Retention Marketing Designer (Contractor)

UN/COMMON
Full-time

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Retention Marketing Designer (Contractor)

Company: UN/COMMON

Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Job Type: CONTRACTOR

Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Operations

Date Posted: January 18, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

  • Design engaging and effective email campaigns and automated flows for a diverse portfolio of e-commerce brands, directly impacting customer retention and lifetime value.

  • Collaborate closely with internal creative and marketing teams to develop cohesive brand narratives and visually compelling digital experiences across multiple touchpoints.

  • Drive strategic design solutions that align with user-centered experience principles and enhance brand development for emerging and established DTC companies.

  • Leverage modern design tools and a deep understanding of email best practices to deliver high-quality creative assets that contribute to measurable business outcomes.

  • Contribute to internal sales and marketing collateral, ensuring brand consistency and visual appeal across all organizational communications.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the primary focus is "Retention Marketing Designer," the responsibilities extend into broader marketing operations and creative operations by supporting internal collateral and requiring strategic design thinking. The role is contract-based with a 12-month duration, emphasizing flexibility and project-based contributions.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

  • Develop and execute visually appealing and strategically sound email marketing campaigns, including newsletters, promotional emails, and automated nurture sequences, to enhance customer engagement and drive repeat purchases.

  • Design and implement sophisticated email flows (e.g., welcome series, abandoned cart recovery, post-purchase follow-ups) that optimize the customer journey and reduce churn.

  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including marketing strategists, copywriters, and project managers, to translate marketing objectives into impactful visual designs.

  • Create animated GIFs and other dynamic visual elements to increase email engagement and convey brand personality effectively.

  • Conduct iterative design processes, from initial concepting and wireframing to final asset delivery, ensuring all creative meets brand standards and project deadlines.

  • Maintain a strong understanding of email design best practices, including deliverability considerations, mobile responsiveness, accessibility standards, and user-centered design principles.

  • Support the creation of internal sales and marketing collateral, such as presentations, social media assets, and website graphics, ensuring brand consistency.

  • Proactively identify design challenges and propose innovative solutions that enhance customer retention and brand loyalty for a portfolio of e-commerce clients.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of tactical design execution (email campaigns, GIFs) and strategic thinking (customer journey optimization, problem-solving). The role requires deep understanding of user-centered design and brand development within the e-commerce and DTC space.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

  • 3-5 years of professional design experience, with a strong emphasis on digital marketing and e-commerce.

  • Proven experience working with Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) brands and/or digital marketing agencies is highly preferred.

Required Skills:

  • Proficiency in modern design tools, including Figma (primary) and Adobe Photoshop, for creating high-fidelity mockups and assets.

  • Deep knowledge of email design best practices, user-centered experience design principles, and brand development strategies.

  • Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex information, present design rationale clearly, and articulate creative solutions to stakeholders.

  • Proven experience in iterative design workflows, accepting feedback constructively, and adapting designs efficiently.

  • Strong understanding of the creative process from concept to final launch, with a keen eye for detail.

  • Ability to multitask effectively and solve design challenges creatively in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Skills:

  • Familiarity with email marketing platforms (e.g., Klaviyo, Mailchimp, HubSpot) and their design capabilities.

  • Experience with A/B testing design elements in email campaigns to optimize performance.

  • Basic understanding of HTML/CSS for email, to better collaborate with developers or implement simple designs.

  • A portfolio that showcases successful retention marketing strategies and measurable design impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for Figma and Photoshop is crucial. The emphasis on "design rationale" and "iterative workflow" points towards a need for strong communication and adaptability, common in agency or fast-paced in-house roles.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • A comprehensive portfolio that clearly demonstrates your experience in designing for retention marketing and e-commerce.

  • Showcase examples of email campaigns, automated flows, and landing pages that contributed to increased customer engagement, conversion rates, or lifetime value.

  • Include case studies that detail your design process, your role in the project, the challenges faced, and the measurable results achieved.

  • Highlight your ability to adapt designs to various brand identities and marketing objectives.

Process Documentation:

  • Provide examples of how you approach user research or leverage customer data to inform design decisions for retention strategies.

  • Illustrate your iterative design process, showing how you incorporate feedback and conduct revisions to achieve optimal outcomes.

  • Document your understanding of email deliverability and best practices in your design approach.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is critical for this role. It needs to go beyond just aesthetics and prove the candidate's ability to drive business results through design, particularly in the context of customer retention and e-commerce.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

  • Flexible Remote Work: Full remote work arrangement, allowing for work-life balance and location independence within eligible regions.

  • Professional Development: Opportunity to work with a diverse range of emerging and established DTC brands, gaining broad industry experience.

  • Collaborative Environment: Exposure to a talented and passionate creative team, fostering a culture of learning and shared growth.

  • Contract Duration: A stable 12-month contract provides a defined period of engagement and project focus.

  • Work Schedule Alignment: Adherence to Eastern Time (ET) working hours (9:00 AM - 5:00 PM ET) ensures alignment with the core team, while offering flexibility within the Argentine workday.

Working Hours:

  • Standard 40-hour work week, Monday to Friday.

  • Working hours are aligned with Eastern Time (ET), from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM ET. This translates to approximately 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM in Buenos Aires, Argentina, facilitating real-time collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary is estimated based on Argentine market rates for contract roles with this experience level and specialization. Benefits are standard for contract positions, with emphasis on the remote nature and professional exposure.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital Experience and Marketing Agency, specializing in launching and growing emerging consumer-facing brands.

Company Size: UN/COMMON operates as a dynamic agency, likely employing a lean but highly skilled team to serve its client roster. The exact size is not specified, but their client list (Rare Beauty, Beauty Blender) suggests a significant operational capacity.

Founded: The founding date is not specified, but the agency's focus on "emerging brands" implies a modern, agile, and growth-oriented ethos.

Team Structure:

  • The Retention Designer will be part of the existing creative team, working closely with other designers, marketers, and project managers.

  • They will act as an "extension of the UN/COMMON team," suggesting seamless integration and collaborative spirit.

Methodology:

  • UN/COMMON emphasizes an "employee and customer-centric agency" approach, prioritizing authentic stories and consumer needs.

  • Their methodology focuses on creating "authentic stories built for the consumer first and brand second."

  • Design work is expected to be thoughtful, strategic, and iterative, with a focus on driving results and solving significant design problems.

  • A strong emphasis is placed on collaboration, positive attitude, and a passion for design, creativity, and technology.

Company Website: https://www.uncommonagency.co/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture prioritizes authenticity, consumer-centricity, and a fun, collaborative environment. This is crucial for candidates to understand how their creative contributions fit into the agency's mission.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a Mid-Level (2-5 years of experience), focusing on specialized design execution within marketing operations. It's a contract role designed for skilled individual contributors who can independently deliver high-quality creative assets.

Reporting Structure:

  • The Retention Designer will likely report to a Creative Director, Design Lead, or a Senior Project Manager within the UN/COMMON agency structure.

Operations Impact:

  • The primary impact of this role is on customer retention and lifetime value for client brands through effective email marketing design.

  • Success will be measured by improvements in engagement rates, conversion rates, and overall customer loyalty driven by the designed campaigns and flows.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in retention marketing design, user-centered UX/UI for e-commerce, and advanced email campaign strategies.

  • Client Portfolio Expansion: Gain experience working with a diverse range of high-profile DTC and emerging brands, significantly enhancing professional marketability.

  • Creative Leadership Potential: For exceptional performers, there may be opportunities for increased project ownership, mentoring junior designers, or contributing to strategic design planning on future projects or contract renewals.

  • Industry Exposure: Develop a strong understanding of current trends and best practices in e-commerce, digital marketing, and brand growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: As a contract role, direct career progression within UN/COMMON might be limited. Growth opportunities are primarily focused on skill enhancement, portfolio building, and potential for contract extension or leveraging this experience for future roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a fully remote position.

Office Location(s): Candidates must be based in one of the following eligible locations: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo (Brazil); Madrid, Barcelona (Spain); Lisbon (Portugal); or Buenos Aires (Argentina).

Workspace Context:

  • The role requires a dedicated remote workspace with stable internet connectivity to ensure seamless participation in video calls and real-time collaboration.

  • Access to personal design software licenses (Figma, Adobe Creative Suite) is assumed, though specific tool provision should be clarified.

  • The environment is highly collaborative, requiring proactive communication and engagement with team members and clients across different time zones.

Work Schedule:

  • The standard work schedule is Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time (ET). This is crucial for maintaining alignment with the core UN/COMMON team and clients.

  • For candidates in Buenos Aires, this translates to approximately 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

📝 Enhancement Note: The strict adherence to ET working hours, despite the remote location, is a key aspect of the work environment. Candidates must be comfortable with this schedule to ensure effective collaboration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

  • Resume Review: Initial screening to assess experience, skills, and alignment with role requirements.

  • Video Interview(s): Likely includes screening calls with HR/Recruiting and potentially with the hiring manager or creative lead to gauge cultural fit and foundational knowledge.

  • Manager Interview(s): Deeper dive into design philosophy, problem-solving approaches, and strategic thinking related to retention marketing.

  • Skills Assessment and/or Portfolio Review: This is a critical stage. Candidates will be asked to present their portfolio, discuss specific projects, explain their design process, and potentially complete a design challenge.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that directly demonstrate retention marketing design, e-commerce experience, and proficiency in Figma/Photoshop.

  • Tell a Story: For each project, clearly outline the client's objective, the problem you were solving, your design process (including ideation, iteration, and tools used), and the quantifiable results achieved (e.g., increased open rates, conversion rates, reduced churn).

  • Highlight Retention Focus: Emphasize how your designs specifically contributed to customer retention, loyalty, or increased customer lifetime value. Use metrics where possible.

  • Showcase Process: Be prepared to walk through your iterative design process, explaining how you incorporated feedback and why you made specific design choices.

  • Demonstrate Brand Adaptability: Show variety in your portfolio if possible, illustrating your ability to work with different brand aesthetics and client needs.

  • Prepare for a Design Challenge: Some roles include a practical design exercise. Be ready to create a specific email campaign or flow based on a prompt, showcasing your speed, creativity, and adherence to best practices.

Challenge Preparation:

  • Understand the Prompt: Carefully read and understand the requirements of any design challenge. Clarify any ambiguities before starting.

  • Time Management: Allocate your time effectively between understanding the brief, sketching/wireframing, designing, and preparing your presentation.

  • Focus on Strategy: Even in a short challenge, demonstrate strategic thinking. Explain the rationale behind your design choices, not just the aesthetics.

  • Presentation Skills: Be ready to present your solution concisely and confidently, highlighting key features and their intended impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is paramount. Candidates should meticulously prepare to articulate the business impact of their designs, not just their visual appeal.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

  • Figma: Essential for wireframing, prototyping, and final asset creation. Proficiency in collaborative features and advanced design capabilities is expected.

  • Adobe Photoshop: Required for image editing, manipulation, and creating complex visual assets.

  • Adobe Illustrator (Implied): While not explicitly stated, it's a common companion tool for graphic design and may be beneficial for certain asset creation tasks.

Analytics & Reporting:

  • Email Marketing Platforms: Familiarity with platforms like Klaviyo, Mailchimp, HubSpot, or similar is highly advantageous for understanding campaign implementation and performance tracking.

  • Analytics Tools (General): Understanding how to interpret data from tools like Google Analytics or platform-specific analytics to inform design decisions and measure impact.

CRM & Automation:

  • CRM Systems (Basic Understanding): Awareness of how email marketing integrates with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot CRM) for customer segmentation and data management.

  • Automation Workflows: Experience in designing for automated email sequences and understanding the logic behind them.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma and Photoshop is key. Candidates should highlight their practical experience with these tools in their portfolio and during interviews.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

  • Consumer-First Authenticity: A commitment to creating genuine brand stories and experiences that resonate with customers, aligning with UN/COMMON's core philosophy.

  • Collaboration & Positivity: A strong emphasis on teamwork, sharing work openly, and fostering a supportive environment where everyone contributes with a positive attitude.

  • Creativity & Innovation: Encouraging fresh perspectives, strategic thinking, and the development of unique creative solutions that drive results.

  • Agility & Iteration: Embracing a fast-paced, iterative design process where feedback is welcomed and designs are refined continuously to achieve excellence.

  • Passion for Design & Technology: A genuine enthusiasm for the craft of design, emerging technologies, and their application in building successful brands.

Collaboration Style:

  • Seamless Integration: Expected to act as an extension of the UN/COMMON team, working harmoniously with internal colleagues.

  • Cross-Functional Partnership: Close collaboration with marketing strategists, copywriters, and project managers to ensure cohesive campaign execution.

  • Feedback-Driven: An open exchange of ideas and constructive feedback is integral to the iterative design process.

  • Proactive Communication: Essential for remote teams to maintain alignment and ensure project momentum.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values highlight a culture that is both professionally demanding (results-driven, iterative) and personally engaging (collaborative, positive, fun).

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

  • Remote Collaboration Across Time Zones: Effectively collaborating with team members and clients across different time zones (ET vs. Argentina) requires strong communication and time management skills.

  • Managing Multiple Brands: Simultaneously managing design projects for various e-commerce brands, each with unique branding and marketing objectives, can be demanding.

  • Delivering Measurable Results: The constant need to demonstrate the impact of design on retention metrics requires strong analytical and strategic thinking beyond pure aesthetics.

  • Staying Current with Trends: The digital marketing and e-commerce landscape evolves rapidly; keeping up with new design trends, platform updates, and best practices is ongoing.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • Advanced Retention Strategy: Gain hands-on experience with sophisticated retention marketing tactics and strategies employed by successful DTC brands.

  • Portfolio Enhancement: Build a robust portfolio with high-impact case studies from well-known brands, significantly boosting future career prospects.

  • Cross-Brand Learning: Exposure to diverse brand challenges and solutions provides broad learning across different market segments and consumer behaviors.

  • Agency Best Practices: Learn efficient workflow methodologies, client management techniques, and creative process standards common in leading digital agencies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical of agency and remote work environments, emphasizing self-management and strong communication. Growth is framed around practical experience and portfolio building.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

  • "Describe a time you designed an email campaign that significantly improved customer retention or lifetime value. What was your process, and what were the key metrics?" (Preparation: Prepare a specific case study from your portfolio, focusing on the strategy, your design decisions, and quantifiable results.)

  • "How do you approach designing for a brand you're unfamiliar with? What steps do you take to understand their identity and target audience?" (Preparation: Discuss your research process, brand immersion techniques, and how you translate brand guidelines into design.)

Company & Culture Questions:

  • "What excites you about working with emerging brands and the DTC space?" (Preparation: Research UN/COMMON's client roster and their mission; articulate your passion for this market.)

  • "How do you handle constructive criticism or feedback on your designs, especially when working remotely?" (Preparation: Emphasize your collaborative spirit, openness to feedback, and iterative approach.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Structure: Organize your presentation logically: Introduction to UN/COMMON & the role -> Overview of your portfolio -> Deep dive into 2-3 key projects -> Q&A.

  • Project Deep Dive: For each project, cover: Client/Brand, Problem Statement, Your Role, Design Process (Ideation, Wireframes, Iterations, Final Design), Key Design Decisions & Rationale, Measurable Results (Retention Metrics!), Key Learnings.

  • Tool Demonstration: Be ready to navigate Figma or Photoshop to briefly showcase specific design elements or interactive prototypes if requested.

  • Conciseness: Respect the interviewer's time. Practice your presentation to be clear, engaging, and within the allotted timeframe.

  • Engagement: Ask thoughtful questions about the team, clients, or ongoing projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating both creative skill and strategic business impact, with a strong emphasis on retention marketing principles and collaborative capabilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

  • Submit your application through the provided application link on Workable.

  • Portfolio Customization: Ensure your submitted portfolio prominently features your strongest retention marketing and e-commerce design projects. Tailor the selection to highlight your expertise in email campaigns and automated flows, showcasing your Figma and Photoshop skills.

  • Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly articulate your 3-5 years of design experience, specifically mentioning DTC brands, agencies, and your contributions to customer retention and engagement. Use keywords like "retention marketing," "email design," "Figma," "user-centered design," and "brand development."

  • Interview Preparation: Thoroughly review common interview questions for design and marketing roles. Practice articulating your design process, rationale, and the business impact of your work, especially for retention-focused projects. Be prepared to present your portfolio confidently.

  • Company Research: Familiarize yourself with UN/COMMON's mission, client roster, and overall agency philosophy. Understand their focus on authentic, consumer-first brand storytelling to align your responses with their values.

⚠️ 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 should have 3-5 years of design experience, preferably with DTC brands or agencies, and must demonstrate proficiency in email design best practices. A portfolio showcasing relevant work is required, along with skills in modern design tools like Figma and Photoshop.