Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer

Company: Henkel group

Location: Westlake, Ohio, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Marketing & Design Operations

Date Posted: 2026-08-24

Experience Level: Mid-Level (5-10 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Develops and executes modern, visually compelling creative assets for internal and external channels, translating brand and business objectives into effective content.

• Specializes in creating high-quality digital assets for e-commerce, retail, and product representation, including product imagery, infographics, and enhanced content.

• Manages the end-to-end design process for packaging, artwork, and production-ready assets, ensuring brand consistency and accuracy.

• Leverages strong design fundamentals, strategic thinking, and a contemporary creative perspective to produce impactful and brand-aligned work.

• Collaborates closely with marketing, e-commerce, and other stakeholders to deliver creative solutions that enhance shopper experience and support sales objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within the Adhesive Technologies business unit, indicating a focus on B2B and B2C marketing efforts for industrial adhesives, sealants, and functional coatings, requiring a blend of technical understanding and creative communication.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Translate business objectives and creative briefs into innovative and visually engaging design concepts for various marketing and product initiatives.

• Produce best-in-class product imagery, infographics, and enhanced digital content optimized for e-commerce platforms and retail environments to elevate the shopper experience.

• Design and adapt packaging, labels, and other production-ready artwork, meticulously maintaining brand guidelines and ensuring technical accuracy.

• Generate high-quality product renders and visualizations for use in e-commerce, packaging mockups, marketing campaigns, and sales collateral.

• Create impactful marketing and sales materials, including trade show graphics, brochures, display designs, and other collateral to support brand activation and sales efforts.

• Act as a brand steward, ensuring all creative output is consistent with Henkel's brand identity while actively identifying opportunities for modernization and creative enhancement.

• Manage multiple design projects simultaneously, from initial concept to final delivery, maintaining clear communication on project status, risks, and dependencies.

• Collaborate effectively with marketing, e-commerce, social media, video production, and other cross-functional teams to understand requirements and deliver impactful creative work.

• Organize and maintain digital assets within a Digital Asset Management (DAM) system, and contribute to the development of reusable templates and scalable design systems for improved efficiency and consistency.

• Stay abreast of the latest design trends, technologies, and best practices, proactively incorporating new ideas and insights to enhance creative output and workflow efficiency.

• Explore and responsibly apply approved AI-enabled tools to support concept development, streamline design workflows, and enhance scalability of creative production.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "scalable design systems" and "AI, Emerging Tools & Scalability" suggests that Henkel is looking for a designer who can not only create individual pieces but also contribute to a more efficient, templated approach to content creation, leveraging technology to increase output and maintain brand consistency across a large product portfolio.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, or a related field is typically expected for roles requiring 5+ years of experience.

Experience: 5+ years of professional graphic design experience, with a strong preference for experience within an in-house creative team, agency, or consumer-products environment.

Required Skills:

• Expert proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, demonstrating advanced capabilities in image manipulation, vector graphics, and layout design.

• Exceptional command of typography, composition, color theory, and visual hierarchy, with a keen eye for detail and aesthetic balance.

• Demonstrated ability to translate complex information and business objectives into clear, modern, and compelling visual narratives.

• Highly organized with meticulous attention to detail, capable of independently managing multiple priorities, projects, and deadlines effectively.

• Experience with content ticketing, project management, and approval platforms (e.g., Monday.com, SeAL, or similar tools) for efficient workflow management.

• A strong focus on speed, consistency, and efficiency through organized workflows, reusable templates, and scalable design systems. Preferred Skills:

• Experience in motion graphics, including animation and video editing.

• Proficiency in product rendering and 3D visualization software.

• Familiarity and practical experience with AI-enabled creative tools for concept generation and workflow enhancement.

• Experience developing and implementing scalable content-production workflows.

• Background in consumer products, retail environments, or in-house creative departments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "expert proficiency" in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, combined with a strong understanding of foundational design principles like typography and composition, indicates a need for a highly skilled designer capable of producing polished, professional-grade assets. The preference for AI and 3D visualization suggests a forward-thinking approach to design at Henkel.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio showcasing a minimum of 5 years of professional graphic design work, with a strong emphasis on e-commerce, product visualization, and packaging design.

• Demonstrate the ability to translate creative briefs into compelling visual concepts and final assets across various media.

• Include examples of projects managed from concept through final execution, highlighting problem-solving and strategic thinking.

• Showcase projects that maintain brand consistency while also demonstrating an ability to modernize and elevate creative output.

• Present case studies or examples of work that improved shopper experience, sales, or brand activation. Process Documentation:

• Provide examples of organized workflows, reusable templates, or scalable design systems developed to improve efficiency and consistency in design production.

• Illustrate how project management and approval platforms were utilized to manage multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.

• Showcase experience in maintaining organized files and assets within a Digital Asset Management (DAM) system.

• Include examples where design insights or trend awareness led to optimized creative execution or workflow improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on "scalable design systems" and "AI, Emerging Tools & Scalability," candidates should be prepared to showcase how they've contributed to process improvements or efficiencies in their previous roles, not just their design output. A portfolio that highlights adaptability and efficiency will be highly valued.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $70,000 - $90,000 annually. This range is determined by factors such as candidate skills, experience, education, training, and work location, and is intended to comply with pay transparency laws.

Benefits:

• Health Insurance: Affordable medical, dental, vision, and wellbeing plans available from day one.

• Work-Life Balance: Generous paid time off (sick, vacation, holiday, volunteer), flexible and hybrid work policies (role-dependent), and a vacation buy/sell program.

• Financial: 401k matching, employee share plan with matching contributions, annual performance bonus, service awards, and student loan reimbursement.

• Family Support: Comprehensive parental leave (12 weeks gender-neutral, up to 20 for birth parents), fertility support, adoption/surrogacy reimbursement, discounted childcare and eldercare, and scholarships.

• Career Growth: Diverse national and international career opportunities, access to thousands of skills development courses, and tuition reimbursement.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with potential for hybrid work flexibility depending on the role and team needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is consistent with mid-level Graphic Designer roles in a major metropolitan area like Cleveland (Westlake, OH). The comprehensive benefits package, particularly the extensive family support and career growth opportunities, highlights Henkel's commitment to employee well-being and development, which is attractive for long-term career prospects.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Chemicals and Consumer Goods. Henkel operates across three business units: Adhesive Technologies, Beauty Care, and Laundry & Home Care. This specific role is within Adhesive Technologies, focusing on adhesives, sealants, and functional coatings.

Company Size: Large enterprise (likely 50,000+ employees globally based on typical Henkel scale). This size offers significant opportunities for career growth and exposure to diverse projects and markets.

Founded: 1876. With a long history, Henkel has established a strong foundation in innovation and sustainability, fostering a culture that values both tradition and forward-thinking.

Team Structure:

• The role is part of the "Consumer Engagement Team" within the Adhesive Technologies business unit, suggesting a focus on customer-facing marketing and communication strategies.

• The designer will likely report to a Creative Lead or Marketing Manager, working closely with marketing, e-commerce, social media, and video production specialists.

• Cross-functional collaboration is a key aspect, requiring the designer to partner with various departments to ensure creative output aligns with broader business and marketing goals. Methodology:

• Data Analysis & Insights: Designs are informed by business objectives, creative briefs, and potentially market insights to ensure effectiveness and shopper engagement.

• Workflow Planning & Optimization: Emphasis on structured workflows, reusable templates, and scalable design systems to enhance efficiency and consistency.

• Automation & Efficiency: Responsible application of approved AI tools to streamline processes and support concept development.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Henkel's long history and global presence suggest a structured, process-oriented environment. The emphasis on innovation, sustainability, and collaboration indicates a company culture that encourages forward-thinking while maintaining strong brand stewardship and operational excellence.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This Graphic Designer role is a mid-level position, requiring significant professional experience (5+ years) and independent project management. It sits within the creative function, supporting marketing and e-commerce operations.

Reporting Structure: The role is part of the "Consumer Engagement Team" and will report to a manager within that team, likely a Creative Director, Design Manager, or Marketing Manager. Collaboration with peers in e-commerce, social media, and video is expected.

Operations Impact: The Graphic Designer's work directly impacts brand perception, e-commerce conversion rates, shopper experience, and the effectiveness of marketing campaigns. By creating visually compelling content and optimizing assets for various channels, they contribute to revenue generation and market presence for Henkel's Adhesive Technologies products.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Develop deeper expertise in areas like motion graphics, 3D visualization, or AI-driven creative tools, becoming a subject matter expert.

• Leadership: Progress into senior designer roles, creative lead positions, or management roles overseeing design teams or specific creative projects.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gain broader experience by working on diverse projects across different Henkel brands or business units, potentially leading to roles in broader marketing or brand management.

• Skill Development: Access to extensive internal and external training programs, conferences, and tuition reimbursement to continuously enhance design skills and industry knowledge.

📝 Enhancement Note: The mention of "diverse national and international growth opportunities" and "access to thousands of skills development courses" suggests a robust internal career development framework at Henkel, making this role a good launchpad for long-term career progression within a large organization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work environment. This indicates a blend of in-office collaboration and remote work, offering flexibility.

Office Location(s): Westlake, Ohio. The office will provide a professional setting for team collaboration, client meetings, and access to necessary resources.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is designed for collaboration, with opportunities to interact with marketing, e-commerce, and other creative professionals.

• Access to industry-standard design tools and technology, including Adobe Creative Suite and potentially specialized software for rendering or AI applications, will be provided.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with team members will facilitate knowledge sharing, feedback exchange, and the development of integrated creative campaigns.

Work Schedule: Standard 40-hour work week, with flexibility offered through the hybrid work model. This allows for structured work time while accommodating personal needs, crucial for creative roles that may require focused, uninterrupted work periods.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a significant draw for modern professionals, balancing the need for in-person collaboration and team cohesion with the benefits of remote work flexibility. This setup is well-suited for creative roles where focused individual work and team brainstorming are both essential.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Application review focusing on resume and portfolio alignment with requirements. Be prepared to discuss your experience with Adobe Creative Suite, project management tools, and specific design specializations.

• Portfolio Review & Skills Assessment: A deep dive into your portfolio, discussing specific projects, your design process, and how you approach creative briefs. Expect technical questions about typography, color theory, and brand consistency.

• Case Study/Challenge: Potentially a design challenge or case study related to e-commerce content, packaging design, or brand modernization. Focus on demonstrating your problem-solving approach, creative thinking, and ability to meet business objectives.

• Team/Cultural Fit Interview: Discussion with hiring managers and potential team members to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and alignment with Henkel's values (innovation, sustainability, collaboration).

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate your portfolio to highlight relevant work: e-commerce imagery, packaging design, product visualization, and marketing collateral for consumer products.

• For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your role, your design process, the challenges faced, and the outcomes or impact (quantifiable if possible).

• Emphasize how your work aligns with brand stewardship, modernization, and efficiency (e.g., use of templates, scalable systems).

• Be ready to discuss your experience with project management tools and any AI tools used.

• Ensure your portfolio is easily accessible online (e.g., personal website, Behance, or a well-organized PDF). Challenge Preparation:

• Familiarize yourself with Henkel's brands, particularly within Adhesive Technologies, and their current visual identity.

• Practice articulating how you would approach designing assets for e-commerce or packaging, considering shopper experience and brand consistency.

• Prepare to discuss how you balance creative vision with business requirements and deadlines.

• Consider how you would implement or leverage scalable design systems and AI tools in a professional setting.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "modern, best-in-class content" and "scalability" means interviewers will be looking for more than just aesthetic skill. They'll want to see how you think strategically about design impact, efficiency, and adaptability within a large corporate structure.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Illustrator: Essential for vector graphics, logos, icons, and detailed illustrations. Expected to be used for packaging artwork and brand assets.

• Adobe Photoshop: Critical for image manipulation, retouching, creating product mockups, and digital asset creation.

• Adobe Creative Suite: Implies proficiency across the suite, potentially including InDesign for layouts and After Effects for motion graphics.

• Monday.com / SeAL (or similar): Content ticketing, project management, and approval platforms are required for workflow management, task tracking, and collaborative review processes.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed, a designer in this role should be comfortable interpreting basic performance metrics for digital assets (e.g., click-through rates, engagement on social media, conversion rates for e-commerce images) to inform design decisions. CRM & Automation:

• Understanding how CRM systems and marketing automation platforms are used by marketing teams will be beneficial for context, though direct use is not expected. The focus is on producing assets that integrate into these broader campaigns.

• Digital Asset Management (DAM) System: Essential for organizing, storing, and retrieving approved creative assets, ensuring brand consistency and efficient access.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop is non-negotiable. Familiarity with project management tools like Monday.com is crucial for workflow efficiency, and experience with DAM systems is key for managing large volumes of creative assets in a corporate environment.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation: Encouraging new ideas, exploring emerging technologies (like AI), and continuously seeking to improve creative output and processes.

• Sustainability: A core value at Henkel, likely influencing design choices, material considerations for packaging, and a focus on efficient, less wasteful production methods.

• Collaboration: Working effectively with diverse teams across marketing, e-commerce, and product development to achieve shared goals.

• Efficiency & Scalability: Valuing organized workflows, reusable templates, and scalable design systems to maximize output and maintain consistency.

• Brand Stewardship: Upholding and enhancing the integrity and recognition of Henkel's brands through consistent and high-quality creative execution.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Actively partnering with various departments, understanding their needs, and providing creative solutions that align with business objectives.

• Process Review & Feedback: Engaging in constructive feedback loops for design iterations and workflow improvements.

• Knowledge Sharing: Contributing to a culture where design best practices, trends, and efficient techniques are shared among team members.

📝 Enhancement Note: Henkel's stated values of innovation, sustainability, and collaboration are likely deeply embedded in their team culture. A candidate who can demonstrate how their design work aligns with these values, particularly in terms of efficiency and responsible creative practices, will be a strong fit.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Brand Consistency with Modernization: Effectively updating visual styles to remain relevant without alienating existing brand recognition.

• High Volume of Assets: Managing the creation of numerous assets for diverse channels (e-commerce, retail, marketing) under tight deadlines.

• Technical Accuracy: Ensuring precise execution of packaging and artwork designs that meet production standards and regulatory requirements.

• Integrating New Technologies: Responsibly adopting AI and other emerging tools to enhance workflows without compromising quality or brand integrity.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Skill Advancement: Deepen expertise in 3D rendering, motion graphics, or AI-driven design tools through internal training or external courses.

• Industry Exposure: Participate in design conferences, webinars, and workshops to stay current with industry trends and network with peers.

• Mentorship: Potential to be mentored by senior designers or creative leads, gaining insights into strategic design thinking and career development within a large corporation.

• Leadership Track: Opportunities to lead projects, mentor junior designers, or move into team lead or management roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role's position within a large, established company like Henkel means challenges will often involve navigating complex internal processes and stakeholder management, alongside creative execution. Growth opportunities are likely structured and tied to performance and initiative.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to translate a complex business objective into a compelling visual concept. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on strategic thinking and problem-solving.)

• "How do you ensure brand consistency across multiple projects and channels, especially when working with a large product portfolio like Henkel's?" (Highlight your approach to brand stewardship and scalable design systems.)

• "Walk us through your experience using project management tools like Monday.com. How do you manage multiple design priorities and communicate progress to stakeholders?" (Demonstrate organizational and communication skills.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Henkel and our Adhesive Technologies business unit specifically?" (Research Henkel's mission, values, and recent innovations.)

• "How do you approach collaboration with marketing and e-commerce teams to ensure creative solutions meet business needs?" (Emphasize your collaborative approach and understanding of cross-functional dynamics.)

• "How do you stay current with design trends, and how might you apply emerging technologies like AI to your work here?" (Showcase your proactive learning and forward-thinking mindset.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: For each project, frame it as a narrative: the challenge, your solution, and the impact.

• Metrics: Quantify success where possible (e.g., "This e-commerce image saw a 15% increase in click-through rate," or "My template system reduced design time by 20%").

• Process Clarity: Clearly explain your design process, tool usage, and any collaborative steps involved.

• Relevance: Prioritize showcasing work most relevant to e-commerce, packaging, product visualization, and brand consistency.

• Efficiency Emphasis: Be prepared to discuss how you've contributed to efficient workflows, reusable assets, or scalable design systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for a designer who is not only technically proficient but also strategic, collaborative, and process-oriented, capable of contributing to efficient creative operations within a large corporation.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Henkel careers portal at https://henkel.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/87776?c=henkel.

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords from the job description, such as "Adobe Illustrator," "Photoshop," "e-commerce content," "packaging design," "brand stewardship," "project management," and "scalable design systems." Emphasize your 5+ years of experience and any relevant industry background.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select your strongest, most relevant pieces. Ensure it's easily accessible online and clearly demonstrates your skills in areas like product visualization, e-commerce imagery, and packaging design. Prepare to discuss your process and impact for each project.

• Prepare for Technical & Behavioral Questions: Review common graphic design interview questions and practice articulating your design process, problem-solving skills, and experience with project management tools. Research Henkel and its brands to answer company-specific questions.

• Research Henkel's Values: Understand Henkel's focus on innovation, sustainability, and collaboration, and be ready to discuss how your work and approach align with these values.

⚠️ 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.