Global Head of Design

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Global Head of Design
Company: Omnicom Media Group US
Location: New York, New York, United States
Job Type: Full-Time
Category: Creative & Media / Marketing / Management & Leadership / Art & Design
Date Posted: December 12, 2025
Experience Level: 10+ Years
Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in office, 2 days remote)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the strategic creative vision and execution for global media agency brands (OMD, PHD, Hearts & Science) with a focus on impactful visual design and branding.
• Champion design excellence by conceptualizing and delivering exceptional visual identities, compelling branding, and innovative digital and experiential designs.
• Leverage emerging technologies, including AI, to enhance creative workflows, elevate design standards, and push visual design boundaries.
• Inspire and nurture a high-performing, collaborative design team, fostering creative excellence and professional growth through strong leadership and mentorship.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior leadership role within Omnicom Media Group (OMG), a major player in the media services industry. The "Global Head of Design" title, combined with the responsibility for three distinct, globally recognized agency brands (OMD, PHD, Hearts & Science), indicates a strategic leadership position with significant influence over brand identity and creative output across a large organization. The emphasis on "vision," "strategic direction," and "emerging technologies" suggests a forward-thinking leader expected to drive innovation and set new industry standards in design.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and execute the overarching visual design strategy and creative vision for OMD, PHD, and Hearts & Science, ensuring brand consistency and impact across all touchpoints.
• Conceptualize, design, and oversee the creation of exceptional visual identities, branding guidelines, and creative assets that effectively communicate brand stories and value propositions.
• Drive the development of innovative digital designs, immersive experiential designs, and visually impactful presentations that captivate target audiences and stakeholders.
• Spearhead the integration of cutting-edge design techniques and emerging technologies, including AI, to enhance creative workflows, optimize design outputs, and maintain a competitive edge.
• Mentor, inspire, and cultivate a collaborative, innovative, and high-performing global design team, fostering a culture of creative excellence and continuous professional development.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including marketing, strategy, brand, and operations to ensure all design initiatives align seamlessly with overarching business objectives, campaign goals, and brand integrity.
• Manage the end-to-end creative design process, from initial concept and strategy development through to final execution and delivery, ensuring adherence to timelines and quality standards.
• Actively research and stay ahead of industry trends, new design technologies, and best practices, translating insights into actionable strategies to continually refine and elevate creative outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic vision setting, hands-on creative oversight, team leadership, and cross-functional collaboration. The inclusion of "operations teams" in the collaboration aspect suggests that the Head of Design will need to work with operations to ensure design outputs are feasible, scalable, and integrated into broader business processes, particularly concerning digital assets and campaign execution. The emphasis on "end-to-end creative design process" and "managing the process" implies a need for strong project management and workflow optimization skills.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, Visual Communications, or a related field is typically expected for senior design leadership roles.

Experience: 10+ years of proven leadership experience as a Design Director, Creative Director, or a senior-level design professional, with a significant portion of that experience gained within the media, advertising, or marketing sectors.

Required Skills:

• Strategic Creative Vision: Ability to define and articulate a compelling design direction that aligns with business goals and brand identity for multiple global brands.
• Visual Identity & Branding: Deep expertise in conceptualizing, designing, and implementing robust visual identities and comprehensive branding systems.
• Digital & Experiential Design: Proven track record of creating innovative and effective designs across digital platforms (websites, social media, digital advertising) and experiential environments.
• Leadership & Team Management: Exceptional ability to lead, mentor, inspire, and manage a diverse, high-performing design team, fostering a collaborative and innovative culture.
• Communication & Presentation: Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex design concepts, strategies, and rationale to executive-level stakeholders.
• Adobe Creative Suite Proficiency: Expert-level command of Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere, and After Effects for creative development and oversight.
• Presentation Software Expertise: Advanced proficiency in PowerPoint, Microsoft Office Suite, and Canva for creating visually impactful presentations and reports.
• Visual Storytelling: Strong understanding of narrative structure and visual techniques to craft compelling brand stories.
• Design Principles: Comprehensive knowledge of fundamental design principles, typography, color theory, and layout composition.
• Industry Acumen: Deep understanding of media agency dynamics, advertising principles, and marketing strategies.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with AI-powered design tools and workflows.
• Knowledge of UX/UI principles and best practices.
• Familiarity with project management methodologies relevant to creative production.
• Experience managing global creative initiatives and diverse teams.
• A strong understanding of cross-channel marketing and campaign integration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for experience "within media, advertising, or marketing sectors" is critical for this role, indicating that candidates must understand the fast-paced, client-centric nature of these industries. The specific mention of AI and emerging technologies suggests a desire for a forward-thinking leader who can innovate beyond traditional design practices. The inclusion of Canva alongside Adobe Creative Suite indicates a need for versatility in tool usage, potentially for rapid prototyping or broader adoption across teams.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Comprehensive Case Studies: A robust portfolio showcasing a minimum of 3-5 in-depth case studies that demonstrate strategic thinking, creative problem-solving, and impactful design execution across branding, digital, and experiential projects.
• Brand Identity Development: Clear examples of developing and implementing comprehensive visual identity systems for established or new brands, detailing the strategic rationale and execution.
• Digital Asset Creation: Demonstrations of designing effective digital assets, including web interfaces, social media campaigns, digital advertising creative, and potentially interactive content.
• Experiential Design Concepts: Visualizations or documentation of experiential design projects, such as event branding, physical space concepts, or interactive installations.
• Leadership & Team Impact: Evidence of leading design teams, managing creative processes, and fostering an environment that drives creative excellence and innovation.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Examples of how you have designed, optimized, or implemented design workflows to improve efficiency, collaboration, and quality within a creative team or agency structure.
• Cross-Functional Process Integration: Demonstrations of how you have collaborated with marketing, strategy, and operations teams to ensure seamless integration of design processes with broader business objectives and execution plans.
• Technology Integration: Showcasing how you have incorporated new technologies, such as AI or specific design software, into creative processes to enhance outcomes or efficiency.
• Quality Assurance & Brand Governance: Examples of how you have established processes for ensuring design quality and maintaining brand consistency across diverse outputs and global markets.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Global Head of Design role, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to demonstrate not just aesthetic skill but also strategic thinking, leadership capability, and the ability to manage complex, multi-brand creative initiatives. The emphasis on process documentation should highlight the candidate's ability to structure and scale design operations effectively within a large organization, aligning with the "operations teams" mentioned in responsibilities.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $185,000 - $200,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Includes health insurance, vision insurance, and dental insurance.
• Retirement Savings: 401(k) plan.
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for tax-advantaged savings.
• Paid Time Off: Generous allocation of vacation days, sick days, and personal days.
• Family & Medical Leave: Paid parental leave and paid medical leave.
• Disability Insurance: Short-Term Disability (STD) and Long-Term Disability (LTD) insurance benefits.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours, likely around 40 hours per week, with a hybrid work arrangement requiring 3 days per week in the New York office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range of $185,000 - $200,000 USD for a Global Head of Design in New York City aligns with industry benchmarks for senior leadership roles in major metropolitan areas. The extensive benefits package is standard for a large, established corporation like Omnicom Media Group, offering robust support for employees' well-being and financial security.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Media Services / Advertising / Marketing / Communications. Omnicom Media Group (OMG) is a division of Omnicom Group Inc., a global leader in marketing and corporate communications. They orchestrate media services for major agencies like OMD, PHD, and Hearts & Science. Company Size: Large, with a global presence. Omnicom Group Inc. employs over 24,000 people worldwide, and its media agencies serve leading global brands. This implies a structured, corporate environment with extensive resources and established processes. Founded: Omnicom Group Inc. was founded in 1986. This long history suggests a stable, experienced organization with a deep understanding of the industry.

Team Structure:

• Growth, Brand, and Experience Team: This role sits within this team, suggesting a focus on how design contributes to business growth, brand perception, and client/consumer experiences.
• Reporting Structure: The Global Head of Design will likely report to a senior executive within the Growth, Brand, and Experience team or a Chief Creative Officer, overseeing a global team of designers across OMD, PHD, and Hearts & Science.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Expect close collaboration with marketing leadership, brand strategists, creative directors within the agencies, and potentially client services and operations teams to ensure design strategy is integrated and effectively implemented.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: While creative-led, OMG's reliance on the "Omni marketing orchestration system" suggests an underlying emphasis on data and measurable outcomes in their strategies, which likely extends to design effectiveness.
• Strategic Orchestration: The company's core offering is orchestration, implying a need for integrated, cohesive strategies across brands and disciplines. Design leadership will need to align with this.
• Client-Centricity: As a media services provider, the ultimate goal is client success. Design must serve client objectives by creating compelling brand experiences that drive consumer engagement and business results.

Company Website: https://omnicommedia.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: OMG's positioning as a "media services division" and its use of the "Omni marketing orchestration system" indicate a sophisticated, data-informed approach to marketing. The Global Head of Design will need to demonstrate how design contributes to measurable business outcomes and integrates with broader marketing technology and data strategies. The hybrid model with 3 days in office suggests a culture that values in-person collaboration for strategic discussions and creative ideation, while allowing for focused work remotely.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior executive-level position, a "Global Head" role, signifying a strategic leadership capacity with significant responsibility for a core function across multiple major brands and geographies. It sits at the top of the design hierarchy within OMG's media services division.

Reporting Structure: The Global Head of Design is expected to report to a senior executive, likely a Chief Marketing Officer, Chief Creative Officer, or a head of a broader Growth, Brand, and Experience division. They will directly manage and mentor a global team of designers, potentially including design managers or directors within each agency brand.

Operations Impact: The design function under this leadership will directly impact OMG's ability to attract and retain clients, differentiate its agency brands (OMD, PHD, Hearts & Science), and enhance the perception of the services offered. Effective design leadership is crucial for maintaining the visual appeal and strategic messaging that underpins client pitches, internal communications, and external brand presence. The role is instrumental in ensuring that design acts as a strategic lever for growth and brand equity.

Growth Opportunities:

• Strategic Influence: Opportunity to shape the future creative and design direction for three prominent global media agencies, significantly impacting their market positioning and client offerings.
• Innovation Leadership: Drive the adoption of new design technologies and methodologies, including AI, setting industry standards and fostering innovation within the broader Omnicom Group.
• Executive Development: Potential for advancement to higher executive roles within Omnicom Group, such as Chief Creative Officer or a broader leadership role overseeing multiple creative disciplines.
• Mentorship & Team Building: Develop and scale a world-class global design organization, building a legacy of creative talent and impactful design work.
• Industry Recognition: Lead award-winning design initiatives that can bring industry recognition to the individual, the teams, and the agency brands.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is clearly geared towards an individual with executive presence and a proven ability to operate at a global strategic level. The growth opportunities are significant, focusing on expanding influence within one of the world's largest advertising and marketing conglomerates. The emphasis on "operations impact" underscores the need for design to be a strategic business driver, not just an aesthetic function.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model, requiring 3 days per week in the New York City office. This suggests a collaborative office environment designed to foster in-person teamwork, brainstorming, and client-facing interactions, balanced with the flexibility of remote work for focused individual tasks.

Office Location(s): New York, New York, United States. This prime location offers access to a vibrant creative ecosystem and positions the role within a major hub for media and advertising.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The office is likely equipped with meeting rooms, brainstorming areas, and open-plan spaces conducive to team collaboration, essential for a global leadership role requiring frequent interaction with various stakeholders.
• Technology Infrastructure: Access to robust IT infrastructure, high-performance workstations, and the necessary software licenses for advanced design tools (Adobe Creative Suite, presentation software, AI tools) will be standard.
• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with design teams across different agencies, as well as with leadership from marketing, strategy, and client services departments, facilitating integrated campaign development and strategic alignment.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time working hours (approximately 40 hours/week), with flexibility afforded by the hybrid arrangement. The specific in-office days will be determined during the interview process, allowing for strategic alignment with team needs and business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model with a specified number of in-office days (3) indicates a company culture that values in-person connection for strategic alignment and team cohesion, while also recognizing the benefits of remote flexibility for focused work. The New York City location implies a dynamic, fast-paced environment within a major industry hub.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio by HR and potentially a senior design lead to assess qualifications, experience, and alignment with the role's strategic scope.
• Creative/Strategic Interview: A deep dive into your portfolio, focusing on the strategic thinking behind your design decisions, your leadership approach, and your vision for the brands. Expect to discuss specific case studies in detail.
• Leadership & Team Fit Interview: Discussions with senior leadership (e.g., CMO, CCO) to evaluate your leadership style, team-building capabilities, ability to collaborate cross-functionally, and cultural fit within OMG.
• Presentation Challenge: You may be asked to prepare and present a strategic vision for the design function across OMD, PHD, and Hearts & Science, or to tackle a specific design challenge relevant to the business.
• Final Interviews: Potential meetings with executive leadership for final approval.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Strategic Narrative: For each case study, articulate the business problem, your strategic approach, the design solution, and the measurable impact (ROI, engagement, brand perception). Focus on why you made certain design choices.
• Leadership Emphasis: Showcase examples of how you've led teams, managed projects, mentored designers, and influenced stakeholders. Highlight your role in driving creative excellence and innovation.
• Brand Diversity: Ensure your portfolio demonstrates experience with diverse brands and projects, clearly distinguishing your work for different agency brands if applicable.
• AI & Emerging Tech: If you have experience integrating AI or other emerging technologies into design workflows, highlight these projects and their outcomes.
• Conciseness and Clarity: Organize your portfolio for easy navigation, with clear headings and concise descriptions. Be prepared to walk through your most impactful projects efficiently.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand OMG's Ecosystem: Research OMD, PHD, Hearts & Science, and Omnicom Media Group's overall strategy, recent campaigns, and market position.
• Develop a Vision: Formulate a clear, strategic vision for design within OMG, addressing how design can drive growth, enhance brand equity, and leverage new technologies across the three agencies.
• Focus on Collaboration: Prepare to discuss how you envision collaborating with marketing, strategy, and operations teams to achieve integrated success.
• Data Integration: Be ready to discuss how design can be integrated with data analytics and the Omni orchestration system to demonstrate impact and drive continuous improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a Global Head role will be rigorous, focusing heavily on strategic thinking, leadership, and demonstrable impact. A well-curated portfolio that tells a strategic story, rather than just showcasing pretty pictures, is essential. The potential for a presentation challenge or case study underscores the need for candidates to be prepared to articulate their vision and problem-solving approach under pressure.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Software:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Expert proficiency required in Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign for graphic design, branding, and asset creation.
• Motion Graphics & Video: Proficiency in Premiere Pro and After Effects for video content, animations, and dynamic presentations.
• Presentation Software: Advanced skills in PowerPoint are essential for creating executive-level presentations. Microsoft Office Suite proficiency is expected.
• Prototyping & Wireframing (Potentially): While not explicitly stated, familiarity with tools like Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD might be beneficial for digital design oversight.
• Canva: Specified as a required tool, indicating a need for versatility and potentially for broader team adoption or rapid asset creation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Visualization Tools (Indirectly): While not directly operating these, understanding how design integrates with data dashboards (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) and performance metrics is crucial for demonstrating impact.
• Project Management Software: Familiarity with tools like Asana, Trello, Jira, or Monday.com for managing design workflows and team tasks.

CRM & Automation (Contextual):

• Understanding of Marketing Automation Platforms: Awareness of how design assets integrate with CRM and marketing automation systems (e.g., Salesforce Marketing Cloud, HubSpot) to ensure seamless campaign execution.
• Omni Marketing Orchestration System: While not a design tool, understanding its role within OMG is key to aligning design strategy with the company's core operational framework.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Adobe Creative Suite, PowerPoint, Microsoft Office, and Canva indicates the core technical toolkit. The emphasis on "emerging technologies, including AI" suggests that candidates with experience in AI-powered design tools (e.g., Midjourney, DALL-E, AI plugins for Adobe) will be highly valued. The role requires not just proficiency in design tools but an understanding of how design integrates into a broader marketing technology ecosystem, particularly OMG's proprietary Omni system.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Creative Excellence: A deep commitment to producing innovative, high-quality design work that sets industry benchmarks.
• Strategic Impact: Design is viewed as a critical driver of business growth, brand equity, and client success, not merely an aesthetic function.
• Collaboration & Partnership: Fostering strong working relationships across agency brands, departments (marketing, strategy, operations), and with clients to achieve unified goals.
• Innovation & Forward-Thinking: Embracing new technologies, design methodologies, and creative approaches to stay ahead of industry trends and deliver cutting-edge solutions.
• Mentorship & Growth: Cultivating a supportive environment where design talent is nurtured, developed, and empowered to reach their full potential.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Proactively engaging with marketing, strategy, and operations teams to ensure design is integrated into all stages of campaign planning and execution, aligning with business objectives.
• Brand Stewardship: Acting as a guardian of the OMD, PHD, and Hearts & Science brands, ensuring consistency and impact across all visual communications while allowing for brand-specific creative expression.
• Feedback & Iteration: Encouraging a culture of constructive feedback and iterative design processes to refine creative outputs and ensure they meet strategic requirements.
• Knowledge Sharing: Facilitating the sharing of best practices, insights, and innovative approaches across the global design teams to foster collective learning and elevate overall capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to prioritize innovation, strategic impact, and strong collaborative partnerships, which are crucial for a global leadership role in a complex organization like OMG. The values emphasize not just artistic merit but also the business-critical role of design in driving success for clients and agency brands.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Global Brand Consistency with Agency Specificity: Maintaining a unified design vision and operational efficiency across three distinct agency brands (OMD, PHD, Hearts & Science), each with its own identity and client base, while allowing for their unique creative expressions.
• Integrating Emerging Technologies: Effectively integrating AI and other new technologies into existing creative workflows and team skill sets without disrupting productivity or compromising quality.
• Driving Measurable Impact: Demonstrating the tangible business value and ROI of design initiatives in a data-driven marketing environment, linking creative output to client success and agency growth.
• Managing Global Teams & Time Zones: Leading and collaborating with design teams spread across different geographies and time zones, ensuring seamless communication and project execution.
• Pace of Industry Change: Keeping pace with the rapid evolution of design trends, digital platforms, and client expectations in the dynamic media and advertising landscape.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Executive Leadership Training: Access to Omnicom's internal leadership development programs and executive coaching.
• Industry Conferences & Events: Opportunities to attend leading design, media, and marketing conferences to stay abreast of trends and network.
• Strategic Project Leadership: Leading high-visibility, global design initiatives that offer significant learning and development in strategic planning and execution.
• Cross-Disciplinary Exposure: Gaining deeper insights into media planning, client strategy, and marketing operations through close collaboration with other departments.
• Technology & Innovation Exploration: Opportunities to research, pilot, and implement new design technologies and AI tools, positioning oneself at the forefront of creative innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the complexities of managing design at a global scale within a multi-brand organization. Success will require strong strategic leadership, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous learning. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering a path for significant career advancement and professional development within a leading industry player.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your vision for the future of design within a global media services organization like OMG, considering the evolution of AI and data orchestration." (Focus on strategic foresight, AI integration, and alignment with Omni.)
• "How would you approach harmonizing the design standards and creative output for OMD, PHD, and Hearts & Science while respecting their individual brand identities?" (Focus on brand strategy, governance, and collaborative leadership.)
• "Walk us through a complex design project you led from concept to execution. What were the key strategic decisions, challenges, and measurable outcomes?" (Focus on process, problem-solving, and ROI demonstration.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Omnicom Media Group and its agency brands (OMD, PHD, Hearts & Science), and how would your design leadership contribute to their strategic goals?" (Focus on research and strategic alignment.)
• "Describe your approach to building and motivating a global, diverse design team. How do you foster a culture of creativity and collaboration?" (Focus on leadership style and team dynamics.)
• "How do you ensure design initiatives are measurable and contribute to business objectives? Can you provide examples of how you've demonstrated design's ROI?" (Focus on data-driven approach and impact measurement.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your strategic approach, the design solution, and the quantifiable results. Use a STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) if helpful.
• Highlight Leadership: Explicitly discuss your role in leading teams, managing stakeholders, and driving decisions. Show how you influenced the outcome.
• Demonstrate Strategic Thinking: Explain the why behind your design choices. Connect them to business objectives, target audiences, and brand strategy.
• Showcase Versatility: Present a range of projects that demonstrate expertise across branding, digital, and experiential design, and ideally, integration with technology.
• Concise and Engaging Delivery: Be prepared to present your strongest work efficiently. Practice your talking points to ensure clarity and impact. Anticipate questions about your process and rationale.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation for this role should go beyond standard design skills. Candidates must demonstrate strategic business acumen, executive-level communication, and a deep understanding of the media and advertising industry. The interview will likely involve assessing not just creative talent but also leadership potential and the ability to drive significant organizational change.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the application link provided on the Omnicom Media Group careers page.
• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your most impactful and relevant case studies that showcase strategic design leadership, global brand experience, and measurable business results across branding, digital, and experiential design. Ensure your portfolio clearly articulates your strategic rationale and leadership role.
• Optimize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight your 10+ years of leadership experience in media/advertising design, your expertise with Adobe Creative Suite and presentation tools, and any experience with AI or emerging technologies. Quantify achievements wherever possible.
• Prepare Your Presentation: If a presentation or challenge is anticipated, develop a strategic vision for design at OMG, focusing on innovation, brand integration, and measurable impact. Practice articulating your ideas concisely and persuasively.
• Research OMG: Thoroughly understand Omnicom Media Group, its agency brands (OMD, PHD, Hearts & Science), its Omni marketing orchestration system, and its position in the industry. Familiarize yourself with their recent work and company values.

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