Brand Designer (6 Month Contract - Remote, US)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Brand Designer (6 Month Contract - Remote, US)
Company: Renew Home
Location: United States
Job Type: CONTRACTOR
Category: Creative & Media / Marketing / Art & Design
Date Posted: 2025-10-22
Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 Years)
Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is crucial for executing high-quality brand design initiatives that enhance Renew Home's visual identity across diverse platforms.
• The Brand Designer will be instrumental in translating complex energy concepts and data insights into compelling visual narratives and engaging digital assets.
• A key aspect of this position involves fostering strong cross-functional collaborations with marketing, product, and business development teams to ensure brand cohesion.
• The role demands innovative integration of AI tools to optimize creative processes and drive efficiency in design execution for campaigns, presentations, and more.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the original description focuses on design execution, this enhancement emphasizes the strategic impact of the Brand Designer on Renew Home's mission to transform energy consumption. It highlights the role's contribution to simplifying complex topics and driving brand consistency, crucial for a company in the energy sector aiming for broad customer adoption. The emphasis on AI integration is also a key differentiator for modern design roles.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Brand Systems & Visual Storytelling:
  • Leverage and advance the Renew Home brand system, ensuring consistent and innovative application across digital, product, and go-to-market (GTM) experiences.
  • Craft high-impact visual expressions that effectively simplify complex topics, including energy industry concepts, technical data insights, and unique product value propositions.
  • Develop intricate yet elegant data visualizations, illustrations, imagery, and other visual assets that compellingly communicate Renew Home's mission and story.
• Cross-Team Collaboration:
  • Partner closely with internal design, marketing, product management, and business development (BD) teams to ensure a cohesive and impactful brand expression across all touchpoints.
  • Collaborate with product marketing, BD, design leadership, and other key stakeholders to translate strategic business objectives into persuasive visual solutions.
• Tools & Innovation:
  • Work proficiently using industry-standard design tools such as Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud, Notion, and the Google Suite to create, iterate, and share design solutions.
  • Actively integrate and experiment with AI tools within the design workflow to enhance creativity, improve efficiency, and foster innovation in design processes and deliverables.
• Communication & Presentation:
  • Confidently articulate design decisions, rationale, and creative work to a diverse range of audiences, including senior stakeholders and cross-functional partners.
  • Contribute to Renew Home’s overarching creative vision by actively sharing insights, exploring emerging design trends, and proactively pushing the boundaries of visual storytelling.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities have been detailed to reflect the specific needs of a Brand Designer within a growing company like Renew Home, emphasizing not just execution but also strategic contribution to brand narrative and innovation. The inclusion of "go-to-market (GTM)" and "business development (BD)" specifically targets operations and GTM professionals who understand the importance of these functions.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• While no specific degree is mandated, candidates are expected to demonstrate a strong foundational understanding of design principles, visual communication, and brand strategy, often acquired through formal education, extensive self-study, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience:

• Minimum of 3+ years of professional design experience, with a proven track record in brand design, graphic design, or a related creative field.
• Demonstrable experience in contributing to and executing large-scale design initiatives, including comprehensive brand systems, website designs, marketing campaigns, and business development enablement collateral.

Required Skills:

• Brand Systems & Visual Identity: Expertise in developing, maintaining, and applying brand guidelines, ensuring visual consistency across all channels.
• Visual Storytelling: Proven ability to translate complex information (e.g., data, technical concepts) into clear, compelling, and aesthetically pleasing visual narratives.
• Data Visualization: Skill in creating effective charts, graphs, infographics, and other data-driven visuals that are both informative and engaging.
• Design Software Proficiency: Fluency in industry-standard tools including Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), Notion, and Google Suite.
• AI Tool Integration: Demonstrated experience or a strong aptitude for integrating AI-powered design tools into workflows to enhance creativity and efficiency.
• Communication & Presentation: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale and present creative concepts effectively to stakeholders.
• Attention to Detail: A meticulous eye for detail, ensuring a high standard of quality and precision in all design deliverables.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Ability to work effectively with diverse teams (marketing, product, BD) to achieve shared objectives.

Preferred Skills:

• Energy Industry Experience: Prior experience working within the energy sector or with companies at the intersection of consumer hardware and software products.
• Startup Environment Acumen: Experience thriving in a fast-paced startup environment, adapting quickly to evolving priorities and embracing ambiguity.
• BD Enablement Design: Specific experience in crafting design elements and visual storytelling tailored for business development materials, proposals, and presentations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications are structured to highlight the blend of creative execution and strategic thinking required for this role. The "Preferred Skills" section directly addresses areas that would be advantageous for Renew Home, linking them to the company's industry and stage of growth, which is valuable for candidates assessing their fit.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 3+ years of design experience, with a strong emphasis on brand systems, visual storytelling, and executed campaigns.
• Include case studies that demonstrate your ability to translate complex information, such as technical concepts or data insights, into clear and impactful visual designs.
• Showcase examples of high-quality digital assets, presentation materials, and any experience with data visualizations or illustrations.
• Evidence of maintaining brand consistency across various platforms and projects is crucial.
• Process optimization focus: Highlight projects where you improved design workflows or contributed to more efficient creative processes.

Process Documentation:

• While not a formal documentation role, the portfolio should implicitly demonstrate an understanding of design processes.
• Workflow design and optimization: Include projects that show how you approached a design problem, from initial concept to final execution, detailing your thought process and any iterative stages.
• Implementation and automation methods: Showcase how you've used tools like Figma and Adobe CC efficiently, and any instances where you've explored or integrated AI for workflow enhancement.
• Measurement and performance analysis: If possible, include examples where design decisions led to measurable outcomes (e.g., improved engagement on a campaign, clarity in a presentation).

📝 Enhancement Note: This section is tailored to a design role, focusing on a visual portfolio rather than traditional operations documentation. It emphasizes how a designer's work demonstrates process, efficiency, and impact, aligning with the broader operational goals of a GTM function.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• The stated hourly rate for this role is $75 USD. For a standard 40-hour work week, this equates to an annual equivalent of approximately $156,000 USD. This rate is competitive for experienced contract Brand Designers in the US market, especially those with specialized skills in data visualization and AI integration.

Benefits:

• As a contract role, traditional employee benefits like health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off are typically not provided. However, contractors may benefit from:
  • Flexible Work Schedule: The role is fully remote, allowing for significant autonomy in managing work hours and location within the United States.
  • Project-Based Engagement: Opportunity to work on impactful projects for a mission-driven company in the renewable energy sector.
  • Skill Development: Direct exposure to AI integration in design, energy industry concepts, and startup environments can enhance professional skills.
  • Potential for Extension: While a 6-month contract, successful performance may lead to extensions or future opportunities.

Working Hours:

• This is a full-time contract position, expected to involve approximately 40 hours per week. The remote nature of the role offers flexibility in scheduling, though collaboration with teams across US time zones will require coordination.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary information is directly extracted. The benefits section is enhanced by explaining the typical structure for contract roles and framing potential "benefits" as professional development and flexibility, which are key considerations for contract positions. A standard 40-hour work week is inferred for a full-time contract role.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry:

• Renew Home operates within the rapidly evolving Energy Technology (EnergyTech) and Sustainability sectors. The company is focused on building the largest residential virtual power plant (VPP) in North America, utilizing smart home technology to manage energy consumption, promote efficiency, and contribute to cleaner energy solutions. This industry context implies a fast-paced, innovation-driven environment with a strong emphasis on mission and impact.

Company Size:

• While not explicitly stated in the provided data, the mention of partnering with "industry-leading brands" and aiming to be the "largest residential virtual power plant" suggests a company that is likely in a significant growth phase. It could range from a well-funded startup to a scale-up organization. For operations professionals, this typically means a dynamic environment with evolving processes and opportunities for direct impact.

Founded:

• The founding date is not provided. However, the company's mission and focus on establishing a large-scale VPP indicate a relatively modern organization, likely founded within the last decade to capitalize on advancements in smart home technology, renewable energy, and grid modernization.

Team Structure:

• Operations Team Aspect 1: The design team likely includes design leadership and other designers, potentially specializing in UI/UX, brand, and content. Collaboration with marketing, product, and business development teams is explicitly mentioned, indicating a matrixed or highly integrated cross-functional structure.
• Operations Team Aspect 2: The reporting structure for this contract role would likely be to a Design Lead or Manager. The need for collaboration across departments suggests a flat or agile organizational hierarchy where direct communication is encouraged.
• Operations Team Aspect 3: Cross-functional collaboration is a cornerstone of this role, requiring seamless interaction with product managers, marketers, BD professionals, and potentially engineering teams to ensure cohesive brand representation and successful campaign execution.

Methodology:

• Data Analysis and Insights Methods: The role requires translating complex data and energy industry concepts into understandable visuals, implying a need to analyze and interpret data to inform design decisions.
• Workflow Planning and Optimization Strategies: Efficiently managing design projects, from brief to delivery, using tools like Figma and Adobe CC is essential. The integration of AI suggests a proactive approach to optimizing these workflows.
• Automation and Efficiency Practices: The expectation to integrate AI tools points towards a company culture that values leveraging technology to streamline processes and enhance creative output.

Company Website:

• www.renewhome.com

📝 Enhancement Note: This section contextualizes Renew Home within its industry, providing insights into its likely stage of growth and operational environment. For operations professionals, understanding the industry (EnergyTech) and the company's mission (VPP) is key to assessing strategic alignment and potential challenges in streamlining GTM processes.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level:

• This role is positioned at a Mid-Level, typically requiring 2-5 years of focused experience. As a Brand Designer, the scope involves executing design projects with a degree of autonomy, contributing to broader brand strategy, and collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams. The focus is on strong execution and creative problem-solving within established brand parameters, with opportunities to influence visual direction.

Reporting Structure:

• The Brand Designer will likely report directly to a Design Manager or Head of Design. Collaboration will extend horizontally to Marketing Managers, Product Managers, and Business Development Leads, requiring strong communication and alignment skills to navigate project priorities and stakeholder expectations.

Operations Impact:

• The Brand Designer's work directly impacts Renew Home's ability to communicate its value proposition, build brand recognition, and drive customer acquisition and engagement. High-quality visuals and compelling storytelling are critical for GTM success, influencing campaign effectiveness, sales enablement collateral, and overall market perception. The role contributes to operational efficiency by providing clear, consistent brand assets that can be leveraged across multiple channels, reducing rework and ensuring brand integrity.

Growth Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement:
  • Deepen expertise in brand system development and management.
  • Gain specialized experience in data visualization and translating complex technical information into accessible visual formats.
  • Develop advanced skills in using AI tools for creative enhancement and workflow optimization.
• Industry-Specific Learning:
  • Acquire knowledge of the energy industry, VPP concepts, and consumer energy solutions, which can be a significant differentiator for future roles.
  • Understand the unique design challenges and opportunities within the sustainability and cleantech sectors.
• Leadership Potential:
  • For contract roles, growth often involves demonstrating leadership through initiative, proactive problem-solving, and mentoring junior designers (if applicable).
  • Successful performance could lead to longer-term engagements, opportunities to lead smaller projects, or recommendations for future roles within Renew Home or its network.

📝 Enhancement Note: This analysis frames the Brand Designer role within a broader career context, emphasizing its operational impact on GTM effectiveness and potential for professional development in a specialized industry. It highlights how skills gained are transferable and valuable for future career progression.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type:

• This is a fully remote contract position, meaning there is no central office requirement. The work is performed from the contractor's own location within the United States.

Office Location(s):

• The role is open to candidates based anywhere within the United States. Renew Home is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment, leveraging remote work to access a wider talent pool.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment Impact: While remote, the role emphasizes strong collaboration. Contractors should expect to engage frequently through video calls, messaging platforms, and collaborative design tools (Figma, Notion) to maintain strong working relationships and ensure project alignment.
• Operations Tools and Technology: Access to and proficient use of Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud, Notion, and Google Suite are essential. The company likely uses project management and communication tools common in remote settings (e.g., Slack, Zoom).
• Operations Team Interaction: Regular check-ins, virtual brainstorming sessions, and design reviews are expected. The culture encourages interaction and sharing of insights, even in a remote setting.

Work Schedule:

• The contract is for 6 months, with an expectation of full-time commitment (approximately 40 hours per week). While remote work offers flexibility, candidates should be prepared to align their working hours with team meetings and project deadlines, potentially across different US time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section clarifies the remote work aspect, detailing the implications for collaboration, tools, and scheduling. For operations professionals, understanding the remote work dynamics and required communication cadence is vital for successful project execution and team integration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Process Step 1: Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess relevant experience, design skills, and alignment with the role's requirements. Portfolio Focus: Ensure your portfolio clearly showcases brand systems, visual storytelling, and executed projects relevant to campaigns or collateral.
• Process Step 2: Design Challenge/Case Study: You may be asked to complete a short design exercise or present a case study from your portfolio that highlights your problem-solving approach, design rationale, and ability to simplify complex information. Process Optimization Expectation: Be prepared to discuss how you approached the design problem, your iterative process, and any efficiency gains you achieved.
• Process Step 3: Interview with Hiring Manager/Team: A discussion to delve deeper into your experience, design philosophy, collaboration style, and understanding of Renew Home's mission. Operations Team Interaction: Assess your ability to work with cross-functional teams and communicate effectively.
• Process Step 4: Final Evaluation: Assessment of your overall fit, skill set, and potential contribution to the team. Operations Impact Discussion: Be ready to articulate how your design contributions can support Renew Home's GTM strategies and business objectives.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Tactical Advice: Curate your portfolio to highlight your strongest, most relevant work. For this role, prioritize examples demonstrating brand system consistency, compelling visual storytelling, and execution of marketing campaigns or BD collateral.
• Case Study Structure: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your role, the process you followed (ideation, execution, tools used), and the outcome or impact. Use visuals to tell the story of your design journey.
• Metrics Presentation: Where possible, quantify the impact of your designs. Even if direct ROI is hard to attribute, discuss improvements in engagement, clarity, or brand perception based on your design output.
• Company-Specific Considerations: Show that you understand Renew Home's mission (virtual power plants, energy efficiency) and tailor your presentation to demonstrate how your design skills can effectively communicate these concepts to target audiences.

Challenge Preparation:

• Typical Exercise Format: Expect a design prompt that requires you to visualize a concept or create a piece of collateral related to the energy industry or Renew Home's services.
• Time Management: Be mindful of any time limits. Structure your approach efficiently, focusing on delivering a clear and well-reasoned solution.
• Stakeholder Communication: Practice articulating your design choices clearly and concisely, as if presenting to a non-designer stakeholder. Be prepared to justify your decisions based on strategic goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides concrete, actionable advice for candidates applying to this design role, focusing on portfolio presentation and interview preparation. It emphasizes how to showcase operations-relevant skills like process understanding and impact articulation within the context of a design application.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for collaborative design, prototyping, and creating scalable design systems. Proficiency expected for UI/UX and brand asset creation.
• Adobe Creative Cloud: Including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Critical for detailed image editing, vector graphics, layout, and producing high-fidelity final assets.
• Notion: Likely used for project management, documentation, and team collaboration. Familiarity with using it for design briefs, feedback tracking, or asset organization is beneficial.
• Google Suite: For document creation, presentations, and collaborative editing (Docs, Slides, Sheets). Standard for daily operations and communication.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary analytics role, the Brand Designer will need to interpret data for visualizations. Familiarity with how design impacts engagement metrics on digital platforms (websites, campaigns) is a plus. Understanding of how to align visual design with performance metrics is key.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the Brand Designer role. However, understanding how brand assets are utilized within CRM systems or marketing automation platforms (e.g., for email campaigns) can provide valuable context for asset creation.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section details the specific software and technology required for the role, which is crucial for operations professionals to assess their technical fit and for ATS keyword optimization. It highlights the core design tools and touches on how design integrates with data and broader marketing operations.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven Impact: A strong commitment to Renew Home's mission of changing how the world is powered through energy efficiency and virtual power plants. This means designs should resonate with sustainability goals and customer benefits.
• Collaboration & Teamwork: Emphasis on working together across departments, fostering an environment where ideas are shared freely, and collective problem-solving is encouraged. Low ego and openness to feedback are key.
• Data-Driven Creativity: Using insights from data and complex information as a foundation for creative work, ensuring that design is not only aesthetically pleasing but also strategically effective and informative.
• Innovation & Efficiency: A proactive approach to exploring new tools (like AI) and methodologies to improve design processes, enhance creativity, and deliver high-quality work efficiently.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expect a highly collaborative style, where designers work closely with marketing, product, and BD teams to ensure brand consistency and effective communication of value propositions.
• Process Review & Feedback: An open culture for providing and receiving constructive feedback on design work, aimed at continuous improvement and achieving the best possible outcomes.
• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, emerging trends, and insights within the design team and across other departments to foster collective growth and innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section translates the general company description into specific cultural values and collaboration styles relevant to operations professionals. It emphasizes how these values influence daily work, decision-making, and team interactions, providing insight into the team's operational ethos.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Simplifying Complex Concepts: Effectively visualizing and communicating intricate energy industry concepts, technical product features, and data-driven insights in a way that is easily understood by a broad audience.
• Maintaining Brand Consistency Across Diverse Channels: Ensuring a cohesive brand experience across digital assets, marketing campaigns, product interfaces, and business development materials, especially within a fast-paced growth environment.
• Integrating AI Effectively: Proactively learning and integrating new AI design tools into existing workflows without compromising quality or brand integrity, and staying ahead of rapid technological advancements.
• Remote Collaboration Dynamics: Navigating the nuances of remote teamwork, ensuring clear communication, strong alignment, and maintaining team cohesion across different locations and time zones.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement:
  • Gain deep expertise in brand system design and application within the EnergyTech sector.
  • Master advanced data visualization techniques for complex technical and market data.
  • Become proficient in leveraging emerging AI tools for creative efficiency and innovation.
• Industry Exposure:
  • Develop a strong understanding of the renewable energy market, virtual power plants, and consumer energy solutions.
  • Gain insights into startup operations and GTM strategies within a mission-driven company.
• Mentorship & Leadership:
  • Opportunity to learn from design leadership and contribute to the creative vision.
  • Potential to lead specific design initiatives or projects, demonstrating leadership capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section anticipates potential challenges and growth pathways, offering a realistic perspective for candidates. It links these opportunities to skill development relevant to operations and GTM functions, such as understanding complex data and improving efficiency through AI.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Strategy & Methodology: Be prepared to discuss how you approach translating business objectives into visual design solutions. For example, "How would you visually represent the concept of a 'virtual power plant' to a homeowner unfamiliar with energy grid technology?" Focus on your process, research, and how you ensure clarity and impact.
• Collaboration & Stakeholder Management: Discuss instances where you've collaborated with marketing, product, or BD teams. How do you handle conflicting feedback or differing strategic priorities? Prepare examples demonstrating your ability to align diverse stakeholder needs with design outcomes.
• Problem-Solving & Efficiency: Detail a time you faced a complex design challenge or a tight deadline. How did you manage your workflow, use your tools (including AI), and ensure a high-quality outcome? Highlight your problem-solving approach and any efficiency improvements you implemented.

Company & Culture Questions:

• Company Operations Culture: Research Renew Home's mission, values, and recent activities. Be ready to articulate why you are passionate about their work in the energy sector and how your design approach aligns with their goals.
• Team Dynamics: How do you contribute to a collaborative remote team environment? What is your approach to giving and receiving feedback? Be prepared to discuss your experience working with distributed teams.
• Operations Impact Measurement: How do you measure the success of your design work? If you can't provide direct ROI, discuss how you assess effectiveness through engagement, clarity, brand perception, or other relevant metrics.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Process Improvement Case Study: Structure your presentation around 1-2 key case studies. Clearly outline the problem, your unique contribution, the design process (including any AI integration), and the resulting impact or learnings. Emphasize how your design work supported business goals.
• Metrics Presentation: If you have quantitative data, present it clearly. If not, use qualitative evidence (e.g., stakeholder feedback, team consensus) to demonstrate the effectiveness and value of your design solutions.
• Interactive Demonstration: Be ready to walk through specific design elements or prototypes in your portfolio, explaining your design decisions and rationale. Be prepared for interactive elements or follow-up questions about your workflow and tool usage.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides targeted interview preparation advice for a Brand Designer role, focusing on how to frame design skills in an operational context. It emphasizes demonstrating strategic thinking, collaborative abilities, and the impact of design on business objectives, which are crucial for operations-focused roles.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on Workable.
• Operations Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight experience in visual storytelling, brand systems, data visualization, and campaign design. Showcase projects that demonstrate your ability to simplify complex information and your proficiency with Figma, Adobe CC, and AI tools.
• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly lists your 3+ years of design experience and relevant skills, using keywords such as "Brand Design," "Visual Storytelling," "Figma," "Adobe Creative Cloud," and "AI Integration." Quantify achievements where possible.
• Operations Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, collaboration style, and how your work contributes to business and GTM objectives. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions related to problem-solving, teamwork, and adapting to new technologies.
• Company Research: Thoroughly research Renew Home's mission, values, and work in the virtual power plant space. Understand their target audience and the challenges of communicating complex energy solutions. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.

---