Lead Graphic Designer

Fanatics
Full-time$101k-147k/year (USD)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Graphic Designer (CRM & Email)

Company: Fanatics Betting & Gaming

Location: United States

Job Type: Full time

Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Operations / CRM & Lifecycle Marketing Design

Date Posted: March 16, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Fully Remote (US-based)

🚀 Role Summary

  • Lead the creative execution and design of high-impact, performance-driven lifecycle marketing communications across email and CRM channels.

  • Develop and maintain scalable CRM design systems and modular email templates to ensure brand consistency and efficient campaign production.

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

  • Drive engagement and conversion through innovative visual solutions for promotional campaigns, product launches, and customer journey messaging.

  • Ensure world-class, on-brand customer communications are delivered at scale within a fast-paced, high-volume marketing environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a "Lead" but explicitly states "does not have direct reports," indicating a senior individual contributor role focused on creative leadership and technical expertise in CRM and email design, rather than people management. The emphasis on "performance-driven communications" and "conversion-focused" highlights its direct impact on revenue generation, aligning it closely with Revenue Operations and GTM functions.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

  • Creative Leadership: Spearhead the design and visual execution of all CRM and lifecycle marketing communications, including promotional emails, triggered campaigns, and customer journey messaging.

  • Responsive Design Execution: Design and optimize responsive email templates and campaign creative for seamless performance across diverse devices, inbox environments, and adherence to accessibility standards.

  • Scalable Systems Development: Develop and maintain robust CRM design systems and modular email templates to support rapid campaign production and ensure unwavering brand consistency.

  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner effectively with CRM marketing, product, engineering, and analytics teams to translate complex lifecycle marketing strategies into tangible, visually engaging customer communications.

  • Strategic Translation: Transform marketing briefs and customer insights into high-performing visual solutions that demonstrably drive customer engagement and conversion metrics.

  • Developer Partnership: Collaborate closely with developers and marketing automation teams to guarantee accurate and best-practice HTML implementation of email designs.

  • Brand Stewardship: Maintain and evolve the visual standards for CRM communications within the established Fanatics Betting & Gaming brand ecosystem.

  • Multi-Channel Asset Creation: Design supporting creative assets for additional CRM channels, including push notifications, in-app messaging, and other promotional marketing campaigns.

  • Quality Assurance & Feedback: Review and provide constructive feedback on CRM-related design work to uphold creative quality and brand consistency across all touchpoints.

  • Performance Iteration: Continuously iterate on email creative through data-driven A/B testing, optimization efforts, and performance insights to enhance campaign effectiveness.

  • Industry Trend Monitoring: Stay abreast of evolving email design standards, inbox rendering behaviors, and best practices in CRM marketing.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities heavily emphasize the integration of design with performance metrics and marketing automation, which are core tenets of Revenue Operations and GTM strategy. The focus on "scalable design systems" and "modular templates" points to a need for operational efficiency and process optimization within the creative function.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio and demonstrated experience in digital design, CRM, or lifecycle marketing are paramount. Relevant degrees in Graphic Design, Digital Media, Marketing, or a related field are beneficial.

Experience: 6+ years of dedicated experience in digital design, CRM design, or lifecycle marketing design.

Required Skills:

  • Expert-Level Figma Proficiency: Mandatory for all design creation, system building, and collaboration.

  • Advanced Adobe Creative Suite: Strong command of Photoshop, Illustrator, and potentially After Effects for asset creation and manipulation.

  • Working Knowledge of HTML5: Essential for understanding and collaborating with developers on email implementation and responsive design principles.

  • Responsive Email Design Expertise: Proven ability to design emails that render flawlessly across various devices and email clients.

  • CRM Design Systems: Experience in developing and maintaining structured, scalable design systems tailored for CRM and email.

  • Lifecycle Marketing Understanding: Deep comprehension of customer journeys, triggered campaigns, and personalized communication strategies.

  • Marketing Automation Platforms: Familiarity with how designs are implemented and managed within common marketing automation tools.

  • Typography, Layout, Color Theory: Strong foundational design principles applied effectively to digital communications.

  • Visual Hierarchy & Brand Consistency: Ability to create clear, impactful designs that align with brand guidelines.

  • Collaboration & Communication: Excellent interpersonal skills for effective teamwork with CRM marketers, product teams, engineers, and analytics.

  • Fast-Paced Environment Experience: Proven ability to thrive and deliver high-quality work in high-volume marketing settings.

  • Organizational Skills: Capacity to manage multiple campaigns simultaneously and meet deadlines.

  • Portfolio: A compelling portfolio is essential, showcasing expertise in email design, lifecycle marketing campaigns, and digital marketing creative.

Preferred Skills:

  • Animation or Motion Design Experience: A bonus for creating more dynamic and engaging email or push notification content.

  • Accessibility Standards Knowledge: Deeper expertise in designing for inclusivity and compliance.

  • A/B Testing & Optimization Experience: Familiarity with designing for iterative testing and performance improvement.

  • Experience with Push Notifications & In-App Messaging: Broadens the scope of CRM channel design expertise.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for expert-level Figma proficiency and a strong understanding of HTML5/responsive email design highlights the technical depth expected. The emphasis on "scalable design systems" and "modular templates" suggests a need for candidates who can think operationally about design, ensuring efficiency and consistency, which is a key GTM and RevOps skill.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • Email Design Case Studies: Showcase end-to-end design process for at least 3-5 distinct email campaigns, detailing strategy, design choices, and resulting performance metrics (e.g., open rates, click-through rates, conversion rates).

  • CRM Design System Examples: Demonstrate the structure, components, and application of a scalable design system for email or other CRM channels, highlighting modularity and brand consistency.

  • Lifecycle Journey Mapping Visuals: Present visual representations of customer journeys and how your designs support different stages and touchpoints within those journeys.

  • Responsive Design Demonstrations: Include examples that clearly illustrate how designs adapt across desktop, tablet, and mobile viewports, with annotations explaining the responsive logic.

  • Brand Integration Examples: Provide instances where you successfully integrated brand guidelines into diverse CRM and email campaigns, maintaining visual integrity.

Process Documentation:

  • Workflow Design & Optimization: Be prepared to discuss your process for taking a marketing brief from concept to final, production-ready design, including any iterative steps or optimization phases.

  • Collaboration & Feedback Loops: Articulate how you engage with stakeholders (CRM marketers, developers, product managers) to gather requirements, present concepts, and incorporate feedback effectively.

  • System Implementation & Measurement: Explain your approach to ensuring designs are correctly implemented by developers and how you track the performance of your creative work against defined KPIs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Operations candidates are expected to not only design but also systematize and optimize. This section emphasizes the need for a portfolio that demonstrates not just aesthetic skill, but also strategic thinking, process efficiency, and a data-driven approach to design, mirroring the operational mindset required in RevOps and GTM roles.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $101,000 to $147,400 USD per year.

Salary Justification: This range is based on the provided salary blurb and is subject to adjustment based on the candidate's specific geographical compensation zone within the United States. The range reflects a senior-level design role with specialized CRM and email expertise, aligning with industry standards for lead-level positions in major US markets.

Benefits:

  • Full-time Employment Benefits: Comprehensive package including health, dental, and vision insurance.

  • Bonus Potential: Performance-based bonus opportunities.

  • Retirement Savings Plan: Details likely available upon inquiry or during the hiring process.

  • Paid Time Off: Standard vacation, sick leave, and holidays.

  • Employee Discounts: As part of the Fanatics ecosystem, expect potential discounts on merchandise.

  • Professional Development: Opportunities for continuous learning and skill enhancement.

  • Access to Industry Events: Potential for attendance at relevant conferences or team events.

  • Remote Work Stipend: Possible support for home office setup and connectivity.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week. While the role is remote, standard business hours are expected, with flexibility to accommodate project deadlines and cross-time zone collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided. The benefits are generalized based on typical full-time employment at a large company like Fanatics, with specific details to be confirmed by the employer. The emphasis on remote work suggests potential for home office support, a common benefit for remote operations roles.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Sports Entertainment, E-commerce, Gaming, and Technology. Fanatics is a major player in licensed sports merchandise, expanding significantly into sports betting and gaming.

Company Size: Large (Likely 5,000+ employees, given Fanatics' broad operations). This scale implies robust processes, established brand guidelines, and opportunities for significant impact.

Founded: 1995. With a long history, Fanatics has evolved from a retail presence to a dominant force in sports e-commerce and now gaming. This evolution suggests a dynamic, growth-oriented culture.

Team Structure:

  • Marketing Creative Team: This role is embedded within the Marketing Creative team, reporting to the Senior Design Director.

  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Works closely with CRM Marketers, Product Teams, Engineering, and Analytics teams, indicating a highly collaborative, matrixed environment typical of large tech/e-commerce companies.

  • No Direct Reports: The Lead Designer is an individual contributor focused on creative excellence and technical leadership, not people management.

Methodology:

  • Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on using customer insights, performance metrics, and A/B testing to inform and iterate on creative strategies.

  • Scalable Systems & Processes: Focus on building modular design systems and efficient workflows to support high-volume campaign production.

  • Brand-Centric Execution: Commitment to maintaining visual consistency and brand integrity across all customer touchpoints.

Company Website: https://www.fanatics.com/ (General Fanatics site; specific Betting & Gaming operations may have dedicated portals)

📝 Enhancement Note: Fanatics' diverse business units (merchandise, betting, gaming) suggest a culture that embraces innovation and rapid expansion. For an operations professional, this means a dynamic environment where processes are constantly being refined, and there's a strong emphasis on efficiency and measurable results.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Individual Contributor / Creative Lead. This role represents a significant step up from a general graphic designer, requiring specialized expertise in CRM, email, and design systems, along with the ability to influence creative direction and mentor through example.

Reporting Structure: Reports to the Senior Design Director. This indicates a clear line of leadership and mentorship, with opportunities to learn from senior design strategists.

Operations Impact: This role directly impacts customer engagement, retention, and conversion rates through effective lifecycle marketing communications. The quality of the design output directly influences revenue generated from CRM channels, making it a critical component of the GTM strategy.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Specialization Advancement: Deepen expertise in CRM, email, and marketing automation design, becoming a recognized expert within Fanatics.

  • Creative Leadership Expansion: Potentially lead larger creative initiatives or contribute to the strategic direction of marketing creative across broader Fanatics verticals.

  • Cross-Functional Skill Development: Gain deeper insights into marketing strategy, product development, and data analytics through close collaboration.

  • Mentorship: Opportunity to informally mentor junior designers or provide guidance on best practices.

  • Transition to Management: While not a direct report role, successful performance could open doors to future management opportunities within creative or marketing operations teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: For an operations-minded candidate, this role offers a chance to apply design skills within a performance-driven, revenue-generating context. Growth lies in mastering the operational aspects of creative delivery – efficiency, scalability, and measurable impact.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote (US-based). This implies a work-from-home setup, requiring self-discipline and effective remote collaboration tools.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote, Fanatics operates globally with significant presence in the US. Specific team hubs or occasional in-person meetings might exist, though not explicitly stated as required.

Workspace Context:

  • Digital Collaboration: Reliance on virtual communication tools (Slack, Zoom, email) and project management software.

  • Tool Proficiency: Access to and proficiency in design software (Figma, Adobe Creative Suite) and potentially collaboration platforms is essential.

  • Team Interaction: Regular virtual meetings, design critiques, and collaborative working sessions with the broader marketing and creative teams.

Work Schedule: Standard 40-hour work week. Remote flexibility is a key benefit, allowing for some autonomy in structuring the workday, provided deadlines and collaboration needs are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The fully remote nature of this role is a significant factor. Operations professionals often thrive in remote settings due to the focus on process, data, and asynchronous communication, but it requires strong self-management and proactive communication skills.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

  • Initial Screening: HR or Recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, interest, and cultural fit.

  • Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion with the Senior Design Director to delve into experience, skills, and role expectations.

  • Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: A critical stage where candidates present their portfolio and potentially complete a design exercise related to CRM/email strategy and execution. This will assess creative problem-solving, technical skills (Figma), and understanding of performance-driven design.

  • Cross-Functional Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with key collaborators (e.g., CRM Marketer, Product Manager) to evaluate teamwork, communication, and ability to integrate with other functions.

  • Final Interview: Potentially with a higher-level leader for final approval.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects, focusing on CRM, email, and lifecycle marketing. Prioritize projects that demonstrate impact and problem-solving.

  • Tell a Story: For each project, outline the challenge, your role, the strategic approach, design decisions (and why), the tools used, and crucially, the results (quantifiable metrics if possible).

  • Highlight Figma Proficiency: Be ready to walk through your Figma file, showcasing your system design, component usage, and collaboration features.

  • Demonstrate Responsiveness: Clearly show how your designs adapt across devices and consider accessibility.

  • Showcase Process: Explain your workflow, how you collaborate, and how you incorporate feedback.

  • Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data (e.g., increased conversion rates, engagement metrics) to demonstrate the effectiveness of your designs.

Challenge Preparation:

  • Understand the Brief: If a design challenge is given, dissect the brief thoroughly. Identify the core objective, target audience, and key constraints.

  • Think Operationally: Consider scalability, brand consistency, and how the design will be implemented and tracked.

  • Figma Practice: Ensure you are comfortable building components, using auto-layout, and creating interactive prototypes in Figma under time pressure.

  • Articulate Rationale: Be prepared to clearly explain every design decision, linking it back to the strategy and expected outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio review and potential design challenge underscores the practical, skills-based nature of this role. Operations candidates should prepare to showcase not just their final output, but also their process, problem-solving abilities, and how they think about efficiency and impact.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

  • Figma (Expert Level): The core design tool for all creative execution, system building, and collaboration. Proficiency in its advanced features, component libraries, and prototyping capabilities is essential.

  • Adobe Creative Suite (Advanced): Photoshop for image manipulation, Illustrator for vector graphics, and potentially After Effects for motion graphics and animations.

Analytics & Reporting:

  • Email Service Provider (ESP) / Marketing Automation Platform Analytics: Familiarity with reporting dashboards within platforms like Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Adobe Marketing Cloud, Braze, Iterable, Mailchimp, etc., to understand campaign performance.

  • Web Analytics Tools (e.g., Google Analytics): Understanding how to interpret data related to traffic and conversions driven by email campaigns.

CRM & Automation:

  • CRM Systems (e.g., Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics): A general understanding of how CRM data informs and is used in lifecycle marketing campaigns.

  • Marketing Automation Platforms: Experience working with platforms where email and CRM campaigns are built, deployed, and tracked.

Prototyping & Collaboration:

  • Prototyping Tools: Figma's built-in prototyping features are key.

  • Collaboration Tools: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom for communication; Asana, Jira, Trello for project management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma as "expert-level" and the requirement for working knowledge of HTML5 are critical technical specifications. For operations professionals, understanding how these design tools integrate with marketing automation and CRM platforms is crucial for driving efficiency and impact.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

  • Data-Driven Decision Making: A strong emphasis on using performance data, customer insights, and A/B testing results to guide design choices and optimize campaigns.

  • Efficiency & Scalability: A commitment to creating repeatable processes, modular systems, and efficient workflows that allow for high-volume campaign execution without sacrificing quality.

  • Collaboration & Communication: Valuing open communication, teamwork, and the ability to work effectively across diverse departments (marketing, product, engineering).

  • Customer Centricity: Designing with the end-user in mind, ensuring communications are relevant, engaging, and valuable to the customer.

  • Brand Integrity: Upholding and advancing the Fanatics brand identity through consistent, high-quality visual execution.

Collaboration Style:

  • Proactive & Communicative: Expected to actively engage with stakeholders, seek clarity on briefs, and provide timely updates.

  • Solution-Oriented: Focus on identifying challenges and proposing creative, practical solutions.

  • Feedback-Informed: Open to constructive criticism and adept at incorporating feedback from various teams.

  • Agile & Iterative: Willingness to adapt designs based on new information, performance data, or evolving marketing strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values align closely with those expected in operations roles: data-driven, efficient, collaborative, and customer-focused. This role requires a designer who thinks like an operations professional – how can we do this better, faster, and with more impact?

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

  • Balancing Creativity and Performance: The primary challenge is to create visually appealing designs that also meet strict performance goals and drive conversions.

  • Rapid Campaign Cadence: Working in a high-volume, fast-paced environment requires excellent time management and the ability to produce quality work under tight deadlines.

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

  • Technical Constraints: Navigating the limitations of email clients, HTML rendering, and marketing automation platforms while still delivering strong creative.

  • Evolving Best Practices: Staying current with rapid changes in email design, deliverability, and privacy regulations.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • Deep Dive into Marketing Automation: Gain hands-on experience with industry-leading CRM and marketing automation platforms.

  • Advanced CRM Strategy: Learn from experienced CRM marketers about customer segmentation, journey mapping, and personalization techniques.

  • Performance Marketing Acumen: Develop a stronger understanding of marketing analytics, A/B testing methodologies, and ROI measurement for creative assets.

  • Industry Trends: Exposure to the dynamic sports betting and gaming industry, understanding its unique marketing challenges.

  • Mentorship from Senior Leadership: Learning from a Senior Design Director and potentially other senior marketing leaders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the need for resilience, adaptability, and a strong problem-solving mindset, traits highly valued in operations roles. The growth opportunities focus on expanding a candidate's skillset beyond pure design into marketing strategy and operational efficiency.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

  • "Describe a time you designed an email campaign that significantly improved conversion rates. What was your process, and what were the key design elements that contributed to its success?" (Focus on metrics, rationale, and process)

  • "How would you approach designing a scalable email template system for a rapidly growing e-commerce brand like Fanatics?" (Focus on system thinking, modularity, and efficiency)

Company & Culture Questions:

  • "What do you know about Fanatics Betting & Gaming, and why are you interested in this specific role?" (Demonstrate research, understanding of the industry, and alignment with company goals)

  • "How do you collaborate with CRM marketers and developers to ensure your designs are implemented effectively and meet performance objectives?" (Focus on communication, teamwork, and technical understanding)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly define the problem, your solution, and the measurable outcome. Use a consistent structure.

  • Highlight Figma Workflows: Be prepared to demonstrate your Figma file, showcasing component usage, design systems, and collaborative features.

  • Emphasize Data & ROI: Directly link your design choices to business impact using quantifiable data whenever possible.

  • Articulate Design Rationale: Be ready to explain why you made specific design decisions, referencing best practices, user needs, and business objectives.

  • Prepare for Live Design Exercise (if applicable): Practice rapid ideation and design in Figma, focusing on clear communication of your thought process.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design talent, but also strategic thinking, operational awareness, and a results-oriented mindset. Candidates should be ready to discuss their process, articulate their rationale, and connect their work to business outcomes.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations-aligned design position:

  • Submit your application through the provided Oracle Cloud HCM link.

  • Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature your strongest CRM, email, and lifecycle marketing design projects. Prioritize examples demonstrating scalability, responsiveness, and measurable performance improvements.

  • Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords such as "Figma," "Responsive Email Design," "CRM Design Systems," "Lifecycle Marketing," "Performance-Driven Design," and "Cross-Functional Collaboration." Quantify achievements wherever possible.

  • Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, rationale behind your creative decisions, and how you collaborate with technical and marketing teams. Be ready to discuss your experience with A/B testing and optimization.

  • Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Fanatics' brand, its expansion into sports betting and gaming, and recent marketing initiatives. Understand the competitive landscape and Fanatics' unique position within it.

⚠️ 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.


Application Requirements

Candidates must have 6+ years of experience in digital, CRM, or lifecycle marketing design, with expert-level proficiency in Figma and strong knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite. A working understanding of HTML5, responsive email design, and email client rendering behaviors is also required.