Design Director, Branding

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Director, Branding

Company: Clera

Location: United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Brand Design & Creative Operations

Date Posted: 2026-08-18

Experience Level: 8+ Years

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the strategic development and execution of Clera's brand identity and visual systems across all touchpoints.

• Drive creative direction for marketing campaigns, product design, and company-wide communications, ensuring a cohesive and impactful brand narrative.

• Translate complex ambient AI technology into clear, culturally relevant, and compelling visual storytelling for a broad audience.

• Build and manage a scalable design framework that ensures brand consistency and integrity across a fast-paced startup environment.

• Collaborate closely with executive leadership, marketing, and product teams to align creative vision with business objectives and market perception.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Design Director, Branding," the description strongly implies a role that bridges creative leadership with operational execution within a Go-To-Market (GTM) context. The emphasis on translating brand strategy into visual systems, campaigns, and customer experiences, alongside cross-functional collaboration with Marketing and Product, positions this role as critical for GTM strategy and brand operationalization. The "early-stage ambient AI startup" context suggests a need for agility, strategic foresight, and the ability to build foundational brand infrastructure.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Brand Identity Development: Evolve and maintain the comprehensive visual identity system for Clera, encompassing logo, color palettes, typography, imagery, and brand guidelines.

• Visual Systems Design: Create and implement scalable visual systems that ensure brand consistency across all marketing collateral, digital platforms, product interfaces, and internal communications.

• Campaign Creative Direction: Develop and oversee the creative execution of integrated marketing campaigns, from concept to final asset delivery, ensuring alignment with brand strategy and business goals.

• Visual Storytelling: Craft compelling visual narratives that simplify complex AI technology, making it accessible and engaging for diverse target audiences.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner effectively with Marketing, Product, Engineering, and Leadership teams to integrate brand vision into all aspects of the product lifecycle and GTM strategies.

• Asset Creation & Management: Produce high-quality visual assets for various channels, including website content, social media, presentations, launch materials, and brand collateral, while establishing efficient asset management processes.

• Design Principle Establishment: Define and document core design principles that empower scalable, consistent branding and guide future creative endeavors.

• Market Perception Influence: Strategically leverage creative direction to shape and enhance the company's perception in the market, particularly within the AI and technology sectors.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core responsibilities listed reflect a senior-level design leadership role with significant operational impact. The emphasis on "developing and evolving the visual identity," "translating brand strategy into clear visual systems," and "shaping visual storytelling" indicates a need for strategic planning and the operationalization of brand guidelines. The collaboration with "Marketing and Product teams to support business goals" highlights the GTM alignment of this role, requiring the director to ensure brand integrity is maintained while driving business objectives.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Fine Arts, or a related field is typically expected for this level of creative leadership. Equivalent practical experience will also be strongly considered.

Experience: Minimum of 8 years of progressive design experience, with a strong specialization in brand identity development, comprehensive visual systems, campaign creative direction, and hands-on execution.

Required Skills:

• Brand Identity Systems: Proven expertise in developing and evolving robust brand identity systems.

• Visual Systems Design: Ability to create and implement comprehensive visual frameworks that ensure consistency across diverse channels.

• Creative Direction: Demonstrated experience leading creative projects from concept to completion, with a strong portfolio showcasing strategic thinking and execution.

• Campaign Development: Proficiency in conceptualizing and executing impactful marketing campaigns across various media.

• Visual Storytelling: Skill in translating complex ideas and technology into clear, engaging visual narratives.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively with Marketing, Product, and Leadership stakeholders, fostering strong partnerships.

• Startup Environment Acumen: Comfort and effectiveness operating within fast-paced, ambiguous startup environments while maintaining high creative standards.

• Strategic Thinking: Capacity to align creative output with overarching business strategies and market dynamics.

• Hands-on Design Execution: Ability to produce high-quality visual assets across various formats (presentations, web, social, collateral).

Preferred Skills:

• AI/Technology Branding: Experience branding within the technology sector, particularly in AI or related innovative fields.

• Luxury, DTC, or Wellness Brand Background: Previous design leadership experience with brands in these sectors, demonstrating an understanding of premium aesthetics and consumer engagement.

• Ambient AI Understanding: A conceptual grasp of ambient AI and its potential user experiences to inform design strategy.

• Leadership & Mentorship: Experience building and leading design teams or mentoring junior designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements strongly emphasize a blend of strategic brand vision and practical, hands-on design execution, characteristic of senior roles in early-stage companies. The preference for luxury, DTC, wellness, or technology brands suggests the company values a sophisticated aesthetic and a deep understanding of consumer engagement strategies, which are critical for building a strong market presence. The "8+ years" experience level indicates a need for seasoned professionals who can operate with significant autonomy.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Strategic Foundation: Showcase a clear understanding of how brand strategy informs visual identity and campaign development.

• Visual System Depth: Include examples of well-defined visual systems with detailed explanations of their application across multiple touchpoints.

• Campaign Execution: Present end-to-end campaign examples, highlighting concept development, execution, and impact.

• Problem/Solution Framing: Clearly articulate the design challenges faced, the strategic approach taken, and the measurable outcomes or improvements achieved.

• Hands-on Work: Demonstrate a breadth of high-quality design execution across various media (digital, print, presentations, social).

• Brand Evolution: Include examples where you have developed or significantly evolved a brand's visual identity.

• Company-Specific Relevance: Tailor your portfolio to highlight experiences most relevant to an early-stage AI startup, showcasing adaptability and innovation.

Process Documentation:

• Brand Guideline Development: Showcase examples of comprehensive brand guidelines you have created, detailing their structure, content, and accessibility features.

• Workflow Design: Illustrate your process for managing design projects from brief to final delivery, including stakeholder alignment and feedback loops.

• Scalability Frameworks: Demonstrate how you've built design processes or systems that enable scalability and consistency for growing organizations.

• Cross-functional Integration: Provide examples of how you've integrated design processes with marketing, product development, and other GTM functions.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Design Director role, particularly in a startup, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to demonstrate not just aesthetic talent but strategic thinking, process discipline, and the ability to operationalize brand vision. The emphasis on "structure and detail in equal measure" suggests a need for a portfolio that is not only visually impressive but also logically organized and clearly articulates the "why" and "how" behind each project. Demonstrating the ability to build and scale design processes is critical for an early-stage company.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $150,000 – $170,000 USD annually.

Explanation of Range: This range is competitive for a Design Director role with 8+ years of experience, specializing in branding and creative direction, particularly within the technology and startup sectors in the United States. Remote roles often command competitive salaries to attract top talent nationwide. The specified range aligns with industry benchmarks for senior creative leadership positions in early-stage, well-funded tech companies.

Benefits:

• Equity/Stock Options: As an early-stage startup, Clera likely offers equity, providing employees with ownership and a stake in the company's growth and success.

• Health Insurance: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans to support employee well-being.

• Retirement Savings Plan: Access to a 401(k) or similar retirement savings plan, potentially with employer matching.

• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays to ensure work-life balance.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for continued learning, such as attending industry conferences, workshops, or pursuing certifications relevant to branding and design.

• Remote Work Stipend: Potential for a stipend to support home office setup and ongoing remote work expenses.

Working Hours: Typically 40 hours per week, common for full-time roles. Given the startup environment and remote nature, there may be an expectation of flexibility to accommodate critical project deadlines and cross-functional collaboration across different time zones, though core hours for team synchronization are usually established.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is specific and aligns with senior-level design leadership roles in the US tech market. The benefits listed are standard for well-funded startups, with a strong emphasis on equity given the early-stage nature of Clera. The "fully remote" status for candidates in the US suggests a broad talent pool is being considered, warranting a competitive compensation package.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Ambient AI Startup. Clera is at the forefront of developing "ambient AI," a cutting-edge technology designed to integrate seamlessly into users' environments and provide intuitive, proactive assistance. This places Clera in a highly innovative and rapidly evolving sector within the broader technology landscape.

Company Size: Early-stage startup. This implies a dynamic, fast-paced environment with a lean team, where individual contributions have a significant impact. Roles often require versatility and a willingness to wear multiple hats.

Founded: Founded recently, as indicated by its "early-stage" status. This means the company is likely still defining its core processes, culture, and market position, offering a unique opportunity to shape its trajectory.

Team Structure:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The Design Director will operate at the intersection of Brand, Marketing, Product, and Leadership. This necessitates a highly collaborative structure, with close ties to key decision-makers and functional leads.

• Reporting: Likely reports directly to a C-level executive (e.g., CEO, CMO, or CPO) given the strategic importance of branding at an early stage.

• Growth Potential: As an early-stage company, the design team structure is likely to evolve. This role has the potential to build and lead a design function as the company scales.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Brand Strategy: While creative-led, the approach will likely be informed by market research, user insights, and performance metrics to ensure brand initiatives are effective and aligned with business objectives.

• Agile Creative Development: Embracing agile principles to iterate quickly on designs, campaigns, and brand assets in response to market feedback and evolving product development.

• User-Centric Design: Prioritizing the user experience in all visual communications and brand touchpoints, ensuring clarity and resonance with target audiences.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on "ambient AI" is a key differentiator. This advanced technology requires a brand that communicates innovation, intelligence, and seamless integration. The "early-stage startup" context is crucial; candidates should expect a high-growth, potentially ambiguous environment where building foundational elements is as important as executing existing strategies. The collaborative nature described highlights the need for strong interpersonal and communication skills.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a senior leadership position within the creative and brand operations function. As a Design Director, the individual is expected to set strategic direction, lead complex projects, and influence company-wide branding efforts. It’s a role that demands significant autonomy and a strong sense of ownership.

Reporting Structure: The Design Director will likely report directly to a C-suite executive, such as the CEO or Chief Marketing Officer, reflecting the critical strategic importance of branding for an early-stage AI company. This close proximity to leadership provides direct influence on company direction and market positioning.

Operations Impact: The Design Director's impact is significant and multi-faceted:

• Market Perception: Directly shapes how Clera is perceived by customers, investors, and potential employees, crucial for fundraising and talent acquisition.

• Customer Acquisition & Retention: Develops compelling visual narratives and campaigns that drive user acquisition and engagement with the AI product.

• Product Adoption: Ensures the visual design of the product and its supporting materials clearly communicate value and usability, facilitating adoption.

• Brand Equity: Builds a strong, recognizable brand that can command premium positioning and foster long-term loyalty.

• Internal Alignment: Creates a unified brand experience that aligns internal teams and fosters a strong company culture.

Growth Opportunities:

• Build & Lead a Design Team: As Clera scales, there's a significant opportunity to build and lead a high-performing design department, defining its structure, processes, and culture.

• Shape a New Category: Contribute to defining the visual language and brand identity for the emerging "ambient AI" category.

• Executive Influence: Gain direct experience working with executive leadership, influencing strategic decisions beyond just design.

• Broader GTM Strategy Input: Contribute to overall Go-To-Market strategies by ensuring creative aligns with market needs and business objectives.

• Specialization Development: Deepen expertise in AI/technology branding, user experience design for novel interfaces, and startup GTM acceleration.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a foundational leadership opportunity within a nascent company. The growth potential is tied to the company's success and scalability. The emphasis on "shaping a new category" and "executive influence" highlights the strategic scope beyond traditional design director roles, offering a chance to be instrumental in a company's formative years.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. This means the primary work environment is a home office, requiring self-discipline, excellent time management, and proficiency with remote collaboration tools.

Office Location(s): Open to candidates based in the United States. This broad geographic scope allows for access to a wider talent pool but may necessitate careful coordination for synchronous team activities.

Workspace Context:

• Independent Work: The role demands a high degree of autonomy and self-direction, with significant periods of individual work focused on creative development and strategic planning.

• Digital Collaboration Hub: Heavy reliance on digital communication and collaboration platforms (e.g., Slack, Zoom, Asana, Figma) for team interaction, project management, and design reviews.

• Cross-Functional Interaction: Regular virtual meetings and collaborative sessions with Marketing, Product, and Leadership teams to ensure alignment and gather input.

• Tooling & Technology: Access to and proficient use of industry-standard design software and project management tools will be essential.

Work Schedule: While officially 40 hours per week, the remote, startup nature may encourage flexibility. Candidates should be prepared for periods of intense work, especially during critical launches or fundraising rounds, balanced with the inherent flexibility of remote work. The need to coordinate with teams across the US may require occasional adjustments to schedules for meetings.

📝 Enhancement Note: The fully remote nature of this role is a key characteristic. It emphasizes the need for strong self-management skills, proactive communication, and comfort with digital collaboration tools. Candidates should be prepared to create their own optimal work environment and actively engage with colleagues virtually.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Application & Screening: Review of resume and portfolio, focusing on alignment with required experience and demonstrated creative leadership.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A dedicated session where the candidate presents their portfolio, discussing strategic thinking, process, and impact. Expect questions about how you've translated brand strategy into tangible results.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from Marketing, Product, and potentially other departments to assess collaboration style and strategic alignment.

• Leadership Interview: A final conversation with a C-level executive to evaluate cultural fit, strategic vision, and leadership potential.

• Potential Design Challenge: A small, focused design exercise or case study may be assigned to assess problem-solving skills and approach to a specific branding challenge relevant to Clera.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Strategic Narrative: Structure your portfolio presentation to tell a story. Begin with the business challenge or objective, then detail your strategic approach, followed by the creative execution and the resulting impact (quantified where possible).

• Show, Don't Just Tell: For each project, include strong visual examples alongside concise descriptions of your role and contributions.

• Process Transparency: Clearly articulate your design process, from research and ideation to execution and refinement. Highlight how you collaborate and incorporate feedback.

• Highlight Startup Experience: Emphasize projects where you’ve built brands from the ground up, operated in ambiguous environments, or driven significant growth with limited resources.

• Focus on AI/Tech Relevance: If possible, include projects that demonstrate an understanding of technology branding, complex product visualization, or audience engagement in tech-forward sectors.

• Conciseness & Clarity: Be prepared to present your work efficiently, focusing on the most impactful projects and key takeaways.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Clera's Mission: Thoroughly research Clera, its ambient AI technology, target market, and competitive landscape.

• Anticipate Branding Needs: Consider the unique branding challenges for an early-stage AI company aiming to define a new category.

• Prepare Case Studies: Have 2-3 detailed case studies ready from your portfolio that showcase your ability to solve complex branding problems, drive strategy, and deliver results.

• Practice Articulation: Rehearse explaining your thought process, design decisions, and the business impact of your work clearly and concisely.

• Develop Strategic Questions: Prepare insightful questions for the interviewers about Clera's vision, brand challenges, and team dynamics.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process described is typical for senior leadership roles, emphasizing strategic alignment and collaborative fit. The portfolio review is central, requiring candidates to demonstrate not just creative output but also strategic thinking and operational impact. Preparing specific case studies that align with Clera's context (AI, startup, brand-building) will be crucial.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design Software: Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), Figma (highly likely for collaborative UI/UX and brand system design), Sketch.

• Prototyping/Animation: Adobe After Effects, Principle, InVision, ProtoPie (for more dynamic presentations or product mockups).

• Presentation Software: Google Slides, Keynote, PowerPoint (for creating high-impact presentations for leadership and campaigns).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics (for understanding website performance and campaign effectiveness).

• Social Media Analytics: Native platform analytics (e.g., LinkedIn Analytics, Twitter Analytics) or third-party tools (e.g., Sprout Social, Hootsuite) to gauge content performance.

• Brand Tracking Tools: Potentially exposure to tools used for brand sentiment analysis or market research reporting.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Exposure: Familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) to understand how marketing and sales data informs branding and campaign strategy.

• Project Management: Asana, Trello, Jira, Monday.com (for managing design workflows and cross-functional projects).

• Collaboration Platforms: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom (essential for remote communication and collaboration).

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Figma is critical, as it's become the industry standard for collaborative UI/UX design and brand system management, especially in tech startups. Proficiency in a range of design tools, coupled with project management and communication platforms, is expected for a remote leadership role. Understanding how design impacts CRM and marketing automation efforts is also a plus.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Vision: A drive to push boundaries, explore new technologies like ambient AI, and shape the future of the category.

• Excellence & Craftsmanship: A commitment to high-quality execution, meticulous attention to detail, and a passion for design that resonates.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Open communication, shared ownership, and a willingness to work cross-functionally to achieve common goals.

• Agility & Adaptability: The ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving startup environment, embracing change and iterating quickly.

• Impact & Ownership: A focus on driving tangible business results and taking personal responsibility for project success.

Collaboration Style:

• Partnership-Oriented: Actively seeks to build strong working relationships with Marketing, Product, and Leadership, viewing them as strategic partners in brand building.

• Iterative & Feedback-Driven: Embraces a culture of constructive feedback and iterative design, using input from various stakeholders to refine creative output.

• Proactive Communication: Maintains consistent and clear communication channels, especially in a remote setting, to ensure alignment and address potential roadblocks.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encourages the sharing of design insights, best practices, and learnings across teams to foster collective growth and understanding.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture of an early-stage AI startup is likely to be fast-paced, innovative, and highly collaborative. The values emphasize both the creative pursuit of excellence and the practical need for agility and impact. Candidates should demonstrate an ability to contribute to this dynamic environment and actively engage in cross-functional teamwork.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Defining a New Category: Establishing the visual language and brand identity for "ambient AI" is a significant challenge, requiring innovative thinking to make a novel concept understandable and desirable.

• Balancing Vision with Execution: Maintaining a strong, consistent brand vision while rapidly iterating on assets and campaigns in a startup environment.

• Remote Collaboration Dynamics: Effectively leading and collaborating with diverse teams across different locations and time zones, ensuring seamless communication and alignment.

• Early-Stage Resource Constraints: Navigating potential limitations in budget, team size, or established processes common in startups, requiring creative problem-solving and resourcefulness.

• Scalability of Brand Systems: Building brand systems that are robust enough for current needs but flexible enough to scale as the company grows and its offerings evolve.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Pioneering AI Branding: Gaining deep expertise in branding for cutting-edge AI technologies and helping to set industry standards.

• Building a Brand Function: Opportunity to establish and grow a design department from its foundational stages, defining its structure, processes, and culture.

• Executive-Level Strategic Input: Direct involvement in high-level company strategy, enhancing business acumen and leadership skills.

• Cross-Disciplinary Expertise: Deepening understanding of product development, marketing strategy, and GTM operations through close collaboration.

• Industry Trends & Innovation: Staying at the forefront of design innovation, AI advancements, and startup growth strategies through continuous learning and application.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are inherent to pioneering a new technology and working in an early-stage startup. Addressing these challenges head-on, and framing them as opportunities for growth and innovation, will be key for candidates. The learning and development opportunities are substantial, offering a chance for significant professional growth and impact.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for translating a complex technological concept, like ambient AI, into a compelling brand narrative and visual system."

• "How would you approach building a visual identity for Clera from the ground up, considering our mission to define a new category?"

• "Walk us through a time you had to balance a strong creative vision with tight business constraints or rapid iteration needs in a startup environment."

• "How do you ensure brand consistency across a wide range of touchpoints, from product UI to marketing campaigns, especially in a remote setting?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you most about Clera's mission and the potential of ambient AI?"

• "How do you see your role contributing to Clera's overall business objectives and market positioning?"

• "Describe your ideal collaboration dynamic with marketing, product, and executive leadership."

• "How do you foster a culture of creative excellence and continuous improvement within a design function?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• The "Clera" Case Study: If possible, prepare a hypothetical or conceptual approach to branding Clera, demonstrating your understanding of the company and its potential.

• Strategic Foundation First: Begin each project example by clearly stating the objective, target audience, and your strategic approach before diving into visuals.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, present metrics that demonstrate the success of your branding initiatives (e.g., engagement rates, brand recall, conversion improvements).

• Process Clarity: Use visual aids or concise explanations to illustrate your workflow, stakeholder management, and decision-making process.

• Concise Storytelling: Aim for clear, impactful narratives for each project, avoiding overly technical jargon and focusing on the "what," "why," and "so what."

• Be Prepared for Q&A: Anticipate detailed questions about your design choices, strategic rationale, and problem-solving approach.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, a deep understanding of brand building in tech, and a proactive, collaborative approach. Candidates should be ready to articulate not just their creative output but the business impact and operational considerations behind it, particularly in the context of an AI startup.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Design Director, Branding position:

• Submit your application: Navigate to the provided Ashby application link and submit your resume and a link to your online portfolio.

• Portfolio Curation: Ensure your portfolio clearly highlights your experience in brand identity, visual systems, campaign development, and strategic thinking, with a strong emphasis on relevant industries (tech, AI, luxury, DTC). Tailor your presentation to showcase how you can build a brand for an early-stage AI startup.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to emphasize leadership experience, strategic contributions, cross-functional collaboration, and quantifiable achievements in branding and design. Use keywords from the job description naturally.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Clera, its ambient AI technology, mission, and the competitive landscape. Understand their current branding (if any) and identify potential areas for growth or refinement.

• Portfolio Walkthrough Practice: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on clear, concise storytelling that links your creative work to business objectives and demonstrates your strategic approach. Be ready to discuss your process and impact in detail.

• Prepare Insightful Questions: Develop thoughtful questions for the interviewers regarding Clera's vision, brand challenges, team structure, and growth trajectory.

⚠️ 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.