Graphic Design Manager

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Design Manager

Company: The Friedkin Group

Location: Houston, Texas, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Operations

Date Posted: November 12, 2025

Experience Level: 7-9 years (Mid-Senior Level)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Brand Stewardship & Evolution: Responsible for managing and advancing the Friedkin master brand's visual identity, architecture, and creative standards across the entire enterprise. This involves a deep understanding of brand systems and ensuring consistent execution.

• Creative Operations Management: Establishing and optimizing creative workflows, utilizing project management tools, and defining Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for design requests and approvals to enhance operational efficiency.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Governance: Partnering with internal departments (Communications, HR, Corporate Affairs) and providing guidance to subsidiary brand leads to ensure brand alignment and coherence across the Friedkin family.

• Hands-on Design Execution: A practical design role requiring the creation of corporate materials, executive presentations, branded assets, and digital content that embodies Friedkin's brand tone and ideology.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a crucial nexus between strategic brand management and operational execution within a corporate environment. It requires a blend of creative expertise and process-oriented thinking, focusing on the overarching Friedkin brand rather than individual subsidiary brands, but with an influence on maintaining coherence across the portfolio.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Master Brand System Management: Oversee and evolve the Friedkin master brand system, ensuring all creative applications adhere strictly to corporate identity guidelines and established brand standards.

• Brand Architecture and Guidelines Development: Maintain and update the brand architecture and comprehensive visual guidelines that clearly delineate the relationship between Friedkin corporate and its portfolio of subsidiary brands.

• Corporate Material Design: Design and produce a range of corporate materials, including executive presentations, enterprise-wide templates, and various branded assets that effectively communicate Friedkin's unique brand tone and values.

• Design Tools and Template Creation: Develop and refine reusable design tools and templates intended for internal teams, thereby facilitating consistent and high-quality brand execution across all departments and subsidiaries.

• Creative Workflow System Implementation: Establish and manage a robust creative workflow system, potentially using platforms like Monday.com, to efficiently handle design requests, track approvals, and manage deliverable timelines.

• Creative Operations SOP Development: Create and maintain a clear Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) document that outlines the proper engagement process for internal partners interacting with the design function.

• External Vendor Management: Select, manage, and direct external design vendors or freelance professionals for overflow work or specialized projects requiring unique expertise.

• Cross-Departmental Partnership: Collaborate closely with Communications, Human Resources, Corporate Affairs, and other key departments to ensure seamless brand alignment and creative consistency in all organizational initiatives.

• Brand Guidance Provision: Offer expert creative and brand guidance to cross-functional teams and subsidiary brand leads whenever Friedkin brand assets or co-branding opportunities are involved.

• Digital Asset Creation: Produce engaging digital assets and graphics for Friedkin’s owned digital channels, internal communications platforms, and corporate website.

• Video Content Editing (Preferred): Edit short-form video content for executive messages, internal company updates, or social media channels as required.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus on strategic brand management and operational efficiency. The emphasis on developing SOPs and managing workflows indicates a need for process improvement skills within the creative function, directly impacting GTM and internal communications.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• 7-9 years of progressive experience in graphic design, brand design, or creative management, with a strong preference for experience within corporate or global brand environments.

Required Skills:

• Brand Architecture & Systems: Deep understanding of brand architecture principles, visual systems, and corporate identity development and maintenance. (High proficiency)

• Adobe Creative Suite: Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, specifically InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop. (High proficiency)

• Presentation Software: Expertise in creating professional presentations using PowerPoint and Keynote. (High proficiency)

• Design Fundamentals: Strong command of typography, layout, visual hierarchy, and visual composition. (High proficiency)

• Workflow & Project Management Systems: Proven experience in creating and implementing design workflows and utilizing project management systems for efficient task management. (High proficiency)

• Communication & Collaboration: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders. (High proficiency)

• User Experience (UX): Solid understanding of UX principles as they apply to digital design and brand touchpoints. (Intermediate-Advanced)

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to align creative output with overarching business objectives and brand strategy. (Intermediate-Advanced)

Preferred Skills:

• Adobe After Effects: Proficiency in Adobe After Effects for motion graphics and video editing is a significant advantage. (Intermediate-Advanced)

• Video Editing: Experience in editing short-form video content for corporate communications or digital channels.

• Digital Asset Creation: Experience in creating optimized digital graphics for various platforms.

• Brand Identity Expertise: In-depth knowledge of how brand identity elements are developed, implemented, and maintained. (Intermediate-Advanced)

📝 Enhancement Note: The "High proficiency" requirement for several key skills, coupled with the 7-9 years of experience, indicates this is a senior-level role demanding seasoned expertise. The specific mention of UX and strategic thinking suggests a need not just for aesthetic execution but for understanding how design impacts user interaction and business goals.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Brand System Case Studies: Showcase examples of managing and evolving a master brand system, including visual guidelines, brand architecture documentation, and how brand consistency was maintained across diverse applications.

• Workflow & SOP Demonstrations: Present evidence of designing and implementing creative workflows or SOPs, demonstrating how efficiency and clarity were improved in a creative operations context.

• Corporate Material Examples: Include samples of high-impact corporate materials such as executive presentations, branded templates, annual reports, or key corporate collateral that reflect an elevated brand tone.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration Projects: Illustrate projects where collaboration with other departments (e.g., Marketing, HR, Communications) was critical, highlighting your role in achieving shared brand objectives.

• Digital Asset & Template Design: Provide examples of digital assets created for owned channels or internal templates designed to ensure brand consistency.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Candidates are expected to demonstrate experience in mapping out and optimizing creative processes, from request intake to final delivery, detailing the tools and methodologies used.

• Implementation & Automation: Showcase instances where creative workflows were implemented or improved through project management tools, SOPs, or process automation, focusing on efficiency gains.

• Measurement & Performance Analysis: While not explicitly stated, a strong portfolio should implicitly demonstrate how the candidate measures the effectiveness of their design operations, potentially through project turnaround times, stakeholder satisfaction, or brand consistency metrics.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role focused on brand stewardship and creative operations, the portfolio is paramount. It serves as tangible proof of the candidate's ability to think in systems, manage complex brand structures, and drive operational efficiency within a creative function. Demonstrating experience with workflow tools is critical.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

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

• Wellness Programs: Access to initiatives designed to support employee health and well-being.

• Retirement Planning: Robust retirement savings plans, likely including a 401(k) with potential company match.

• Generous Paid Time Off: Includes vacation, sick leave, and holidays, reflecting a commitment to work-life balance.

• Career Development Opportunities: Support for professional growth, leadership development, and continuous learning.

• Performance-Based Rewards: A compensation structure that includes base pay and potential performance-based rewards, acknowledging contributions.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time position, estimated at 40 hours per week. The role is on-site, requiring regular presence in the Houston office. While standard hours apply, occasional flexibility may be needed to meet project deadlines or support critical initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on available data for similar roles in the specified location and experience level. The Friedkin Group's provided benefits are comprehensive, aligning with what is expected for a manager-level position in a large corporation.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: The Friedkin Group operates across a diverse range of industries, including automotive, technology, manufacturing, entertainment, and hospitality. This multi-industry focus creates a dynamic environment for corporate branding, requiring adaptability and a broad understanding of different market aesthetics.

Company Size: The Friedkin Group is a large, privately held corporation, suggesting a structured environment with established processes but also opportunities for impact due to its significant scale.

Founded: The company was founded by Dan Friedkin, indicating a strong leadership vision. The "Living Our Values" section emphasizes a culture grounded in core principles: care, commitment, evolution, and excellence.

Team Structure:

• Reporting: The Graphic Design Manager will likely report into a Director or VP of Marketing, Communications, or Corporate Affairs, overseeing the corporate brand's visual execution.

• Cross-functional Interaction: This role necessitates close collaboration with various departments, including Communications, HR, Legal, and potentially subsidiary marketing teams, requiring strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills.

• Creative Function: While this role is hands-on, it sits within a broader creative or marketing function, likely consisting of other specialists. The focus is specifically on the master brand, distinguishing it from roles solely managing subsidiary brands.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Brand Management: The emphasis on "excellence" and "evolution" suggests a data-informed approach to brand strategy and creative execution, where decisions are backed by insights and performance metrics.

• Process Optimization: The explicit requirement for establishing workflow systems and SOPs indicates a company culture that values efficiency, operational rigor, and continuous improvement within creative functions.

• Values-Centric Approach: The core values of care, commitment, evolution, and excellence are expected to permeate all aspects of work, influencing design decisions, collaboration styles, and overall brand representation.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's diverse portfolio means the Graphic Design Manager must be adept at understanding how a unified corporate brand can coexist and lend strength to a variety of business units, requiring a strategic approach to brand architecture and visual language.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is a mid-to-senior level management position within the creative operations and marketing function. It requires a blend of hands-on design expertise and strategic oversight, focusing on the foundational corporate brand. The scope involves managing brand integrity across an enterprise, indicating significant responsibility.

Reporting Structure: The Graphic Design Manager will report to a higher-level executive within a corporate function (e.g., VP of Marketing, Director of Communications). This position sits at a critical juncture, translating executive vision into visual reality and ensuring consistent brand messaging.

Operations Impact: The role's impact is significant, as the master brand's visual representation directly influences corporate reputation, stakeholder perception, internal morale, and the cohesive identity of the entire Friedkin Group. Effective brand stewardship enhances trust and recognition, indirectly supporting sales and business development efforts by reinforcing a strong, unified corporate image.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to grow into a Director-level role overseeing broader creative strategy, brand management for larger portfolios, or leading a larger creative team within The Friedkin Group.

• Specialization Development: Opportunities to deepen expertise in areas like digital brand strategy, motion graphics, or advanced brand system design through specialized projects or training.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Experience gained in collaborating with diverse departments and subsidiary brands can open doors to broader marketing leadership roles or strategic brand consulting within the organization or the wider Friedkin ecosystem.

• Process Improvement Leadership: Leading initiatives to further refine creative operations processes, potentially expanding to other operational areas within marketing or corporate functions.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for growth into more strategic brand leadership or operational management roles, particularly appealing to individuals who want to shape a corporate brand's identity and optimize the processes behind its execution.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based at The Friedkin Group's corporate office located at 1375 Enclave Parkway, Houston, Texas. This suggests a professional, corporate office setting conducive to focused work and collaboration.

Office Location(s): The primary office is in Houston, Texas. The company's global presence might mean occasional interaction with other Friedkin Group locations, but the day-to-day will be Houston-centric.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The emphasis on cross-functional partnerships indicates an environment that encourages teamwork and open communication.

• Tools and Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (Adobe Creative Suite), project management platforms (Monday.com), and presentation tools is expected.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with a dedicated team and stakeholders across various departments, fostering a dynamic and communicative workspace.

Work Schedule:

• The position is full-time, on-site. Standard working hours are expected, but flexibility may be required to meet project deadlines. This environment typically supports a structured workday, allowing for focused design and operational tasks.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in a corporate setting points towards a structured work environment where collaboration and adherence to established processes are valued. Candidates should be comfortable with a traditional office setup and regular in-person interaction.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of applications and portfolios to assess qualifications and creative fit.

• Portfolio Presentation & Technical Interview: Candidates will likely be asked to present their portfolio, discussing their work, design process, and experience with brand systems and creative operations. This may include technical questions about Adobe Creative Suite and workflow management.

• Behavioral & Situational Interviews: Interviews with hiring managers and potential cross-functional partners to assess collaboration skills, strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and cultural alignment with Friedkin's values.

• Final Round: Potentially a meeting with senior leadership to discuss strategic vision and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Brand System Mastery: Clearly articulate your process for managing and evolving a master brand, highlighting how you ensure consistency and coherence across a portfolio. Provide examples of brand guidelines or style guides you've developed or managed.

• Demonstrate Operational Acumen: Include projects where you implemented or optimized creative workflows, managed design requests, or utilized project management tools. Explain the impact of these processes on efficiency and deliverable quality.

• Highlight Strategic Alignment: For each project, explain the strategic objective and how your design solutions contributed to achieving it. Connect your creative output to business goals and brand values.

• Tailor to Friedkin: Research The Friedkin Group's existing brand identity, values, and business areas. Frame your portfolio examples to show how your skills and experience align with their specific needs and corporate culture.

• Focus on Impact: Quantify achievements where possible (e.g., "reduced turnaround time by X%," "improved brand consistency scores," "successfully launched X new corporate assets").

Challenge Preparation:

• Brand System Exercise: Be prepared for a hypothetical scenario where you might need to outline how you would approach evolving or maintaining the Friedkin master brand, or how you would address a brand inconsistency issue.

• Workflow Design Challenge: You might be asked to outline a process for managing a sudden influx of design requests from various departments or subsidiaries.

• Presentation Skills: Practice presenting complex creative and operational concepts concisely and persuasively, as you will need to communicate effectively with both creative and non-creative stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on portfolio presentation and potential case studies underscores the practical, execution-oriented nature of this role. Candidates must be prepared to not only show their work but also explain the strategic thinking and operational processes behind it.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite:

  • Adobe InDesign: Essential for layout, design, and production of corporate collateral, presentations, and brand guidelines.
  • Adobe Illustrator: Crucial for creating vector graphics, logos, icons, and brand assets.
  • Adobe Photoshop: Necessary for image editing, manipulation, and creating raster-based digital assets.

• Presentation Software:

  • Microsoft PowerPoint: High proficiency required for creating and managing executive-level corporate presentations.
  • Apple Keynote: Also a valuable tool for presentation design, especially in creative environments.

Creative Operations & Project Management Tools:

• Monday.com (or similar): Explicitly mentioned as a platform for managing design requests, approvals, and deliverables. This indicates a need for experience with workflow automation and project tracking systems.

• Other Project Management Tools: Familiarity with tools such as Asana, Trello, Jira, or Wrike could be beneficial.

Digital & Multimedia Tools (Preferred):

• Adobe After Effects: For motion graphics, animated logos, and video intros/outros.

• Video Editing Software: Basic proficiency in editing software (e.g., Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro) for short-form video content.

Collaboration & Communication Tools:

• Microsoft Office Suite: Including Outlook for email and calendar management.

• Microsoft Teams or Slack: For internal team communication and collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and presentation software is non-negotiable. Experience with project management/workflow tools like Monday.com is a key differentiator and directly relates to the operational aspects of the role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence: A commitment to high-quality design and operational execution, ensuring that all creative output meets rigorous standards and reflects the Friedkin Group's prestige.

• Care: Demonstrating consideration for internal stakeholders by providing clear guidance, responsive service, and user-friendly design tools. Also, care for the brand itself, preserving its integrity and enhancing its perception.

• Commitment: Dedication to the Friedkin brand and its success, ensuring consistent application and proactive management of its visual presence across all touchpoints.

• Evolution: Embracing continuous improvement in design practices, workflow efficiency, and brand representation to stay relevant and impactful in a dynamic business landscape.

Collaboration Style:

• Partnership-Oriented: Proactively engaging with Communications, HR, and other departments to understand their needs and ensure brand alignment, fostering strong working relationships.

• Guidance & Support: Acting as a resource for subsidiary brand leads and internal teams, providing clear direction and support on Friedkin brand standards and best practices.

• Transparent & Structured: Utilizing defined workflows and SOPs to ensure clear communication, manage expectations, and facilitate efficient collaboration on design projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's stated values (care, commitment, evolution, excellence) are central to its culture. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate how they embody these values in their approach to design, operations, and teamwork.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Maintaining Brand Cohesion Across Diverse Businesses: Ensuring the Friedkin master brand remains consistent and impactful across a wide array of subsidiary industries and market segments, each with its own unique visual identity.

• Balancing Hands-On Design with Management: Effectively managing time between executing design tasks and overseeing creative operations, workflow development, and stakeholder interactions.

• Influencing Without Direct Authority: Providing brand guidance and enforcing standards to subsidiary brand leads and internal teams who may not directly report to this role.

• Adapting to Evolving Brand Needs: Staying ahead of market trends and business evolution to ensure the Friedkin brand remains modern, relevant, and effective.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Brand Strategy: Opportunities to deepen expertise in corporate brand strategy, brand architecture, and multi-brand management through challenging projects and potential training.

• Creative Operations Optimization: Leading initiatives to further enhance workflow efficiency, implement new technologies, and refine creative processes within The Friedkin Group.

• Leadership Skill Development: Gaining experience in managing external vendors, influencing cross-functional teams, and potentially mentoring junior designers or operations staff.

• Industry Exposure: Exposure to diverse industries within The Friedkin Group's portfolio, broadening understanding of different market dynamics and branding challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents a significant opportunity to shape a corporate brand's future and refine the operational processes that support it. The challenges are balanced by substantial growth potential within a large, diverse organization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach evolving the Friedkin master brand system to ensure it remains relevant and impactful across our diverse portfolio of businesses?" (Focus on strategic thinking, understanding of brand architecture, and adaptive creativity.)

• "Describe your process for establishing and managing a creative workflow system for design requests. What are the key components of an effective SOP for a creative function?" (Focus on operational process, project management tools, and efficiency.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do The Friedkin Group's core values (care, commitment, evolution, excellence) influence your approach to graphic design and creative operations?" (Focus on cultural alignment and values demonstration.)

• "Describe a time you had to collaborate with a department or subsidiary brand that had different creative priorities. How did you ensure brand alignment while respecting their needs?" (Focus on collaboration, negotiation, and stakeholder management.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each portfolio piece, clearly state the objective, your role, the process you followed (especially workflow/operations aspects), the tools used, the outcome, and the impact.

• Highlight Brand System Expertise: Dedicate specific examples to showcasing your ability to manage a master brand, including brand guidelines, architecture, and consistency.

• Emphasize Operational Improvements: If you have examples of workflow optimization or SOP development, present them as distinct case studies demonstrating your operational impact.

• Connect to Friedkin: Whenever possible, draw parallels between your experience and The Friedkin Group's business, values, or industry diversity. Articulate how your skills directly address their stated needs.

• Be Prepared for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your design choices, problem-solving approach, and how you handle feedback or constructive criticism.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should heavily emphasize the blend of creative strategy, operational execution, and stakeholder management. The portfolio is the primary tool to demonstrate these capabilities, so detailed preparation for its presentation is crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Design Manager position:

• Submit Your Application: Navigate to The Friedkin Group's careers portal via the provided link and submit your application with your resume and any requested documents.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best showcase your experience in master brand management, creative operations, and corporate design. Ensure these examples clearly demonstrate your process, strategic thinking, and operational impact.

• Tailor Your Resume: Update your resume to highlight keywords and responsibilities directly mentioned in the job description, such as "brand stewardship," "creative operations," "workflow management," "Adobe Creative Suite," and "brand architecture." Quantify achievements wherever possible.

• Prepare Your Portfolio Presentation: Practice walking through your selected portfolio pieces, focusing on your role, the strategic objectives, the operational processes you implemented, and the measurable outcomes. Be ready to articulate how your skills align with Friedkin's values and needs.

• Research The Friedkin Group: Thoroughly review The Friedkin Group's website, understand their diverse business units, and familiarize yourself with their stated values and mission. This will enable you to tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest and cultural fit.

⚠️ 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.