conferences, workshops, and gaining certifications.

• Strategic Creative Leadership: Developing skills in influencing client strategy and shaping large-scale brand narratives.

• Operational Excellence: Gaining deeper experience in optimizing operational workflows, managing complex project pipelines, and scaling creative services.

• Mentorship Programs: Access to mentorship from senior leaders within OLIVER and The Brandtech Group to foster leadership growth.

• Cross-Company Exposure: Potential to learn from and collaborate with teams working on diverse client challenges across the Brandtech Group, broadening industry and technical knowledge.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are directly tied to the innovative and high-demand nature of the role, focusing on the practical application and management of AI in a creative operations context. Growth opportunities are significant, particularly for those looking to specialize in AI-driven creative leadership and operational strategy.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your approach to leading a creative team in a high-volume, fast-paced environment, and how you ensure both quality and speed." (Focus on process, critique, team motivation)

• "How would you integrate generative AI tools like Midjourney and Adobe Firefly into a creative workflow for a global B2B tech brand? What are the key considerations for quality control and brand governance?" (Focus on practical implementation, AI strategy, risk management)

• "Walk us through a complex brand system project you led. How did you ensure consistency across different channels and markets, and what role did technology play?" (Focus on portfolio examples, strategic thinking, execution)

• "How do you foster a culture of continuous learning and development within a creative team, especially concerning new technologies like AI?" (Focus on team leadership, growth mindset) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about OLIVER's model of building in-house agencies and its partnership with The Brandtech Group? How do you see yourself contributing to this model?" (Focus on company research, strategic alignment)

• "Our values include 'Ambitious,' 'Imaginative,' and 'Results-Focused.' How have you demonstrated these values in your previous roles?" (Focus on cultural fit, behavioral examples)

• "How would you partner with an OLIVER Business Director and client-side stakeholders to manage expectations and ensure project success?" (Focus on collaboration, client management) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Organize your portfolio presentation logically, perhaps by project type (brand systems, campaigns, AI integration) or by demonstrating key skills (leadership, AI, craft).

• Quantify Achievements: Whenever possible, use numbers and data to illustrate the impact of your work (e.g., increased engagement by X%, reduced production time by Y%, delivered Z assets).

• Highlight AI's Role: Clearly articulate the specific AI tools used, the problem they solved, the creative outcome, and the operational benefits achieved in each relevant case study. Be ready to discuss the "agentic" approach if applicable.

• Showcase Leadership: For team-led projects, define your specific contribution as a leader and how you guided the team to success.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your process, decision-making, and challenges encountered. Practice concise, impactful answers.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a blend of creative vision, strong leadership, operational pragmatism, and advanced AI fluency. Candidates must be able to articulate how they can strategically leverage AI to drive efficiency and quality in a demanding creative environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Greenhouse.

• Tailor your resume: Highlight experience in creative direction, team leadership, high-volume production, brand systems, and specifically, any experience with generative AI tools and their integration into workflows. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate your portfolio: Ensure it prominently features case studies demonstrating scaled creative execution, brand system expertise, and your direct involvement in leveraging AI for creative output. Be ready to present this clearly and concisely.

• Prepare for AI-specific questions: Research current trends in AI for creative production and be ready to discuss your hands-on experience and strategic thinking regarding AI integration, governance, and quality assurance.

• Research OLIVER and The Brandtech Group: Understand their unique agency model, their focus on AI, and their company values to articulate your fit and enthusiasm for the role.

⚠️ 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.