Graphic Design Manager (Remote - US Based)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Design Manager (Remote - US Based)

Company: Balco, Inc. (RectorSeal)

Location: United States (Remote)

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Creative Operations / Marketing Operations

Date Posted: 2026-04-24

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years)

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Oversee and lead a distributed graphic design team, fostering a collaborative and high-performance creative operations environment.

• Drive the end-to-end production of marketing and technical assets, ensuring adherence to brand guidelines and quality standards.

• Implement and optimize creative workflows, leveraging modern tools, DAM systems, and AI-assisted efficiencies to enhance productivity and output.

• Act as a key player in modernizing the brand's market presence through strategic visual communication and operational excellence in creative production.

• Manage a high-volume project pipeline, balancing multiple concurrent projects and ensuring timely delivery across various marketing and product initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Graphic Design Manager," the description strongly emphasizes "creative operations," "workflow optimization," "systems building," and "AI-assisted efficiencies." This suggests the role is more focused on the operational and strategic management of creative production rather than solely hands-on design execution. The role bridges creative leadership with operational discipline, aligning it closely with a Marketing Operations or Creative Operations function within a GTM context.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and manage a distributed team of graphic designers (US and Vietnam), fostering professional development and ensuring high-quality output.

• Develop, implement, and refine creative production workflows, intake processes, and project management methodologies to improve efficiency and reduce turnaround times.

• Maintain rigorous quality control across all design assets, including sales sheets, technical guides, packaging, product documentation, and other collateral, ensuring brand consistency and accuracy.

• Champion the adoption of new technologies and processes, such as Digital Asset Management (DAM) systems and AI-assisted design tools, to streamline operations and drive innovation.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Product Marketing, Brand Management, and other GTM teams to understand project requirements, provide creative solutions, and ensure alignment with business objectives.

• Manage project queues, prioritize tasks effectively, and allocate resources to meet demanding production schedules and business needs.

• Develop and maintain template systems and style guides to ensure brand consistency and facilitate efficient design production for recurring assets.

• Oversee budget management for creative production tools, software, and potential external vendor engagements.

• Contribute to the strategic direction of the brand's visual identity and market presence through effective creative operations management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of team leadership, process optimization, and strategic implementation of creative assets. The emphasis on "modernizing," "scaling," and "operational excellence" points to a role that is integral to the GTM strategy by ensuring the efficient and effective delivery of visual content that supports sales and marketing efforts.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Marketing, or a related field.

Experience: 5–7 years of professional design experience, with a minimum of 2–3 years in a leadership or management capacity overseeing design teams or creative production workflows.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience in leading and managing creative teams, preferably in a distributed or remote setting.

• Mastery of the Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat Pro) and a strong understanding of graphic design principles, typography, and layout.

• Demonstrated ability to manage a high volume of concurrent projects, prioritize effectively, and meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

• Experience in B2B manufacturing or technical product environments, with an understanding of the unique design needs for these sectors (e.g., technical documentation, product specification sheets).

• Strong understanding of brand consistency and the ability to enforce brand guidelines across various marketing materials.

• Excellent project management skills, with experience in workflow development, process improvement, and resource allocation.

• Proficiency in developing and utilizing template systems for efficient design production.

• Experience with Digital Asset Management (DAM) systems for organizing, storing, and retrieving creative assets.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with AI-assisted design tools and workflows to enhance creative production efficiency.

• Familiarity with project management software (e.g., Asana, Monday.com, Jira) for tracking and managing design projects.

• Experience in international team management and navigating time zone differences.

• Exposure to packaging design and production processes.

• Understanding of basic HTML/CSS for web-related design assets.

• Experience with CRM and marketing automation platforms from a content creation perspective.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills emphasize operational leadership and technical proficiency in design tools, with a strong preference for experience in B2B manufacturing and workflow optimization. The inclusion of "AI-assisted efficiencies" and "DAM systems" signals a forward-thinking approach to creative operations, crucial for a role aiming to scale production.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 5-7 years of professional design work, with a significant portion demonstrating leadership responsibilities and workflow management.

• Case studies that clearly articulate your role in process improvement initiatives within design production, highlighting specific challenges, solutions implemented, and measurable outcomes.

• Examples of brand consistency across diverse collateral, including sales sheets, technical guides, packaging, and digital assets, demonstrating your ability to maintain brand integrity under pressure.

• Documentation or examples of template systems, style guides, or workflow diagrams you have developed or significantly improved.

Process Documentation:

• Candidates are expected to provide evidence or examples of their approach to:

  • Designing and documenting creative production workflows from request to delivery.

  • Implementing quality control measures for design output.

  • Integrating new tools or technologies (like DAM or AI) into existing design processes.

  • Managing and optimizing the intake process for design requests.

  • Collaborating with cross-functional teams to gather requirements and ensure project success.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Manager-level role focused on creative operations, the portfolio should emphasize not just design execution but also strategic process management, team leadership, and the successful implementation of systems that improve efficiency and brand consistency. A focus on measurable results and process optimization is key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $95,000 - $130,000 annually. This range is an estimate based on industry standards for a Graphic Design Manager role with 5-7 years of experience, significant leadership responsibilities, and a fully remote US-based position. Factors influencing the specific offer will include the candidate's experience, demonstrated skills, and alignment with the company's needs.

Benefits:

• Competitive base salary plus performance-based incentives, rewarding successful project delivery and team performance.

• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), offering employees a stake in the company's success and long-term growth.

• 401(k) retirement savings plan with a company match, aiding in financial planning for the future.

• Comprehensive health and welfare benefits package, likely including medical, dental, vision insurance, life insurance, and disability coverage.

• Paid time off (PTO), holidays, and potential for sick leave, supporting work-life balance.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours per week). While remote, a preference for PST hours is indicated, suggesting a need for strong overlap with West Coast teams for collaboration, though flexibility is implied.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is estimated based on typical compensation for a manager-level creative operations role in the US, considering the stated experience level and remote nature. The benefits listed are directly from the job description and are attractive components for operations professionals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Manufacturing (HVAC/R, Plumbing, Electrical, Construction). Balco, Inc., operating as RectorSeal, is a well-established brand in the industrial and trades sectors, known for providing solutions that enhance efficiency and reliability.

Company Size: Balco, Inc. (RectorSeal) is a subsidiary of CSW Industrials, Inc. CSW Industrials is described as a diversified industrial growth company. While the exact size of Balco, Inc. is not specified, CSW Industrials is likely a mid-to-large enterprise, suggesting Balco, Inc. operates as a significant division within it. This implies a structured environment with established processes, but also potential for agility within its specific market segment.

Founded: RectorSeal was founded in 1953, and CSW Industrials was founded in 1971, indicating a long-standing presence and deep industry experience for both entities. This legacy is being modernized, as per the job description.

Team Structure:

• The Graphic Design Manager will lead a distributed team of "two+ designers," with team members located in the US and Vietnam. This structure necessitates strong remote management and cross-cultural communication skills.

• The design team operates within a larger marketing team that is "scaling fast." This suggests a dynamic and growing function, likely with increasing demands and opportunities for process refinement.

Methodology:

• The company is actively "modernizing" its market presence and investing in "modern tools, DAM systems, and AI workflows." This indicates a commitment to leveraging technology and data-driven approaches to improve creative output and operational efficiency.

• Emphasis is placed on "operational excellence," "building systems," and "process improvements," aligning with core tenets of revenue and marketing operations.

• The marketing team's focus on "speed and consistency" for asset delivery highlights a GTM strategy that values efficient execution of creative collateral.

Company Website: www.RectorSeal.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's industry and focus on technical products are critical for understanding the nature of the design work and the audience. The emphasis on modernization and investment in new technologies suggests an evolving and dynamic work environment, attractive to operations professionals seeking to implement best practices.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a mid-to-senior management level, specifically for creative operations. It requires a blend of hands-on design understanding, strategic workflow management, and team leadership. The scope involves directly impacting the efficiency and effectiveness of the company's visual communication strategy.

Reporting Structure: The Graphic Design Manager will report into the broader marketing function. Given the emphasis on marketing operations and GTM support, this role likely has significant influence over how marketing campaigns and product launches are visually supported.

Operations Impact: The role's impact is directly tied to the efficiency and quality of creative asset production, which is fundamental to GTM success. By streamlining workflows, improving brand consistency, and enabling faster asset delivery, this manager directly contributes to the effectiveness of sales enablement, marketing campaigns, and overall brand perception. Success in this role can lead to improved lead generation, sales conversion rates, and stronger brand equity.

Growth Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Opportunity to deepen expertise in creative operations management, including advanced workflow automation, DAM implementation, and AI integration within creative processes.

• Leadership Development: Potential to grow into a broader Creative Director or Head of Marketing Operations role, managing larger teams and a wider scope of marketing functions.

• Strategic Influence: As the company modernizes its brand presence, there's a chance to shape future creative strategies and operational frameworks for the entire marketing department.

• Cross-Cultural Management: Gaining extensive experience in managing international teams, a valuable skill in today's globalized business environment.

• Industry Exposure: Deepening understanding of the HVAC/R, plumbing, and electrical markets, which can open doors to specialized roles within industrial B2B sectors.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth trajectory for this role leans heavily into operational leadership within a creative context. The company's focus on modernization suggests opportunities for individuals who can drive change and implement scalable solutions, making it attractive for those looking to advance in operations management.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote (US-Based). The company expresses a preference for PST hours, indicating a desire for strong team integration and collaboration during core West Coast business hours, though the role is not tied to a specific physical office.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote, the company headquarters is in Houston, Texas. Employees are expected to be US-based. The mention of potential international travel (up to 20%) suggests opportunities for in-person collaboration with international team members or stakeholders.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Despite being remote, the role emphasizes collaboration with a distributed team and cross-functional departments. Tools and strategies will be in place to foster this, likely including video conferencing, instant messaging, and shared project management platforms.

• Operations Tools & Technology: Access to modern creative tools, a DAM system, and AI-assisted workflows are explicitly mentioned, indicating a commitment to providing the necessary technological resources for efficient operations.

• Team Interaction: Regular team meetings, one-on-ones, and cross-functional project discussions will facilitate interaction with colleagues. The preference for PST hours implies a focus on structured communication and synchronous collaboration during specific periods.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time (approx. 40 hours/week). While remote, the preference for PST hours suggests a need for availability and active participation during those times for team meetings and collaborative sessions. Flexibility is implied by the remote nature, but adherence to core collaboration hours will be important for team cohesion and operational efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote nature, coupled with a preference for specific time zones and potential international travel, points to a modern, flexible work environment that requires proactive communication and strong self-management skills. This setup is common for operations roles seeking to balance global talent with regional business needs.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of applications and resumes to assess qualifications, experience, and alignment with the role's core requirements, particularly in leadership and creative operations.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager to delve deeper into leadership style, experience managing distributed teams, workflow optimization strategies, and understanding of B2B manufacturing design needs. This stage will likely involve behavioral questions.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: A dedicated session where candidates present their portfolio, focusing on case studies of process improvements, team leadership examples, and demonstrated brand consistency. This is a critical stage to assess practical application of skills and strategic thinking.

• Cross-Functional Interview: An interview with key stakeholders from Product Marketing or other GTM teams to evaluate collaboration skills, understanding of business needs, and ability to integrate with other departments.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader to discuss cultural fit, long-term vision for the creative operations function, and alignment with company goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Operations & Leadership: Emphasize projects where you improved workflows, managed teams, implemented new systems (DAM, AI), or solved complex production challenges.

• Quantify Impact: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your solution, and the measurable results (e.g., reduced turnaround time by X%, increased asset output by Y%, improved brand compliance score).

• Showcase Distributed Team Management: Include examples of how you successfully managed designers across different time zones and cultures, fostering collaboration and maintaining quality.

• Demonstrate Brand Guardianship: Present examples of how you've maintained or elevated brand consistency across diverse marketing collateral.

• Prepare for a Presentation: Be ready to walk through your portfolio, explaining your role, the challenges, and the impact of your contributions. Practice your narrative to be concise and compelling.

Challenge Preparation:

• Workflow Design Exercise: Be prepared for a potential exercise where you might be asked to outline a workflow for a specific type of marketing asset (e.g., a new product launch collateral package) or to identify bottlenecks in a provided scenario.

• Problem-Solving Scenarios: Anticipate questions about how you would handle common operational challenges, such as a sudden surge in project requests, a conflict within the design team, or the implementation of a new technology.

• Strategic Thinking: Be ready to discuss your vision for scaling a creative operations function, leveraging AI in design, and ensuring brand consistency in a growing company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process and portfolio review will heavily scrutinize operational acumen, leadership capabilities, and strategic thinking related to creative production. Candidates should prepare to demonstrate not just design execution but the ability to manage and optimize the entire creative process.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Mastery of Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Acrobat Pro is essential for production design and understanding the team's daily tools.

• Digital Asset Management (DAM) System: Experience with implementing, managing, or utilizing DAM platforms (e.g., Bynder, Canto, Widen) is highly valued for organizing and distributing creative assets efficiently.

• Project Management Software: Familiarity with tools like Asana, Monday.com, Jira, or Trello for managing workflows, tracking projects, and facilitating team collaboration.

• AI-Assisted Design Tools: Exposure to or experience with AI tools that enhance design processes, such as AI-powered image generation, content creation assistants, or workflow automation tools.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly stated for this role, understanding how to interpret basic analytics related to asset performance or campaign effectiveness would be beneficial for demonstrating ROI.

CRM & Automation:

• Familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) from the perspective of understanding how marketing assets are used within sales and marketing processes.

• Understanding of marketing automation platforms (e.g., Marketo, HubSpot) and how design assets integrate into campaigns.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "DAM systems" and "AI workflows" highlights the company's investment in modernizing creative operations. Proficiency in these areas, alongside core Adobe Suite skills and project management tools, will be critical for success.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Efficiency & Speed: A strong emphasis on streamlining processes and delivering high-quality assets quickly to support fast-paced GTM initiatives.

• Brand Consistency: A commitment to maintaining a strong, unified brand identity across all visual communications.

• Innovation & Modernization: An openness to adopting new technologies, including AI and advanced DAM systems, to improve creative operations.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Fostering a supportive environment for a distributed team and encouraging cross-functional partnerships.

• Accountability & Ownership: Taking responsibility for team performance, project outcomes, and continuous process improvement.

Collaboration Style:

• Remote-First Communication: Proactive and clear communication through digital channels (Slack, email, video calls) is essential.

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Working closely with Product Marketing, Brand, and other GTM teams to ensure design outputs align with business objectives and market needs.

• Feedback-Oriented: Encouraging constructive feedback within the design team and from stakeholders to drive continuous improvement.

• Process-Driven: A methodical approach to project intake, execution, and review, ensuring a structured and predictable creative production cycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture appears to be a blend of traditional manufacturing values (reliability, quality) with a modern, agile approach to marketing and creative operations, driven by technology and a desire for efficiency.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Managing a Distributed Team: Effectively leading and motivating designers across different time zones and cultural backgrounds requires strong communication, empathy, and structured management practices.

• Balancing High Volume with Quality: Juggling numerous concurrent projects for a growing company while maintaining high standards of design and brand consistency is a significant operational challenge.

• Integrating New Technologies: Successfully implementing and scaling new tools like DAM systems and AI workflows requires change management, training, and ongoing optimization.

• Evolving Brand Landscape: Keeping pace with modern design trends and the company's evolving brand portfolio in a competitive B2B manufacturing market.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Creative Operations Specialization: Deepen expertise in advanced workflow automation, DAM strategy, and AI integration within creative production.

• Leadership and Mentorship: Opportunities to refine leadership skills, mentor designers, and potentially build out the creative operations function.

• Industry Knowledge: Gaining in-depth understanding of the HVAC/R, plumbing, and electrical manufacturing sectors, which can be a niche specialization.

• Cross-Cultural Management: Developing robust skills in managing international teams, a highly sought-after capability.

• Strategic Impact: Contributing to the modernization and growth of a legacy brand, offering a chance to make a visible impact on company strategy and market presence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents opportunities to tackle complex operational challenges inherent in managing distributed creative teams and integrating new technologies, offering significant professional development for aspiring operations leaders.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your approach to building and managing a high-performing, distributed design team. How do you ensure quality and consistency across different locations?"

• "Walk us through a time you significantly improved a creative production workflow. What was the problem, what steps did you take, and what were the results?"

• "How would you prioritize design requests when faced with competing demands from multiple departments (e.g., Product Marketing, Sales Enablement, Brand)?"

• "What is your experience with Digital Asset Management (DAM) systems, and how would you leverage one to improve our creative operations?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about RectorSeal and its position in the B2B manufacturing market?"

• "How do you foster a collaborative culture within a remote team, especially when working with international colleagues?"

• "What are your expectations for work-life balance in a remote role, and how do you manage your time effectively?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Process & Impact: Structure your presentation around case studies that demonstrate your ability to manage processes, lead teams, and achieve measurable results.

• Quantify Achievements: For each project, clearly state the problem, your role, the solution, and the quantifiable impact (e.g., "Reduced asset turnaround time by 30% through workflow redesign," "Increased team's output by 20% by implementing a new project intake system").

• Showcase Leadership: Highlight instances where you mentored designers, resolved team conflicts, or implemented new strategies that benefited the team.

• Address B2B Manufacturing Context: Be prepared to discuss how your design approach is tailored for technical products and B2B audiences.

• Prepare for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your technical skills, management style, and strategic thinking regarding creative operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to articulate their strategic thinking regarding creative operations, demonstrate leadership in managing remote and international teams, and quantify the impact of their process improvement initiatives. The interview will assess both creative acumen and operational discipline.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Design Manager position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on recruiting2.ultipro.com.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your experience in creative operations management, team leadership (especially distributed teams), workflow optimization, and your familiarity with B2B manufacturing or technical product environments.

• Portfolio Curation: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best showcase your leadership, process improvement initiatives, and ability to manage high-volume design production. Ensure these include clear case studies with quantifiable results.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your experience with DAM systems, AI integration, and remote team management. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions related to problem-solving, collaboration, and leadership.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with RectorSeal's product lines, target markets, and recent marketing efforts. Understand their stated goal of "modernizing how a legacy manufacturing brand shows up in the market" and how your role contributes to this.

⚠️ 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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