Lead Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Graphic Designer

Company: Fanatics Betting & Gaming

Location: Denver, CO, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Design

Date Posted: April 16, 2026

Experience Level: 10+ years

Remote Status: Remote OK (within the United States)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the creative vision and execution for all CRM and email marketing communications, ensuring brand consistency and driving customer engagement.

• Develop and maintain scalable design systems and modular email templates to support high-volume campaign production and rapid iteration.

• Collaborate closely with CRM marketers, product teams, and developers to translate marketing strategies into visually compelling and conversion-focused customer experiences.

• Champion best practices in responsive email design, accessibility standards, and cross-channel CRM creative execution.

• Provide creative leadership and strategic guidance for the CRM design function, influencing the overall customer communication strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Lead Graphic Designer," the detailed responsibilities and required skills strongly indicate a specialized role focused on CRM and Email Design within the Marketing Operations or Creative Marketing function, with an emphasis on lifecycle marketing and performance-driven creative. The "Lead" aspect suggests a senior individual contributor role rather than direct management, focusing on strategic design direction and system development.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Drive the design and creative execution of all CRM and lifecycle marketing communications, including promotional emails, triggered campaigns, and customer journey messaging.

• Design responsive email templates and campaign creative optimized for diverse devices, inbox environments, and adherence to accessibility standards.

• Develop and implement scalable CRM design systems and modular email templates to facilitate rapid campaign production and ensure consistent brand execution across all touchpoints.

• Collaborate effectively with CRM marketing, product, engineering, and analytics teams to translate lifecycle marketing strategies into impactful visual solutions.

• Translate marketing briefs, customer insights, and performance data into high-performing visual creative that drives customer engagement and conversion metrics.

• Partner with developers and marketing automation teams to ensure accurate and efficient implementation of email designs via HTML.

• Maintain and evolve the visual standards and brand guidelines for CRM communications within the Fanatics Betting & Gaming brand ecosystem.

• Create supporting visual assets for additional CRM channels, including push notifications, in-app messaging, and other promotional marketing campaigns.

• Review and provide constructive feedback on CRM-related design work to ensure exceptional creative quality and unwavering brand consistency.

• Continuously iterate on and optimize email creative based on A/B testing, performance insights, and evolving customer behavior.

• Stay abreast of evolving email design standards, inbox rendering behaviors, and best practices in CRM marketing to maintain a cutting-edge approach.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for strategic thinking in design systems and scalability, crucial for a high-volume, fast-paced environment like Fanatics Betting & Gaming. Emphasis on performance-driven design and collaboration with analytics underscores the role's direct impact on business objectives.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Marketing, or a related field is typically expected for a role of this seniority.

Experience: 8+ years of progressive experience in digital design, with a significant focus on CRM design, lifecycle marketing design, or email marketing creative.

Required Skills:

• Expert-level proficiency in Figma is a mandatory requirement for template creation, system design, and collaborative workflows.

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) for asset creation and manipulation.

• Working knowledge of HTML5 and responsive email design principles to ensure cross-platform compatibility and effective implementation.

• Strong understanding of email client rendering behaviors, responsive email frameworks (e.g., MJML, Foundation for Emails), and accessibility standards (WCAG).

• Proven experience designing modular email systems and scalable template architectures for efficient campaign deployment.

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with CRM marketers, engineers, developers, and cross-functional marketing teams.

• Strong grasp of typography, layout, color theory, and visual hierarchy specifically for digital communications and marketing.

• Experience working within fast-paced, high-volume marketing environments with tight deadlines.

• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple simultaneous campaigns and projects.

Preferred Skills:

• Animation or motion design experience (e.g., After Effects) for dynamic email or in-app content.

• Familiarity with marketing automation platforms (e.g., Braze, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Adobe Marketing Cloud).

• Experience in the sports betting, gaming, or e-commerce industries.

• Understanding of A/B testing methodologies and data-driven design optimization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Figma as an expert-level requirement is critical. Candidates must demonstrate mastery of this tool. The "8+ years" experience, combined with the "Lead" title, suggests a senior individual contributor role requiring strategic thinking and system-building capabilities, not just execution.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase at least 2-3 comprehensive case studies of CRM or email marketing campaigns, detailing the strategy, design process, and measurable outcomes (e.g., engagement rates, conversion lifts, AOV improvements).

• Include examples of responsive email templates designed for various devices and inbox clients, highlighting adaptability and user experience.

• Present examples of modular design systems or scalable template architectures developed for efficiency and brand consistency.

• Demonstrate creative problem-solving for complex marketing briefs, illustrating how design solutions addressed specific business objectives.

Process Documentation:

• Be prepared to discuss your process for developing and maintaining CRM design systems, including version control and collaboration workflows.

• Articulate your approach to translating marketing briefs into design concepts and iterating based on feedback and performance data.

• Explain your collaboration process with developers and marketers to ensure accurate implementation and optimization of email campaigns.

• Describe how you incorporate accessibility standards and testing into your design workflow.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a "Lead" role in design operations, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to go beyond just pretty pictures and demonstrate strategic thinking, system development capabilities, and a quantifiable impact on marketing performance. Candidates should be ready to walk through their process and rationale for each project.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $101,000 - $147,400 USD per year. This range is provided based on the job posting and is subject to change based on the confirmed Geographical Compensation Zone associated with the candidate's location.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Insurance (details available at https://benefitsatfanatics.com/)

• Retirement Plan (details available at https://benefitsatfanatics.com/)

• Paid Time Off (details available at https://benefitsatfanatics.com/)

• Potential for bonuses and other benefits as part of full-time employment.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, standard full-time.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is specific and competitive for a lead-level design role with specialized CRM/email expertise in a major US market. The note about "Geographical Compensation Zones" is crucial for remote candidates, indicating salary adjustments based on location. The provided benefits link is a key resource for candidates.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Sports Betting & Gaming, Digital Sports Platform. Fanatics is building a comprehensive digital sports ecosystem encompassing commerce, collectibles, and betting/gaming.

Company Size: Over 22,000 employees globally. This indicates a large, well-established organization with significant resources and complex operational structures.

Founded: Fanatics was founded in 1995, with Fanatics Betting & Gaming launched in 2021. This provides context for a rapidly growing, innovative division within a larger, experienced company.

Team Structure:

• The role reports to the Senior Design Director, as part of the Marketing Creative team.

• Close collaboration is expected with CRM marketers, product teams, engineering, and analytics.

• While a "Lead" role, it does not have direct reports, emphasizing individual contribution and strategic influence.

Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is expected, with a focus on performance metrics and A/B testing for creative optimization.

• Emphasis on scalable solutions, modular design systems, and efficient production workflows to support high-volume campaign execution.

• Collaborative approach to translate marketing strategies into visually engaging and conversion-focused customer communications.

• Commitment to maintaining brand consistency across a rapidly expanding digital platform.

Company Website: https://www.fanatics.com/ (Fanatics Global), https://www.fanaticsbettingandgaming.com/ (Fanatics Betting & Gaming)

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding Fanatics' ambition to be a "leading global digital sports platform" is key. This means the operations and creative teams must support rapid growth, international expansion, and a diverse product offering (commerce, collectibles, betting). The culture is likely fast-paced, innovative, and results-oriented.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior individual contributor role, a "Lead" position within the CRM and Email Design specialization. It requires significant expertise and the ability to set design direction and standards.

Reporting Structure: Reports to the Senior Design Director, indicating a clear hierarchical structure within the creative team. This level of reporting suggests exposure to senior leadership and strategic planning.

Operations Impact: The role directly impacts customer engagement, conversion rates, and overall revenue through effective lifecycle marketing communications. By optimizing email and CRM creative, this role contributes to customer acquisition, retention, and lifetime value.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in advanced CRM design systems, marketing automation integration, and emerging email technologies.

• Strategic Design Leadership: Potentially transition into a Design Manager role with direct reports or take on broader creative direction for other marketing channels.

• Cross-functional Influence: Become a key strategic partner to CRM, Product, and Analytics teams, influencing customer journey design and marketing strategy.

• Industry Expertise: Develop deep knowledge of the sports betting and gaming industry's unique marketing challenges and opportunities.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a "Lead" role, growth is often lateral into broader strategic influence or into management. Candidates should consider how their existing skills align with these potential paths within a large, growing company like Fanatics.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid or fully remote within the United States. The company also emphasizes in-person components for onboarding and team building (e.g., "Launching into Better: LIVE" in NYC for full-time, non-seasonal hires).

Office Location(s): Headquarters in New York, with offices in Denver, Leeds, and Dublin. Remote employees are based within the United States.

Workspace Context:

• Remote Collaboration: Expect a highly collaborative remote environment utilizing digital tools for communication, design, and project management.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (Figma, Adobe Creative Suite) and marketing technology platforms will be provided or expected.

• Team Interaction: Regular virtual meetings, design critiques, and cross-functional syncs are essential for success. Willingness to travel occasionally for team meetings is noted.

Work Schedule: Standard 40-hour work week. Flexibility may be available, but the demands of campaign production and cross-time zone collaboration will require responsiveness.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Launching into Better: LIVE" program highlights a company culture that values in-person connection, even for remote roles. Candidates should be aware of potential travel requirements for key onboarding or strategic events.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Resume and portfolio review to assess experience, technical skills (especially Figma), and creative quality.

• Design Challenge/Case Study: Likely a practical exercise or presentation of existing work to evaluate problem-solving, design execution, and strategic thinking in a CRM/email context.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with CRM marketers, product managers, and potentially engineering leads to assess collaboration skills and understanding of the business.

• Senior Leadership Interview: Conversation with the Senior Design Director (and potentially other marketing leaders) to evaluate strategic fit, creative vision, and leadership potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Figma Mastery: Clearly showcase your proficiency with Figma, including complex projects, component libraries, and collaborative workflows.

• Quantify Impact: For each case study, present clear, measurable results (e.g., % increase in CTR, conversion rate uplift, retention improvement) tied to your design contributions.

• Showcase System Thinking: Feature examples of modular design systems or scalable templates, explaining the benefits for efficiency and brand consistency.

• Tell a Story: Structure your portfolio presentations to explain the "why" behind your design decisions – the problem, your approach, and the solution's impact.

• Address Responsiveness & Accessibility: Be prepared to discuss your technical approach to responsive design and how you ensure accessibility in your email creative.

Challenge Preparation:

• Revisit Core Concepts: Refresh knowledge on responsive email design best practices, HTML email rendering quirks, and current accessibility standards.

• Understand Fanatics' Brand: Research Fanatics Betting & Gaming's current marketing communications, brand voice, and target audience.

• Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions: Expect questions about how you would approach specific design challenges, manage feedback, or collaborate with non-designers.

• Practice Presentation: Rehearse presenting your portfolio and any potential case studies concisely and engagingly.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily weigh portfolio content and presentation. Candidates must be prepared to articulate their design process, strategic rationale, and quantifiable results.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Expert-level proficiency required for all design, system building, and collaboration.

• Adobe Creative Suite: Advanced proficiency expected for asset creation (Photoshop, Illustrator).

• HTML5: Working knowledge essential for understanding and collaborating on email implementation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) to understand campaign performance and inform design iterations.

CRM & Automation:

• While not explicitly stated as a requirement to administer, a strong understanding of marketing automation platforms (e.g., Braze, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Adobe Marketing Cloud) and CRM principles is crucial for designing effective lifecycle campaigns.

• Experience with tools for push notifications and in-app messaging.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for expert-level Figma is a major differentiator. Candidates should be ready to demonstrate deep expertise in Figma's advanced features, including component libraries, auto layout, and collaborative workflows.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Performance-Driven: A strong focus on delivering measurable results and optimizing creative for engagement and conversion.

• Collaboration: Emphasis on working effectively with cross-functional teams (CRM, Product, Engineering) to achieve shared goals.

• Innovation: Encouragement to stay current with industry trends and explore new approaches in digital and CRM design.

• Brand Stewardship: Commitment to maintaining and evolving a strong, consistent brand identity across all customer touchpoints.

• Efficiency: Focus on creating scalable solutions and streamlined processes to support high-volume campaign needs.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, working closely with marketing strategists, product managers, and developers.

• Open to feedback and iterative design processes.

• Proactive communication to ensure alignment and timely delivery of creative assets.

• Willingness to share knowledge and mentor junior team members or peers on design best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values suggest a dynamic, results-oriented environment where creative output is directly tied to business success. Collaboration is key, requiring strong interpersonal and communication skills.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Pace and Volume: Managing a high volume of campaign requests in a fast-paced, ever-evolving industry.

• Cross-Channel Consistency: Ensuring a unified brand experience across email, push notifications, in-app messages, and other CRM touchpoints.

• Technical Constraints: Designing within the limitations of various email clients and marketing automation platforms while striving for innovative solutions.

• Data Interpretation: Translating complex performance data and customer insights into actionable design improvements.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced CRM Strategy: Gaining deeper insights into customer lifecycle marketing, segmentation, and personalization strategies.

• Emerging Technologies: Exploring new tools and techniques in email design, dynamic content, and interactive elements.

• Industry Knowledge: Developing specialized expertise in the sports betting and gaming sector's marketing landscape.

• Design System Expansion: Contributing to the growth and refinement of Fanatics' broader digital design systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers the chance to work on a massive scale within a rapidly growing industry, presenting unique challenges and immense learning potential.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for designing a complex lifecycle email campaign, from brief to deployment, focusing on how you ensure performance and brand consistency."

• "How do you approach building and maintaining a scalable CRM design system? What are the key components and benefits?"

• "Walk us through a specific example where you used data or A/B test results to significantly improve the performance of an email or CRM communication."

Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do you see your design expertise contributing to Fanatics Betting & Gaming's goal of becoming a leading digital sports platform?"

• "Describe a time you had to adapt your design approach to fit within technical constraints or a specific platform's limitations."

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Impact: For each case study, clearly articulate the business problem, your design solution, and the quantifiable results. Use metrics prominently.

• Showcase Figma Proficiency: Be ready to demonstrate key aspects of your Figma workflow, component usage, and system design principles.

• Explain Your Process: Clearly articulate your step-by-step approach for campaign design, from brief interpretation to final asset delivery.

• Highlight Collaboration: Discuss how you worked with stakeholders, incorporated feedback, and ensured alignment throughout the design process.

• Address Technical Aspects: Be prepared to discuss your understanding of responsive design, HTML implementation, and accessibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: Expect interviewers to probe deeply into your practical experience with Figma, your understanding of CRM/email performance metrics, and your ability to collaborate within a fast-paced marketing team.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Greenhouse.

• Tailor your resume: Highlight your 8+ years of experience, expert-level Figma proficiency, and specific achievements in CRM, email design, and lifecycle marketing. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate your portfolio: Ensure it prominently features your best work in responsive email design, modular systems, and performance-driven creative. Prepare to walk through 2-3 key case studies in detail.

• Prepare for technical and strategic questions: Rehearse answers to common interview questions related to design process, tool proficiency, and cross-functional collaboration.

• Research Fanatics Betting & Gaming: Understand their brand, current marketing efforts, and the competitive landscape of sports betting.

⚠️ 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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