Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer Company: ZenTrades Location: Pune, Maharashtra, India Job Type: Full-time Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Services Date Posted: July 30, 2025 Experience Level: Entry-level to Junior (0-2 years) Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Develop compelling visual assets that align with ZenTrades' brand identity for diverse marketing campaigns and digital platforms.
• Collaborate closely with the marketing team to translate strategic objectives into creative design solutions, ensuring brand consistency across all touchpoints.
• Execute design projects from concept through completion, including social media graphics, website elements, presentations, infographics, and video content.
• Contribute to the continuous enhancement of the brand's visual presence by staying abreast of emerging design trends, software advancements, and industry best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is positioned as a vital contributor within the marketing function, focusing on visual communication to support Go-To-Market (GTM) strategies. Emphasis on creating assets for social media, presentations, and digital platforms suggests a need for adaptability and a broad range of graphic design skills relevant to a fast-growing SaaS company. The mention of "AI Agent platform" and "compliance-heavy industries" indicates a potential need for designs that convey technical sophistication and industry-specific compliance clearly.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and produce high-quality visual content for a variety of marketing collateral, including digital ads, social media posts, email campaigns, landing page graphics, and sales enablement materials.
• Create engaging and informative infographics and presentations to communicate complex information and support GTM initiatives.
• Edit and enhance video content for marketing purposes, ensuring professional quality and brand alignment.
• Participate actively in brainstorming sessions with the marketing team to generate innovative design concepts and campaign ideas.
• Conduct thorough design research, including competitor analysis and trend monitoring, to inform creative direction and maintain a competitive visual edge.
• Manage multiple design projects simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to project briefs and deadlines within a fast-paced startup environment.
• Maintain and update brand style guides to ensure consistency across all visual communications.
• Learn and understand the SaaS and AI industry landscape to create designs that resonate with target audiences in regulated sectors.

📝 Enhancement Note: Responsibilities are structured to support a growth-oriented marketing team. The emphasis on "social media graphics, presentations, website elements, infographics" alongside "marketing materials" and "digital assets" highlights the need for versatility. The requirement to "learn about the Global SaaS and AI industry" suggests that the designer will need to quickly grasp industry context to create effective visuals, a common need in rapidly scaling tech companies.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Arts, Digital Media, or a closely related field.

Experience:

• 1-2 years of professional experience in graphic design, with a portfolio showcasing a range of design projects. Experience in a startup or fast-paced tech environment is a plus.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite: Expert-level skills in Photoshop and Illustrator are essential for creating high-quality static graphics and brand assets.
• Video Editing Software Proficiency: Demonstrated skill in video editing software such as Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects for creating dynamic video content.
• Fundamental Design Principles: Strong understanding of typography, composition, color theory, layout, and visual hierarchy to create aesthetically pleasing and effective designs.
• Social Media Marketing Knowledge: Familiarity with best practices for designing graphics tailored to various social media platforms (e.g., LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) and understanding their unique requirements.
• Attention to Detail: Meticulous approach to design, ensuring accuracy in execution, brand compliance, and pixel-perfect output.
• Communication & Collaboration: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design concepts and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Time Management & Prioritization: Proven ability to manage multiple projects, meet deadlines, and prioritize tasks in a dynamic environment, demonstrating end-to-end ownership.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with other design software such as Figma, Sketch, or InVision.
• Knowledge of UI/UX design principles and best practices.
• Experience with motion graphics and animation.
• Familiarity with content management systems (CMS) for website updates.
• Understanding of SEO principles and how visual content can impact search rankings.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for proficiency in both Adobe Creative Suite and video editing software (Premiere Pro, After Effects) indicates a need for a versatile designer capable of producing both static and dynamic visual content. The "can-do attitude" and "hustle" requirement, along with "end-to-end ownership," points towards a candidate comfortable with ambiguity and proactive problem-solving, typical of startup environments.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive online portfolio (e.g., Behance, Dribbble, personal website) is mandatory for application.
• The portfolio should clearly demonstrate a strong grasp of design principles, including typography, color theory, and composition.
• Showcase a diverse range of projects, including social media graphics, website elements, marketing collateral, and potentially video edits.
• Highlight projects that demonstrate the ability to translate brand guidelines and marketing objectives into compelling visual narratives.
• Include case studies or descriptions for key projects that explain the design process, challenges faced, and the impact of the final design.

Process Documentation:

• Applicants should be prepared to discuss their design workflow, including ideation, concept development, execution, and feedback integration.
• Demonstrate an understanding of how to manage design projects efficiently, from brief to final delivery, ensuring quality and adherence to timelines.
• Familiarity with version control for design assets or collaborative design platform workflows is beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is critical for this role, serving as the primary evidence of design capabilities. The emphasis on showcasing a "diverse range of projects" and explaining the "design process, challenges, and impact" suggests that interviewers will look for strategic thinking behind creative execution, not just aesthetic output.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Given the location (Pune, India) and the 1-2 years of experience requirement, the estimated annual salary for a Graphic Designer in this market typically ranges from ₹3,00,000 to ₹6,00,000. This range can vary based on the candidate's specific skills, portfolio quality, and interview performance.

Benefits:

• Professional Development: Opportunities to work on impactful projects within a rapidly growing tech startup, gaining hands-on experience in the SaaS and AI industry.
• Mentorship: Collaboration with experienced marketers and designers, providing guidance and learning opportunities.
• Dynamic Work Environment: Exposure to a fast-paced, collaborative startup culture that encourages innovation and out-of-the-box thinking.
• Career Growth: Potential for career advancement as the company scales, with opportunities to take on more responsibility.
• Team Integration: Becoming an integral part of a growing team with opportunities to contribute to company success.

Working Hours:

• The role requires working within the US time zone (approximately 5:00 PM IST to 3:00 AM IST) from the Pune location. This implies a non-traditional work schedule.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specified working hours (5 PM IST to 3 AM IST) are a significant factor for candidates and are crucial for operations professionals to consider due to the impact on work-life balance and personal scheduling. This is a common practice for roles supporting international markets or teams. The salary estimate is based on industry benchmarks for junior graphic designers in Pune, India, considering the tech sector.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software as a Service (SaaS), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Compliance Technology for blue-collar industries (e.g., fire safety, electrical). Company Size: Rapidly growing startup, implied to be scaling beyond 150 customers. The exact employee count isn't specified but the growth trajectory suggests a dynamic and expanding team. Founded: The founding date is not explicitly stated, but the company is described as "fast-growing" and "at an inflection point," indicating a relatively young but established and scaling organization.

Team Structure:

• The Graphic Designer will likely be part of the Marketing department, working closely with marketing managers, content creators, and potentially product marketing teams.
• The role involves collaboration with various departments that utilize marketing materials, such as sales, product, and customer success.
• The reporting structure will likely be to a Marketing Manager or Head of Marketing, within a flat organizational hierarchy common in startups.

Methodology:

• ZenTrades leverages AI-driven solutions to modernize traditional industries, suggesting a focus on innovation, efficiency, and data-informed decision-making.
• The company culture emphasizes empowerment, ownership, and encouraging creative problem-solving, aiming to "challenge our status quo."
• Design outputs are expected to support GTM strategies by effectively communicating the brand's value proposition and product capabilities.

Company Website: zentrades.pro

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding ZenTrades' focus on AI and compliance-heavy industries is key for a designer. Visuals will need to balance technological sophistication with clarity and trust, especially when targeting blue-collar sectors. The startup environment implies a need for adaptability and a willingness to contribute across various tasks, aligning with the "no silos" approach.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at an entry-level to junior level within the broader marketing or creative operations spectrum. It offers foundational experience in a fast-paced SaaS environment.

Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer will likely report into a Marketing Manager or a senior member of the marketing team. This provides exposure to strategic marketing planning and execution.

Operations Impact: The Graphic Designer's work directly influences ZenTrades' brand perception, marketing campaign effectiveness, and customer acquisition efforts. High-quality visuals are crucial for conveying professionalism, innovation, and trustworthiness in the competitive SaaS market.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific design areas such as motion graphics, UI/UX, or campaign-specific visual strategy based on project needs and personal interest.
• Industry Knowledge: Develop a strong understanding of the SaaS, AI, and compliance technology sectors, which can lead to specialized design roles within these industries.
• Creative Leadership: With proven performance and experience, opportunities may arise to lead design projects, mentor junior designers, or contribute to the development of brand strategy.
• Cross-functional Exposure: Gain experience working with sales enablement materials, product marketing assets, and other areas, broadening career horizons within operations and marketing.

📝 Enhancement Note: For an operations-focused candidate, this role offers a chance to build a portfolio with tangible marketing impact in a rapidly scaling tech company. The growth path is likely tied to demonstrating initiative, adaptability, and a consistent ability to deliver high-quality creative assets that support business objectives.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The job posting specifies a physical location in Pune, India, indicating an on-site work environment.

Office Location(s): A-302, Nyati Tech Park, New Kalyani Nagar, Wadgaon Sheri, Pune-411014, Maharashtra, India.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is likely a modern office setting within a tech park, conducive to collaboration and creativity.
• As a startup, the environment is expected to be dynamic, energetic, and potentially fast-paced, with opportunities for direct interaction with team members.
• Access to necessary design software and hardware will be provided to facilitate the execution of creative tasks.

Work Schedule:

• The role requires adherence to US time zones (approx. 5:00 PM IST to 3:00 AM IST), which is a significant aspect of the work environment. This schedule is designed to facilitate real-time collaboration with US-based teams and stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specified working hours are a critical factor for any applicant. Candidates must be comfortable with this evening/night shift schedule to effectively collaborate with the US market and teams. This arrangement is typical for roles supporting global operations or specific market functions.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess qualifications, experience, and design aesthetic.
• Design Challenge/Test: Candidates may be asked to complete a small design task or a case study relevant to the company's needs to evaluate practical skills and problem-solving approach.
• Interviews: Multiple rounds of interviews, likely including:
  • An interview with the hiring manager (e.g., Marketing Manager) to discuss experience, skills, and cultural fit.
  • A potential interview with other marketing team members or stakeholders to assess collaboration capabilities.
  • A review of the candidate's portfolio, discussing specific projects, design choices, and outcomes.
• Final Round: May involve discussions on career aspirations, understanding of the company's mission, and final fit assessment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects that align with the requirements: social media graphics, presentations, website elements, and any video work.
• Clearly articulate the context, your role, the challenges, and the results for each project presented. Quantifiable results (e.g., engagement rates, conversion improvements) are highly valued.
• Be prepared to discuss your design process, software proficiency, and how you stay updated with design trends.
• Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, visually appealing, and easy to navigate.

Challenge Preparation:

• If a design challenge is provided, focus on understanding the brief thoroughly.
• Prioritize clarity, brand consistency, and creativity within the given constraints.
• Be mindful of the specified working hours and any potential time limits for the challenge.
• Prepare to present and justify your design decisions clearly and concisely.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily rely on the portfolio. Candidates should be ready to discuss their design philosophy, problem-solving approach, and how their work contributes to marketing objectives. The "can-do attitude" and "hustle" requirement will likely be assessed through behavioral questions and how candidates approach the design challenge.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite:
  • Photoshop: For image editing, manipulation, and creating digital graphics.
  • Illustrator: For vector graphics, logos, icons, and illustrations.
• Video Editing Software:
  • Premiere Pro: For video editing, sequencing, and basic effects.
  • After Effects: For motion graphics, advanced visual effects, and animations.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary tool for the designer, an understanding of how design impacts analytics (e.g., click-through rates on ads, engagement metrics on social media) is beneficial. Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics or social media analytics dashboards could be an advantage for understanding design performance.

CRM & Automation:

• No specific CRM or automation tools are mentioned as core requirements for the Graphic Designer, but understanding how marketing assets are deployed through these systems (e.g., email marketing platforms, social media schedulers) would be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator is non-negotiable. The inclusion of Premiere Pro and After Effects indicates a need for a designer who can contribute to video marketing efforts, a growing area for SaaS companies. Familiarity with these tools is crucial for demonstrating readiness for the role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Out-of-the-Box Thinking: ZenTrades encourages creative ideas and challenging the status quo, valuing designers who bring fresh perspectives.
• End-to-End Ownership: A strong emphasis on taking responsibility for tasks and seeing them through to completion, demonstrating initiative and accountability.
• Collaboration: Openness to working across teams, sharing knowledge, and contributing to a collective goal.
• Learning & Adaptability: A culture that supports continuous learning and embracing new challenges, particularly in the fast-evolving tech and AI landscape.
• Quality & Attention to Detail: A commitment to delivering high-quality work that reflects professionalism and brand integrity.

Collaboration Style:

• The company promotes a collaborative environment with "no silos," suggesting open communication and teamwork across departments.
• Designers are expected to work closely with marketers, actively participating in brainstorming and feedback sessions.
• The dynamic startup culture fosters a hands-on approach where team members are empowered to contribute beyond their core roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should highlight their collaborative spirit and willingness to take ownership. Demonstrating an understanding of the startup culture – embracing challenges, contributing actively, and being open to feedback – will be key to aligning with ZenTrades' values.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Adapting to US Time Zones: The primary challenge is adjusting to and consistently working within the US business hours, which requires flexibility and strong personal time management.
• Rapid Growth Environment: Navigating the fast-paced and evolving nature of a growing startup can be demanding, requiring adaptability to changing priorities and project scopes.
• Industry Specialization: Quickly learning and effectively communicating the nuances of AI, SaaS, and compliance-heavy industries through design requires continuous learning and research.
• Balancing Multiple Projects: Managing a diverse workload of design requests from different departments while maintaining high quality and meeting deadlines.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Industry Exposure: Gain in-depth knowledge of the SaaS and AI sectors, understanding market trends and competitive landscapes.
• Skill Enhancement: Opportunities to expand skill sets in video editing, motion graphics, or other emerging design technologies through hands-on project experience.
• Portfolio Building: Create a robust portfolio with diverse, impactful work for a growing tech company, enhancing future career prospects.
• Mentorship: Benefit from guidance from experienced marketing professionals, fostering professional growth and learning.

📝 Enhancement Note: Applicants should frame the challenges as opportunities for growth. For example, the time zone difference can be presented as an opportunity to develop discipline and unique working habits. Understanding these challenges helps candidates prepare for the realities of the role and demonstrate resilience.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Portfolio Walkthrough: Be prepared to walk through 2-3 key projects in your portfolio, explaining your design process, the problem you solved, your role, and the outcome. Focus on how your designs supported marketing or business objectives.
• Software Proficiency: Expect questions about your experience with specific Adobe Creative Suite tools (Photoshop, Illustrator) and video editing software (Premiere Pro, After Effects). Be ready to discuss your workflow and any advanced techniques you employ.
• Design Principles Application: How do you apply typography, color theory, and composition to create effective marketing materials? Be ready with specific examples.
• Adaptability & Ownership: Describe a time you had to adapt to a changing project scope or manage multiple urgent design requests. How did you prioritize and ensure quality?
• Time Zone Management: How do you plan to manage your work and collaborate effectively given the US time zone requirement?

Company & Culture Questions:

• Research ZenTrades' mission, products, and target industries. Understand their AI agent platform and the industries they serve (fire safety, electrical).
• Be ready to discuss why you are interested in working for a startup and specifically ZenTrades.
• How do you align with the company's values of innovation, ownership, and collaboration?

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Practice presenting your portfolio concisely and engagingly. Focus on the "why" behind your design choices, not just the "what."
• Quantify results where possible (e.g., "This social media campaign increased engagement by X%").
• Be prepared to answer questions about your design process and how you handle feedback.
• Showcase your enthusiasm for learning and your ability to contribute to a growing team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation should emphasize showcasing not only design skills but also an understanding of marketing objectives, a proactive attitude, and the ability to thrive in a startup environment with non-traditional hours. The portfolio is your primary tool for demonstrating these qualities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your resume and a link to your online portfolio through the application portal or as directed ([email protected]).
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features work relevant to social media graphics, marketing collateral, and any video editing you've done. Prioritize projects that demonstrate strong design principles and brand awareness.
• Resume Optimization: Highlight your 1-2 years of experience, proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and video editing software, and any experience with SaaS or tech environments. Quantify achievements where possible.
• Interview Preparation: Familiarize yourself with ZenTrades' company and AI product. Prepare to discuss your design process, how you handle feedback, and your strategy for working effectively during US business hours. Practice presenting your portfolio.
• Company Research: Understand ZenTrades' mission to modernize compliance-heavy industries with AI. Be prepared to articulate how your design skills can support their growth and brand positioning.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions relevant to a Graphic Designer role in a SaaS startup. All details, especially regarding specific responsibilities, benefits, and the interview process, should be verified directly with ZenTrades during the application and interview stages.