Junior Graphic Designer (d/f/m)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Junior Graphic Designer (d/f/m)

Company: Leapsome

Location: Berlin, Germany

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Design / Marketing Operations

Date Posted: 2025-12-23

Experience Level: Junior (0-2 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on supporting the execution of diverse graphic design tasks across marketing, brand, and internal communications for a rapidly growing HR tech company.

• A key aspect will be the exploration and implementation of AI-powered design tools to enhance creative workflows and efficiency.

• The Junior Graphic Designer will collaborate closely with the Design Lead, contributing fresh ideas and shaping visual outputs that align with Leapsome's brand identity.

• This position offers an excellent opportunity for early-career designers to gain experience in a dynamic environment, with a strong emphasis on learning, experimentation, and the future of design.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the primary function is graphic design, the emphasis on AI tools and process improvement strongly aligns with aspects of Marketing Operations and GTM support, as design assets are critical for marketing campaigns and customer-facing materials. The role's focus on efficiency and tool adoption also touches on Revenue Operations principles.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Execute a range of graphic design tasks, including social media assets, campaign visuals, presentations, landing page graphics, and illustrations, ensuring brand consistency.

• Collaborate with the Design Lead to translate briefs and concepts into compelling visual designs that embody the Leapsome brand.

• Actively research, test, and experiment with emerging AI-powered design tools (e.g., generative AI for images, AI for layout optimization, automation tools) to identify workflow improvements.

• Assist in the integration of identified AI tools into practical design processes, contributing to faster asset creation without compromising quality.

• Refine and iterate on design assets based on feedback, balancing speed, consistency, and creative integrity.

• Stay abreast of current design trends, digital tools, and visual culture to help maintain Leapsome's forward-thinking visual identity.

• Support internal communications with visually engaging materials.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility to "implement AI tools into real design processes" and "help the team move faster without compromising quality" directly relates to operational efficiency and process optimization, key tenets of Revenue Operations and Marketing Operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong educational foundation in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field is highly beneficial. This could be a Bachelor's degree, vocational training, or a robust portfolio showcasing equivalent learning.

Experience: Foundational experience in graphic design is required, demonstrated through internships, junior roles, or significant personal projects. Familiarity with the full employee lifecycle and HR technology landscape is a plus.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in core design tools such as Figma, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), or similar.

• A strong understanding of visual design principles, including layout, typography, color theory, and composition.

• Genuine enthusiasm and a proactive approach to exploring and experimenting with AI in design.

• Excellent visual storytelling abilities and a keen eye for detail.

• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple design tasks concurrently.

• Openness to feedback and a willingness to iterate on designs.

• Effective collaboration skills, with the ability to work constructively within a team.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with AI-powered design tools (e.g., Midjourney, DALL-E, Adobe Firefly, AI-assisted layout tools).

• Basic understanding of motion graphics or animation principles.

• Familiarity with web design principles or UI/UX concepts.

• Experience designing for digital marketing campaigns and social media platforms.

• An understanding of HR technology or SaaS product design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "AI-powered design tools" and "implementing AI tools into real design processes" suggests a need for candidates who can not only design but also understand and adapt to new technological integrations, a mindset crucial for operations roles focused on efficiency and innovation.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio showcasing a range of graphic design work, with a clear emphasis on versatility across different mediums (digital, print, social).

• Demonstrations of how design solutions address specific briefs or challenges, highlighting the thought process behind the creative execution.

• Examples of visual storytelling and brand consistency across various assets.

Process Documentation:

• While not a formal requirement for this junior role, candidates should be prepared to discuss their personal design process, including how they approach understanding briefs, ideation, execution, and incorporating feedback.

• The ability to articulate how they might integrate new tools or methodologies (like AI) into their workflow will be highly valued, showcasing an understanding of process optimization.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Junior Graphic Designer, the portfolio is paramount. The "process documentation" aspect here is less about formal SOPs and more about the candidate's ability to articulate their workflow and adapt to new tools, which is a core operational skill.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Junior Graphic Designer with 0-2 years of experience in Berlin, Germany, the estimated annual gross salary typically ranges from €32,000 to €45,000. This range accounts for the junior level, the specific responsibilities, and the cost of living in Berlin.

Benefits:

• Impact: Opportunity to contribute to a fast-growing scale-up in the People Performance & Enablement sector.

• Teammates: Join a diverse, international team of talented, smart, and kind individuals.

• Feedback and Recognition: Strong emphasis on feedback exchange and celebrating successes.

• Hybrid Model: Flexible work arrangement with options to work from home or in Leapsome's Berlin offices.

• Flexible Work: Enjoy work-life balance with flexible hours and the option to work remotely from other locations for up to 2 months per year.

• Learning and Development: Yearly development budget of €2,000 and access to the Good Habitz learning platform.

• Vacation: Generous 30 vacation days annually (or 40 at adjusted pay), plus public holidays, and a month-long paid sabbatical after 5 years.

• Health & Wellness: Free Urban Sports Club membership and Oliva subscription.

• Mental Health Support: Access to 1:1 therapy sessions via a mental health partner, plus workshops on wellness topics.

• Corporate Benefits: Exclusive discounts and deals from partners.

• Work-from-Home Stipend: A one-time stipend of €1,000 for home office setup.

• Monthly Team Activities: Regular social events and team-building activities.

• Competitive Pay & Equity: Competitive salary and a pre-IPO equity package.

Working Hours: The role is full-time, typically based on a 40-hour work week, with flexibility in scheduling to support work-life balance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on industry benchmarks for junior design roles in major German tech hubs like Berlin, considering the company's stage (scale-up) and the competitive nature of the SaaS market. The benefits package is comprehensive and aligns with modern tech company offerings.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Leapsome operates in the Human Resources Technology (HR Tech) and Software as a Service (SaaS) sector, specifically focusing on People Performance and Enablement. This industry is characterized by rapid innovation, a focus on employee experience, and the increasing integration of AI.

Company Size: Leapsome is a fast-growing scale-up, indicating a dynamic environment with evolving structures and processes. This size often means opportunities for significant individual impact and rapid career progression, but also requires adaptability and a willingness to contribute to building and refining processes.

Founded: Founded in 2015, Leapsome has established itself in the market and secured significant funding, suggesting a stable yet ambitious growth trajectory.

Team Structure:

• The design team likely operates within or closely with the Marketing and Product departments.

• The Junior Graphic Designer will report directly to a Design Lead, indicating a mentorship-driven structure.

Methodology:

• Leapsome emphasizes an AI-powered approach to HR, suggesting a data-driven and technologically forward-thinking mindset across the organization.

• The company culture values "challenging the status quo" and seeking "impact," indicating a focus on innovation, efficiency, and measurable results.

• Design at Leapsome is positioned as a blend of creativity and practical application, with an emphasis on using new tools to improve workflows.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's industry and stage (growing scale-up) imply a need for operations professionals who are adaptable, embrace new technologies (like AI), and are focused on driving efficiency and impact within their domain.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Junior Graphic Designer, an entry-level position (0-2 years of experience) within the design function. For operations professionals, this translates to a foundational role where the focus is on skill development, learning established processes, and contributing to execution. The emphasis on AI tool exploration offers a unique growth trajectory into future-forward design operations.

Reporting Structure: The Junior Graphic Designer will report to a Design Lead. This provides a clear line of mentorship, guidance, and feedback, crucial for skill development and understanding Leapsome's design standards and operational workflows.

Operations Impact: While not a direct operations role, the design output directly impacts Leapsome's Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy by creating compelling marketing materials, supporting brand perception, and enhancing product usability through clear visuals. The exploration of AI tools also contributes to operational efficiency, enabling faster campaign launches and asset production.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in core graphic design principles and become proficient in a wider array of design software and AI tools.

• Process Improvement: Contribute to defining and refining design workflows, particularly those involving AI, gaining experience in process optimization.

• Mentorship & Learning: Direct mentorship from a Design Lead, coupled with a €2,000 annual development budget and access to learning platforms, fosters continuous professional growth.

• Future-Proofing Skills: Gaining hands-on experience with AI in design positions the candidate for future roles in evolving design and operations landscapes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path for this role, especially with the AI component, can lead into specialized areas within marketing operations or GTM strategy, focusing on creative technology and operational efficiency in content creation.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Leapsome offers a hybrid work model, combining remote work flexibility with in-office collaboration. This suggests a modern work environment that balances individual focus with team interaction.

Office Location(s): The role is based in Berlin, Germany, with access to Leapsome's offices located in the heart of the city. This provides a central hub for collaboration and team engagement.

Workspace Context:

• The hybrid model allows for personalized work settings, catering to individual productivity needs.

• Office days are designed for collaboration, team meetings, and fostering a sense of community.

• Access to necessary design tools and technology is expected, supporting both remote and in-office work.

• The culture encourages interaction and knowledge sharing, typical of a growth-stage tech company.

Work Schedule: The work schedule is generally full-time (approx. 40 hours/week) with flexible hours. This allows operations professionals to manage their time effectively, ensuring that critical tasks like asset creation and process refinement can be completed without sacrificing work-life balance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid and flexible work environment is a key operational consideration, impacting how teams collaborate, manage projects, and maintain productivity. For designers, this means adapting to asynchronous communication and structured in-office collaboration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application Submission: Submit CV and answer brief questions ("Why Leapsome? Why you?"). A cover letter is not required.

• Portfolio Review: Expect a thorough review of your design portfolio to assess foundational skills, creativity, and understanding of design principles.

• Initial Screening: May involve a brief call with an HR representative or hiring manager to discuss your background and interest.

• Skills Assessment/Case Study: A practical design task or case study, potentially involving AI tools, to evaluate your problem-solving abilities, design execution, and workflow approach.

• Team/Lead Interview: An in-depth discussion with the Design Lead and potentially other team members to assess technical skills, cultural fit, and understanding of Leapsome's vision.

• Final Interview: May involve senior leadership to discuss overall fit and potential impact.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 4-6 strong, diverse projects that showcase your best work and versatility.

• Highlight Process: For each project, briefly explain the brief, your role, your design process, the tools used (especially any AI exploration), and the outcome or impact.

• Showcase AI Exploration: If you have experimented with AI design tools, include examples and explain your learnings or how they could integrate into a workflow.

• Brand Consistency: Demonstrate your ability to maintain brand guidelines while being creative.

• Visual Clarity: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, visually appealing, and easy to navigate.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: Carefully read and deconstruct any design challenge. Identify key objectives, target audience, and constraints.

• Leverage AI: Be prepared to incorporate AI tools creatively and strategically into your solution, demonstrating your comfort and curiosity with these technologies.

• Articulate Your Process: Be ready to walk through your thought process, design decisions, and any trade-offs made.

• Focus on Impact: Consider how your design will contribute to Leapsome's goals (e.g., marketing engagement, brand perception).

• Time Management: Practice completing design tasks within a given timeframe, simulating interview conditions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on AI in the job description means candidates should proactively showcase any AI tool experimentation in their portfolio and be ready to discuss it during interviews. This is a key differentiator for this role.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI/UX design, prototyping, and collaborative design workflows. Proficiency is expected for modern design teams.

• Adobe Creative Suite: Includes Photoshop (image editing, manipulation), Illustrator (vector graphics, illustrations), and InDesign (layout, print design).

Essential for a wide range of graphic design tasks.

• AI-Powered Design Tools: This is a key area of focus. Candidates should be aware of and ideally have some experience with tools such as:
  • Image Generation: Midjourney, DALL-E, Adobe Firefly.
  • AI Assistants: Tools that help with content generation, idea brainstorming, or automating repetitive tasks within design software.
  • Layout/Automation Tools: Emerging AI solutions that assist with page layout, asset resizing, or workflow automation.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• No direct CRM or automation tool requirement for this design role, but understanding how marketing materials integrate with CRM systems or marketing automation platforms (like HubSpot, Marketo) can provide valuable context for GTM operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "AI-powered design tools" is a critical requirement. Candidates should be ready to discuss their familiarity, willingness to learn, and potential applications of these tools in a professional design context. This aligns with a broader operations trend towards automation and efficiency.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Seek Impact: This value translates to designing assets that are not just aesthetically pleasing but also effective in achieving marketing or communication goals. It means understanding the "why" behind a design request and striving for measurable results.

• Listen & Learn: Encourages designers to actively seek understanding from briefs, stakeholders, and feedback. It promotes a collaborative approach where learning from customers and colleagues is valued.

• Challenge the Status Quo: Fosters a culture of innovation, where designers are encouraged to explore new tools (especially AI), propose alternative solutions, and push creative boundaries beyond traditional methods.

• Take Ownership & Pursue Excellence: Developers are trusted to own their design tasks and strive for high-quality outputs. This means taking responsibility for projects from conception to completion and maintaining high standards in craft.

• Be Honest & Transparent: Promotes open communication regarding design challenges, progress, and feedback, ensuring clear understanding and trust within the team.

• Be Kind & Humble: Emphasizes a supportive and respectful team environment where designers collaborate kindly, appreciate each other's contributions, and maintain a humble attitude towards continuous learning and improvement.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers will work closely with marketing, product, and potentially other teams, requiring strong communication and the ability to translate diverse needs into visual solutions.

• Feedback-Driven Iteration: The design process is iterative, with an expectation of receiving and providing constructive feedback to refine work.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of learnings, especially regarding new tools and techniques (like AI in design), to elevate the entire team's capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: Leapsome's values are deeply integrated into their operational philosophy. For a designer, understanding how these values influence design decisions, collaboration, and the adoption of new technologies like AI is crucial for cultural fit and effective contribution.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Speed and Quality with AI: Effectively integrating AI tools to increase speed and efficiency without sacrificing creative quality or brand integrity will be a primary challenge.

• Staying Ahead of AI Trends: The rapid evolution of AI design tools requires continuous learning and adaptation to leverage the latest advancements effectively.

• Translating Diverse Needs: Synthesizing input from various stakeholders (marketing, product) into cohesive and impactful visual designs.

• Junior Level Growth: Navigating the initial stages of a design career, developing core skills, and gaining confidence in a professional environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Tool Mastery: Dedicated opportunities to explore, test, and become proficient with cutting-edge AI design tools, developing future-proof skills.

• Design Skill Enhancement: Direct mentorship and a €2,000 annual development budget for courses, workshops, or conferences related to graphic design, visual communication, or related fields.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gaining insights into marketing strategies, product development, and HR technology, broadening understanding of the business context for design.

• Process Optimization: Contributing to the refinement of design workflows, gaining practical experience in operational efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenge of integrating AI into design workflows is a significant operational hurdle that this role is designed to address. Success here offers substantial growth potential in specialized areas of creative operations.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Tell me about your experience with [specific AI design tool]. How have you used it, and what were the results?"

  • Preparation: Be ready to discuss any AI tools you've experimented with, even personal projects. Focus on how you used it (e.g., for ideation, asset generation, workflow enhancement) and what you learned. If you haven't used specific tools, express your enthusiasm and willingness to learn quickly.

• "How would you approach designing a social media campaign visual for a new Leapsome feature, considering our brand guidelines and the need for speed?"

  • Preparation: Outline your design process, from understanding the brief to final delivery. Mention how you'd ensure brand consistency and discuss potential ways AI could accelerate parts of the process (e.g., generating initial concepts, creating variations).

• "Describe a time you received constructive criticism on your design. How did you handle it, and what was the outcome?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why Leapsome? What about our mission or product resonates with you?"

  • Preparation: Research Leapsome's mission ("make work fulfilling for everyone"), product, and recent news. Connect your personal values and career aspirations to their goals.

• "How do you see AI impacting the future of graphic design, and how do you plan to stay ahead in this evolving landscape?"

  • Preparation: Share your perspective on AI's role in design, emphasizing its potential as a tool for augmentation rather than replacement. Discuss your commitment to continuous learning and skill development in this area.

• "Based on our values (Seek Impact, Listen & Learn, etc.), how would you approach collaborating with the Design Lead on a project?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: For each project, present it as a mini-case study: the problem, your solution, your process, the tools (including AI if applicable), and the results.

• Highlight AI Integration: If you have used AI tools, make sure to call them out specifically. Explain your thought process and learnings.

• Showcase Versatility: Demonstrate a range of skills and project types.

• Be Concise: Respect the interviewer's time. Focus on the most impactful aspects of each project.

• Engage: Be ready to answer questions about your work and design decisions interactively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely assess not only design skill but also adaptability, a willingness to learn new technologies, and a proactive approach to problem-solving, all critical attributes for success in operations-aligned roles.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Junior Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio highlights relevant design projects, especially any work that demonstrates exploration of AI tools or process improvements in design workflows. Tailor your selection to showcase versatility and brand alignment.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly articulate your foundational graphic design skills, proficiency in key software (Figma, Adobe Suite), and any experience or interest in AI in design. Use keywords from the job description naturally.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, your understanding of AI's role in design, and your enthusiasm for Leapsome's mission. Prepare to discuss your portfolio and answer behavioral questions related to collaboration and learning.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Leapsome's product, mission, values, and recent company news to effectively answer "Why Leapsome?" and demonstrate cultural alignment.

⚠️ 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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