Retention Marketing Designer (Contractor)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Retention Marketing Designer (Contractor)

Company: UN/COMMON

Location: Madrid, Community of Madrid, Spain

Job Type: CONTRACTOR

Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Design

Date Posted: January 18, 2026

Experience Level: 3-5 Years

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on designing impactful email campaigns and automated flows to enhance customer retention for e-commerce brands.

• It involves close collaboration with a creative team to develop strategic, user-centered design solutions that align with brand identity and marketing objectives.

• The position requires proficiency in modern design tools and a strong understanding of email marketing best practices to drive engagement and conversions.

• Responsibilities include supporting internal sales and marketing collateral, demonstrating a broad application of design skills within a GTM context.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Retention Marketing Designer," the core responsibilities and required skills strongly align with aspects of Marketing Operations, particularly in campaign execution, automation support, and data-informed design. The role bridges creative execution with marketing strategy for customer lifecycle management.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design compelling and effective email campaigns and automated customer retention flows for a portfolio of e-commerce clients.

• Develop creative and strategic visual assets, including animated GIFs, to enhance email engagement and brand storytelling.

• Collaborate closely with the UN/COMMON creative team to seamlessly integrate into client projects and solve complex design challenges.

• Manage the full design lifecycle, from initial concept and wireframing through to final revisions and successful launch of email assets.

• Proactively identify opportunities to improve email performance through innovative design solutions and strategic thinking.

• Ensure all email designs adhere to industry best practices for user experience, deliverability, and brand consistency.

• Support the creation of internal sales and marketing collateral as needed, contributing to broader GTM efforts.

• Conduct iterative design processes, incorporating feedback and demonstrating agility in a fast-paced agency environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary responsibilities highlight a blend of tactical design execution and strategic contribution, emphasizing the impact of design on customer retention and overall GTM success. This suggests a need for candidates who can not only create visually appealing assets but also understand their role within a larger marketing and sales funnel.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience in Design, Marketing, or a related field.

Experience: 3–5 years of professional design experience, with a strong preference for experience within Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) brands and/or digital marketing agencies. Prior experience supporting e-commerce brands is highly desirable.

Required Skills:

• Proven expertise in email design best practices, including conversion optimization and user-centered experience design.

• Strong understanding of brand development principles and the end-to-end creative process for marketing campaigns.

• Demonstrated ability to articulate and present design rationale, effectively communicating creative strategies to stakeholders.

• Proficiency in modern design software, specifically Figma, Photoshop, and other relevant digital design tools.

• Experience in iterative design workflows, comfortable taking feedback and making agile adjustments to designs.

• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, multitask effectively, and solve design and workflow challenges.

• High attention to detail and a commitment to producing high-quality, polished creative work.

• Passion for collaborative environments and a proactive, positive attitude towards teamwork and knowledge sharing.

• An enthusiastic, flexible, and curious mindset that embraces design innovation, creativity, and technology.

Preferred Skills:

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

• Familiarity with A/B testing principles for email design optimization.

• Understanding of basic HTML/CSS for email to ensure design feasibility.

• Experience with customer journey mapping and designing for different stages of the customer lifecycle.

• Knowledge of analytics platforms to interpret email performance data and inform design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The preferred skills are inferred to enhance the candidate's ability to contribute strategically to retention marketing efforts, moving beyond pure design execution to encompass data-driven optimization and platform-specific knowledge crucial for marketing operations roles.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio that clearly showcases your expertise in email marketing design and its impact on customer retention.

• Include case studies demonstrating your process for designing email campaigns and automated flows, highlighting strategic thinking and problem-solving.

• Showcase examples of your work with DTC and e-commerce brands, illustrating your understanding of their unique design needs and user bases.

• Provide evidence of your ability to create visually engaging and effective designs, including examples of animated elements like GIFs.

Process Documentation:

• Highlight your iterative design process, detailing how you take feedback and refine designs from initial concepts to final deliverables.

• Showcase your approach to brand integration, explaining how you ensure design consistency across different client brands and marketing channels.

• Illustrate your workflow for managing multiple design projects concurrently, demonstrating your organizational and time management skills.

• Detail your understanding of email best practices and how you incorporate them into your design solutions to optimize user experience and deliverability.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a contractor role focused on retention marketing design, the portfolio is critical. It needs to go beyond just aesthetics to demonstrate a strategic understanding of how design contributes to business objectives like customer retention and engagement within an e-commerce context.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: As this is a contract position with a global remote workforce, salary will be competitive and commensurate with experience and location. Based on industry benchmarks for contract Retention Marketing Designers with 3-5 years of experience in Spain (Madrid), a range of €30,000 - €45,000 annually (pro-rated for contract duration) is estimated.

Benefits:

• Opportunity to work with a dynamic and growing digital experience and marketing agency.

• Exposure to a diverse portfolio of innovative and emerging brands in the consumer space.

• Flexible remote work environment, allowing for work-life balance.

• Potential for contract extension based on performance and business needs.

• Collaborative and supportive team culture that values creativity and innovation.

• Professional development opportunities through exposure to varied client projects and industry best practices.

Working Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time (ET). This translates to 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM CET for candidates based in Madrid, Spain, offering a consistent workday structure.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary is estimated based on market data for contract design roles in Spain, considering the specific skills required and the competitive nature of agency work. The ET working hours are noted as a potential point of coordination for remote teams, though the local Madrid time is also provided for clarity.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital Experience & Marketing Agency, specializing in launching and growing emerging consumer brands. The company operates within the fast-paced e-commerce and direct-to-consumer (DTC) landscape.

Company Size: UN/COMMON is part of a larger network of talent, suggesting a lean, agile structure that leverages specialized expertise. The "employee and customer-centric" approach implies a focus on strong relationships and impactful work.

Founded: While the founding date isn't explicitly stated, the company's focus on "emerging brands" and "revolutionary brands" suggests a relatively modern establishment, likely within the last decade, aligned with the growth of DTC e-commerce.

Team Structure:

• You will be joining a dedicated creative team, acting as an "extension of the UN/COMMON team." This implies a high degree of integration and collaboration with internal designers and strategists.

• The team structure is likely flat and project-based, prioritizing cross-functional collaboration to deliver client solutions.

Methodology:

• Brand Storytelling: UN/COMMON emphasizes creating "authentic stories built for the consumer first and brand second," indicating a strategic approach to marketing that prioritizes genuine connection.

• Data-Informed Creativity: While creative execution is key, the focus on "driving results" suggests that design decisions are informed by data and performance metrics, particularly in retention marketing.

• Agile & Iterative: The description highlights working "iteratively through every project phase" and being "agile in your workflow," pointing to a flexible and responsive project management methodology.

Company Website: uncommonagency.co

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's culture is shaped by its mission-driven approach and its focus on emerging brands. For a designer, this means an environment that values creativity, strategic thinking, and a collaborative spirit, with an emphasis on delivering tangible results for clients.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as an experienced contractor, requiring 3-5 years of dedicated design experience. It's an opportunity to deepen expertise in retention marketing design within a high-growth agency environment.

Reporting Structure: You will report to a Creative Lead or Project Manager within UN/COMMON. You will also work closely with client brand teams, providing direct design support and strategic input on their retention marketing efforts.

Operations Impact: As a Retention Marketing Designer, your work directly impacts key business metrics such as customer lifetime value (CLTV), repeat purchase rates, and overall customer loyalty. By designing effective email campaigns and flows, you contribute to sustained revenue generation and brand advocacy.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen your expertise in retention marketing, email automation design, and user-centered e-commerce strategies.

• Brand Exposure: Gain experience working with a diverse range of "revolutionary" and emerging DTC brands, expanding your portfolio and industry knowledge.

• Agency Experience: Develop skills in client management, project delivery, and high-paced agency workflows, which are valuable for future career progression.

• Potential for Extension: Successful contractors may have opportunities for contract extensions or future project engagements based on performance and business needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a contractor role, growth is often measured by skill development, project diversity, and the potential for continued engagement. This role offers significant exposure to the DTC e-commerce landscape and the specific challenges of customer retention.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a fully remote, telecommuting position. The company embraces a distributed workforce, allowing talent to be sourced globally.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote, candidates must be based in one of the following locations: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon, or Buenos Aires. This is likely due to legal, tax, or payment processing considerations for contract engagements.

Workspace Context:

• Remote Flexibility: The primary work environment is your home office, offering significant flexibility in managing your schedule and workflow.

• Digital Collaboration: You will utilize digital tools for communication, collaboration, and project management, interacting with team members and clients primarily through video calls, messaging platforms, and shared design files.

• Tools & Technology: Access to modern design tools like Figma and Photoshop is essential. The company likely uses project management software and communication platforms to facilitate remote teamwork.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time (ET). This means candidates in Madrid will work 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM CET. The company emphasizes a collaborative environment, so availability during core working hours for team meetings and client interactions is expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote nature of the role is a key feature, but the specified location eligibility is a crucial constraint. Candidates should be aware of the ET working hours requirement and how that aligns with their local time zone.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

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

• Video Interview(s): Likely includes initial screening calls with HR or a recruiter, followed by interviews with the hiring manager or creative lead to discuss experience, skills, and cultural fit.

• Manager Interview(s): Deeper dive into your design philosophy, problem-solving approach, and experience with retention marketing.

• Skills Assessment and/or Portfolio Review: This is a critical stage where you will be asked to present your portfolio, discuss your design process, and potentially complete a short design exercise relevant to retention marketing.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate your retention marketing design skills, e-commerce experience, and ability to drive results. Prioritize projects that showcase email campaigns, automated flows, and animated content.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly outline the problem, your role, your strategic approach, the design solutions you implemented, and the measurable outcomes or impact. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

• Highlight Process: Be prepared to walk through your design process, explaining your rationale, how you incorporated user feedback, and how you ensured brand consistency and adherence to email best practices.

• Showcase Versatility: Include examples that demonstrate your command of Figma, Photoshop, and your ability to create engaging animated GIFs.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the effectiveness of your designs (e.g., increased open rates, click-through rates, conversion rates, engagement metrics).

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: Be ready for a potential design challenge that simulates a real client project. This might involve designing a specific email campaign, flow, or a set of email assets based on a brief.

• Time Management: If a take-home exercise is provided, manage your time effectively to deliver a high-quality solution within the given deadline.

• Presentation Skills: Practice articulating your design choices clearly and concisely, as if presenting to a client or internal team. Be prepared to justify your decisions and respond to questions about your approach.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio review and potential skills assessment highlights the practical, execution-oriented nature of this role. Candidates should prepare thoroughly to showcase their design capabilities and strategic thinking in a tangible way.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for collaborative design, wireframing, prototyping, and creating final visual assets for email campaigns and flows.

• Adobe Photoshop: Critical for image editing, manipulation, and creating high-quality graphics for email content.

• Modern Design Tools: Proficiency with other contemporary design software and platforms that facilitate creative asset creation and collaboration.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Email Marketing Platforms: Experience with platforms such as Klaviyo, Mailchimp, HubSpot, or similar marketing automation tools is highly advantageous, as it enables a deeper understanding of campaign execution and flow logic.

• Integration Tools: Understanding how design assets integrate within these platforms is key.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specific tools mentioned (Figma, Photoshop) are core to the designer's craft. Familiarity with email marketing platforms is an inferred requirement that would significantly enhance a candidate's effectiveness in a retention marketing role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: UN/COMMON prioritizes understanding and serving the customer, meaning designs should always be focused on user experience and delivering value.

• Authentic Storytelling: The agency values creating genuine connections through brand narratives, so designs should feel authentic and align with the brand's voice.

• Mission-First: The company has a "mission first brand stories" ethos, suggesting a preference for brands and projects that have a positive impact or purpose.

• Collaboration & Positivity: A "highly iterative, collaborative environment where people share work and contribute with a positive attitude" is a core tenet, emphasizing teamwork and mutual support.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Teamwork: You will be an integrated member of the creative team, expected to share work, provide feedback, and contribute to collective problem-solving.

• Iterative Feedback Loops: The environment encourages continuous feedback and iteration, meaning open communication and receptiveness to constructive criticism are vital.

• Cross-Functional Interaction: While focused on design, you'll likely interact with strategists, account managers, and potentially client marketing teams, requiring clear communication and an understanding of broader marketing goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's values emphasize creativity, collaboration, and a mission-driven approach. For a designer, this translates to an environment where innovative ideas are welcomed, teamwork is essential, and the work aims to have a positive impact.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creativity with Performance: The primary challenge will be to create visually stunning and engaging designs that also meet specific retention marketing KPIs and drive conversions.

• Managing Multiple Brands: Juggling design requirements and brand aesthetics for a portfolio of diverse e-commerce clients requires strong organizational skills and adaptability.

• Remote Collaboration Dynamics: Effectively collaborating and communicating within a distributed team environment to ensure seamless project execution and alignment.

• Staying Ahead of Trends: The e-commerce and digital marketing landscape evolves rapidly; staying current with email design trends, platform updates, and best practices is crucial.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Skill Development: Gain deep expertise in retention marketing strategies and the design techniques that drive customer loyalty.

• Brand Portfolio Expansion: Work with a variety of successful DTC brands, enhancing your portfolio with diverse and high-profile projects.

• Agency Workflow Acumen: Learn best practices for client management, project delivery, and agile methodologies within a professional agency setting.

• Cross-Functional Insights: Understand how design integrates with broader marketing strategies, analytics, and sales efforts by working alongside other agency specialists.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a chance to hone specialized design skills within the critical area of customer retention, a key driver for e-commerce success. The agency setting provides a platform for broad exposure and professional development in a dynamic industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Be prepared to discuss your approach to designing email campaigns that drive customer retention. How do you balance brand identity with performance metrics?

• Describe a time you had to iterate on a design based on feedback. How did you handle the feedback, and what was the outcome?

• How do you ensure your designs are user-centered and adhere to email best practices for engagement and deliverability?

Company & Culture Questions:

• What interests you about UN/COMMON and our work with emerging brands?

• How do you approach collaboration in a remote team environment?

• How do you stay updated on the latest design trends and email marketing best practices?

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: Organize your portfolio logically. Start with your most relevant retention marketing or e-commerce projects. For each project, present the brief/problem, your solution, your process, and the results.

• Highlight Your Role: Clearly articulate your specific contributions to each project, especially if it was a collaborative effort.

• Showcase Your Tools: Be ready to discuss your proficiency with Figma and Photoshop, and how you leverage these tools to create effective designs.

• Quantify Success: Whenever possible, use data points (e.g., increased open rates, CTRs, conversion rates) to demonstrate the impact of your designs. If exact numbers aren't available, discuss the intended impact and how you would measure it.

• Be Enthusiastic: Show your passion for design, creativity, and technology, and your curiosity to learn and grow.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily scrutinize your design process, problem-solving skills, and ability to translate creative talent into tangible business results for e-commerce clients. A well-prepared portfolio presentation is paramount.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

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

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight your strongest retention marketing, e-commerce, and DTC brand design projects. Ensure it clearly demonstrates your skills in Figma, Photoshop, and GIF creation, with a focus on user-centered design and conversion optimization.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly articulate your 3-5 years of relevant design experience, emphasizing achievements in email campaign design, retention strategies, and agency or in-house DTC brand work. Use keywords from the job description naturally.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio with a clear narrative for each project, focusing on your process, rationale, and measurable results. Prepare to discuss your approach to collaboration, iterative design, and staying current with industry trends.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with UN/COMMON's website and client portfolio to understand their brand positioning, mission, and the types of brands they work with. This will help you tailor your responses during interviews and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.