Creative Director / Head of Design

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Creative Director / Head of Design
Company: Schneider Innovations
Location: Shenzhen, China
Job Type: Contractor
Category: Creative & Design Leadership, eCommerce Design
Date Posted: January 22, 2026
Experience Level: 10+ Years
Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and elevate the global design function across eCommerce and brand touchpoints, ensuring visual consistency and quality standards.
• Manage multiple design projects across brands, platforms, and regions, utilizing project management tools to track requests and set priorities.
• Mentor and manage a remote, cross-cultural design team, providing clear, structured, and actionable feedback to maintain high standards.
• Act as a "player-coach," capable of strategic leadership, decisive decision-making, and hands-on execution when necessary to stabilize delivery.
• Drive innovation by translating visual, UX, and communication trends into practical, on-platform differentiation that enhances customer understanding, confidence, and conversion.

📝 Enhancement Note: The original job description lists Manila, Philippines as the location but then specifies "onsite setup at Shenzhen, China." This enhancement assumes Shenzhen, China is the correct on-site location based on the detailed description of the role's responsibilities and environment. The Philippine location is likely an artifact of the job board's parsing. The role is explicitly stated as "100% on-site role based in Shenzhen."

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the visual direction and quality standards for a multi-brand portfolio across various eCommerce platforms (e.g., Amazon, DTC, B2B) and brand touchpoints.
• Develop and maintain scalable design systems, visual guidelines, templates, and workflows that ensure consistency and efficiency across diverse channels and regions.
• Translate product features, compliance constraints, and selling points into clear, compelling visual language for packaging, eCommerce content, and marketing assets.
• Proactively identify and integrate relevant visual and UX trends, ensuring practical application for on-platform differentiation rather than decorative experimentation.
• Manage project pipelines using tools like Asana, Jira, or ClickUp, breaking down complex requests, enforcing priorities, and preventing team overwhelm.
• Provide direct, hands-on design execution for production-ready assets (e.g., PDP visuals, packaging layouts, brand assets) when team capacity or timelines are at risk.
• Establish and enforce clear decision-making mechanisms, review processes, and approval workflows to ensure timely and effective design outcomes.
• Actively explore and apply AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini) to enhance design ideation, explore directions, and improve overall team productivity.
• Collaborate closely with US-based stakeholders, product teams, and leadership to align design strategy with business objectives and market expectations.
• Ensure long-term scalability and consistency of design across different eCommerce contexts, including regulated or medical categories.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary responsibilities have been expanded to detail the strategic and operational aspects of leading a global design function for an eCommerce-focused brand group. Emphasis is placed on the "player-coach" model, design systems, cross-cultural team management, and the integration of AI and modern workflows, which are critical for a role of this scope.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent knowledge and experience in visual design, graphic design, or a related field is essential. Experience: 8+ years of professional visual, graphic, or packaging design experience, with a minimum of 3 years in a formal design leadership or management capacity.

Required Skills:

• Creative Direction & Visual Leadership: Proven ability to define and evolve visual direction across multiple platforms, ensuring brand clarity and consistency.
• eCommerce Design Expertise: Hands-on experience designing for various eCommerce environments (marketplaces like Amazon, Direct-to-Consumer, B2B).
• Design Systems & Scalability: Experience building, maintaining, and scaling design systems and visual guidelines.
• Team Leadership & Management: Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and manage remote, cross-cultural teams across different time zones.
• Project & Priority Management: Proficiency with project management tools (Asana, Jira, ClickUp, etc.) for tracking, prioritization, and accountability.
• Hands-On Execution: Proven ability to seamlessly transition between strategic leadership and hands-on design execution.
• User-Centricity & Business Acumen: Ability to articulate design rationale from both user and business perspectives, focusing on conversion and value communication.
• Modern Design Tools: Proficiency in Figma and Adobe Creative Suite; 3D/rendering skills are a plus.
• Cross-Cultural Communication: Strong written English skills; ability to review and approve English design content independently.
• Bilingual Proficiency: Working proficiency in both English and Chinese is a mandatory requirement.
• Market Awareness: Strong understanding of North American and European market expectations and design trends.

Preferred Skills:

• Amazon-Specific Design: Experience designing for Amazon, particularly within regulated or medical categories.
• Design System Scaling: Experience building or scaling design systems across multiple channels and brands.
• Regulatory Compliance: Familiarity with medical compliance, packaging, or regulatory constraints in product design.
• Fast-Growth eCommerce: Experience supporting fast-growing, multi-brand eCommerce companies.
• AI Tool Integration: Active application and exploration of AI tools for design productivity and ideation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications section has been structured to highlight the critical "player-coach" requirement and the mandatory bilingual proficiency. Preferred skills are framed to indicate areas that would make a candidate exceptionally strong for this specific role within Schneider Innovations' industry.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• eCommerce Case Studies: Showcase a minimum of 2-3 comprehensive case studies demonstrating your impact on eCommerce platforms (PDP visuals, A+ content, packaging adaptation). Quantify results where possible (e.g., conversion rate improvements, reduction in customer queries).
• Design System Examples: Include examples of design systems, style guides, or brand guidelines you have developed or significantly contributed to, highlighting their scalability and application across different contexts.
• Cross-Cultural Team Management: Provide evidence of your leadership in managing diverse teams, perhaps through project examples where you coordinated efforts across different regions or cultures.
• Hands-On Execution Samples: Showcase samples of production-ready assets you have personally created or revised under tight deadlines, demonstrating your ability to execute high-quality work.
• AI Integration Examples: If possible, include examples of how you've leveraged AI tools to enhance design processes, ideation, or productivity.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Demonstrate your ability to map out, document, and optimize design workflows for efficiency, clarity, and scalability, especially in a remote, cross-cultural setting.
• System Implementation: Provide examples of how you've implemented and enforced design standards, templates, and approval mechanisms to ensure consistent quality and predictable delivery.
• Performance Measurement: Explain how you measure the effectiveness of design initiatives, using metrics such as conversion rates, brand consistency, rework reduction, and delivery speed.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are tailored to the "player-coach" model and the global, multi-platform nature of the role. Emphasis is placed on demonstrating strategic thinking, hands-on capability, and the ability to manage complex systems and processes in a remote, cross-cultural environment.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Estimated Range: ₱3,000,000 - ₱5,000,000 PHP per year.
• Starting Point: The company states a competitive base salary starting from ₱2.4M, with adjustments for experience and expertise. This enhanced estimate reflects the seniority (10+ years experience, leadership role), the critical "player-coach" requirement, the strategic impact of the role, and the on-site location in Shenzhen, China, which may command higher local compensation for expatriate roles or specialized talent. It also considers the potential for a strong performance bonus.

Benefits:

• Performance-Based Bonus: An annual bonus tied to clearly defined goals for design quality, delivery efficiency, and system-building achievements.
• Annual Compensation Adjustment Review: Regular reviews based on role scope and individual performance, ensuring competitive remuneration.
• Visa and Work Authorization Support: Provided where applicable, facilitating relocation and legal compliance for working in China.
• Tools & Equipment: Company-provided laptop and all necessary professional design software licenses.
• Productivity Budget: Dedicated budget for AI tools, design tools, and productivity software, based on practical role needs.
• Authority for Tool Adoption: Empowerment to introduce and standardize new tools or workflows that improve efficiency or quality.

Working Hours:

• Approximately 40 hours per week, typical for a full-time contractor role. While the role is on-site, the company's global operations suggest a need for flexibility to coordinate with US-based stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on the provided starting point of ₱2.4M, the role's seniority, strategic importance, and the on-site requirement in Shenzhen. The benefits are detailed to highlight the practical support and financial incentives offered, aligning with the company's description of the role's scope and environment.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Medical consumables, personal safety equipment, and healthcare products. This is a highly regulated industry where trust, clarity, and product performance are paramount. Company Size: Fast-growing, multi-brand group. This implies a dynamic, evolving environment where processes are being established and scaled, requiring adaptability and a proactive approach. Founded: The founding date is not specified, but the "fast-growing" nature suggests a relatively young or recently scaled organization.

Team Structure:

• Global Design Function: The role leads a global design function, likely comprising designers across different time zones and cultural backgrounds.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Close collaboration with product, engineering, and business teams is emphasized, particularly with US-based stakeholders and leadership.
• Reporting: While not explicitly stated, the Creative Director/Head of Design likely reports to a senior executive (e.g., VP of Marketing, CMO, or CEO) given the strategic nature of the role.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Success is measured by clear signals like conversion rates, consistency, rework reduction, and delivery speed, indicating a data-centric approach to design evaluation.
• Systematic Growth: The company is focused on scalable design systems and efficient workflows to support expansion across platforms and regions.
• AI & Modern Workflow Integration: An active adoption of new tools, including AI, to improve productivity and explore design directions is a key operational methodology.

Company Website: https://www.schneiderinnovations.com/ (Inferred from domain_derived)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is inferred from its industry, growth stage, and the explicit requirements for the role. The emphasis on a regulated industry, scalability, and cross-cultural collaboration informs the understanding of the operational environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior leadership position, equivalent to a Director or VP level within a design function. It requires a blend of strategic vision, operational management, and hands-on execution. The role is designed for someone ready to operate with full authority, driving organizational outcomes rather than focusing solely on personal skill development. Reporting Structure: The role leads a global design team and will likely report to a C-suite executive or senior VP, indicating high visibility and direct influence on business strategy. Operations Impact: The design function is positioned as a "strategic lever" directly impacting customer understanding, confidence, conversion, and overall brand perception across multiple platforms and markets. Success is measured by tangible business outcomes.

Growth Opportunities:

• Organizational Impact: The primary growth opportunity lies in shaping and scaling the design function within a rapidly growing, multi-brand organization. This includes defining how design operates and scales in complex eCommerce environments.
• Strategic Influence: Direct exposure and collaboration with US-based leadership and senior management offer opportunities to influence broader business and brand strategy.
• Scope Expansion: The role's scope is expected to expand as the company grows into new categories beyond its current core business, offering continuous challenges and learning.
• Leadership Development: The leadership of a global, cross-cultural team provides extensive experience in managing diverse talent and navigating international business dynamics.

📝 Enhancement Note: The career analysis highlights the strategic scope and leadership responsibility of this role. The "growth" is framed around organizational impact and strategic influence rather than traditional hierarchical advancement, reflecting the senior and impactful nature of the position.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: 100% on-site role in Shenzhen, China. This implies a dedicated physical workspace designed for in-person collaboration. Office Location(s): Shenzhen, China – a major city known for its manufacturing and innovation hub status, located near Hong Kong. This location offers proximity to key supply chains and a vibrant business ecosystem. Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role requires close, in-person collaboration with product, engineering, and business teams locally in Shenzhen.
• Tools & Technology: The company provides a company-provided laptop and licenses for all required professional design software. A dedicated budget for AI and productivity tools is also available.
• Team Interaction: While the immediate team may be distributed, the on-site requirement suggests significant daily interaction with local colleagues and potentially visiting international team members or stakeholders.

Work Schedule: The role is on-site in Shenzhen, implying a standard work week. However, given the global nature of the company and collaboration with US-based teams, there may be an expectation for some flexibility in working hours to accommodate time zone differences for critical meetings or urgent tasks.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment details are synthesized to paint a picture of a dynamic, collaborative on-site setting in a key innovation hub, balanced with the global operational demands of the company.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio, focusing on relevant eCommerce design, leadership experience, and bilingual capabilities.
• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion of your experience, leadership philosophy, and approach to managing remote, cross-cultural teams. Expect questions about your "player-coach" philosophy.
• Design Challenge/Case Study: A practical exercise or case study focusing on a specific design problem relevant to Schneider Innovations' brands or platforms. This will assess your strategic thinking, hands-on skills, and ability to apply design systems.
• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders (e.g., product leads, engineering managers, US-based executives) to assess collaboration style, communication effectiveness, and cultural fit.
• Final Interview: Likely with senior leadership to discuss strategic vision, long-term impact, and alignment with company objectives.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Impact: Prioritize case studies that demonstrate measurable business impact (conversion rates, efficiency gains, brand consistency) in eCommerce environments.
• Highlight Leadership: Include examples where you led design initiatives, managed teams (especially remote/cross-cultural), and drove strategic design decisions.
• Demonstrate Versatility: Show your ability to adapt design across different platforms (Amazon, DTC, B2B) and product categories (medical, consumer).
• Detail Process: Explain your design process, including how you use project management tools, build design systems, and leverage AI for efficiency.
• Bilingual Proficiency: Be prepared to discuss your experience working fluently in both English and Chinese, potentially through portfolio items or project descriptions.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Business: Research Schneider Innovations' brands, products, target markets (North America, Europe), and key platforms (especially Amazon).
• Focus on "Player-Coach": Be ready to articulate how you balance strategic leadership with hands-on execution, providing specific examples.
• Design Systems & Scalability: Prepare to discuss how you would build or enhance design systems for a multi-brand, multi-platform organization.
• Cross-Cultural Management: Think about strategies for effective communication, feedback, and team building across different cultural contexts.
• AI Integration: Be ready to discuss how you would leverage AI in a design workflow to improve efficiency and explore creative solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides actionable advice for candidates, focusing on demonstrating the key competencies highlighted in the job description, such as the "player-coach" model, cross-cultural leadership, and eCommerce expertise.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design Software: Figma (primary for UI/UX, design systems), Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator for graphics and asset creation).
• 3D/Rendering Tools: Proficiency is a plus, suggesting tools like Blender, Cinema 4D, or similar might be beneficial for packaging or product visualization.
• AI Tools: Actively expected to be used. Examples include ChatGPT, Gemini, and potentially specialized AI design tools for ideation, content generation, or workflow enhancement.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed, a Creative Director in this role would likely interact with analytics platforms to understand design performance. This could include tools like Google Analytics, platform-specific analytics (e.g., Amazon Seller Central reports), and potentially BI tools for dashboard creation.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to the design function, but understanding how design assets feed into marketing automation or CRM-driven campaigns would be beneficial.

Project Management:

• Essential: Asana, Jira, ClickUp, or similar project management and workflow tracking tools are explicitly mentioned as being used in daily design operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The tools and technology stack are focused on the creative and project management aspects of the role. Emphasis is placed on the expected proficiency with modern design tools and the proactive integration of AI.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Clarity & Consistency: A core value, evident in the focus on clear visual communication, consistent design across platforms, and well-defined design systems.
• Efficiency & Scalability: The emphasis on scalable systems, optimized workflows, and leveraging AI points to a culture that values doing more with less and building for future growth.
• Data-Driven Decision-Making: Design effectiveness is evaluated through metrics, indicating a preference for decisions backed by performance data rather than solely subjective opinion.
• Adaptability & Innovation: The expectation to stay ahead of trends, actively adopt new tools (including AI), and adapt to evolving channels suggests a culture that embraces change and continuous improvement.
• Ownership & Accountability: The "player-coach" model and the requirement for decisive decision-making highlight a culture where individuals take full ownership of outcomes.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Close collaboration with product, engineering, and business teams is essential, requiring strong communication and the ability to translate design needs into actionable insights for other departments.
• Remote & Cross-Cultural Teamwork: The ability to foster a cohesive and productive working environment across geographical and cultural divides is paramount. This involves clear communication protocols, empathy, and structured feedback mechanisms.
• Upstream Involvement: The role is expected to operate "upstream in product definition, brand direction, and business decision-making," indicating a collaborative style that influences strategy from the outset.

📝 Enhancement Note: The team culture and values are inferred from the company's industry, the role's responsibilities, and the explicit "This Role Is a Good Fit If You…" section, focusing on how these values translate into daily operations for a design leader.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Global Standards with Local Nuances: Ensuring visual consistency across diverse markets (North America, Europe) while respecting platform-specific constraints and cultural sensitivities.
• Managing Remote, Cross-Cultural Teams: Effectively leading and motivating a team spread across different time zones and cultural backgrounds, ensuring clear communication and high performance.
• "Player-Coach" Demands: Juggling strategic leadership responsibilities with the need for hands-on execution, requiring exceptional time management and prioritization skills.
• Ambiguity and Rapid Change: Navigating a fast-growing environment with evolving priorities and channels, requiring adaptability and the ability to create structure in uncertain situations.
• Maintaining Quality at Scale: As the company grows and expands its portfolio, ensuring that design quality and brand integrity are maintained across an increasing number of touchpoints and SKUs.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic Design Leadership: Opportunity to shape and define the design function within a growing, multi-brand organization, influencing business strategy.
• Advanced Cross-Cultural Management: Gaining deep experience in leading diverse global teams and navigating international business operations.
• Evolving Technology Integration: Continuous learning and application of new design tools, AI technologies, and workflow methodologies.
• Industry Expertise: Deepening knowledge in regulated product categories (medical consumables, personal safety) and complex eCommerce environments.
• Mentorship: Potential to mentor junior designers within the team and learn from senior leadership within the company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges and growth opportunities are framed to reflect the specific demands and potential rewards of this senior, hands-on leadership role in a dynamic, global company.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your approach to building and scaling a design system for a multi-brand, multi-platform eCommerce business. How do you ensure consistency while allowing for platform-specific adaptation?" (Assesses system thinking, scalability, and platform awareness)
• "How do you balance the demands of strategic leadership with hands-on execution as a 'player-coach'? Provide a specific example where you had to step in and execute creatively under pressure." (Assesses "player-coach" model, prioritization, and execution skills)
• "What methodologies do you use to measure the effectiveness of design initiatives in an eCommerce context? How do you translate those metrics into actionable improvements?" (Assesses data-driven approach, ROI focus, and continuous improvement)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Schneider Innovations operates in regulated industries. How would you ensure your design output maintains brand clarity and builds trust while adhering to compliance requirements?" (Assesses industry understanding and strategic design application)
• "Describe your experience leading remote, cross-cultural teams. What strategies do you employ to foster collaboration, provide effective feedback, and maintain team morale across different time zones and cultures?" (Assesses leadership, communication, and cultural intelligence)
• "How do you stay ahead of visual and UX trends in eCommerce and brand design, and how do you differentiate between trends that offer practical value versus those that are merely decorative?" (Assesses trend awareness and strategic application)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Quantify Impact: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your solution, and the quantifiable business results (e.g., % increase in conversion, % reduction in rework, improved customer satisfaction scores).
• Showcase Systems Thinking: Highlight examples where you've built or utilized design systems, templates, or standardized workflows to ensure scalability and consistency.
• Demonstrate Adaptability: Present projects that showcase your ability to adapt designs for different platforms (e.g., Amazon A+, DTC website banners, B2B product sheets) and target audiences.
• Highlight Leadership: Discuss your role in leading projects, managing team members (if applicable in your portfolio examples), and making key design decisions.
• Prepare for Bilingual Discussion: Be ready to present parts of your portfolio or discuss specific projects in both English and Chinese.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation focuses on anticipating questions related to the unique aspects of the role, such as the "player-coach" model, cross-cultural leadership, and the strategic importance of design in regulated eCommerce environments.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Creative Director / Head of Design position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.
• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 8+ years of design experience, specifically mentioning your 3+ years in leadership roles and your hands-on eCommerce design expertise. Use keywords from the job description.
• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 strong case studies that best demonstrate your experience in eCommerce design, design leadership, cross-cultural team management, and the ability to create scalable design systems. Ensure your portfolio clearly shows your impact and results, ideally with quantifiable metrics.
• Prepare for Bilingual Communication: Be ready to discuss your experience and potentially present aspects of your portfolio in both English and Chinese.
• Research Schneider Innovations: Understand their brand portfolio, target markets, and the industries they operate in. Familiarize yourself with their existing online presence and competitor landscape.

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