Design Director

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Director

Company: OLIVER Agency - North America

Location: San Francisco Bay Area or Remote (PST)

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Creative Operations / Design Leadership

Date Posted: 2026-09-16

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: Remote OK

🚀 Role Summary

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

• Drive the integration and governance of generative AI tools into creative workflows, ensuring quality and efficiency at scale.

• Uphold and elevate brand consistency, campaign craft, and creative vision across all assets and channels.

• Foster a culture of high standards, continuous learning, and inclusive collaboration within the creative team.

• Partner with business leadership to manage studio operations, client relationships, and high-volume delivery cycles.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is framed as a "Design Director" but the responsibilities heavily lean into operations management for a creative studio, particularly concerning AI integration and high-volume output. This suggests a need for strong operational rigor alongside creative leadership. The "agentic leadership" and "workflow optimization" aspects are key indicators of an operations-focused role within a creative context.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Provide senior creative direction and hands-on design expertise to a multi-level creative team, ensuring all output meets established quality standards and brand guidelines.

• Conduct internal creative critiques, sharpen executions, and cultivate a team culture where excellence and shared ownership are paramount.

• Act as the final quality assurance gatekeeper for all creative assets produced by the studio, ensuring fidelity to the client's brand, voice, and strategic vision.

• Lead the strategic integration of generative AI tools (e.g., Midjourney, Adobe Firefly) into creative workflows, defining standards, governance, and best practices for AI-assisted output.

• Develop team members' creative and technical skills through regular coaching, feedback, and structured knowledge-sharing initiatives, focusing on both craft and AI proficiency.

• Identify and implement improvements to creative processes and operational workflows to enhance efficiency, speed, and overall output quality.

• Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with client creative directors, account teams, producers, and project managers to ensure seamless integration and client satisfaction.

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

• Contribute to studio operations management by partnering with the Business Director on timelines, resource allocation, and overall client experience.

• Champion AI adoption and best practices across the team and within the broader OLIVER network, fostering a forward-thinking and innovative creative environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of creative oversight and operational management, particularly in the context of AI integration. The role requires not only artistic direction but also the ability to manage processes, teams, and client expectations in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, Communications, or a related field is typically expected for a Design Director role. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in creative roles, with a significant portion (likely 5+ years) in leadership positions managing creative teams and projects in fast-paced environments.

Required Skills:

• Extensive portfolio showcasing expertise in brand systems, campaign craft, and multi-format creative execution at scale.

• Proven track record of leading and developing multi-disciplinary creative teams in high-volume, fast-paced settings (agency, in-house, or embedded studio experience is valuable).

• Deep understanding of brand identity and creative systems, with a demonstrated ability to maintain consistency across diverse markets, channels, and formats.

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

• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build robust working relationships with senior clients, account teams, and cross-functional partners.

• Strategic understanding of generative AI's potential to enhance creative quality and delivery efficiency, coupled with critical judgment for evaluating AI-generated outputs.

• Advanced proficiency with generative AI tools such as Midjourney, Adobe Firefly, or equivalent, and experience integrating them into creative workflows.

• Expert proficiency in the Adobe Creative Suite (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and Figma.

• Demonstrated ability to apply an "agentic" approach: systematic, goal-oriented problem-solving for complex creative and operational challenges.

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

• Ability to drive AI adoption and share best practices effectively across teams and client engagements. Preferred Skills:

• Experience working with global B2B tech brands or platforms.

• Familiarity with project management methodologies and tools to manage high-volume delivery cycles.

• Understanding of marketing ecosystems and how creative assets integrate across various channels.

• Experience in a specialized embedded studio model, such as OLIVER's.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements highlight a critical need for hands-on AI tool proficiency and strategic application, which is a significant differentiator for this role. The emphasis on "agentic leadership" suggests a candidate who can independently break down problems and drive solutions.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 comprehensive case studies demonstrating leadership in brand system development and execution across multiple markets or channels.

• Include examples of high-volume creative output, such as campaign assets, localized content, or digital assets, to illustrate scalability.

• Present projects that highlight your ability to maintain creative quality and brand consistency under tight deadlines and high-pressure situations.

• Demonstrate your strategic thinking by including examples of how you've improved creative processes or workflows to enhance efficiency and output.

• Feature projects where generative AI was leveraged, clearly outlining your role, the tools used, the process, and the impact on quality and efficiency. Process Documentation:

• Be prepared to discuss your methodologies for conducting creative critiques, setting quality standards, and providing constructive feedback to a creative team.

• Articulate your approach to integrating new technologies, specifically generative AI, into existing creative workflows, including governance and quality control measures.

• Detail your experience in managing high-volume creative delivery cycles, including prioritization, resource allocation, and adaptation to changing project requirements.

• Outline your strategies for fostering a collaborative and inclusive team culture that drives both creative excellence and operational efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are heavily weighted towards demonstrating practical application of creative leadership in a scalable, operational context, with a strong emphasis on AI integration and process improvement.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

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

Benefits: While specific benefits are not detailed, typical offerings for a role at this level within a global agency network like OLIVER (part of The Brandtech Group) often include:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Generous paid time off (PTO), including vacation, sick leave, and public holidays.

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

• Professional development opportunities, including training, conferences, and certifications.

• Parental leave policies.

• Life and disability insurance.

• Potential for performance-based bonuses or profit-sharing.

• Employee assistance programs (EAP).

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with flexibility expected due to the nature of creative leadership and client demands. The role requires availability for client communication and team management, potentially outside standard business hours depending on global time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is specific and falls within the expected compensation for a Design Director role with significant leadership and operational responsibilities in a major US market. The benefits listed are standard for similar positions and companies.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Marketing & Advertising, Technology Services (specializing in in-house agencies and marketing ecosystems). OLIVER is part of The Brandtech Group, which emphasizes AI integration in its services.

Company Size: OLIVER Agency is a significant global entity, partnering with over 300 clients in 40+ countries. The Brandtech Group itself is a larger conglomerate. This indicates a well-established, resource-rich organization with global reach.

Founded: OLIVER was established in 2004. This longevity suggests stability and a proven business model.

Team Structure:

• This role leads an embedded, AI-native creative studio for a specific global B2B tech client, operating as an extension of their internal global brand team.

• The team is multi-disciplinary, likely comprising designers, copywriters, art directors, project managers, and potentially specialists in AI implementation.

• The Design Director will work closely with an OLIVER Business Director, indicating a dual leadership structure (creative and business/operations).

• Collaboration with client creative directors, account leads, producers, and project managers is essential. Methodology:

• Data Analysis & Insights: While not explicitly detailed for this role, The Brandtech Group's focus on AI suggests data-driven decision-making and leveraging insights for creative strategy and optimization.

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

• Automation & Efficiency: The role is centered around driving efficiency and high-volume delivery, heavily leveraging AI and operational rigor.

Company Website: https://www.oliver.agency/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is characterized by innovation, particularly in AI, and a focus on building bespoke, integrated solutions for clients. The embedded studio model means team members operate closely with client teams, requiring strong adaptability and client partnership skills.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This position represents a senior leadership role within the creative operations domain. It requires a blend of deep creative expertise and robust operational management skills, particularly in overseeing high-volume output and integrating new technologies like AI. It's a strategic position influencing both creative quality and operational efficiency.

Reporting Structure: The Design Director will likely report to a senior leader within OLIVER (e.g., a Creative Director or Head of Creative Operations for North America) and will manage a team of creatives. They will also have a strong dotted-line relationship with the client's internal brand and creative leadership.

Operations Impact: The Design Director's impact is significant, directly influencing the client's brand perception through the quality and consistency of creative assets. By optimizing workflows and integrating AI, they will drive operational efficiency, reduce production costs, and accelerate time-to-market for campaigns, directly contributing to the client's business objectives and OLIVER's service delivery excellence.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI-driven creative operations, becoming a thought leader in this emerging field within OLIVER and The Brandtech Group.

• Leadership Expansion: Progress to overseeing multiple embedded studios or a larger portfolio of clients, managing a broader operational scope.

• Strategic Influence: Move into roles with greater strategic input on OLIVER's service offerings, particularly concerning technology integration and future-proofing creative delivery models.

• Cross-functional Development: Gain experience in business development, client relationship management, and operational strategy within the agency context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a unique path for creative leaders who are also adept at operational strategy and technology adoption, particularly AI. Growth is likely tied to expanding operational scope and strategic influence within the agency's innovative model.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is described as "Remote OK" with a preference for the San Francisco Bay Area or working within PST hours. This indicates a hybrid or fully remote work environment, emphasizing flexibility.

Office Location(s): While the role can be remote, the mention of the San Francisco Bay Area suggests a potential hub for client interaction or team collaboration. However, the company operates globally, so the environment is geared towards distributed teams.

Workspace Context:

• The work environment is dynamic, fast-paced, and focused on high-volume creative delivery for a major B2B tech client.

• Emphasis is placed on leveraging cutting-edge AI technology and fostering innovation.

• Collaboration is key, both within the embedded studio team and with client stakeholders.

• The role requires a self-motivated individual comfortable working autonomously in a remote setting, while also being a strong team player.

Work Schedule: Standard 40-hour work week is implied, but the nature of managing global clients and creative teams often necessitates flexibility and availability outside of typical business hours to accommodate different time zones and urgent project needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote-first or hybrid nature of the role, combined with the global client focus, means the ideal candidate must be highly self-disciplined, organized, and proficient in remote collaboration tools and communication strategies.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application and resume to assess foundational qualifications and experience.

2. Portfolio Review: You will be asked to present your portfolio, focusing on examples that demonstrate your creative leadership, brand system expertise, AI integration experience, and ability to manage high-volume output. Be prepared to discuss your role, the challenges, your process, and the outcomes.

3. Hiring Manager/Team Interview: A more in-depth discussion with the hiring manager and potentially other team leads. This will likely cover your leadership style, team management philosophy, approach to creative direction, AI strategy, and operational problem-solving.

4. Stakeholder/Client Interview (Potentially): Given the embedded nature of the studio, you may meet with key client stakeholders to assess cultural fit and strategic alignment.

5. Final Interview/Offer: A concluding interview, potentially with senior leadership, followed by an offer.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that directly align with the job description, emphasizing brand systems, AI integration, and high-volume delivery.

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

• Highlight AI: Explicitly showcase how you've leveraged generative AI tools. Detail the specific tools, your process for integrating them, how you maintained quality, and the efficiency gains or creative enhancements achieved.

• Demonstrate Operational Rigor: Explain how you managed timelines, resources, team dynamics, and quality control in demanding environments. Use metrics where possible to quantify impact.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about your creative process, leadership style, conflict resolution, and how you handle ambiguity or shifting priorities.

Challenge Preparation:

• AI Integration Scenario: Be prepared for a scenario-based question asking how you would integrate a new AI tool or manage a project with significant AI components. Focus on governance, quality assurance, and team adoption.

• Creative Problem-Solving: Expect questions that require you to break down a complex creative or operational challenge related to a global brand, and outline a systematic, "agentic" approach to solve it.

• Team Leadership & Critique: Be ready to discuss how you would conduct a creative critique for a piece of work, or how you would coach a team member facing a creative block or struggling with AI tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on AI integration and "agentic leadership" means interviewers will look for concrete examples of how you've applied these principles, not just theoretical knowledge. The portfolio presentation is critical for demonstrating these capabilities.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Generative AI Platforms: Advanced proficiency required with tools like Midjourney, Adobe Firefly, or equivalent AI image generation and creative platforms.

• Adobe Creative Suite: Expert-level proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and potentially After Effects or Premiere Pro for visual asset creation and manipulation.

• Figma: Expert-level proficiency for collaborative design, prototyping, and interface design.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed for this role, experience with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, client-specific dashboards) to understand asset performance and inform creative strategy would be beneficial.

• Tools for project management and team workflow tracking (e.g., Asana, Jira, Trello, Monday.com) are essential for managing high-volume delivery. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the core creative function, but understanding how creative assets integrate into CRM or marketing automation platforms (e.g., HubSpot, Marketo) for campaign delivery would be advantageous.

• Familiarity with digital asset management (DAM) systems for organizing and distributing creative files.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technical requirements are heavily focused on creative software and, critically, advanced proficiency with generative AI tools, highlighting the company's commitment to AI-driven creative production.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Ambitious to succeed: Drive to achieve ambitious goals and exceed expectations in a high-performance environment.

• Imaginative to push boundaries: Encourage innovative thinking, especially in leveraging AI and new creative approaches.

• Inspirational to do groundbreaking work: Foster an environment where creativity thrives and impactful, high-quality work is produced.

• Always learning and listening: Commit to continuous professional development, staying abreast of AI advancements and creative trends, and actively seeking feedback.

• Results-focused: Maintain a strong focus on delivering tangible outcomes and exceeding client expectations through efficient and effective operations.

• Actively pro-inclusive and anti-racist: Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion within the team and in all creative output.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional integration: Seamless collaboration with client teams and internal OLIVER business/operations functions is paramount.

• Process-driven feedback: A culture of constructive critique and open feedback loops to continuously improve creative output and workflows.

• Knowledge sharing: Proactive sharing of best practices, particularly around AI integration and operational efficiency, across the team and the wider OLIVER network.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values emphasize a proactive, growth-oriented, and inclusive mindset, directly relevant to managing an innovative creative studio that operates as an extension of a client's team.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing AI and Craft: Ensuring that the integration of generative AI enhances, rather than detracts from, the quality of human craft and creative vision. This requires strong governance and critical oversight.

• High-Volume Delivery at Scale: Consistently producing high-quality work at the speed and volume required by a global tech brand, while managing multiple projects and priorities.

• AI Adoption and Governance: Leading a team through the adoption of