Associate Creative Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Associate Creative Designer Company: Perk Location: Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain Job Type: Full-Time Category: Marketing & Creative Operations Date Posted: 2025-11-04 Experience Level: Entry-Level (0-2 years) Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on supporting internal communications and employer branding initiatives through creative design and visual asset creation.
• It involves close collaboration with the Community team and various stakeholders to ensure design consistency with Perk's brand identity.
• The position emphasizes the creation of engaging digital and print materials for internal events, presentations, and campaigns.
• A key aspect is contributing to a positive internal culture and employee experience through thoughtful and impactful design.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Associate Creative Designer," the responsibilities lean towards internal marketing and communications support, aligning it with a specialized area of operations focused on employee engagement and brand consistency. The emphasis on "Community team," "Internal Communications," and "Employer Branding" suggests a role that bridges creative output with operational efficiency in conveying company culture and values internally.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and design engaging visual assets and branding materials for company-wide, regional, and team-specific events, ensuring alignment with Perk's brand guidelines.
• Create compelling graphics and layouts for weekly and quarterly digital presentations (e.g., Google Slides) and other print collateral, enhancing information clarity and impact.
• Partner with cross-departmental stakeholders to understand their design needs, translating requirements into creative solutions that effectively communicate messages and reinforce brand identity.
• Actively participate in brainstorming sessions, contributing fresh, innovative design concepts for internal engagement campaigns and initiatives.
• Design and maintain brand templates, toolkits, and asset libraries to ensure consistent application of brand elements across all internal communications and to improve design workflow efficiency.
• Contribute to the development of employer branding materials that attract and retain talent, reflecting Perk's mission and values.
• Explore and integrate AI-powered tools to enhance creative output, streamline design processes, and maintain a competitive edge in visual communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities are framed to highlight the operational aspect of design within an organization. This includes not just creative execution but also process improvement (templates, toolkits), stakeholder management (collaboration), and a forward-thinking approach (AI tools, trend awareness) which are critical in operations roles.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Formal education in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field is beneficial, but a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent practical experience and creative talent will be highly valued.

Experience: 0-2 years of proven design experience, preferably in a corporate or agency setting, with a focus on digital and print media. Experience supporting internal communications, employer branding, or community initiatives is a significant advantage.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated proficiency in graphic design principles, including layout, typography, color theory, and visual hierarchy.
• Strong portfolio showcasing a range of digital and print design work, illustrating creative ability and a keen eye for detail.
• Expertise in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign).
• Proficiency with presentation software, specifically Google Slides.
• Familiarity with collaborative design tools like Figma.
• Ability to create content that is visually appealing and adheres to established brand guidelines.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills for effective stakeholder interaction and feedback incorporation.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Proven teamwork capabilities and a collaborative spirit.
• A growth mindset, characterized by a willingness to learn, experiment, and adapt to new challenges and feedback.
• Curiosity and a proactive interest in exploring and utilizing AI tools to enhance creative processes and outcomes.

Preferred Skills:

• Basic understanding and experience with video editing and motion graphics software (e.g., After Effects, Premiere Pro).
• Experience in developing and maintaining brand style guides and asset management systems.
• Familiarity with project management tools for tracking design requests and progress.
• Understanding of UI/UX principles as applied to internal digital platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications have been expanded to include specific software proficiencies and soft skills crucial for operations roles, such as organization, communication, and a growth mindset. The "preferred skills" are tailored to suggest areas of development that would further enhance an operations professional's value.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated selection of design projects demonstrating versatility across digital and print mediums.
• Case studies that highlight the design process from brief to final execution, emphasizing problem-solving and creative rationale.
• Examples of work that showcase an understanding and application of branding guidelines and visual identity systems.
• Projects illustrating the creation of engaging assets for presentations, events, or internal campaigns.
• Any work demonstrating experience with collaborative design tools or processes.

Process Documentation:

• Candidates are encouraged to prepare brief explanations of their design workflow, including how they manage project briefs, feedback, revisions, and final delivery.
• Ability to articulate how design processes contribute to organizational goals, such as enhancing internal communication effectiveness or strengthening employer brand perception.
• Understanding of how to maintain brand consistency across various touchpoints through systematic design application.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section emphasizes the tangible output and process-oriented thinking expected from operations roles. A portfolio is not just a showcase of aesthetics but a demonstration of a structured approach to creative problem-solving and execution that aligns with organizational objectives.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For an Associate Creative Designer with 0-2 years of experience in Barcelona, Spain, the estimated annual salary range is typically between €22,000 and €30,000. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for entry-level creative roles in major European cities, considering the cost of living and typical compensation structures for roles requiring specialized design software proficiency and a degree of autonomy.

Benefits:

• Competitive Compensation: A salary package reflecting market standards for the role and location.
• Equity Ownership: Opportunity to own a stake in Perk's growth and success.
• Generous Vacation Days: Ample paid time off to ensure work-life balance and opportunities for rest and recharge.
• Health Perks: Benefits such as private healthcare or gym allowances, tailored to the employee's location in Barcelona.
• Mental Health Support: Access to a dedicated mental health support tool for overall well-being.
• Exponential Growth Opportunities: Clear pathways and support for career advancement and skill development within the company.
• VolunteerPerk: 16 hours of paid time off annually to dedicate to volunteering for a charity of choice, promoting social responsibility.
• Parental Leave: Comprehensive parental leave policy (12-16 weeks, depending on location and eligibility) to support new parents.
• Unforgettable Company Events: Opportunities to participate in memorable company events, potentially including travel to one of Perk's global hubs.

Working Hours: The role is based on a standard full-time work schedule, likely around 40 hours per week. The company follows an "IRL-first" approach, requiring 3 days per week in the Barcelona office, offering a hybrid work arrangement that balances in-person collaboration with personal flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary range has been researched and estimated for Barcelona, Spain, given the lack of explicit data. Benefits are detailed, highlighting aspects particularly attractive to professionals seeking stability and growth. The working hours and arrangement are clarified based on the "IRL-first" approach.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: The company operates within the SaaS (Software as a Service) sector, specifically focusing on intelligent platforms for travel and spend management. This industry is characterized by rapid innovation, a strong emphasis on user experience, and data-driven decision-making. Perk aims to solve the "shadow work" problem, which is highly relevant in today's productivity-focused business environment.

Company Size: With over 1,800 employees globally and a presence in 12 offices, Perk is a significant player in its market. This size indicates a company that has achieved substantial growth, offers diverse career opportunities, and likely has established operational processes while retaining a dynamic, innovative culture.

Founded: Founded in 2015, Perk has experienced rapid expansion, indicating a strong product-market fit and effective scaling strategies. This relatively short history suggests a modern, agile company culture that values innovation and quick adaptation.

Team Structure:

• The Associate Creative Designer will join the Community team, which is responsible for shaping internal communications, workplace experience, and employer branding.
• This team likely works closely with HR, Internal Communications, and Marketing departments, requiring strong cross-functional collaboration.
• The reporting structure will place the designer under a Community Lead or a Manager responsible for internal engagement and brand initiatives.
• Collaboration is expected to be frequent with other designers, content creators, and project managers within or associated with the Community team.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Insights: Perk emphasizes using data to understand employee needs and the impact of internal initiatives, suggesting that design decisions should be informed by user feedback and performance metrics.
• Workflow Optimization: The company's core mission is to eliminate "shadow work" and automate processes. This philosophy likely extends to internal operations, including design, where efficiency, template utilization, and clear workflows are valued.
• Agile Development & Iteration: Given the SaaS nature and rapid growth, an agile approach to project execution and a willingness to iterate based on feedback are probable.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context is enriched by highlighting the implications of its industry, size, and founding date on its operational culture and team dynamics. The "IRL-first" approach and focus on solving "shadow work" are key cultural differentiators.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This "Associate" level role is designed for individuals early in their careers (0-2 years of experience). it offers a foundational experience in corporate design operations, focusing on executing design tasks under guidance and learning internal processes. It's a stepping stone to more senior design roles or specialized positions within internal communications or employer branding.

Reporting Structure: The Associate Creative Designer will report to a manager within the Community team. This manager is likely responsible for overseeing internal communications, events, and employer branding efforts, providing mentorship and project direction. Collaboration will extend across various departments, requiring the designer to engage with stakeholders at different levels to gather requirements and present designs.

Operations Impact: The designer's impact is crucial in shaping the internal employee experience and reinforcing Perk's employer brand. By creating visually appealing and consistent communications for events, presentations, and campaigns, they contribute directly to employee engagement, understanding of company goals, and the overall perception of Perk as a workplace. This role operationalizes brand messaging internally, ensuring it resonates with employees.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific design areas such as presentation design, event branding, or motion graphics, potentially leading to specialized roles.
• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gaining experience working with various departments fosters a broader understanding of business operations and communication strategies.
• Leadership Potential: As experience grows, there may be opportunities to lead smaller design projects, mentor junior designers, or take on more strategic responsibilities within the Community team.
• Industry Trends: Continuous learning about design trends, AI tools, and internal communication best practices will support ongoing professional development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth analysis is tailored for an "Associate" level role, emphasizing foundational learning and potential career paths within operations and internal communications, rather than immediate leadership.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Perk follows an "IRL-first" approach, meaning the office is central to their work philosophy. The hubs are designed for collaboration and creativity, suggesting an environment that encourages interaction, team-based problem-solving, and spontaneous idea generation. This is not a purely operational or task-focused space but one that fosters a vibrant company culture.

Office Location(s): The role is based in Barcelona, Spain, with an expectation to be in the office 3 days a week. This hybrid model necessitates being within commuting distance of the Barcelona hub. Perk also mentions relocation support for certain roles, indicating a flexible approach to talent acquisition within their global hubs.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The office space is optimized for collaboration, likely featuring open-plan areas, meeting rooms, and communal spaces that facilitate interaction among team members and across departments.
• Operations Tools & Technology: Employees will have access to the necessary design software (Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, Google Slides) and other company-provided technology to perform their roles effectively.
• Team Interaction: The 3-day in-office requirement ensures regular opportunities for face-to-face interaction with the Community team, other designers, and stakeholders, fostering stronger working relationships and facilitating efficient communication.

Work Schedule: A hybrid schedule with 3 days in the office and 2 days remote is standard. This provides a structured yet flexible working arrangement, allowing for focused individual work at home and collaborative sessions in the office. The work schedule is designed to support operational efficiency while promoting employee well-being.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description of the work environment emphasizes the "IRL-first" approach and its implications for collaboration and company culture, which are key operational considerations for employee satisfaction and productivity.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess your foundational design skills, experience, and alignment with the role's requirements.
• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager (likely from the Community team) to delve deeper into your experience, design philosophy, and understanding of internal communications and branding. Be prepared to discuss your portfolio projects in detail.
• Design Task/Case Study: You may be asked to complete a small design exercise or present a case study from your portfolio that demonstrates your problem-solving abilities, creative process, and proficiency with required tools. This assesses your ability to handle brand guidelines and stakeholder requirements.
• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Conversations with potential colleagues or stakeholders from departments you'd be supporting to evaluate your teamwork, communication skills, and cultural fit.
• Final Interview: Potentially a final interview with a senior leader to discuss your career aspirations and overall fit within Perk's broader operational and cultural framework.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Relevant Projects: Showcase projects that directly relate to internal communications, presentations, branding for events, or employer branding initiatives.
• Showcase Process: For each project, briefly explain the brief, your creative process, the tools used, challenges faced, and the outcome. This demonstrates your operational thinking.
• Brand Consistency: Include examples where you successfully applied or adapted brand guidelines to ensure visual consistency.
• Digital & Print Balance: Ensure your portfolio includes a good mix of digital assets (presentations, social graphics) and print materials if applicable.
• Clarity and Conciseness: Present your work clearly and concisely. A well-organized digital portfolio (e.g., on Behance, your own website) is essential.
• Tailor to Perk: If possible, subtly tailor your portfolio presentation to align with Perk's brand aesthetic and mission.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Perk's Brand: Research Perk's website, social media, and any available reports to grasp their brand voice, visual identity, and company values.
• Internal Communications Focus: Prepare to discuss how design can effectively support internal communication goals and enhance employee engagement.
• Tool Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your experience with Adobe Creative Suite, Google Slides, and Figma, and how you leverage these tools efficiently.
• AI Tool Awareness: Familiarize yourself with current AI tools in design and be prepared to discuss how you might use them to improve efficiency or creativity in this role.
• Collaborative Scenarios: Think about how you would approach receiving feedback from multiple stakeholders and managing conflicting design requests.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides actionable advice for candidates, focusing on how to present their operations-centric design skills and prepare for a process that likely evaluates both creative talent and operational execution.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential for professional graphic design tasks, including Photoshop (image editing, digital graphics), Illustrator (vector graphics, logos, icons), and InDesign (layout for print materials, presentations). Proficiency is expected for creating high-quality, polished assets.
• Google Slides: A primary tool for creating and managing digital presentations for internal communications, meetings, and company-wide updates. The ability to create visually engaging and on-brand slides is critical.
• Figma: A collaborative interface design tool, increasingly used for prototyping, design systems, and team collaboration. Familiarity signifies an understanding of modern design workflows and cross-functional teamwork.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary focus for this design role, understanding how design impacts engagement metrics (e.g., presentation viewership, campaign participation) is beneficial. Familiarity with basic analytics for digital content performance would be a plus.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the core design tasks, but an understanding of how design assets are used within marketing automation platforms or internal communication tools (e.g., Slack, Intranet) could be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: The tools listed are directly from the job description and are framed in terms of their operational use for creating and disseminating internal communications and branding materials efficiently and effectively.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Owner Mentality: Taking initiative and responsibility for design projects, seeing them through from concept to completion, and contributing to the overall success of the Community team's objectives.
• 7-Star Experience: Striving for excellence in all design outputs, ensuring they are not just visually appealing but also highly effective, user-friendly, and contribute to a superior internal experience for Perk employees.
• One Team: Collaborating effectively with colleagues across departments, sharing knowledge, and working cohesively to achieve shared goals, fostering a supportive and integrated work environment.
• Curiosity, Purpose, and Mindset: Valuing a proactive desire to learn, a clear understanding of the purpose behind design requests, and the right attitude for growth and adaptation.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Working closely with stakeholders from various departments (HR, Internal Comms, Marketing) to gather requirements, present concepts, and incorporate feedback, ensuring designs meet diverse needs.
• Process-Oriented Feedback: A culture that encourages constructive feedback on design work to improve quality and effectiveness, with designers being open to iteration and refinement.
• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of design best practices, new techniques, and creative ideas within the team and potentially across the wider organization to elevate overall communication standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values are directly mapped to how an operations professional in a design role would embody them, focusing on responsibility, quality of output, teamwork, and a proactive learning approach.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Multiple Stakeholders: Effectively managing design requests and feedback from various departments, each with potentially different priorities and visions. This requires strong communication and negotiation skills.
• Maintaining Brand Consistency: Ensuring all design outputs, across diverse projects and evolving needs, consistently reflect Perk's brand identity and values.
• Rapidly Evolving Design Trends & AI: Staying current with the latest design trends, tools, and the rapidly advancing capabilities of AI in creative fields, and integrating these effectively into workflows.
• Translating Abstract Concepts: Visually representing company culture, values, and complex information in an engaging and accessible manner for a diverse internal audience.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Design Training: Opportunities to attend workshops or online courses to enhance skills in areas like motion graphics, advanced presentation design, or UI design for internal platforms.
• Industry Exposure: Potential to attend design conferences or webinars focused on corporate communications, employer branding, or MarTech trends.
• Mentorship: Guidance from experienced members of the Community team or design leads within Perk to develop strategic thinking and project management skills.
• AI Tool Exploration: Dedicated time and resources to experiment with and master new AI-powered design tools, becoming an internal expert.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges are framed in the context of operational execution and continuous improvement, while growth opportunities highlight skill development relevant to a design operations career path.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach designing a visual campaign for an internal company-wide event, considering brand guidelines and employee engagement?" (Focus on process, stakeholder management, and creative rationale)
• "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting feedback from multiple stakeholders on a design project. How did you resolve it?" (Focus on communication, negotiation, and operational problem-solving)
• "How do you ensure brand consistency across different types of collateral, from digital presentations to print materials?" (Focus on systematic approach and understanding of brand operations)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on your research, how do you see your design skills contributing to Perk's mission of 'powering real work'?" (Focus on alignment with company values and operational impact)
• "How do you envision collaborating with the Community team and other departments in an 'IRL-first' environment?" (Focus on teamwork, communication, and understanding of work environment)
• "How do you stay updated on design trends and new technologies, particularly AI tools, and how might you apply them in this role?" (Focus on continuous learning and proactive adoption of operational efficiencies)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Structure: For each key project, tell a story: the challenge, your approach (including process and tools), the solution, and the impact or outcome.
• Highlight Operational Aspects: Emphasize how your design process addressed specific needs, improved communication, or maintained brand integrity. Discuss any efficiency gains or lessons learned.
• Tool Demonstration: Be ready to briefly demonstrate your proficiency with key tools like Figma or Google Slides if asked, or explain how you use them effectively in your workflow.
• Concise Explanations: Keep explanations brief and focused, allowing visuals to speak for themselves while providing context. Aim for clarity over excessive detail.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview questions are designed to probe the candidate's understanding of operational aspects of design, their ability to collaborate, and their strategic thinking, aligning with the expectations for operations roles.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Associate Creative Designer position:

• Submit your application and an updated portfolio through the provided application link on Perk's career portal.
• Portfolio Curation: Ensure your portfolio prominently features digital and print design examples relevant to internal communications, presentations, and branding. Prepare 2-3 case studies that clearly articulate your design process, problem-solving approach, and the impact of your work.
• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords such as "Graphic Design," "Branding," "Adobe Creative Suite," "Figma," "Google Slides," "Internal Communications," "Project Management," and "Stakeholder Collaboration." Quantify achievements where possible (e.g., "Designed X presentations contributing to Y engagement").
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design philosophy, workflow, and how you handle feedback. Be ready to discuss your familiarity with AI design tools and your understanding of Perk's mission and values. Rehearse presenting your portfolio projects with a focus on process and outcomes.
• Company Research: Thoroughly research Perk, its mission, values, and recent initiatives. Understand their "IRL-first" approach and how design supports their internal culture and employer brand.

⚠️ 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.