Lead Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Designer

Company: Seattle Sounders FC & Seattle Reign FC

Location: Seattle, WA

Job Type: Full-Time Regular

Category: Marketing / Creative / Design

Date Posted: 2026-04-02T21:56:53

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the visual identity and creative direction for a globally recognized soccer club, encompassing both Seattle Sounders FC and Seattle Reign FC.

• Lead hands-on design execution and provide creative leadership, setting visual standards and guiding design outcomes across all club initiatives.

• Develop and execute brand-defining creative concepts across digital, social, print, environmental, and merchandise platforms.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with marketing, digital, partnerships, and matchday teams to ensure cohesive brand storytelling and alignment with business goals.

• Mentor and guide other designers, fostering a culture of high-quality creative output and continuous improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is explicitly for a professional with experience in both hands-on design and creative leadership, indicating a need to manage individual contributions alongside team guidance. The dual club responsibility suggests a need for adaptability in brand application.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Brand Creative Development: Lead the conceptualization and execution of brand-defining creative assets for digital platforms (website, social media, email), print materials (brochures, signage), environmental graphics (stadium, training facilities), and merchandise.

• Creative Concept Ownership: Own the visual direction for key projects and campaigns, translating strategic briefs into compelling creative concepts and ensuring their integrity from ideation through final delivery.

• Creative Leadership & Mentorship: Act as a creative leader by providing clear direction, constructive feedback, and mentorship to junior designers and other team members, elevating the overall quality and consistency of design output.

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Collaborate closely with Marketing, Digital, Partnerships, and Matchday teams to understand project objectives, align on creative strategies, and deliver integrated campaigns that resonate with target audiences.

• Campaign & Content Strategy: Contribute to the development of creative strategies for marketing campaigns, content series, and brand initiatives, ensuring visual alignment and impactful storytelling.

• Matchday & Event Creative Execution: Support the creation of high-impact, real-time creative content for matchdays and live events, capturing the energy of the club and enhancing the fan experience.

• Process Improvement: Actively contribute to refining creative workflows, clarifying briefs, and improving collaboration processes to enhance team efficiency and output quality.

• Trend & Culture Integration: Proactively research and integrate emerging trends in design, sport, and culture to keep the club's visual identity fresh, relevant, and innovative.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic creative ownership and operational execution, with a strong emphasis on cross-functional collaboration and team leadership. The need to support matchday and event creative points to a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent experience and mastery of design principles is paramount.

Experience: Extensive experience (5-10 years) in a creative or design role, with a proven track record of leading design projects and driving visual storytelling.

Required Skills:

• Graphic Design Mastery: Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, specifically Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, for creating high-quality visual assets.

• Visual Storytelling: Demonstrated ability to craft compelling visual narratives that effectively communicate brand messaging and evoke emotion.

• Creative Concept Development: Proven experience in generating original, impactful creative concepts that align with brand strategy and business objectives.

• Brand Identity Management: Strong understanding of brand guidelines and the ability to ensure consistency and integrity across all touchpoints.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to effectively partner with diverse internal teams and external stakeholders.

• Project Management: Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

• Feedback & Mentorship: Capacity to provide constructive feedback, guide junior designers, and influence creative direction.

Preferred Skills:

• Motion Graphics: Familiarity with motion graphics tools such as After Effects and Premiere Pro for dynamic content creation.

• Design Systems: Experience with the development and implementation of design systems for consistent brand application.

• Creative Operations: Understanding of creative operations, workflow optimization, and asset management best practices.

• Sports Industry Experience: Familiarity with the unique demands and culture of the sports and entertainment industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "extensive experience" and a portfolio demonstrating "leadership" implies a mid-to-senior level role. Preferred skills in motion graphics and design systems indicate a desire for candidates who can contribute to modern, scalable design practices.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a diverse range of projects demonstrating strong design craft, strategic thinking, and impactful brand execution, ideally including sports or entertainment-related work.

• Highlight examples of leading creative concepts from ideation through final output, illustrating ownership of the entire design process.

• Include case studies or examples that demonstrate effective cross-functional collaboration and how design decisions supported business or marketing objectives.

• Present work that reflects an understanding of various media, including digital, social, print, and potentially environmental or merchandise design.

Process Documentation:

• Be prepared to discuss your process for developing creative briefs, conducting concept ideation, and managing design feedback loops.

• Articulate your approach to maintaining brand consistency across multiple platforms and projects.

• Explain how you have contributed to or improved creative workflows and team efficiency.

• Provide examples of how you have integrated new trends or technologies into your design process.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on leadership and concept ownership, the portfolio should not just display finished work but also illustrate the candidate's strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and process during the design development lifecycle.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $90,000 - $110,000 annually.

• 📝 Enhancement Note: This salary range is based on the provided job description for a Lead Designer role in Seattle, WA, with 5-10 years of experience. Seattle is a high cost-of-living area, and the sports industry often offers competitive compensation for creative leadership roles. This range aligns with industry benchmarks for similar positions in major metropolitan areas.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Healthcare Coverage: 100% employer-sponsored medical, dental, and vision premiums for employee and dependents.

• Health Savings Account (HSA): Annual employer contributions ($1,000 employee-only, $2,000 spouse/family) for employees enrolled in the HSA plan.

• Generous Paid Time Off & Leave: Unlimited paid vacation, paid company holidays, paid sick leave, paid bereavement leave, and paid jury duty leave.

• Retirement Planning Support: 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching.

• Inclusive Parental Leave: 12–16 weeks of paid, gender-neutral parental leave (inclusive of WA PFML).

• Peace of Mind Coverage: Employer-paid long-term disability, basic life insurance, and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) coverage.

• Exclusive Perks: Complimentary tickets to matches and employer-funded ORCA cards for transit.

• Continuous Growth Opportunities: Investment in learning and development programs.

• Community Engagement: Opportunities for volunteer work aligned with social impact goals.

Working Hours: The role is full-time, with an expectation of 40 hours per week. However, flexibility is required, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, especially during matchdays and events.

📝 Enhancement Note: The benefits package is extensive, with a particular emphasis on comprehensive healthcare, generous paid time off, and unique perks like match tickets and transit passes, which are attractive to professionals in demanding creative roles within the sports industry.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Professional Sports (Soccer), Entertainment, Marketing. Seattle Sounders FC and Seattle Reign FC are prominent clubs within Major League Soccer (MLS) and the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), respectively, operating within a highly competitive and fan-driven market.

Company Size: The exact number of employees isn't specified, but operating two major professional sports franchises suggests a substantial organization with multiple departments, likely numbering in the hundreds. This size allows for specialized roles like this Lead Designer position while maintaining a sense of community.

Founded: Seattle Sounders FC was founded in 2007, and Seattle Reign FC (now known as Seattle Reign FC after a recent ownership change) has a history dating back to 2012. This indicates established clubs with a rich history and established brand presence within their leagues.

Team Structure:

• Marketing Department: The Lead Designer reports to the Executive Creative Director within the Marketing department, indicating a strategic focus on brand presentation and fan engagement.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The role requires close partnership with Marketing, Digital, Partnerships, and Matchday operations, suggesting a highly collaborative environment where design is integrated across all facets of the clubs' operations.

• Design Team Leadership: The Lead Designer is responsible for leading and mentoring other designers, implying a team structure that includes junior and/or mid-level designers.

Methodology:

• Brand-Centric Approach: The clubs emphasize creating "special moments" and unifying fans through soccer, suggesting a brand-driven methodology where creative output is designed to foster emotional connection and community.

• Data-Informed Creativity: While not explicitly stated for this role, professional sports organizations often leverage data to understand fan engagement, campaign performance, and market trends to inform creative strategies.

• Agile Execution: The need to support matchday creative and adapt to evolving priorities implies an agile approach to project management and execution within the creative team.

Company Website: https://www.soundersfc.com/ and https://www.reignfc.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The dual club responsibility is a key differentiator, requiring the Lead Designer to potentially adapt creative strategies for different fan bases and league contexts while maintaining overarching brand consistency. The mission statement ("Create Moments, Enrich Lives, and Unify & Uplift Through Soccer") is central to their brand identity and should inform creative work.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Lead role, positioning the candidate as a senior individual contributor with leadership responsibilities. It sits between a senior individual contributor and a direct management role, focused on guiding work and influencing creative direction rather than direct people management of a large team.

Reporting Structure: The Lead Designer reports directly to the Executive Creative Director, indicating a clear hierarchy within the creative leadership team. This provides a direct line for strategic guidance and career development.

Operations Impact: The Lead Designer's impact is significant, directly shaping the visual identity and brand perception of two major professional sports franchises. Their work influences fan engagement, sponsorship value, merchandise sales, and the overall cultural relevance of the clubs. Their ability to translate brand strategy into compelling visuals is crucial for business success.

Growth Opportunities:

• Creative Leadership Expansion: Potential to move into an Art Director or Executive Creative Director role, managing larger teams and broader creative strategies.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like brand identity systems, motion graphics, or sports-specific creative campaigns.

• Cross-Departmental Influence: Gain exposure and influence in areas like marketing strategy, digital product design, or partnership activation through successful creative collaborations.

• Industry Recognition: Contribute to award-winning campaigns and build a strong professional reputation within the sports and design industries.

• Mentorship & Development: Develop strong leadership and coaching skills by guiding and growing junior design talent within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a clear path for career advancement within the sports and entertainment industry, providing opportunities to lead more complex projects and potentially manage larger creative teams, leveraging the extensive experience gained with two high-profile clubs.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid position, combining remote work with in-office presence at the Headquarters & Training Facility in Renton, WA, and at Lumen Field for matches and events. This offers flexibility while ensuring physical presence for key club activities and team collaboration.

Office Location(s):

• Headquarters & Training Facility: Renton, WA.

• Lumen Field: Seattle, WA (for matchdays and events).

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office environment, particularly at the headquarters and stadium, is designed for collaboration, facilitating interaction with marketing, digital, partnerships, and matchday teams.

• Dynamic Setting: Working within professional sports means exposure to high-energy environments, especially on matchdays, requiring adaptability and the ability to create impactful visuals under pressure.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software and potentially club-specific asset management systems. The hybrid nature implies a need for robust digital collaboration tools.

Work Schedule: While a standard 40-hour work week is expected, the role requires significant flexibility. This includes working evenings, weekends, and holidays as dictated by the sports calendar, match schedules, and event planning.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model and flexible schedule are typical for roles in professional sports, where events and fan engagement often occur outside traditional business hours. Proximity to Renton and Seattle is crucial.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of the resume and portfolio to assess qualifications, experience, and creative output.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: Candidates will likely present their portfolio, discussing key projects, design process, leadership approach, and how their work aligns with the Sounders FC and Reign FC brands. Expect questions about concept development, problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration.

• Creative Challenge (Potential): A design exercise or case study may be assigned to evaluate specific skills, strategic thinking, and ability to respond to a brief under time constraints.

• Team & Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with the Executive Creative Director, marketing leads, and potentially other key stakeholders to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, and strategic alignment.

• Final Evaluation: Assessment of overall fit, creative vision, leadership potential, and ability to contribute to the clubs' brand objectives.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 4-6 of your strongest, most relevant projects. Prioritize work that demonstrates brand leadership, concept development, and cross-functional impact. Include examples that showcase versatility across different media (digital, social, print, etc.).

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your role, the strategic thinking behind your design decisions, the challenges faced, and the measurable impact or outcome. Use visuals effectively to guide the viewer.

• Highlight Leadership: Explicitly showcase instances where you led projects, mentored designers, or influenced creative direction. Quantify achievements where possible (e.g., "Increased engagement by X% through campaign visuals").

• Showcase Brand Acumen: Demonstrate your understanding of brand consistency and how to adapt creative for different platforms and audiences, especially relevant for dual-club responsibility.

• Technical Proficiency: Ensure your portfolio reflects advanced skills in Adobe Creative Suite and any other relevant tools mentioned.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brand: Thoroughly research Seattle Sounders FC and Seattle Reign FC, including their recent campaigns, brand voice, target audiences, and cultural significance.

• Anticipate Creative Briefs: Prepare to tackle a hypothetical design challenge related to a club initiative (e.g., a new campaign, merchandise line, matchday promotion). Think about how you would approach strategy, concept, and execution.

• Focus on Process: Be ready to articulate your design process step-by-step, emphasizing how you translate objectives into creative solutions.

• Consider Stakeholder Needs: Think about how your design solutions would serve various stakeholders (fans, partners, internal teams).

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the "Lead" title, expect a rigorous portfolio review focusing not just on aesthetic quality but also on strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and the candidate's process for developing and delivering impactful creative work within a professional sports context.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign for all core design tasks.

• Motion Graphics Software: After Effects and Premiere Pro are preferred, indicating a need for dynamic content creation beyond static graphics.

• Design Systems Tools: Familiarity with tools or methodologies for managing and implementing design systems (e.g., Figma, Sketch, or internal documentation platforms) is preferred for ensuring brand consistency.

• Asset Management: Experience with Digital Asset Management (DAM) systems or similar tools for organizing and distributing creative assets.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the Lead Designer role, but an understanding of how creative assets are utilized within marketing automation platforms or CRM campaigns (e.g., email marketing, social media scheduling) would be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Adobe Creative Suite is standard, but the preference for motion graphics and experience with design systems points towards a need for a designer who can contribute to modern, scalable, and dynamic visual content strategies.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Create Moments: A core value focused on generating impactful experiences and emotional connections for fans through creative work.

• Enrich Lives: A commitment to using the club's platform and creative output to positively impact individuals and the community.

• Unify & Uplift Through Soccer: The overarching mission of using the sport to bring people together and foster a sense of pride and belonging.

• Data-Driven Creativity: While not explicitly stated, professional sports marketing relies on understanding fan behavior and campaign performance to inform creative decisions.

• Innovation & Relevance: A drive to stay at the forefront of design trends and cultural relevance to keep the brand fresh and engaging.

• Inclusivity & Diversity: A strong commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and ensuring creative output reflects this principle.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The role demands a highly collaborative style, working closely with various departments to ensure creative strategies are aligned with overall club objectives.

• Feedback-Driven Improvement: An open culture for giving and receiving constructive feedback is essential for elevating design quality and fostering team growth.

• Shared Vision: A collective effort to translate the clubs' mission and values into compelling visual narratives that resonate with diverse audiences.

• Agile & Responsive: The ability to adapt quickly to the dynamic needs of a professional sports organization, particularly around matchdays and events.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicitly stated values and mission of the clubs are central to their brand identity and should be evident in the candidate's approach to creative work and team collaboration. A passion for soccer and community impact is likely a significant cultural fit factor.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Dual Brands: Effectively managing and differentiating creative direction for both Seattle Sounders FC and Seattle Reign FC, each with unique fan bases and league contexts.

• Pace & Pressure: Thriving in the fast-paced, high-stakes environment of professional sports, with tight deadlines and the need for real-time creative output, especially around matchdays.

• Evolving Trends: Staying ahead of rapidly changing design trends and cultural shifts to ensure the clubs' visual identity remains cutting-edge and relevant.

• Cross-Departmental Alignment: Navigating diverse stakeholder needs and ensuring creative solutions meet the objectives of multiple departments (marketing, partnerships, digital, etc.).

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Sports Industry Expertise: Deepen understanding of sports marketing, fan engagement strategies, and the unique creative demands of the soccer industry.

• Creative Leadership Skills: Develop advanced skills in mentorship, team management, and strategic creative direction.

• Brand System Development: Opportunity to contribute to or lead the evolution of design systems for two prominent sports brands.

• Exposure to High-Profile Campaigns: Work on high-visibility projects that have a significant impact on brand perception and fan experience.

• Professional Networking: Build relationships within the sports and entertainment industry through collaboration and potential industry events.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for senior creative roles in dynamic industries but are amplified by the dual-club responsibility. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering significant career development within the sports and media landscape.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach developing a unified visual identity that respects the distinct brands of Seattle Sounders FC and Seattle Reign FC?"

• "Describe a time you led a significant creative project from concept to completion. What was your process, and what were the key challenges and outcomes?"

• "How do you stay current with design trends, and how would you integrate new approaches into the visual identity of a professional sports club?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about the mission and values of Seattle Sounders FC and Seattle Reign FC, and how would you translate that into your design work?"

• "Describe your ideal collaborative relationship with marketing, digital, and partnership teams. How do you ensure alignment on creative goals?"

• "How do you approach inclusive design principles, and how would you ensure our creative output reflects diversity and equity?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Begin with a concise overview of your career and design philosophy. Then, walk through 2-3 key projects, dedicating ample time to each.

• Narrative Focus: For each project, tell a compelling story: the problem/brief, your strategic approach, your creative solution, the execution details, and the results or impact. Use visuals to support your narrative.

• Leadership Emphasis: Clearly articulate your role in leading the project, managing feedback, and influencing direction. If you mentored others, provide specific examples.

• Brand Relevance: Explain how your work aligns with brand strategy and objectives, especially highlighting any experience with sports or entertainment brands.

• Q&A Readiness: Be prepared to answer detailed questions about your process, decisions, and challenges encountered.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviews for lead creative roles often delve into strategic thinking, leadership style, and the candidate's ability to translate abstract concepts into tangible, impactful designs. Be ready to articulate your "why" behind design choices.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Greenhouse.

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight experience in graphic design leadership, brand identity development, cross-functional collaboration, and any relevant sports or entertainment industry experience. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Assemble a strong digital portfolio that showcases your best work, emphasizing concept development, design execution, and leadership. Ensure it includes examples relevant to the sports industry if possible.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your design process, leadership style, and how your skills align with Seattle Sounders FC and Seattle Reign FC's mission and values. Be ready to discuss specific projects in detail.

• Research the Clubs: Thoroughly understand the Seattle Sounders FC and Seattle Reign FC brands, recent campaigns, target audiences, and their connection to the Seattle community.

⚠️ 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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