Design Strategist

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Strategist

Company: MC Payroll Services LLC

Location: Baltimore County, Maryland, United States

Job Type: Full Time

Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Strategy

Date Posted: 2026-09-21

Experience Level: 7+ years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the strategic design of digital-first customer journeys across multiple touchpoints, from initial engagement to conversion.

• Apply a deep understanding of behavioral science and digital marketing principles to create compelling and effective campaign narratives.

• Develop and execute responsive, mobile-first front-end web and landing page experiences, ensuring seamless integration with back-end systems.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Product, Engineering, Creative Services, and MarTech teams to drive iterative design improvements based on data and insights.

• Translate complex business objectives into visually engaging and strategically sound creative assets, including digital ads, emails, social media content, and TV spots.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within an Omni-Channel Strategy team, indicating a focus on integrated marketing efforts and customer journey mapping. The emphasis on "digital-first" and "end-to-end" design suggests a need for a holistic approach to campaign development, requiring strong strategic thinking alongside creative execution. The "Design Strategist" title and responsibilities point towards a role that bridges creative design with business objectives and marketing technology (MarTech).

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Partner with the Head of Omni-Channel Strategy, MarTech Manager, and senior stakeholders to define and scope comprehensive, end-to-end Omni-Channel campaign strategies.

• Design and develop a full spectrum of digital campaign assets, including high-converting landing pages, engaging drip email sequences, impactful display ads, dynamic social media creative, and compelling TV spots.

• Conceptualize and storyboard campaign creative narratives, ensuring visual and thematic coherence across all customer touchpoints and communication channels.

• Integrate behavioral science principles and proven digital marketing best practices into design solutions to maximize user engagement and conversion rates.

• Build and implement responsive, mobile-first front-end web and landing page experiences, demonstrating a robust understanding of how they interface with back-end systems.

• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration with Product, Engineering, Creative Services, and MarTech teams, translating testing results and business insights into actionable, iterative design enhancements.

• Continuously analyze campaign performance data and user feedback to inform and optimize future design iterations and strategic campaign adjustments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic planning, creative execution, and technical development. The emphasis on "storyboarding and conceptualizing each campaign's creative narrative before building final assets" is a critical differentiator, requiring a narrative-driven approach to design. The requirement to "apply behavioral science principles and digital marketing best practices" underscores the need for data-informed design and a focus on measurable outcomes.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Marketing, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is typically expected for a role of this seniority and scope.

Experience: 7+ years of demonstrated experience in digital design and design strategy, with a significant focus on advertising and campaign development.

Required Skills:

• Digital Design & Strategy: Proven expertise in developing and executing comprehensive digital design strategies for campaigns.

• Portfolio: A strong, diverse portfolio showcasing extensive work in digital and social display advertising, demonstrating strategic thinking and creative execution.

• Behavioral Science Application: Working understanding of behavioral science principles and their practical application in marketing and conversion-focused design.

• Storytelling & Storyboarding: Exceptional ability to conceptualize and articulate campaign narratives through effective storytelling and storyboarding techniques.

• Front-End Development: Native-level proficiency in front-end digital and mobile web development (e.g., HTML, CSS, JavaScript), with a solid working knowledge of back-end fundamentals.

• Adobe Creative Cloud: Advanced proficiency across the Adobe Creative Cloud suite (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, XD, After Effects).

• Communication & Presentation: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a proven ability to present and defend creative and strategic decisions to senior leadership and cross-functional teams.

• Responsive & Mobile-First Design: Deep understanding and practical application of responsive and mobile-first design methodologies.

Preferred Skills:

• Lead Generation Experience: Prior experience working with or supporting lead-generation initiatives and teams.

• TV Advertising Portfolio: A portfolio that includes examples of TV advertising work, demonstrating versatility across media.

• Digital Sketching & Animation: Skills in digital drawing, sketching, and frame-by-frame animation for enhanced creative asset development.

• B2C Marketing: Experience in Business-to-Consumer (B2C) marketing environments.

• Instapage Design: Familiarity or experience designing within the Instapage platform.

• AI Augmentation: Curiosity and openness to utilizing AI tools (e.g., Claude) to enhance productivity and creativity in design processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Native-level skill in front-end digital and mobile web development" is a significant requirement that elevates this role beyond a traditional graphic designer. It implies the candidate will not only design but also build functional web experiences. The preference for AI curiosity suggests the company is forward-thinking and open to integrating new technologies into their workflow.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Campaign Strategy Showcase: A portfolio section dedicated to illustrating the strategic thinking behind campaigns, including target audience analysis, journey mapping, and objective setting.

• End-to-End Design Examples: Comprehensive case studies demonstrating the design process from initial concept and storyboarding through to final asset creation and implementation across multiple channels (digital, social, email, TV).

• Conversion-Focused Design: Examples specifically highlighting how design choices led to measurable improvements in engagement and conversion rates, supported by data where possible.

• Front-End Development Integration: Demonstrations of responsive and mobile-first web design, ideally with examples that show an understanding of integration with back-end systems or MarTech platforms.

• Behavioral Science Application: Case studies or examples where behavioral science principles were explicitly applied to influence user behavior and design outcomes.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Evidence of experience in designing and optimizing complex campaign workflows, from concept to execution and analysis.

• Iterative Improvement Documentation: Examples of how user testing, A/B testing results, and data analysis were used to iterate and improve designs over time.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration Protocols: Description of how collaboration with Product, Engineering, and MarTech teams was managed to ensure seamless execution and alignment.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the strategic nature of the role and the emphasis on measurable business impact, a portfolio that quantics designs with results is crucial. The requirement for front-end development skills means the portfolio should ideally showcase not just static designs but also functional prototypes or live examples of web pages and digital assets.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $85,000 - $110,000 per year.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Likely includes medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Retirement Savings Plan: Potential for a 401(k) or similar retirement savings plan, possibly with employer matching.

• Paid Time Off: Includes vacation days, sick leave, and paid holidays.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for training, workshops, and conferences to enhance design and strategy skills.

• Potential for Bonuses: Performance-based bonuses may be offered.

Working Hours: Standard full-time work week, typically 40 hours per week. The role's on-site nature suggests a structured office schedule, though some flexibility may be available depending on team needs and project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range of $85,000 - $110,000 per year for a Design Strategist with 7+ years of experience in the Baltimore County, MD area is within the typical market range. This estimate considers the required experience level, the specialized skill set (combining design, strategy, behavioral science, and front-end development), and the cost of living in the region. For specific benefits, candidates should inquire directly with MC Payroll Services LLC during the interview process.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Payroll and HR Services. MC Payroll Services LLC operates within the financial services and human resources technology sector, providing essential services to businesses. This industry demands high levels of accuracy, compliance, and customer trust.

Company Size: While not explicitly stated, the use of ADP's recruitment platform suggests a company that utilizes professional HR and payroll solutions, often indicative of a mid-to-large sized organization with established processes.

Founded: The founding date is not provided, but the company's engagement with a sophisticated HR platform implies a degree of operational maturity.

Team Structure:

• Omni-Channel Strategy Team: This role is a key addition to the Omni-Channel Strategy team, suggesting a dedicated group focused on integrated customer engagement.

• Reporting Structure: The Design Strategist will partner closely with the Head of Omni-Channel Strategy and the MarTech Manager, indicating a reporting line likely within the marketing or strategy department.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The role requires significant collaboration with Product, Engineering, Creative Services, and MarTech departments, emphasizing a matrixed and integrated approach to campaign development.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on using testing results and business insights to drive iterative design improvements.

• Behavioral Science Integration: Application of psychological principles to inform design decisions and enhance customer engagement.

• Digital-First & Mobile-First: A strategic focus on digital channels and mobile user experiences as primary engagement points.

• Narrative-Centric Campaigns: A methodology that prioritizes conceptualizing and maintaining a coherent creative narrative across all campaign assets.

Company Website: https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=0bddb2b2-7791-4f6e-831f-6843cca2a997

📝 Enhancement Note: Operating within the payroll services industry means that customer trust, data security, and regulatory compliance are paramount. This context influences the design approach, requiring clarity, accuracy, and a user-friendly experience that simplifies complex financial processes for homeowners. The "Omni-Channel Strategy team" suggests a modern approach to customer engagement, moving beyond siloed marketing efforts.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a senior-level position within the creative and marketing operations domain. It requires a blend of advanced design skills, strategic thinking, and technical proficiency, placing it at a level where individuals are expected to lead initiatives and influence strategy.

Reporting Structure: The Design Strategist reports to or works very closely with the Head of Omni-Channel Strategy and the MarTech Manager, indicating a position with significant visibility and direct impact on strategic marketing initiatives.

Operations Impact: The role's impact is directly tied to driving customer engagement and conversion rates for clients through well-designed digital experiences. Success in this role contributes significantly to lead generation, customer acquisition, and overall client satisfaction, thereby impacting the company's revenue and market position.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership in Design Strategy: Potential to grow into a lead design strategist or manager role within the Omni-Channel Strategy team, overseeing more complex projects and mentoring junior designers.

• MarTech Specialization: Deepen expertise in Marketing Technology (MarTech) by working closely with the MarTech Manager, potentially leading to roles focused on MarTech implementation and optimization.

• Cross-Functional Project Leadership: Opportunity to lead design aspects of larger, cross-functional projects, enhancing project management and stakeholder management skills.

• Behavioral Science Expertise: Further develop and apply behavioral science knowledge to broader business challenges, becoming a subject matter expert within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The combination of design, strategy, behavioral science, and front-end development skills positions this role for significant growth. The emphasis on "digital-first" and "end-to-end" campaign design suggests a progressive marketing function where this role can evolve into leading strategic creative initiatives.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site position, indicating a traditional office-based work environment. This facilitates in-person collaboration, spontaneous brainstorming, and direct mentorship.

Office Location(s): Baltimore County, Maryland. Specific office details and amenities would be provided during the interview process.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The physical office space likely supports team collaboration, with meeting rooms, design studios, and common areas conducive to brainstorming and cross-functional teamwork.

• Technology Access: As a design strategist, access to high-performance workstations, relevant software (Adobe Creative Cloud), and potentially specialized design or development tools is expected.

• Team Interaction: The on-site nature allows for direct interaction with the Head of Omni-Channel Strategy, MarTech Manager, and other team members, fostering a strong team dynamic and efficient communication flow.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, implying a standard 40-hour work week. While on-site, the nature of design strategy might allow for some flexibility around core hours, depending on project demands and company policy.

📝 Enhancement Note: An on-site role in a company like MC Payroll Services LLC, operating in a regulated industry, likely emphasizes a structured yet collaborative office environment. The focus on design strategy and MarTech suggests a modern approach to marketing operations within a more traditional corporate setting.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess foundational skills and experience.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A dedicated session where you present your portfolio, walking through key projects, strategic thinking, design process, and measurable outcomes. Expect detailed questions on your approach to behavioral science, front-end development, and campaign narrative.

• Technical Assessment/Case Study: Potentially a design challenge or a case study scenario to evaluate your problem-solving skills, creative approach, and ability to apply design strategy and front-end principles under pressure. This may involve storyboarding or outlining a campaign.

• Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with the Head of Omni-Channel Strategy, MarTech Manager, and possibly representatives from Product or Engineering to assess cultural fit, communication style, and strategic alignment.

• Final Interview: A concluding interview, potentially with senior leadership, to discuss overall fit and long-term potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best demonstrate your skills in digital design, design strategy, behavioral science application, and front-end development. Prioritize campaigns with measurable results.

• Tell the Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your strategic approach, the design process (including storyboarding), the technical execution (especially front-end), and the quantifiable impact. Use the narrative structure emphasized in the job description.

• Showcase Versatility: Include examples of landing pages, drip emails, social creative, and, if possible, TV spots. Highlight your responsive and mobile-first design capabilities.

• Explain Behavioral Science: Be prepared to explain how you applied behavioral science principles and what effect they had on user behavior.

• Demonstrate Technical Skills: If possible, include links to live websites or interactive prototypes that showcase your front-end development work.

Challenge Preparation:

• Campaign Scenario: Be ready to outline a strategy and design approach for a hypothetical campaign, focusing on customer journey mapping, narrative development, and conversion optimization.

• Behavioral Science Application: Prepare examples of how you would use behavioral science to address a specific marketing challenge.

• Front-End Considerations: Think about how design decisions translate into front-end development constraints and opportunities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on storyboarding and narrative throughout the job description suggests that interviewers will be looking for candidates who can articulate a clear, compelling story for each project. The combination of design, strategy, and front-end skills means candidates should be prepared to discuss the technical feasibility and implementation of their designs.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Cloud: Essential for design creation (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, XD). Proficiency in After Effects for motion graphics and TV spots is also highly relevant.

• Front-End Development Technologies: Strong understanding and practical application of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are critical. Familiarity with front-end frameworks (e.g., React, Vue, Angular) may be beneficial.

• Web Analytics Platforms: Experience with tools like Google Analytics for tracking campaign performance and informing design iterations.

• Landing Page Builders: Experience with platforms like Instapage (preferred) or similar tools for rapid prototyping and deployment of landing pages.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Google Analytics / Adobe Analytics: For tracking user behavior, conversion rates, and campaign effectiveness.

• Data Visualization Tools: Tools like Tableau or Power BI might be used for reporting and presenting insights to stakeholders, though not explicitly mentioned.

CRM & Automation:

• Marketing Automation Platforms (MAPs): Familiarity with platforms for email marketing and drip campaigns (e.g., HubSpot, Marketo, Pardot) is likely, given the mention of "drip emails."

• Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Systems: Understanding how designs integrate with CRM data (e.g., Salesforce) for personalized customer journeys.

• MarTech Stack Integration: A general understanding of how various MarTech tools connect and function within a broader ecosystem.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "native-level skill in front-end digital and mobile web development" is a key indicator that this role is hands-on with development. Proficiency in specific tools like Instapage is a plus, but a strong foundation in core front-end technologies is paramount.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Strategic Creativity: A commitment to using design not just for aesthetics but as a strategic tool to achieve business objectives and drive measurable results.

• User-Centricity: A focus on understanding and designing for the user (homeowners in this context), applying behavioral science to create intuitive and engaging experiences.

• Data-Driven Iteration: A culture that values continuous improvement through analysis of performance data, A/B testing, and user feedback.

• Collaborative Innovation: An environment where cross-functional teams work together to generate new ideas and solve complex problems, with a willingness to experiment and learn.

• Storytelling Excellence: A belief in the power of narrative to connect with audiences and communicate complex ideas effectively across all campaign touchpoints.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Teamwork: Expect a collaborative environment where design is not an isolated function but is deeply integrated with strategy, marketing technology, product development, and engineering.

• Open Feedback Loop: A culture that encourages constructive feedback, both in giving and receiving, to drive continuous improvement in creative output and strategic execution.

• Knowledge Sharing: Emphasis on sharing insights, best practices, and learnings across teams to foster collective growth and efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on Omni-Channel Strategy and the integration of behavioral science suggest a forward-thinking and data-informed culture. The emphasis on storytelling indicates a value placed on clear communication and impactful messaging.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creativity with Business Objectives: Effectively translating client needs and business goals into creative designs that are both aesthetically compelling and strategically effective.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Navigating diverse stakeholder needs and ensuring seamless integration of designs with technical development and marketing technology stacks.

• Rapid Iteration & Optimization: Keeping pace with testing results and market feedback to make timely, impactful design improvements.

• Staying Ahead of Digital Trends: Continuously adapting design strategies and techniques to evolving digital marketing landscapes and user behaviors.

• Narrative Cohesion: Maintaining a consistent and compelling campaign narrative across multiple, disparate channels.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced MarTech Training: Opportunities to deepen understanding and application of marketing automation and CRM technologies.

• Behavioral Science Workshops: Further specialized training in applying behavioral economics and psychology to marketing and design challenges.

• Front-End Development Skill Enhancement: Access to resources or courses to keep front-end development skills sharp and explore new technologies.

• Strategic Leadership Development: Mentorship and training opportunities to transition into roles with greater strategic oversight and leadership responsibilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "AI-curious" preference suggests a company culture that embraces innovation and continuous learning, offering opportunities to explore and implement new technologies in design and marketing processes.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you used behavioral science principles to significantly improve campaign performance. What was your process, and what were the results?" (Focus on clear articulation of principles, application, and measurable outcomes.)

• "Walk us through your process for developing a campaign narrative from concept to final assets. How do you ensure consistency across different channels?" (Highlight your storyboarding and strategic planning approach.)

• "How do you balance creative vision with technical constraints and business objectives in your design work?" (Demonstrate your understanding of trade-offs and problem-solving.)

• "Describe a complex customer journey you've designed for. What were the key touchpoints, and how did you ensure a seamless experience?" (Showcase your journey mapping and end-to-end thinking.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about MC Payroll Services LLC and our Omni-Channel Strategy team specifically?" (Research the company and its market position. Connect your skills to their needs.)

• "How do you approach collaboration with Product, Engineering, and MarTech teams?" (Emphasize your cross-functional communication and teamwork skills.)

• "How do you stay current with digital design trends and behavioral science research?" (Show your commitment to continuous learning.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, begin with the objective, outline your strategic approach, detail your design process (including storyboarding), explain your technical execution (front-end), and conclude with the measurable results.

• Quantify Impact: Use data and metrics whenever possible to demonstrate the success of your designs. Focus on conversion rates, engagement, click-through rates, etc.

• Showcase Technical Proficiency: Be ready to discuss the front-end development aspects of your projects, explaining your choices and any challenges overcome.

• Highlight Behavioral Science: Clearly articulate how and why you incorporated specific behavioral science principles into your designs and the resulting impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely be rigorous, testing not only creative talent but also strategic thinking, technical acumen, and collaboration skills. Candidates should be prepared to defend their design decisions with data and strategic reasoning.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Design Strategist position:

• Submit your application through the ADP recruitment portal link provided.

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight experience in digital design, design strategy, behavioral science, front-end development, and campaign narrative development. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date, showcases relevant projects (digital advertising, landing pages, emails, social creative, TV spots), and clearly articulates your strategic thinking, design process, and results. Emphasize storyboarding and behavioral science application.

• Practice Your Presentation: Rehearse presenting your portfolio, focusing on telling a compelling story for each project, explaining your rationale, and quantifying your impact. Be ready to discuss your front-end development experience.

• Research MC Payroll Services LLC: Understand their business, industry, and target audience. Consider how your design strategy can contribute to their goals.

⚠️ 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.

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