Digital Content Designer (m/w/d)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Digital Content Designer (m/w/d)

Company: FUNKE

Location: Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design / Marketing Operations

Date Posted: June 10, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and adapt diverse classic and digital advertising materials, including ads, banners, flyers, posters, newsletter graphics, display ads, social ads, and landing page assets, leveraging a strong understanding of GTM strategies.

• Develop and execute campaign motifs across various channels, formats, and brands, ensuring consistent messaging and brand alignment.

• Conceptualize and create social media assets, templates, story formats, Reels, simple animations, and innovative content ideas that drive engagement and support marketing objectives.

• Produce photo and video content for both internal and external clients, contributing to compelling visual storytelling and brand presence.

• Manage and enhance websites, landing pages, and digital content using WordPress and AI-supported tools, optimizing user experience and content delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role focuses on the creation and execution of digital content that directly supports Go-To-Market (GTM) strategies. The emphasis on "campaign motifs," "social media assets," "landing pages," and "digital advertising materials" indicates a strong connection to sales and marketing enablement, requiring an understanding of how visual content drives lead generation, brand awareness, and customer engagement. The mention of "WordPress and AI-supported tools" suggests a need for efficient content management and the adoption of modern design technologies.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and produce a wide range of classical and digital advertising materials, including print ads, banners, flyers, posters, newsletter graphics, display ads, social media ads, and landing page assets.

• Develop and adapt campaign motifs for diverse channels, formats, and brands, ensuring consistent visual identity and message delivery across all touchpoints.

• Conceptualize, design, and produce social media assets, templates, story formats, Reels, simple animations, and creative content ideas to enhance social media presence and engagement.

• Plan, shoot, and edit photo and video content for internal and external clients, creating compelling visual narratives that align with brand guidelines and campaign objectives.

• Create, maintain, and further develop websites, landing pages, and digital content pages, primarily using WordPress and AI-assisted tools, to ensure an optimal online presence and user experience.

• Collaborate on brand appearances, corporate designs, layout systems, key visuals, and creative presentations, contributing to the overall brand strategy and execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate a hands-on design role with a strategic component, focusing on creating assets that directly support marketing and sales initiatives. The inclusion of "campaign motifs," "social media assets," and "landing page assets" highlights the role's contribution to lead generation and customer acquisition efforts, aligning it with GTM operations. The requirement to work with WordPress and AI tools suggests a need for efficiency and adaptability in content creation workflows.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a background in Graphic Design, Media Design, Communication Design, or a related creative field is implied.

Experience: Requires professional experience in graphic design, media design, communication design, or content creation, ideally within an agency, publishing house, or comparable creative environment.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, After Effects, InDesign & Illustrator) for comprehensive design and production capabilities.

• Proven experience in designing print and digital advertising materials, demonstrating a strong understanding of visual hierarchy and effective communication.

• Excellent sense for layouts, typography, imagery, brand guidelines, and campaign mechanics to create impactful and cohesive visual assets.

• Deep understanding of social media, digital formats, motion picture, and platform-specific design principles, with an openness to utilize AI tools for efficient content creation.

• Structured, self-motivated, and team-oriented approach to work, ensuring efficient project completion and collaborative success. Preferred Skills:

• First experiences with CMS systems, website maintenance, or simple web/landing page projects.

• Experience in motion graphics and simple animation creation.

• Familiarity with AI-powered design tools and workflows.

• Understanding of SEO principles as they apply to digital content.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize practical design skills and a solid understanding of digital marketing channels. The mention of "campaign mechanics" and "platform-specific design principles" points to a need for strategic thinking beyond just aesthetics, aligning with how content supports broader GTM objectives. The preference for CMS and web/landing page experience suggests a role that bridges creative design with digital execution and content management.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a range of designed classic and digital advertising materials, including print ads, banners, flyers, posters, newsletter graphics, display ads, and social ads.

• Showcase examples of campaign motif development and adaptation across different channels and brands, highlighting versatility and strategic thinking.

• Include a selection of social media assets, templates, story formats, Reels, and simple animations that highlight creativity and platform-specific execution.

• Present examples of photo and video content production, illustrating storytelling capabilities and technical execution.

• Feature examples of website or landing page design and development, if applicable, demonstrating proficiency with CMS like WordPress or similar platforms.

• Highlight contributions to brand appearances, corporate designs, or key visuals, showcasing an understanding of brand consistency and strategic visual development. Process Documentation:

• Showcase examples of how you manage design projects from brief to final delivery, including workflow, collaboration, and version control processes.

• Illustrate your approach to adapting and optimizing creative assets for different platforms and formats, demonstrating efficiency and strategic execution.

• Provide insights into how you incorporate feedback and collaborate with stakeholders (e.g., marketing, sales teams) to ensure design alignment with GTM objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is crucial for this role, as it serves as tangible proof of design capabilities and strategic thinking. The emphasis on "campaign motifs," "social media assets," and "landing page assets" means the portfolio should clearly demonstrate how the candidate's work contributes to marketing and sales goals. The inclusion of process documentation will show an understanding of efficient workflow management and collaboration, essential for operations-focused roles.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a mid-level Digital Content Designer in Essen, Germany, with 2-5 years of experience, the estimated annual gross salary range is €42,000 - €55,000. This estimate considers the specific job responsibilities, the company's industry (media/publishing), and the general cost of living in the region.

Benefits:

• Innovation & Transformation: Opportunity to contribute to the digital transformation of a media group, offering a chance to shape future strategies.

• Professional Development: Access to individual coaching, workshops, and online training through the FUNKE Akademie for continuous skill enhancement.

• Flexible Work Environment: A hybrid work model that supports work-life balance.

• Collaborative Culture: A dynamic team environment with open feedback, short communication channels, and a welcoming atmosphere.

• Employee Discounts: A corporate benefits portal offering attractive discounts and subscriptions.

• Health & Wellness: Partnerships with fitness studios and individual counseling for mental and physical health.

Working Hours: The role is full-time, with an estimated 40 hours per week. The hybrid work model offers flexibility in managing work hours and location.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on publicly available data for similar roles in Germany, considering experience level and industry. The benefits package highlights a strong focus on employee development, well-being, and work-life balance, which are attractive to professionals in creative and operations-adjacent roles. The mention of "digital transformation" and "GTM strategies" suggests that this role is integral to the company's growth and strategic direction.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Media & Publishing. FUNKE is a large media group with a significant presence in Germany, involved in newspapers, magazines, and digital services. This industry context means a fast-paced, evolving environment where content creation and digital strategy are paramount for GTM success.

Company Size: Large Enterprise (typically >1000 employees). This suggests structured processes, potential for cross-departmental collaboration, and opportunities for career advancement within a large organization.

Founded: FUNKE was founded in 1948, indicating a long-standing history and established presence in the media landscape, now navigating digital transformation.

Team Structure:

• The role is within "C/O RED," described as a creative and digital agency, suggesting a dedicated internal agency or creative hub. This implies a team structure focused on project-based work and agile methodologies.

• Reporting likely involves a Creative Director or a Head of Digital Content, with potential collaboration across marketing, sales, and product teams.

• Cross-functional collaboration is expected with marketing and sales departments to ensure content aligns with GTM objectives and campaign strategies. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Content: While not explicitly stated, the emphasis on digital advertising, social media, and landing pages suggests an approach that leverages data analytics to inform content creation and optimization for GTM performance.

• Agile Design Processes: Given the agency context and focus on digital assets, agile methodologies for design, iteration, and content production are likely employed.

• Brand Consistency & Optimization: A focus on maintaining brand integrity across all digital touchpoints while optimizing content for different platforms and user journeys.

Company Website: [FUNKE Media Group Website - Assuming this would be the primary employer site, though C/O RED might have its own.]

📝 Enhancement Note: The context of FUNKE as a large media organization undergoing digital transformation, coupled with the role being within a "creative and digital agency" (C/O RED), suggests a dynamic environment. This environment likely values innovation, adaptability, and a data-informed approach to content creation that directly supports GTM objectives. The team structure within an agency setting implies a focus on project delivery and client (internal or external) satisfaction.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Level Designer, requiring 2-5 years of experience. It involves significant creative responsibility and execution within digital content creation, directly impacting marketing and sales outreach.

Reporting Structure: Likely reports to a Creative Lead, Art Director, or Head of Digital Content within the C/O RED agency. This structure allows for mentorship and guidance while providing autonomy in design execution.

Operations Impact: The Digital Content Designer plays a critical role in the visual communication of FUNKE's brands and campaigns. Their work directly influences brand perception, customer engagement, lead generation (through landing pages and ads), and overall GTM effectiveness by creating compelling assets that resonate with target audiences.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization in Digital Formats: Deepen expertise in specific areas like motion graphics, video production, interactive content, or AI-driven design tools, leading to senior or specialized designer roles.

• Creative Leadership: Progress towards a Senior Digital Content Designer or Art Director position, taking on more strategic oversight, client management, and team leadership responsibilities.

• Cross-Functional Skill Development: Expand knowledge in areas like UX/UI design, content strategy, or digital marketing analytics, enabling a broader impact on GTM initiatives and potential transitions into related operational roles.

• Agency/Internal Mobility: Opportunities to work on diverse projects across different brands within the FUNKE media group or to move into client-facing roles within the C/O RED agency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path for a Digital Content Designer in this context often involves deepening creative specialization or moving into roles with broader strategic and leadership responsibilities. The emphasis on "digital transformation" and "GTM" suggests that individuals who can demonstrate how their design work drives business outcomes will have strong potential for advancement.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid Work Model. This indicates a blend of on-site collaboration and remote work, allowing for flexibility while maintaining team cohesion.

Office Location(s): Essen, Germany. This is a major city in North Rhine-Westphalia, offering good infrastructure and connectivity. The specific office environment within Essen would likely be modern and equipped for creative work.

Workspace Context:

• The C/O RED agency environment is likely to be collaborative and dynamic, fostering creativity and teamwork through shared spaces, brainstorming sessions, and open communication.

• Access to industry-standard design software and hardware (Adobe Creative Cloud, potentially high-performance workstations) is expected. The mention of AI tools suggests a forward-thinking technology stack.

• Opportunities for interaction with a creative team, project managers, and potentially client representatives, facilitating knowledge sharing and professional development.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week) with a hybrid model allowing for flexible arrangement of workdays and locations, promoting a healthy work-life balance essential for sustained creative output.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work model is a key benefit, suggesting a modern approach to work that values employee autonomy and well-being. The collaborative agency setting within a large media group implies a stimulating environment where creative professionals can thrive and contribute to impactful GTM campaigns.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your application, resume, and portfolio to assess basic qualifications and creative alignment. Be sure your portfolio highlights work relevant to digital advertising, social media, and landing pages.

• Creative Assessment/Task: Potentially a design challenge or a portfolio review session where you'll be asked to present your work and explain your creative process, problem-solving approach, and how your designs support specific GTM objectives.

• Team/Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion about your experience, technical skills (especially in Adobe Creative Cloud and WordPress), understanding of digital formats, and cultural fit within the C/O RED team. Be prepared to discuss your experience with AI tools and your adaptability.

• Final Interview: May involve a discussion with senior leadership to assess strategic thinking, communication skills, and long-term potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your skills in designing digital ads, social media content, landing pages, and potentially motion graphics or video.

• Highlight GTM Relevance: For each project, briefly explain the objective (e.g., lead generation, brand awareness), target audience, and how your design contributed to achieving those goals. Quantify results if possible.

• Showcase Process: Include case studies that detail your design process, from brief interpretation and concept development to execution and adaptation for different platforms.

• Demonstrate Tool Proficiency: Ensure your portfolio reflects your expertise in Adobe Creative Cloud and any experience with WordPress or AI design tools.

• Keep it Concise: Organize your portfolio logically and present your strongest work upfront.

Challenge Preparation:

• If a design challenge is given, focus on understanding the brief thoroughly, thinking strategically about the target audience and GTM goals, and producing a well-reasoned, visually compelling solution within the given timeframe.

• Practice articulating your design choices, explaining the rationale behind your creative decisions, and how they align with business objectives.

• Be ready to discuss your familiarity with digital marketing trends, social media best practices, and emerging design technologies like AI.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a creative role like this heavily relies on the portfolio. Candidates should tailor their portfolio and interview responses to demonstrate not just design talent, but also an understanding of how their creative output supports business and GTM objectives. The mention of AI tools suggests a need to be prepared to discuss their application and potential in design workflows.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Cloud: Mastery of Photoshop, After Effects, InDesign, and Illustrator is essential for creating a wide array of digital and print assets.

• WordPress: Experience in creating, maintaining, and developing websites and landing pages using WordPress is highly valued.

• AI-Assisted Tools: Openness to and experience with AI tools for content creation, design optimization, or workflow automation is a significant advantage.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics) to understand content performance and inform design decisions for digital assets.

• Experience with social media analytics tools to gauge the effectiveness of social content. CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, understanding how designed assets integrate with CRM and marketing automation platforms (e.g., for email campaigns or landing page lead capture) is beneficial.

• Experience with digital asset management (DAM) systems may also be relevant for organizing and distributing creative content.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is centered around core design software and content management systems. Proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud is non-negotiable. The explicit mention of WordPress and AI tools indicates a need for modern digital content creation and management skills, essential for efficient GTM support.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Creativity & Innovation: A drive to push creative boundaries and explore new design approaches, including leveraging emerging technologies like AI.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: A strong emphasis on working together, sharing ideas, and supporting colleagues to achieve collective goals within the C/O RED agency.

• Customer/Client Focus: A commitment to understanding client needs (internal or external) and delivering high-quality creative solutions that meet objectives and drive engagement.

• Efficiency & Adaptability: An ability to work effectively under deadlines, adapt to changing project requirements, and optimize workflows for timely delivery of digital assets.

• Brand Stewardship: A dedication to upholding and enhancing brand identities through consistent and impactful visual communication.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Actively engaging with marketing, sales, and product teams to ensure creative work aligns with overall GTM strategies and business goals.

• Open Feedback Culture: Encouraging constructive feedback exchange to continuously improve designs and processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: A proactive approach to sharing design insights, new techniques, and learnings within the team and wider organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture is likely a blend of agency dynamism and corporate structure. Values such as creativity, collaboration, and efficiency are paramount, especially in a role that supports GTM efforts. The emphasis on adaptability and innovation, particularly with AI tools, suggests a forward-thinking and growth-oriented team.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creative Vision with GTM Objectives: Effectively translating marketing and sales goals into compelling visual designs that resonate with target audiences while adhering to brand guidelines.

• Rapidly Evolving Digital Landscape: Staying current with new design trends, platform algorithms, and emerging technologies (like AI) to ensure content remains fresh and effective.

• Managing Multiple Projects & Deadlines: Juggling various design tasks for different campaigns and clients simultaneously, requiring strong organizational and time management skills.

• Adapting to New Tools & Workflows: Quickly learning and integrating new software, AI tools, and agency processes to maintain efficiency and creative output.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Techniques: Opportunities to attend workshops or training on advanced motion graphics, video editing, UX/UI principles, or specific design software features.

• AI in Design: Focused learning on how to leverage AI tools for ideation, asset generation, and workflow optimization in creative processes.

• GTM Strategy Understanding: Deeper immersion into marketing and sales strategies to better align design work with business outcomes.

• Mentorship: Guidance from senior designers or creative directors to refine skills and navigate career progression.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a mid-level creative role in a fast-paced environment. The growth opportunities are strongly tied to developing specialized creative skills and understanding the strategic application of design within GTM initiatives, particularly with the integration of new technologies like AI.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you designed a digital asset (e.g., social ad, landing page) that significantly contributed to a GTM objective like lead generation or brand awareness. What was your process, and what were the results?" (Focus on case study structure: objective, audience, strategy, execution, results.)

• "How do you approach adapting a campaign motif for different digital channels (e.g., social media, display ads, email) while maintaining brand consistency?" (Emphasize understanding of platform-specific best practices and workflow efficiency.)

• "How do you stay current with design trends and new technologies like AI in the creative industry, and how have you incorporated them into your work?" (Showcase continuous learning and practical application.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What attracts you to FUNKE and the C/O RED agency, and how do you see your skills contributing to our digital transformation goals?" (Research FUNKE's recent initiatives and C/O RED's portfolio.)

• "Describe your ideal collaborative environment. How do you prefer to work with marketing and sales teams to ensure creative alignment?" (Highlight teamwork, feedback, and communication skills.)

• "How do you handle constructive criticism or feedback on your designs?" (Demonstrate professionalism, adaptability, and a growth mindset.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Frame your portfolio pieces as mini-case studies. Explain the "why" behind each design – the problem it solved, the audience it targeted, and the intended outcome.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased click-through rates, engagement levels, conversions).

• Highlight Process: Briefly walk through your design process for 1-2 key projects, showcasing your problem-solving skills and tool proficiency (especially Adobe Creative Cloud, WordPress, and any AI tools).

• Show Versatility: Ensure your presentation covers a range of work, from static ads to motion graphics and web elements, to demonstrate your breadth of skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating both creative talent and a strategic understanding of how design supports business objectives. Candidates should be ready to articulate their process, justify their design choices, and showcase their adaptability with new technologies, particularly AI, which is explicitly mentioned as a tool to be used.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Digital Content Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on jobs.funkemedien.de.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight experience in graphic design, digital content creation, and proficiency with Adobe Creative Cloud. Quantify achievements where possible, especially those related to campaign success or GTM support.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select your strongest projects that showcase your ability to design digital ads, social media assets, landing pages, and any motion graphics or video work. Ensure it's easily accessible (e.g., a link to your website or a well-organized PDF).

• Prepare Your Portfolio Presentation: Practice walking through 2-3 key projects, explaining your process, design choices, and how they contributed to business objectives, especially for GTM initiatives.

• Research FUNKE & C/O RED: Understand the company's brands, recent digital initiatives, and C/O RED's creative output to articulate your interest and cultural fit during the interview.

⚠️ 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.