Brand Design Manager

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Brand Design Manager Company: Zeffy Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada / Paris, Île-de-France, France Job Type: FULL_TIME Category: Marketing Operations / Brand Management Date Posted: 2025-11-12T23:22:46.93 Experience Level: 5-10 Years Remote Status: Remote (Hybrid possibility in Montreal office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Brand Stewardship and Visual Identity Ownership: This role is central to defining and evolving Zeffy's visual identity across all digital touchpoints, from web presence to marketing campaigns, ensuring a cohesive and impactful brand representation.
• Creative Vision and Execution Leadership: You will be responsible for setting the creative direction, leading design execution, and ensuring that all visual assets align with Zeffy's mission and values, fostering a strong emotional connection with the nonprofit sector.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration & External Partner Management: This position requires close collaboration with internal teams and the strategic management of external design resources, including freelancers and agencies, to uphold a high standard of visual excellence and brand consistency.
• Growth-Focused Design Strategy: Leverage design as a primary driver for Zeffy's growth, directly influencing user acquisition, conversion rates, and overall engagement through compelling web experiences and brand storytelling.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Brand Design Manager," the responsibilities and emphasis on "conversion-driven web design," "acquisition," and "growth" suggest a strong connection to Revenue Operations and GTM strategies. The role requires not only aesthetic leadership but also a data-informed approach to how design impacts business objectives, particularly in a product-led growth environment.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Evolve and Maintain Zeffy's Visual Identity: Guide the continuous development of the brand's visual language across web, digital campaigns, product interfaces, and all marketing collateral, ensuring clarity, emotional resonance, and alignment with Zeffy's core mission for nonprofit empowerment.
• Design and Oversee Web Experiences: Create and direct the design of high-impact web pages, landing pages, and interactive components that effectively communicate Zeffy's value proposition, mission, and story to potential users and donors.
• Lead Art Direction for External Creative Partners: Develop clear creative briefs, provide constructive feedback, and manage relationships with external web agencies, illustrators, motion designers, and other creative vendors to produce high-quality visual assets and animations that elevate the brand.
• Ensure Brand Consistency Across All Platforms: Implement and enforce brand guidelines across all digital touchpoints, ensuring a unified and professional representation of Zeffy that builds trust and recognition within the nonprofit community.
• Translate Brand Storytelling into Digital Assets: Develop and execute design strategies that compellingly communicate Zeffy's unique story, mission, and impact, leveraging visual design to enhance user engagement and drive desired actions, such as nonprofit sign-ups or donor contributions.
• Collaborate with Product and Marketing Teams: Work closely with cross-functional teams to ensure brand consistency and strategic alignment in all product development and marketing initiatives, providing design expertise that supports overarching business goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "conversion-driven web design," "acquisition," and "growth" directly links this role to revenue enablement. The Brand Design Manager will function as a key stakeholder in the Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy by ensuring that visual communications effectively attract, engage, and convert target audiences, particularly within the nonprofit sector.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong foundation in design principles, typically gained through a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Web Design, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience, is expected.

Experience: Minimum of 6+ years of progressive experience in web and visual design, with a proven track record of developing and managing brand identities, ideally within a fast-paced startup or SaaS environment.

Required Skills:

• Web and Visual Design Expertise: Advanced proficiency in UI/UX design, web design, graphic design, with a keen eye for composition, typography, color theory, and visual hierarchy.
• Brand Identity Development & Management: Demonstrated experience in creating, evolving, or rebranding powerful visual identities that effectively communicate a company's mission and values.
• Portfolio of Impactful Work: A strong, curated portfolio showcasing visually stunning, conversion-driven web design projects and compelling brand storytelling examples.
• Art Direction & Creative Leadership: Ability to provide clear creative briefs, deliver constructive feedback, and manage external design partners (agencies, freelancers) to achieve high visual standards.
• Digital Experience Design: Experience in crafting inspiring, high-impact digital experiences that integrate brand storytelling with modern web platforms and user engagement strategies.
• Communication Proficiency: Native/bilingual proficiency in English and professional working proficiency in French is essential for collaboration across Zeffy's diverse locations and teams.

Preferred Skills:

• SaaS Product Design Experience: Prior experience designing for web-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) products, understanding the unique design challenges and opportunities within this space.
• Startup Environment Acumen: Experience working within a fast-growing startup, demonstrating adaptability, agility, and a results-oriented approach to design challenges.
• Motion Design & Animation Oversight: Experience leading or collaborating on motion design and animation projects that enhance brand storytelling and visual appeal.
• Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) Principles: Understanding of how design elements influence conversion rates and experience in applying CRO principles in web design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for bilingual proficiency in English and French, coupled with locations in both Montreal and Paris, suggests a global brand strategy. The emphasis on "conversion-driven web design" and "growth" indicates that candidates with experience in performance marketing design or GTM operations support will be highly valued.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate Brand Evolution: Showcase examples of how you have led or significantly contributed to the evolution or rebranding of a company's visual identity, detailing the process and outcomes.
• Showcase Conversion-Focused Web Design: Include case studies of web designs that explicitly highlight how your creative decisions drove measurable improvements in user acquisition, conversion rates, or engagement metrics. Quantifiable results are key.
• Illustrate Art Direction Capabilities: Present examples of projects where you managed external creative resources (agencies, freelancers), detailing your role in briefing, feedback, and ensuring the final output met strategic and aesthetic goals.
• Highlight Storytelling Through Design: Feature projects where design was used as a primary tool to communicate a brand's mission, values, or story effectively, demonstrating a deep understanding of narrative and emotional connection.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Be prepared to discuss your process for developing and refining design workflows, from initial concepting and briefing to final asset delivery and implementation, emphasizing efficiency and collaboration.
• Creative Briefing & Feedback Mechanisms: Articulate your methodology for creating clear, effective creative briefs and providing constructive, actionable feedback to both internal teams and external partners to ensure design quality and alignment.
• Brand Guideline Development & Enforcement: Describe your approach to creating comprehensive brand guidelines and implementing strategies to ensure consistent application across diverse platforms and teams.
• Performance Measurement Integration: Explain how you incorporate data and analytics into your design process, and how you measure the impact of design initiatives on key business metrics like acquisition, conversion, and user engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role like this, the portfolio is not just a collection of visuals but a demonstration of strategic thinking. Candidates should be prepared to articulate the "why" behind their design choices and connect them directly to business objectives, especially revenue growth and user acquisition, aligning with GTM operations.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Brand Design Managers with 6+ years of experience in major tech hubs like Montreal and Paris, a competitive annual salary range is estimated between $85,000 - $120,000 CAD/EUR, depending on experience, specific skill set, and negotiation.

Benefits:

• Generous Paid Time Off: 4 weeks of annual holiday plus an additional week during the Christmas period, providing ample opportunity for rest and rejuvenation.
• Equity Participation: A competitive stock option program, offering employees a stake in Zeffy's growth and success.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Includes health insurance with a dental plan, ensuring well-being for employees and their families.
• Digital Health Access: Online Medicine with Dialogue provides convenient access to medical consultations and support.
• Retirement Savings: A Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP/REER) program to support long-term financial planning.
• Sustainable Commuting: Allowance for ecological transport, encouraging cycling and public transit use.
• Wellness Support: A dedicated Wellness Budget to support employee health and well-being initiatives.
• Community Engagement: Opportunities for team volunteering four times per year, fostering a connection to Zeffy's mission.
• Annual Team Events: An offsite summit once a year for the entire team to connect, strategize, and celebrate achievements.

Working Hours: A standard full-time work week is expected, typically around 40 hours. While core hours will be established for collaboration, Zeffy offers flexible, hybrid work arrangements, allowing for a balance between in-office collaboration and remote work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on current market data for similar roles in Montreal and Paris, considering the specified experience level and the tech/SaaS industry. Benefits are detailed as provided, with emphasis on those particularly attractive to professionals in creative and tech fields.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, specifically focusing on the Nonprofit sector. Zeffy operates within the rapidly growing market of nonprofit technology solutions, aiming to democratize access to advanced fundraising and engagement tools. Company Size: Zeffy is experiencing significant growth, described as "doubling annually," indicating a dynamic and scaling startup environment. This suggests a company culture that is agile, innovative, and focused on rapid execution. Founded: Zeffy is built on a "sustainable, self-funded model," which implies a long-term vision and stability, allowing focus on mission rather than external investor pressures. The company's growth is profitable, ensuring resources for development and team expansion.

Team Structure:

• Lean and Agile: As a fast-growing, self-funded company, the team structure is likely lean, with individuals taking on significant responsibility and having a high degree of autonomy.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The role requires close interaction with product and marketing teams, highlighting a culture of collaboration across departments to achieve shared goals.
• External Partner Management: The Brand Design Manager will lead a "small constellation of freelancers and agencies," indicating a model that leverages external expertise while maintaining internal strategic oversight.

Methodology:

• Product-Led Growth (PLG): Zeffy is defined as a "product-led company (with zero sales team)." This means the product itself is the primary driver of customer acquisition, conversion, and expansion, placing immense importance on user experience and design.
• Mission-Driven: The company's core mission is to "amplify the impact of nonprofits," and this purpose is deeply integrated into its culture and operations.
• Data-Informed Design: The emphasis on "conversion-driven design" and design's impact on "acquisition, conversion, and growth" suggests a data-informed approach where design decisions are measured and optimized.

Company Website: Zeffy (Inferred from domain_derived)

📝 Enhancement Note: The PLG model is crucial here. It means the Brand Design Manager's work has a direct and measurable impact on revenue and growth, making this role highly strategic within the GTM framework. The focus on nonprofits also implies a need for empathy and a deep understanding of user needs within that sector.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a "Manager" level, indicating a mid-to-senior career stage. It requires a blend of strategic thinking, hands-on design execution, and leadership in managing external resources. It's a key individual contributor role with significant influence over brand perception and GTM effectiveness.

Reporting Structure: The description implies the Brand Design Manager will report to a senior marketing or creative lead. The role involves managing a "small constellation of freelancers and agencies," suggesting leadership and delegation responsibilities without necessarily having direct reports within the core Zeffy team.

Operations Impact:

• Direct Impact on Acquisition & Conversion: As a product-led company with no sales team, the Brand Design Manager's work is critical for attracting and converting new users. Every visual touchpoint on the website and digital platforms directly influences the nonprofit's decision to adopt Zeffy.
• Brand Perception & Trust: The design directly shapes how millions of nonprofits perceive Zeffy, influencing trust and credibility, which are paramount in the nonprofit sector.
• Growth Engine: The role is explicitly linked to driving "acquisition, conversion, and growth," positioning design as a core component of Zeffy's GTM strategy and revenue generation engine.

Growth Opportunities:

• Deepen Brand Strategy Expertise: Opportunity to shape the long-term visual direction of a rapidly scaling, mission-driven company.
• Expand Leadership Skills: Gain experience in managing external creative partners and influencing cross-functional teams within a PLG environment.
• Impactful Portfolio Building: Contribute to a company that is doubling annually, creating significant opportunities to build a portfolio with demonstrable business impact in a fast-growing sector.
• Potential for Team Growth: As Zeffy continues to scale, there may be opportunities to build and lead an internal design team.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique opportunity for a designer to operate at the intersection of brand, product, and GTM strategy. The PLG model means design decisions are directly tied to business outcomes, offering significant career growth potential for those who can demonstrate this impact.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Zeffy offers offices located in the heart of Plateau Mont-Royal, Montreal. The mention of "flexible, hybrid work" indicates that while there are physical office spaces, employees are not required to be on-site full-time.

Office Location(s):

• Montreal, Quebec, Canada: Located in the vibrant Plateau Mont-Royal area, known for its creative atmosphere and accessibility.
• Paris, Île-de-France, France: Offering a European base for operations and talent.

Workspace Context:

• Hybrid Flexibility: The environment supports a blend of remote work and in-office collaboration, catering to modern work preferences and allowing for focused work and team interaction.
• Collaborative Atmosphere: The company culture emphasizes collaboration, suggesting an environment where designers work closely with marketing, product, and potentially leadership teams.
• Creative Hub: The Montreal office location in Plateau Mont-Royal places the team in a known hub for creativity and innovation, potentially fostering a stimulating work environment.

Work Schedule: While a standard 40-hour work week is typical, the hybrid model and emphasis on results suggest a degree of flexibility in managing work hours, provided that collaboration needs and deadlines are met effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model, combined with offices in two major European/North American cities, offers significant flexibility. For a Brand Design Manager, this means the ability to structure workdays to balance deep creative work with essential team syncs, potentially across time zones.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Recruiter Call (45 min): Focuses on assessing overall fit, understanding career trajectory, and confirming basic qualifications and interest in Zeffy's mission.
• Hiring Manager Meeting (1.5h): A deeper dive into your design philosophy, experience with brand leadership, art direction skills, and understanding of Zeffy's market and product. Expect discussions about past projects and strategic thinking.
• Case Study (2h): This is a critical stage. You will likely be given a specific design challenge related to Zeffy's brand or web presence. The focus will be on your process, problem-solving approach, creativity, and ability to articulate your design decisions and their potential business impact (acquisition, conversion).
• Cultural Interview with Leadership (1h): Assesses alignment with Zeffy's mission-driven culture, values, and collaborative style. This is an opportunity to understand Zeffy's vision and for leadership to gauge your cultural fit.
• Team Lunch & Reference Check: An informal opportunity to connect with potential future colleagues and a standard process for verifying your professional history.
• Job Offer: The final stage, following successful completion of all preceding steps.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Prioritize Impactful Projects: Select 3-5 projects that best demonstrate your expertise in brand identity, web design, and art direction. Focus on quality over quantity.
• Quantify Your Contributions: For each project, clearly articulate your role, the challenges faced, your design process, and, crucially, the measurable business impact (e.g., increased conversion rates, improved engagement, successful rebranding). Use data and metrics wherever possible.
• Showcase Your Process: Visually walk through your creative process – from research and ideation to execution and refinement. Explain the "why" behind your design choices.
• Highlight Art Direction: If you've managed freelancers or agencies, include examples and explain your approach to briefing, feedback, and quality control.
• Tailor to Zeffy: Research Zeffy's current brand and website. Consider how your portfolio demonstrates an understanding of their mission and target audience (nonprofits). You might even include a speculative piece or a concept for improvement if appropriate and clearly labeled as such.
• Bilingual Presentation: Be prepared to present elements of your portfolio in both English and French, especially if the case study or interview involves French speakers.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Zeffy's Mission & Product: Deeply research Zeffy, its platform, its target audience (nonprofits), and its product-led growth strategy.
• Analyze Zeffy's Current Brand: Critically evaluate their existing visual identity, website, and marketing materials. Identify strengths and potential areas for enhancement.
• Practice Articulating Design Rationale: Be ready to clearly explain the strategic thinking behind your design decisions, connecting them to business objectives like user acquisition and conversion.
• Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions: Anticipate questions about how you would handle specific design challenges, manage conflicting feedback, or lead a creative project from start to finish.
• Focus on Collaboration: Be ready to discuss how you collaborate with cross-functional teams, stakeholders, and external partners.

📝 Enhancement Note: The case study is a significant part of this process. Candidates should prepare a concise, data-driven presentation that showcases not only creative talent but also strategic thinking and an understanding of how design drives business outcomes in a PLG environment.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign is standard for graphic and brand design.
• Figma / Sketch: Essential for modern UI/UX design, prototyping, and collaborative design workflows. Given the emphasis on web experiences, deep expertise here is expected.
• Prototyping Tools: Familiarity with tools like InVision, Marvel, or built-in Figma/Sketch prototyping features for presenting interactive web designs.

Web & Digital Platforms:

• Webflow / Similar CMS: While not explicitly stated, experience with modern Content Management Systems (CMS) like Webflow, or understanding of how designs are implemented on such platforms, would be beneficial for crafting web experiences.
• Marketing Automation Platforms (Basic Understanding): Awareness of how design assets are used within platforms like HubSpot or Mailchimp for campaigns.

Collaboration & Project Management:

• Slack / Microsoft Teams: For day-to-day internal communication and team collaboration.
• Asana / Jira / Trello: For managing design projects, tracking tasks, and collaborating with cross-functional teams.

Analytics & Reporting (for Design Impact):

• Google Analytics: Understanding how to interpret website traffic, user behavior, and conversion data to inform design decisions and measure impact.
• Hotjar / Similar User Behavior Tools: Familiarity with tools that provide heatmaps, session recordings, and user feedback to understand user interaction with designs.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is primarily design-focused, a strong understanding of how designs are implemented on web platforms and how their performance is measured through analytics is crucial for a "conversion-driven" approach. Proficiency in Figma or Sketch is almost certainly a prerequisite.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven Impact: A core value is amplifying the impact of nonprofits. All work, including design, should contribute to this overarching mission and resonate with the generosity and creativity of the sector.
• Product-Led Excellence: A commitment to building the best possible product and user experience, with design playing a pivotal role in attracting, engaging, and retaining users without a traditional sales force.
• Sustainable Growth: Operating on a self-funded, profitable model emphasizes long-term vision, efficiency, and responsible scaling. Design decisions should consider sustainability and long-term brand equity.
• Data-Informed Creativity: While creativity is paramount, design decisions are expected to be informed by data and user insights, focusing on measurable outcomes like acquisition and conversion rates.
• Generosity and Collaboration: Reflecting the spirit of the nonprofit sector, Zeffy likely values generosity in spirit and a collaborative approach to problem-solving.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Synergy: Expect a highly collaborative environment where design works hand-in-hand with product management, marketing, and potentially engineering to ensure brand and product consistency.
• Feedback-Rich Environment: The role involves providing and receiving feedback from various stakeholders, including external partners, suggesting an open and iterative communication style.
• Empowered Autonomy: Given the PLG model and fast-paced growth, individuals are likely empowered to take ownership and drive initiatives, fostering a proactive and self-starting collaborative culture.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on mission and product-led growth means that cultural fit is as important as technical skill. Candidates should demonstrate an understanding of and genuine interest in supporting the nonprofit sector.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Brand Aesthetics with Conversion Goals: The primary challenge will be to create visually stunning and emotionally resonant brand experiences that simultaneously drive measurable acquisition and conversion metrics in a product-led environment.
• Managing Diverse Creative Output: Overseeing a "small constellation of freelancers and agencies" requires strong art direction, clear communication, and the ability to unify diverse creative styles under a single brand vision.
• Rapid Scaling Environment: Working in a company that is "doubling annually" presents challenges related to evolving brand needs, adapting to new product features, and maintaining consistency as the organization grows rapidly.
• Translating Complex Missions into Simple Visuals: Effectively communicating the multifaceted value of Zeffy's platform to millions of diverse nonprofits through clear and compelling visual design.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic Brand Leadership: Opportunity to significantly shape the brand identity and visual strategy of a leading nonprofit technology platform during a period of exponential growth.
• Deepen PLG Design Expertise: Gain invaluable experience in designing for a product-led growth model, understanding the direct impact of design on business metrics.
• Manage and Mentor External Talent: Develop strong vendor management and art direction skills by leading external creative teams.
• Industry Exposure: Work within the dynamic nonprofit technology sector, understanding its unique challenges and opportunities.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a significant opportunity for a designer to grow their strategic impact, moving beyond purely aesthetic contributions to becoming a key driver of business growth through design.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for evolving a brand's visual identity. How would you approach this for Zeffy, considering our mission and product-led growth model?" (Focus on process, research, stakeholder alignment, and impact metrics.)
• "How do you balance creating beautiful, emotionally resonant designs with the need to drive specific business outcomes like user acquisition and conversion?" (Prepare case studies demonstrating this balance.)
• "Walk us through a project where you managed external design agencies or freelancers. What were the key challenges, and how did you ensure quality and brand consistency?" (Highlight your art direction, communication, and project management skills.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Zeffy's mission to support nonprofits, and how do you see design playing a role in that mission?" (Show genuine interest and connect your design philosophy to their purpose.)
• "How do you approach collaboration with product and marketing teams, especially in a product-led growth environment?" (Emphasize teamwork, communication, and a shared focus on user experience and business goals.)
• "Our company is growing rapidly. How do you ensure brand consistency and maintain high design standards during periods of fast scaling?" (Discuss your experience with brand guidelines, process, and proactive management.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Begin with a brief overview of Zeffy's mission and your understanding of the role. Then, present 2-3 key projects, dedicating ample time to each.
• Narrative is Key: For each project, tell a story: the challenge, your strategic approach, the design solutions, and the quantifiable results. Use visuals effectively to illustrate your points.
• Focus on Data: Clearly articulate the metrics and KPIs that your design work influenced. Be prepared to discuss methodologies for tracking and measuring design's impact on acquisition and conversion.
• Demonstrate Art Direction: Show examples of how you've directed others, explaining your feedback process and how you ensured alignment with the overall brand vision.
• Engage and Discuss: Treat the presentation as a conversation. Be open to questions throughout and be ready to elaborate on your process and decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes strategic thinking, process, and measurable impact. Candidates should prepare to speak concretely about how their design work directly contributes to Zeffy's business objectives, particularly within the PLG framework.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Brand Design Manager position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on Kula.
• Curate Your Portfolio for Impact: Select and refine your portfolio to prominently feature projects demonstrating brand evolution, conversion-driven web design, and art direction capabilities. Ensure each case study clearly articulates your role, process, and quantifiable business results.
• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight keywords from the job description, such as "Brand Design," "Visual Identity," "Web Design," "Art Direction," "Conversion-Driven," "PLG," and "SaaS." Quantify achievements related to growth, acquisition, or brand impact.
• Prepare for the Case Study: Research Zeffy thoroughly. Anticipate design challenges related to their platform and mission. Practice articulating your design rationale and connecting your solutions to business objectives.
• Research Zeffy's Mission and Culture: Understand Zeffy's unique position in the nonprofit tech space and its product-led growth strategy. Be prepared to discuss why you are passionate about their mission.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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