Lead Brand Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Brand Designer
Company: Workiva Inc.
Location: Denver, Colorado, United States (Remote Option Available)
Job Type: FULL_TIME
Category: Brand Design / Creative Operations
Date Posted: January 09, 2026
Experience Level: 8+ Years (with AI-inferred 10+ years for "Lead" role)
Remote Status: Remote OK (within the United States)

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the evolution and stewardship of the Workiva brand, ensuring a confident, modern, and category-leading SaaS visual identity across all global touchpoints.
• Drive world-class brand design excellence by setting high creative standards, defining scalable brand systems, and delivering impactful visual storytelling for integrated campaigns and strategic initiatives.
• Provide creative leadership and mentorship to internal and external design resources, guiding agency partners and cross-functional teams to uphold brand integrity and strategic alignment.
• Translate complex brand strategies and business goals into compelling creative direction and design solutions that resonate with target audiences.
• Champion innovation by exploring and integrating emerging technologies like generative AI, 3D, and motion design to modernize creative workflows and amplify brand impact at scale.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Lead" in the title, coupled with the 8+ years of experience and responsibilities like "mentor designers" and "guide agency partners," strongly suggests this role is at a senior individual contributor or team lead level, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of brand strategy and execution. The AI-inferred experience level of 10+ years reflects this senior capacity.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary steward of the Workiva brand, elevating its visual identity, advancing the design system, and ensuring global consistency across all marketing programs and touchpoints.
• Translate brand positioning and strategic objectives into compelling creative direction and high-impact visual storytelling for integrated brand campaigns, digital advertising, product marketing initiatives, and executive-level presentations.
• Lead the conceptualization, design, and delivery of scalable brand systems, templates, and toolkits to empower global marketing and cross-functional teams.
• Stay abreast of emerging industry and creative trends in brand design, motion graphics, experiential design, AI-powered content creation, and digital storytelling, identifying opportunities for brand modernization and scaling.
• Uphold exceptional craft in typography, color, layout, and composition, guiding internal teams and external agency partners to meet Workiva’s quality and strategic benchmarks.
• Convert creative briefs into strategic design solutions rooted in data-driven insights and defined business goals.
• Collaborate with Creative Operations and production partners to ensure fidelity and quality from creative concept through final delivery.
• Provide creative direction, mentorship, and constructive critique, facilitating cross-team design reviews to elevate collective creative thinking, standards, and execution across internal and external stakeholders.
• Champion best practices in design, storytelling, accessibility (WCAG compliance), and global scalability for all brand assets.
• Manage the end-to-end production process for high-visibility deliverables, including executive decks, global events, major campaigns, and illustration/visual system work.
• Partner with Marketing teams to analyze creative performance data, refining design strategies for enhanced impact and continuous improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate a blend of strategic brand leadership and hands-on design execution, common for senior roles in B2B SaaS. The emphasis on "scalable brand systems," "toolkits," and "global consistency" highlights the operational and efficiency aspects expected.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Undergraduate degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, Brand Design, or a closely related field.

Experience:

• Minimum of 8 years of professional experience in brand design, visual design, or related creative marketing fields.
• Proven experience in business-to-business (B2B) marketing, with a strong preference for Software as a Service (SaaS) environments.
• Demonstrated ability to lead high-impact creative work within an enterprise B2B or SaaS context.

Required Skills:

• Brand System Development: Proven experience shaping or significantly contributing to brand refreshes, comprehensive brand systems, or large-scale identity evolutions.
• Creative Craftsmanship: Exceptional command of typography, color theory, layout, and composition, ensuring high aesthetic quality and strategic alignment.
• Figma Proficiency: High proficiency in Figma for collaborative design, prototyping, and design system management.
• Adobe Creative Suite Mastery: Advanced skills in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, Premiere Pro) for detailed design execution and motion graphics.
• B2B/SaaS Marketing Acumen: Deep understanding of B2B marketing principles and the unique visual communication needs of SaaS companies.
• Strategic Design Thinking: Ability to translate briefs into strategic design solutions rooted in insights and business objectives.

Preferred Skills:

• Emerging Technologies Integration: Experience leveraging generative AI tools, 3D design software, and motion graphics to innovate creative workflows and amplify brand impact.
• Mentorship & Leadership: Experience mentoring junior designers or leading creative reviews, fostering team growth and elevating collective creative output.
• Digital & Experiential Design: Strong portfolio showcasing expertise in digital and social design, event/experiential design, and concept development.
• Global Scalability: Understanding of designing for global audiences and ensuring brand consistency across diverse markets.
• Accessibility Standards: Knowledge of and commitment to designing for accessibility (WCAG compliance).
• Production Management: Experience managing end-to-end production for complex, high-visibility projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The preferred qualifications highlight a forward-thinking approach to design, emphasizing emerging technologies and leadership capabilities, which are critical for a "Lead" role in a dynamic SaaS company. The emphasis on Figma and Adobe Suite is standard for senior design roles.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio is mandatory, showcasing a diverse range of high-impact creative work.
• Must include examples of identity systems, comprehensive campaign work (across various media), digital and social design assets, event/experiential design concepts, and sophisticated visual craft.
• Demonstrate a clear ability to develop and evolve brand systems, including style guides, templates, and toolkits.
• Showcase conceptual thinking, strategic rationale, and the process behind design solutions, not just final outputs.
• Include examples that highlight the application of design principles in a B2B or SaaS context.

Process Documentation:

• Evidence of managing the end-to-end production process for complex deliverables, from concept through final execution.
• Examples of how you have translated brand strategies and positioning into tangible creative direction and visual storytelling.
• Documentation or case studies illustrating how you have partnered with cross-functional teams (e.g., Demand Generation, Product Marketing, GTM) to ensure brand consistency and impact.
• Demonstrate experience in analyzing performance data to refine creative strategies and drive continuous improvement in design effectiveness.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Lead Brand Designer, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to demonstrate not only design skill but also strategic thinking, process management, and the ability to scale brand application across an organization, especially within a B2B SaaS context.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• US Salary Range: $133,000.00 - $214,000.00 USD per year
• Methodology: This range is provided by the employer and reflects the expected compensation for a Lead Brand Designer in the US market, considering factors like location, experience level, and the strategic importance of the role. The actual offer will be based on a comprehensive assessment of skills, qualifications, and experience.

Benefits:

• Discretionary Bonus: A bonus typically paid annually, reflecting company and individual performance.
• Restricted Stock Units (RSUs): Equity granted at the time of hire, providing ownership and long-term incentive.
• 401(k) Match: Employer contribution to retirement savings, supporting long-term financial planning.
• Comprehensive Employee Benefits Package: Includes health, dental, vision insurance, and other benefits designed to support employee well-being.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours (likely 40 hours per week), with flexibility for project deadlines and remote work arrangements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is substantial, reflecting the senior nature of the Lead Brand Designer role and the specialized skills required in a B2B SaaS environment. The inclusion of RSUs is a significant component of the total compensation package in tech companies like Workiva.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software as a Service (SaaS) - specifically focused on financial reporting and compliance solutions. Company Size: Workiva is a public company, indicating a significant organizational structure. Based on LinkedIn data for Workiva Inc., it is a large enterprise with over 5,000 employees. Founded: Workiva was founded in 1997, signifying a long-standing presence and established history in the tech industry.

Team Structure:

• The Lead Brand Designer will likely report to the Senior Director of Creative & Brand, indicating a clear leadership hierarchy within the creative department.
• This role requires close collaboration with various cross-functional teams, including Demand Generation, Product Marketing, Web Operations, Global Events, and Go-to-Market (GTM) teams, highlighting a matrixed and collaborative operational environment.
• The role also involves guiding agency partners, suggesting an external vendor management component within the team's operational framework.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: The role emphasizes analyzing performance data in partnership with Marketing to refine creative for impact and continuous improvement, indicating a data-informed approach to design.
• Brand System & Scalability: A core focus is on developing scalable brand systems, templates, and toolkits, underscoring a commitment to efficiency, consistency, and operational excellence in brand application.
• Innovation & Trend Integration: The role is expected to stay at the forefront of creative trends and explore new technologies (AI, 3D, motion) to modernize and scale the brand, reflecting a forward-thinking and adaptive methodology.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Workiva's industry and size suggest a need for robust, scalable, and consistent brand execution. The emphasis on collaboration with GTM and marketing teams indicates that brand design is closely tied to revenue generation and market positioning efforts.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior-level individual contributor role with significant leadership responsibilities. It sits at the cusp of an individual expert and a potential team lead, focused on driving brand strategy and execution at a high level. The role requires both deep design expertise and strategic influence.

Reporting Structure: The Lead Brand Designer reports to the Senior Director of Creative & Brand. This structure places the role within a dedicated creative and brand leadership team, offering opportunities for mentorship and strategic alignment with senior leadership.

Operations Impact: The Lead Brand Designer's work directly impacts the perceived value and market positioning of Workiva's SaaS solutions. By elevating the brand's visual identity and ensuring consistent, high-quality creative across all touchpoints, this role supports GTM strategies, demand generation efforts, product marketing initiatives, and ultimately contributes to customer acquisition, retention, and revenue growth. The ability to translate brand into compelling visual narratives is crucial for market differentiation and stakeholder engagement.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Track: Potential to grow into a Creative Director or Brand Director role, managing larger teams and broader strategic initiatives.
• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas like motion design, AI-driven creative, or advanced design systems.
• Cross-Functional Influence: Develop stronger strategic partnerships with GTM, Product Marketing, and Executive teams, influencing broader business decisions through creative strategy.
• Industry Recognition: Contribute to award-winning campaigns and brand initiatives that can build professional reputation within the SaaS and design communities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Lead" title implies a path toward further leadership within Workiva's creative or marketing departments. The role's strategic importance in a B2B SaaS context offers significant opportunities for career advancement.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Workiva offers a hybrid work model, supporting employees in working either from a dedicated office or remotely. This indicates a flexible approach to the work environment. Office Location(s): While Denver is listed as a primary location, the "USA - Remote" option and "Workiva supports employees in working where they work best - either from an office or remotely from any location within their country of employment" suggest that the role can be performed from various locations within the United States.

Workspace Context:

• Flexibility: The remote option allows for a personalized workspace, catering to individual productivity needs.
• Technology Access: As a SaaS company, Workiva likely provides robust digital tools and collaboration platforms to ensure seamless remote and hybrid work. Expect access to industry-standard design software and communication tools.
• Collaboration: Even with remote flexibility, the role emphasizes collaboration with internal teams and external agencies. This suggests a need for strong virtual collaboration skills and active participation in digital meetings and review sessions.

Work Schedule: While a standard 40-hour work week is implied for full-time employment, the remote and hybrid options suggest a degree of flexibility in managing work hours, provided project deadlines and collaboration needs are met. This flexibility is crucial for operational roles that may involve deep work or responding to urgent creative needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on remote work flexibility within the US is a significant factor for operations professionals, allowing for better work-life integration while maintaining operational effectiveness.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio by a recruiter to assess basic qualifications and creative fit.
• Portfolio Presentation & Review: A dedicated session where you present your portfolio, detailing your most relevant work, strategic thinking, and design process. Expect to discuss specific case studies, your role in them, and the impact of your designs.
• Hiring Manager Interview: Conversation with the Senior Director of Creative & Brand to assess strategic alignment, leadership potential, and cultural fit.
• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from Demand Generation, Product Marketing, or GTM teams to evaluate collaboration skills and understanding of business objectives.
• Skills Assessment/Creative Challenge: Potentially a practical design exercise or a deep dive into a specific design challenge relevant to Workiva's brand, assessing problem-solving skills and design execution under pressure.
• Final Interview: A concluding discussion, possibly with higher-level leadership, to finalize the decision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 projects that best demonstrate your experience in brand identity, system design, B2B/SaaS marketing, and evolving visual strategies. Prioritize work that aligns with Workiva's brand and industry.
• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your strategic approach, your specific role and contributions, the design process, and the measurable outcomes or impact.
• Highlight Systems Thinking: Emphasize your experience with design systems, scalable templates, and ensuring brand consistency across diverse applications.
• Showcase Innovation: Include examples of how you've leveraged new technologies or creative approaches to solve design challenges or enhance brand impact.
• Prepare for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your creative rationale, decision-making process, how you handle feedback, and your understanding of Workiva's brand.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Workiva's Brand: Thoroughly research Workiva's current brand identity, messaging, target audience, and competitive landscape. Identify areas for potential brand evolution or refinement.
• GTM Alignment: Be prepared to discuss how brand design supports Go-to-Market strategies and drives business objectives within a SaaS context.
• Process & Collaboration: Think about how you would approach developing a new brand guideline or campaign concept within a fast-paced, collaborative environment, involving multiple stakeholders.
• Data-Informed Design: Consider how you would use performance data to inform and iterate on design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on portfolio presentation and potential creative challenges is standard for senior design roles. Candidates should be prepared to articulate their strategic thinking and process, not just showcase aesthetic talent.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for collaborative design, prototyping, and managing design systems. High proficiency is required.
• Adobe Creative Suite:
  • Photoshop: For image editing and manipulation.
  • Illustrator: For vector graphics, logos, and illustrations.
  • InDesign: For layout and print design (e.g., brochures, executive reports).
  • After Effects: For motion graphics, animations, and video elements.
  • Premiere Pro: For video editing and production.
• Presentation Software: Tools like Google Slides, PowerPoint, or Keynote for creating executive decks and client presentations.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary design tool, familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, marketing automation platform dashboards) will be beneficial for understanding campaign performance and informing design iterations.

CRM & Automation:

• Understanding how brand assets are utilized within CRM and marketing automation platforms (e.g., Salesforce, Marketo) may be beneficial for ensuring consistency in digital campaigns.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma and the full Adobe Creative Suite is a baseline requirement. Familiarity with tools used for analytics and marketing automation is a plus, indicating an understanding of how design integrates into the broader GTM and revenue operations ecosystem.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence in Craft: A commitment to high-quality design standards, attention to detail, and sophisticated visual execution.
• Strategic Partnership: Valuing collaboration and working closely with marketing, product, and GTM teams to ensure brand design effectively supports business objectives.
• Innovation & Adaptability: Embracing new technologies and creative approaches to keep the brand modern, relevant, and impactful.
• Scalability & Efficiency: Designing for global reach and ease of use, creating systems and assets that can be efficiently deployed across the organization.
• Data-Informed Decision Making: Utilizing performance data and insights to guide creative direction and measure the effectiveness of design initiatives.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Actively participating in and contributing to discussions with diverse teams, ensuring brand alignment across all departments.
• Feedback & Iteration: Open to constructive criticism and adept at iterating on designs based on feedback from stakeholders, agency partners, and performance data.
• Knowledge Sharing: Willingness to mentor junior designers and share best practices, fostering a culture of continuous learning and collective growth within the creative function.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at Workiva, as inferred from the job description, likely emphasizes a blend of creative excellence, strategic business alignment, and a forward-looking approach to technology and design.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Global Consistency with Local Relevance: Ensuring the brand system is applied consistently worldwide while allowing for necessary regional adaptations.
• Integrating Emerging Technologies: Effectively incorporating AI, 3D, and motion design into workflows without compromising quality or brand integrity, and managing the learning curve associated with these tools.
• Managing Stakeholder Expectations: Aligning diverse stakeholder needs and feedback across multiple departments (Marketing, Product, Sales, Executive) to arrive at unified design solutions.
• Driving Brand Evolution: Leading significant brand updates or refreshes in a large, established organization requires careful planning, communication, and buy-in.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Skill Development: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specialized areas like motion graphics, 3D rendering, or AI-powered design tools.
• Strategic Brand Management: Gaining experience in higher-level brand strategy, architecture, and long-term brand visioning.
• Leadership and Mentorship: Developing coaching and team management skills through mentoring junior designers and leading creative reviews.
• Industry Exposure: Potential for attending industry conferences, workshops, and participating in professional development programs relevant to brand design and creative leadership in the SaaS sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers significant opportunities for growth by tackling complex brand challenges and embracing new technologies, positioning the candidate for future leadership roles within the creative industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach evolving the Workiva brand identity to reflect our position as a category-leading SaaS company, considering our target audience and competitive landscape?" (Focus on strategic rationale, process, and desired outcomes).
• "Describe a time you had to manage conflicting feedback from multiple stakeholders on a critical design project. How did you navigate this to achieve a successful outcome?" (Prepare a STAR method answer demonstrating negotiation, communication, and strategic decision-making).
• "How do you leverage performance data or user insights to inform and iterate on your design solutions, particularly in a B2B SaaS context?" (Illustrate with examples of data-driven design improvements).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What are your initial impressions of the Workiva brand, and where do you see opportunities for enhancement or innovation?" (Demonstrate thorough research and strategic thinking about the brand).
• "How do you see yourself contributing to and fostering a collaborative design culture within Workiva, especially with remote and hybrid team members?" (Highlight your collaboration style and mentorship approach).
• "How do you measure the success of your brand design initiatives, beyond aesthetic appeal?" (Focus on metrics related to brand perception, market impact, and business objectives).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically, perhaps by project type or by showcasing a complete brand evolution project. Start with an overview, dive into specific examples, and conclude with key takeaways.
• Narrative: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your strategic approach, your specific contributions, the design process, and the resulting impact or outcomes. Use storytelling to engage the interviewers.
• Process Emphasis: Detail your workflow, the tools you used, and how you collaborated with others. For design systems, show how they are built and applied.
• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics or data to demonstrate the effectiveness of your designs (e.g., increased engagement, improved brand recall, successful campaign performance).
• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Prepare to answer detailed questions about any aspect of your presented work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, process mastery, and the ability to translate design expertise into tangible business value within a SaaS GTM context.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Brand Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workiva's careers page.
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating brand system development, B2B/SaaS marketing experience, and strategic brand evolution. Ensure it clearly showcases your role and the impact of your work.
• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to emphasize leadership experience, strategic brand design contributions, proficiency in Figma and Adobe Creative Suite, and any experience with emerging technologies or B2B/SaaS environments. Use keywords from the job description.
• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on the narrative, strategic rationale, and impact of each project. Prepare answers to common interview questions related to brand strategy, collaboration, and problem-solving.
• Company Research: Deeply research Workiva, its products, current brand messaging, target audience, and recent marketing initiatives. Understand their position in the SaaS market.

⚠️ 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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