Interim Senior Creative Designer (of freelance)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Interim Senior Creative Designer (Freelance)

Company: Butternut Box

Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Job Type: Contract / Temporary

Category: Creative Design / Marketing Operations

Date Posted: 2026-02-27

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This interim Senior Creative Designer role focuses on developing high-impact brand campaign assets across various channels, including Out-of-Home (OOH), digital, and print media, to support Butternut Box's Go-To-Market (GTM) strategies.

• The position requires expertise in product packaging design, ensuring visual appeal and brand consistency for Butternut Box's premium dog food offerings.

• Key responsibilities include designing custom event stands, contributing to experiential marketing efforts and brand activations.

• The role necessitates meticulous organization, packaging, and distribution of design files in correct formats, a critical aspect of Marketing Operations and campaign execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the raw input describes a creative design role, the emphasis on campaign assets, product packaging, and event activations, coupled with file organization and adherence to brand guidelines, strongly suggests a need for operations-minded execution within the creative function. This role bridges creative output with operational delivery, crucial for GTM success.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and design compelling visual assets for integrated brand campaigns, encompassing Out-of-Home (OOH) advertisements, digital banners, social media graphics, and print collateral, ensuring alignment with strategic marketing objectives.

• Conceptualize and execute innovative product packaging designs that enhance brand perception, communicate product benefits, and comply with all regulatory and logistical requirements.

• Design bespoke event stands and activation materials that create memorable brand experiences and drive engagement at various company events and partnerships.

• Manage the end-to-end design process, including receiving creative briefs, translating them into effective designs, and ensuring all creative output adheres strictly to Butternut Box's brand guidelines.

• Organize, package, and distribute final design files in specified formats to internal teams or external vendors post-sign-off, ensuring smooth workflow and asset accessibility for campaign deployment.

• Collaborate closely with the Benelux Creative Team and other cross-functional stakeholders to ensure cohesive brand messaging and campaign execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities listed go beyond standard creative tasks, highlighting the operational aspects of design delivery. The need to manage file organization, adhere to brand guidelines for campaign execution, and design for specific marketing channels (OOH, digital, print) indicates a requirement for structured workflow management typical in operations roles.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong educational background in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related creative field is highly beneficial. Candidates are expected to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of design principles and their application in marketing and branding contexts.

Experience: A minimum of 2-5 years of professional experience in graphic design, with a significant focus on brand campaign development, product packaging, and experiential design. Proven experience in an interim or freelance capacity is a plus, demonstrating adaptability and self-management.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Figma for creating and managing design assets.

• Demonstrated ability to translate creative briefs into compelling visual designs that align with established brand guidelines.

• Strong portfolio showcasing successful projects in brand campaign asset creation (OOH, digital, print), product packaging, and event stand design.

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively within a creative team and with other departments.

• Fluency in both Dutch and English (written and spoken) for effective communication within the Benelux region and with international teams.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with 3D design software such as SketchUp or AutoCAD for event stand visualization.

• Familiarity with project management tools and workflows to ensure efficient delivery of design projects.

• Understanding of print production processes and digital asset optimization for various platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on specific software (Illustrator, Photoshop, Figma) and the requirement for a portfolio demonstrating specific types of design work (campaign assets, packaging, event stands) are direct indicators of the operational requirements for this creative role. The inclusion of SketchUp/AutoCAD as a bonus further points to the practical, execution-oriented nature of the design tasks.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio that clearly demonstrates a range of design projects relevant to the role's responsibilities, including examples of brand campaign assets (OOH, digital, print), product packaging, and event stand designs.

• Case studies within the portfolio should highlight the design process, from brief interpretation to final execution, emphasizing problem-solving and brand guideline adherence.

• The portfolio should showcase the candidate's proficiency with required design software (Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Figma) and their ability to deliver high-quality, on-brand creative output.

Process Documentation:

• Candidates are expected to articulate their design process, including how they approach creative briefs, manage revisions, and ensure brand consistency across all deliverables.

• The ability to discuss file management strategies, including organization, naming conventions, and format specifications for various media outputs, will be assessed.

• A clear understanding of how design fits into broader marketing and GTM strategies, including how creative assets support campaign objectives and drive measurable results.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a creative role with operational undertones, the portfolio is paramount. It serves as proof of concept for both creative talent and the ability to execute within defined parameters. The emphasis on process documentation and file management signals the need for a designer who can integrate seamlessly into a structured workflow.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: As an interim/freelance role for 2-4 days per week (ideally 32 hours), the compensation will be commensurate with experience and the freelance rate. Based on industry standards for experienced freelance designers in Amsterdam with proficiency in Adobe Suite and Figma, a gross hourly rate of €40 - €65 is estimated. This translates to a potential weekly gross income of approximately €1,280 - €2,080 for a 32-hour week.

Benefits:

• As a freelance/interim position, standard employee benefits may not apply. However, Butternut Box offers a unique working environment and the opportunity to contribute to a mission-driven company.

• Potential for hybrid work, offering a balance between in-office collaboration and remote flexibility.

• Direct contribution to impactful brand campaigns for a growing company in the pet food industry.

• Opportunity to work with a passionate and collaborative team of creatives and marketers.

• Exposure to the fast-paced and dynamic operations of a direct-to-consumer (DTC) brand.

Working Hours: The role requires availability for 2-4 days per week, with a strong preference for 4 days (approximately 32 hours per week). Specific working days and hours can be discussed and agreed upon with the hiring manager to accommodate both candidate availability and business needs, fostering a flexible hybrid work arrangement.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation for freelance roles is based on typical hourly rates for comparable positions in Amsterdam, considering the specified experience level and software proficiencies. The benefits are framed in the context of a freelance engagement, highlighting non-monetary advantages and flexibility inherent in such arrangements.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: E-commerce / Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Pet Food. Butternut Box operates in the rapidly growing premium pet food market, leveraging a subscription-based model and a strong focus on health, quality, and customer convenience. This industry demands agility, data-driven decision-making, and a customer-centric approach, impacting how creative operations are managed.

Company Size: Butternut Box has shown significant growth, indicated by its expansion into new markets like Benelux. While exact current numbers aren't specified, its operational presence suggests a mid-sized to large, rapidly scaling organization. This size implies a need for structured processes and efficient collaboration, even within creative teams.

Founded: Founded in 2016, Butternut Box is a relatively young company that has rapidly disrupted the pet food industry with its innovative fresh food model. Its founding ethos likely emphasizes innovation, a strong mission, and a customer-focused approach that permeates its operations and brand communications.

Team Structure:

• The role is within the Benelux Creative Team, suggesting a localized marketing and creative function to cater to the specific regional market.

• This team likely collaborates closely with central marketing, product development, and operations teams to ensure brand consistency and effective campaign rollout.

Methodology:

• Butternut Box's DTC model relies heavily on data-driven marketing and personalized customer experiences. Creative output is expected to be informed by customer insights and performance metrics.

• The company likely employs agile methodologies for campaign development and execution, requiring designers to be adaptable and responsive to changing market needs and performance data.

• Emphasis on quality and brand integrity, ensuring all creative assets reflect the premium nature of the product and the company's mission.

Company Website: https://www.butternutbox.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding Butternut Box's industry, size, and founding principles is crucial for a creative role that has operational components. The DTC model and focus on data imply that creative output is not just about aesthetics but also about driving measurable business outcomes, requiring a designer to think strategically and operationally.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is an "Interim Senior Creative Designer" role, indicating a mid-level to senior position within the creative function. The term "Senior" implies a level of autonomy, experience, and the ability to handle complex design challenges independently. In an operations context, this translates to managing design workflows efficiently and contributing to the operational readiness of creative assets.

Reporting Structure: The designer will likely report to a Creative Lead or Marketing Manager for the Benelux region. This structure ensures alignment with regional marketing strategies and provides a clear point of contact for briefs, feedback, and approvals, facilitating smooth operational execution.

Operations Impact: While primarily a creative role, the designer's output directly impacts Butternut Box's Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy by providing the visual assets needed for campaigns, product launches, and customer engagement initiatives. Effective and timely delivery of these assets is critical for operational success in executing marketing plans and driving customer acquisition and retention.

Growth Opportunities:

• For an interim role, growth is primarily focused on skill enhancement and project experience. This role offers the opportunity to deepen expertise in campaign design, packaging, and event activations within a fast-growing DTC company.

• Potential to refine workflow management and collaboration skills by working within a structured marketing operations environment.

• Depending on performance and business needs, there might be opportunities for contract extension or consideration for future roles within Butternut Box.

📝 Enhancement Note: For an interim role, growth opportunities are typically framed around skill development and the value of the experience gained. The "Senior" title suggests an expectation of independent work and problem-solving, aligning with the operational need for self-sufficient contributors. The impact on GTM highlights the importance of creative execution within the broader business operations.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is described as "Hybrid," with a preference for candidates who can come into the office in Amsterdam a few days a week. This suggests a collaborative office environment designed to foster team interaction and creative brainstorming, balanced with the flexibility of remote work.

Office Location(s): The primary office location mentioned is Amsterdam, Netherlands. This location serves as the hub for the Benelux Creative Team, offering a central point for in-person collaboration and team meetings.

Workspace Context:

• The hybrid model allows for a blend of focused individual work (potentially remote) and collaborative team sessions (in-office). This setup is conducive to creative processes that require both deep concentration and dynamic idea exchange.

• Access to office resources, including meeting rooms and potentially collaborative design tools or hardware, will support in-person work.

• The environment is likely dynamic and fast-paced, typical of a growing DTC company, requiring adaptability and proactive engagement from team members.

Work Schedule: The role requires 2-4 days per week (ideally 4 days/32 hours). Specific days and hours are negotiable, allowing for flexibility. This arrangement supports efficient workflow management, enabling designers to balance project demands with personal schedules while ensuring consistent availability for team collaboration and project delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of this role is a key aspect of its work environment. It implies a need for strong self-management skills, effective remote communication, and an ability to leverage in-office time for high-impact collaboration. This is essential for maintaining operational continuity and team cohesion.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Application: Submit your CV and portfolio via the provided form.

• Portfolio Review: The creative team will review your portfolio to assess design skills, relevant experience, and alignment with Butternut Box's brand aesthetic. Be prepared to discuss specific projects and your role in their execution.

• Initial Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager or a member of the creative team to gauge your experience, communication skills, and cultural fit. Expect questions about your design process and how you handle creative briefs.

• Skills Assessment/Case Study: Potentially a short design exercise or a discussion of a hypothetical brief to evaluate your problem-solving abilities and proficiency with design software. This may involve designing a specific asset or proposing a concept.

• Final Interview: A conversation with key stakeholders to confirm fit, discuss terms of engagement, and finalize details.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Showcase your strongest, most relevant work, particularly examples of campaign assets, product packaging, and event stand designs if possible.

• Tell a Story: For each project, briefly explain the brief, your creative process, your contributions, the tools used, and the outcome. Highlight how your design met the objectives.

• Showcase Software Proficiency: Ensure your portfolio implicitly or explicitly demonstrates your skills in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Figma.

• Brand Alignment: Select projects that demonstrate an understanding of brand guidelines and the ability to create cohesive visual identities.

• File Organization Example: If possible, include a brief explanation or example of how you organize and deliver design files for various media.

Challenge Preparation:

• Brief Interpretation: Practice quickly dissecting creative briefs and identifying key objectives, target audiences, and brand constraints.

• Brand Guideline Adherence: Be ready to discuss how you ensure designs consistently reflect a brand's identity and messaging, even when adapting them for different media.

• Software Workflow: Be prepared to talk through your typical workflow in Illustrator, Photoshop, and Figma for a given project.

• Communication: Practice articulating your design choices clearly and concisely, both verbally and visually.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio review and potential skills assessment highlights the practical, execution-oriented nature of this role. Candidates should prepare to demonstrate not just creative talent but also their ability to work within defined operational parameters and deliver functional design assets.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Illustrator: Essential for vector graphics, logo design, illustration, and creating scalable assets for various applications.

• Adobe Photoshop: Critical for image manipulation, photo retouching, digital painting, and creating raster-based graphics for web and print.

• Figma: A collaborative interface design tool, vital for UI/UX design, prototyping, and creating design systems, increasingly used for broader campaign asset creation due to its collaborative features.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

Bonus Tools:

• SketchUp: For 3D modeling and visualization, particularly useful for designing event stands and experiential activations.

• AutoCAD: Professional software for 2D and 3D computer-aided design and drafting, relevant for detailed technical drawings of event structures.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Figma, along with SketchUp and AutoCAD as bonuses, clearly defines the technical toolkit for this role. Proficiency in these tools is a non-negotiable operational requirement for delivering the expected design outputs.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Quality & Craftsmanship: A commitment to producing high-quality, polished design work that upholds the premium image of Butternut Box.

• Collaboration & Communication: A strong emphasis on working effectively with other creatives and stakeholders, sharing ideas, and providing constructive feedback to ensure cohesive campaign execution.

• Efficiency & Timeliness: An understanding that design work needs to be delivered on schedule to meet marketing campaign deadlines and operational timelines.

• Brand Adherence: A dedication to understanding and meticulously applying brand guidelines to ensure a consistent and recognizable brand presence across all touchpoints.

• Passion for Pets: A genuine enthusiasm for dogs and Butternut Box's mission, which fuels creativity and enhances engagement with the brand.

Collaboration Style:

• The team operates with a hybrid model, encouraging both independent work and regular collaborative sessions. Expect a mix of virtual meetings, in-person brainstorming, and shared digital workspaces.

• Feedback is likely given and received constructively, focusing on improving the design's effectiveness and alignment with objectives.

• Cross-functional collaboration with marketing, product, and potentially operations teams is essential for ensuring design deliverables meet broader business needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture and values described emphasize a balance between creative freedom and operational discipline. The core values highlight the importance of quality, collaboration, and efficiency, which are crucial for any role that bridges creative output with business execution.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Pace and Volume: As an interim role covering for leave, there may be an increased pace and volume of work to ensure continuity. Managing multiple projects with tight deadlines will be key.

• Brand Integration: Quickly understanding and fully integrating into Butternut Box's established brand guidelines and aesthetic to produce on-brand work from the outset.

• Remote/Hybrid Coordination: Effectively collaborating and maintaining seamless communication within a hybrid team structure, ensuring all stakeholders are informed and aligned.

• Specific Software Proficiency: While core Adobe Suite is expected, mastering Figma for broader campaign use or SketchUp/AutoCAD for bonus tasks might present a learning curve if not previously used extensively.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen DTC Design Expertise: Gain hands-on experience with campaign design, product packaging, and experiential marketing within a successful DTC brand.

• Hybrid Work Best Practices: Enhance skills in remote collaboration, digital communication, and self-management within a hybrid work environment.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Understand how design integrates with broader marketing and operational strategies in a fast-growing company.

• Networking: Build professional connections within the Butternut Box team and the wider creative and marketing community.

📝 Enhancement Note: Identifying potential challenges helps candidates prepare. For this role, the primary challenges revolve around the interim nature of the position, the need for rapid integration, and adapting to a hybrid work model, all while maintaining high creative and operational standards.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for taking a creative brief from initial concept to final, approved design for a campaign like OOH or digital." (Focus on workflow, communication, and adherence to guidelines.)

• "How do you ensure your designs consistently align with brand guidelines, especially when working under tight deadlines or with new brands?" (Highlight your understanding of brand integrity and operational processes.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Butternut Box and our mission? How does our focus on dogs and fresh food resonate with you?" (Show genuine interest and alignment with brand values.)

• "How do you approach collaboration within a hybrid team environment, and what are your preferred methods for feedback and communication?" (Demonstrate your ability to work effectively in this setup.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Concise Storytelling: For each key project, aim for a 1-2 minute overview covering brief, challenge, your solution, and the result.

• Highlight Operational Aspects: Emphasize how you managed file organization, met deadlines, and collaborated with teams.

• Demonstrate Tool Proficiency: Explain how you leveraged specific tools (Illustrator, Photoshop, Figma) to achieve design goals.

• Brand Awareness: Show examples that clearly demonstrate an understanding of brand identity and guideline adherence.

• Ask Insightful Questions: Prepare questions about the team's workflow, current campaign challenges, or opportunities for design impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on showcasing both creative talent and operational readiness. Candidates should be ready to discuss their processes, problem-solving skills, and how they can contribute effectively within Butternut Box's specific context and hybrid work environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this interim Senior Creative Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided form, ensuring you include your CV and a link to your digital portfolio.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects that best reflect the responsibilities outlined, specifically focusing on brand campaign assets (OOH, digital, print), product packaging, and event stand designs. Prepare to articulate your process and impact for each.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your experience with Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Figma, as well as any experience with SketchUp or AutoCAD. Quantify achievements where possible, e.g., "Designed X campaign assets resulting in Y engagement."

• Interview Preparation: Practice discussing your design process, how you handle creative briefs, and your experience working within brand guidelines. Prepare specific examples from your portfolio that showcase your problem-solving skills and collaborative approach.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Butternut Box's brand, mission, values, and recent marketing efforts to demonstrate your understanding and enthusiasm for the company and its products.

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

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