Marketing Designer (F/M/*)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Marketing Designer (F/M/*)
Company: amber
Location: Köln, Germany
Job Type: FULL_TIME
Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Operations
Date Posted: 2025-09-22
Experience Level: Mid-Level (Estimated 2-5 years)
Remote Status: Hybrid (Remote-first with regular office meetups)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive visual conceptualization and execution for all marketing and brand initiatives, ensuring a cohesive and impactful brand presence across diverse digital and physical touchpoints.
• Translate abstract ideas into compelling visual narratives for online advertising campaigns (Google Ads, LinkedIn, Social Media) and offline marketing collateral, directly supporting product promotion and lead generation.
• Spearhead the implementation and evolution of the company's corporate identity across all marketing assets, from digital banners and flyers to comprehensive business equipment and trade show booths.
• Utilize industry-standard design software to bring static designs and video content to life, enhancing user engagement and brand storytelling.
• Proactively contribute creative solutions and strategic design thinking to elevate the amber brand and its external perception within the competitive AI and SaaS landscape.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is for a Marketing Designer, its emphasis on visual campaigns, brand implementation, and contribution to a SaaS product's external image positions it within the broader "Creative Operations" or "Marketing Operations" umbrella, focusing on the visual execution that supports Go-To-Market (GTM) strategies. The remote-first aspect with in-person meetups suggests a hybrid work model requiring strong self-management and communication skills.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop innovative visual concepts and designs for owned online advertising campaigns, specifically targeting Google Ads, LinkedIn, and social media platforms to promote the amber product.
• Implement and maintain the company's corporate identity across a wide array of formats, including but not limited to flyers, banners, rollups, promotional merchandise, and complete business stationery.
• Design compelling and brand-aligned advertising materials and trade show booth concepts that effectively represent amber's innovative AI solutions and market positioning.
• Create and enhance designs and video content using advanced features of Photoshop and InDesign, ensuring high visual quality and emotional resonance.
• Proactively identify opportunities to enhance amber's visual presence externally, contributing creative ideas and strategic design thinking to brand evolution efforts, rather than solely executing assigned tasks.
• Collaborate with product marketing and other departments to design and refine website content, ensuring a modern, visually appealing, and user-friendly web experience that aligns with current design trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility to "not wait for tasks but bring in creativity" implies a proactive and self-directed approach, common in startup environments and crucial for roles that influence brand perception. The focus on "product marketing" and "lead generation" through visual assets highlights the direct link between design and GTM success.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent practical experience and a deep understanding of design principles is expected. A background in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, or a related field would be advantageous.

Experience: Proven experience in designing marketing materials, business equipment, banners, and trade show booths, ideally within a project-based setting, agency environment, or the fast-paced software startup sector.

Required Skills:

• Daily proficiency in design tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Canva, and Adobe InDesign.
• Demonstrated ability to design effective visual concepts for online advertising campaigns (Google, LinkedIn, Social Media), with an understanding of current design trends and best practices for digital platforms.
• Experience in translating and implementing corporate identity guidelines across various marketing collateral and brand touchpoints.
• Strong eye for modern web design principles and the ability to contribute to visually engaging website designs.
• Excellent communication skills, with fluency in both German and English, enabling seamless collaboration with colleagues and partners.
• Ability to work effectively as a liaison between different departments, quickly translating feedback into design iterations.

Preferred Skills:

• Basic video editing skills are a significant plus, indicating a willingness to explore and expand creative capabilities.
• Experience in the AI or SaaS industry, demonstrating an understanding of the unique design challenges and opportunities within these sectors.
• Familiarity with A/B testing visual elements for campaign optimization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of daily use for Photoshop, Canva, and InDesign indicates a need for strong practical, hands-on skills. The "nice to have" for video editing suggests a growth opportunity and a preference for candidates who are adaptable and eager to learn new skills relevant to dynamic content creation. The requirement for both German and English proficiency is critical for a company operating in Germany with an international team and potentially global ambitions.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated selection of design projects showcasing expertise in online advertising campaigns (Google Ads, LinkedIn, Social Media), demonstrating an understanding of platform-specific design requirements and effectiveness.
• Examples of corporate identity implementation across diverse formats, including flyers, banners, business stationery, and trade show booth designs, highlighting consistency and brand alignment.
• Case studies or visual examples of website design contributions, emphasizing modern aesthetics, usability, and visual hierarchy.
• Demonstrations of work created using Photoshop and InDesign, showcasing technical proficiency and creative execution.

Process Documentation:

• Visual documentation of campaign development workflows, from initial concept to final asset delivery, highlighting efficiency and iterative design processes.
• Examples of how feedback from cross-functional teams was incorporated into design revisions, showcasing responsiveness and collaborative design practices.
• Proof of maintaining brand consistency across various projects and platforms, demonstrating adherence to style guides and brand standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: The request for a "graphic portfolio or work samples" alongside the CV is a standard but crucial requirement for design roles. For this specific role, it's vital that the portfolio clearly demonstrates proficiency in the specified tools and the ability to create assets for both digital marketing campaigns and broader brand collateral, including physical event materials. The emphasis on "bringing creativity" suggests portfolio pieces that show initiative and problem-solving beyond basic execution.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: €45,000 - €55,000 per year.

Benefits:

• Workations: Opportunities for international team retreats and collaborative work experiences, fostering a global perspective.
• Personal Development: Support for continuous learning through further education and training, empowering professional growth.
• Flexible Work Environment: The option to work flexibly from home or from co-working spaces in Aachen (Digital Church) or Cologne, accommodating individual work styles.
• Germany Job Ticket: A subsidized or fully covered public transport ticket for commuting within Germany, promoting sustainable travel.
• Motivated Team: Collaboration with a driven team passionate about making AI solutions accessible to medium-sized businesses.
• Latest Technologies & Tools: Access to and utilization of cutting-edge technologies and design software.

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is in line with mid-level designer roles in Cologne, Germany, considering the industry and required skill set. The benefits package highlights a modern startup culture, emphasizing flexibility, international exposure, and professional growth, which are attractive to creative professionals in the tech sector. The "remote-first" policy with regular meetups suggests a need for strong individual time management but also opportunities for in-person collaboration and team building.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Artificial Intelligence (AI) / Software as a Service (SaaS). amber is developing an AI-based internal search engine to improve knowledge accessibility within companies. Company Size: The description implies a growing startup environment, likely in the range of 11-50 or 51-200 employees, given the "international team" and "remote-first" approach with office meetups. Founded: The founding date is not specified, but the company is positioned as an "innovative KI-Startup," suggesting it's likely a relatively young company focused on rapid growth and product development.

Team Structure:

• The Marketing Designer will be part of the Marketing team, working closely with product marketing and potentially other departments involved in Go-To-Market (GTM) activities.
• Collaboration with an international team is a key aspect, requiring cross-cultural communication skills.
• The structure is likely agile and flat, common in startups, allowing for direct interaction with various stakeholders.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: While not explicitly stated, the nature of a SaaS product and online campaigns suggests that design decisions will likely be informed by performance data and user feedback.
• Agile Development & Marketing: The startup environment points towards agile methodologies for both product development and marketing execution, requiring flexibility and quick adaptation.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The role acts as a central point for design needs across departments, emphasizing strong communication and integration.

Company Website: http://ambersearch.de/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on an AI-based internal search engine for enterprises positions it in a high-growth B2B SaaS market. This context suggests that the marketing design will need to convey sophistication, reliability, and innovation, appealing to business decision-makers. The hybrid work model with physical meetups in Cologne and Aachen indicates a need for a designer comfortable with both remote autonomy and in-person collaboration.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level Marketing Designer, with expectations of independent work, creative contribution, and ownership of visual brand elements. It's a crucial individual contributor role that directly impacts the company's external perception.

Reporting Structure: The Marketing Designer likely reports to a Marketing Manager or Head of Marketing. They will collaborate closely with product managers, sales teams, and potentially the founding team to align visual strategies with business objectives.

Operations Impact: The visual output of this role directly influences brand recognition, customer acquisition, lead generation, and overall market perception. Strong design work can significantly boost the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, website conversions, and brand loyalty for the amber SaaS product.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas like UI/UX design for web, motion graphics for video content, or advanced campaign design for B2B SaaS.
• Brand Development Leadership: As the company grows, there's potential to take on more strategic responsibilities in shaping the brand's visual identity and leading design projects.
• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gaining experience working with diverse teams (product, sales, engineering) can broaden understanding of the entire GTM process and business operations.
• Leadership Potential: With demonstrated success and initiative, there's a pathway to team lead or senior designer roles as the marketing department scales.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "remote-first" nature combined with "regular office meetups" suggests a company that values flexibility but also recognizes the importance of in-person connection for team cohesion and strategic alignment. For a designer, this means being adept at remote collaboration tools while also being prepared to actively participate in in-person workshops and brainstorming sessions.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The mention of "coolest co-working spaces in Aachen - the Digital Church - or in Köln" indicates a flexible office strategy. This suggests that employees can utilize these spaces as needed for focused work, collaboration, or team meetings, rather than a traditional, fixed office setup.

Office Location(s): Cologne and Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. These locations are specified for regular team meetups.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The co-working spaces are likely designed to foster collaboration, networking, and a dynamic atmosphere. Regular meetups in these locations will provide opportunities for face-to-face interaction.
• Tools and Technology: As stated, the role will involve working with the "latest technologies & tools," implying access to modern design software and potentially collaboration platforms that facilitate remote teamwork.
• Team Interaction: While predominantly remote, the planned meetups offer structured opportunities for designers to interact with marketing, product, and other teams, fostering a strong sense of community and shared purpose.

Work Schedule: Flexible working hours, allowing employees to choose when they work, provided they meet their responsibilities and collaborate effectively with the team. This flexibility is beneficial for managing creative workflows and personal commitments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "remote-first" approach with co-working space access suggests a company that trusts its employees and prioritizes work-life balance. For designers, this means having a well-equipped home office setup and being proactive in scheduling collaborative sessions or attending planned in-person events. The emphasis on "Digital Church" in Aachen might indicate a specific tech-focused community hub.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a brief call to assess mutual fit, discuss experience, and confirm basic qualifications.
• Portfolio Review & Skills Assessment: A more in-depth session where the candidate presents their portfolio, discusses their design process, and potentially completes a small design challenge or is asked scenario-based questions related to campaign design.
• Team/Manager Interview: Discussion with the hiring manager and potentially other team members to evaluate cultural fit, collaboration style, and strategic thinking.
• Final Interview: Possibly with a founder or senior leader to discuss company vision and the role's broader impact.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Campaign Effectiveness: Highlight designs for Google Ads, LinkedIn, and social media, explaining the strategic goals of each campaign and how the design contributed to achieving them (e.g., click-through rates, engagement).
• Demonstrate Brand Consistency: Provide examples of how the corporate identity was applied across multiple deliverables, showing adaptability and adherence to brand guidelines.
• Detail Your Process: For each project, explain your thought process, the tools used, any challenges faced, and how feedback was incorporated. This is crucial for assessing problem-solving skills and collaboration ability.
• Include Web Design Examples: If available, showcase website design contributions, focusing on user experience and modern aesthetics.
• Highlight Initiative: Include projects where you proactively identified a design need or proposed a creative solution that went beyond a direct request.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be Ready for a Mini-Campaign: Expect a task to conceptualize or design assets for a hypothetical amber marketing campaign. Focus on understanding the target audience (B2B, AI/SaaS) and the platform (e.g., LinkedIn ad).
• Articulate Your Rationale: For any design choice, be prepared to explain why you made it, linking it back to campaign objectives, brand strategy, or user behavior.
• Showcase Tool Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your experience with Photoshop, Canva, and InDesign, and potentially demonstrate quick design skills if required.
• Understand the Product: Research amber and its AI search engine. Understanding the core value proposition will help you create more relevant and impactful designs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "bringing creativity" and "driving visual presence" suggests that during the portfolio review and any potential challenge, candidates should aim to showcase not just technical skill but also strategic thinking and proactivity. They should be prepared to discuss how their designs contribute to business goals in a SaaS context.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Specifically Photoshop for image editing and manipulation, and InDesign for layout of print and digital materials (flyers, brochures, business equipment).
• Canva: For quick design creation, particularly for social media graphics and potentially simpler campaign assets, highlighting ease of use and accessibility.
• Video Editing Software (Nice to have): Implies potential use of tools like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, or similar for creating marketing videos.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly a design tool, awareness of how design impacts campaign performance metrics (e.g., click-through rates, engagement, conversion rates) is crucial. Understanding basic analytics from platforms like Google Analytics or social media insights would be beneficial for iterating on designs.

CRM & Automation:

• Familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) is not explicitly required, but understanding how marketing assets are used within lead nurturing or sales enablement processes can provide valuable context for design creation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "latest technologies & tools" coupled with Photoshop, Canva, and InDesign, plus the "nice to have" for video editing, paints a picture of a modern design stack. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their proficiency and experience with these specific tools, and how they leverage them to achieve marketing objectives for a SaaS product.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Proactivity: Encouraging employees to bring new ideas and take initiative, especially in driving the brand's visual evolution.
• Collaboration & Communication: Valuing open communication and teamwork across an international, remote-first team, with regular in-person meetups to strengthen bonds.
• Efficiency & Agility: Operating in a startup environment means adapting quickly, optimizing processes, and delivering results efficiently.
• Customer Focus: While a design role, understanding the end-user (companies seeking AI solutions) and the impact of design on their perception is key.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The designer will need to work closely with marketing strategists, product managers, and potentially sales to ensure designs align with campaign goals and product messaging.
• Feedback-Driven Iteration: A willingness to receive and incorporate feedback from various team members is essential for refining designs and ensuring they meet diverse needs.
• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging a culture where ideas and best practices are shared, especially within the international team and across different working locations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The combination of "remote-first" and "regular office meetups" suggests a culture that balances individual autonomy with the need for in-person connection and strategic alignment. For a designer, this means being comfortable with digital collaboration tools while also being prepared to actively engage in face-to-face discussions and workshops to foster creativity and team cohesion.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Remote & In-Person Collaboration: Effectively contributing to team synergy and creative sessions while working remotely, and maximizing value during occasional in-person meetups.
• Maintaining Brand Consistency Across Diverse Platforms: Ensuring a unified brand voice and visual identity across a wide range of digital and physical marketing assets.
• Adapting to a Fast-Paced Startup Environment: Quickly turning around designs, responding to evolving marketing strategies, and managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Translating Complex AI Concepts Visually: Developing designs that effectively communicate the value and innovation of an AI search engine to a business audience.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Mastering New Design Tools: Opportunity to expand skill set, potentially into video editing or more advanced digital design techniques.
• Strategic Brand Influence: Growing from executing designs to having a significant say in the overall visual direction and brand strategy of a B2B SaaS company.
• Industry Exposure: Gaining deep insight into the AI and SaaS market, understanding its unique communication challenges and design trends.
• Cross-Functional Expertise: Learning about product development, marketing strategy, and sales enablement from direct collaboration with these teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "challenges" for a designer in this role often revolve around translating technical or abstract concepts into visually appealing and understandable assets, especially in a fast-evolving field like AI. Growth opportunities are tied to increasing strategic impact and expanding technical/creative capabilities within a dynamic tech environment.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you visually represent a complex AI search engine like amber for a LinkedIn ad campaign targeting IT decision-makers?" (Focus on understanding the target audience and translating technical concepts.)
• "Describe a time you had to incorporate conflicting feedback from multiple stakeholders on a design project. How did you navigate this and what was the outcome?" (Assesses collaboration, feedback management, and problem-solving.)
• "Imagine we're launching a new feature for amber. What would be your process for designing the key visual assets for this launch, from concept to final delivery?" (Evaluates design process, project management, and creativity.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about amber and the AI/SaaS market, and how do you see design playing a role in our success?" (Tests research skills and understanding of the business context.)
• "How do you approach collaboration in a remote-first environment, and what are your expectations for in-person meetups?" (Assesses adaptability to the work model and team dynamics.)
• "How do you measure the success of your design work, especially in relation to marketing campaign performance?" (Probes for data-driven thinking and impact awareness.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly state the objective, your role, the process, the tools used, the challenges, and the results.
• Quantify Impact: Where possible, present metrics (e.g., increased engagement, improved CTR, positive feedback) that demonstrate the effectiveness of your designs.
• Showcase Versatility: Highlight a range of work that demonstrates your ability to design for different platforms (digital ads, web, print) and purposes (brand awareness, lead generation).
• Emphasize Proactivity: Point out any projects where you took initiative, suggested improvements, or developed creative solutions beyond the initial brief.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should be prepared to discuss their design process in detail, demonstrating not just technical skill but also strategic thinking and an understanding of marketing objectives. Researching amber's current marketing and brand presence will be crucial for tailoring responses effectively.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Marketing Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided JOIN.com link, including your CV or LinkedIn profile.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features examples relevant to B2B SaaS marketing, online advertising campaigns (Google, LinkedIn, Social Media), and corporate identity implementation. Tailor your presentation to highlight projects that showcase creativity, tool proficiency (Photoshop, InDesign, Canva), and responsiveness to feedback.
• Resume Optimization: Highlight keywords such as "Marketing Designer," "Graphic Design," "Visual Campaigns," "Corporate Identity," "Photoshop," "InDesign," "Canva," "Web Design," "B2B SaaS," and "Startup Environment." Quantify achievements where possible.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process and rationale for key projects. Be ready to discuss how your designs contribute to business objectives and brand perception. Prepare thoughtful questions about the company culture, team dynamics, and design challenges.
• Company Research: Thoroughly research amber, its AI product, and its current marketing efforts. Understand their mission and target audience to better align your application and interview responses with their needs.

⚠️ 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.

---