Retention Marketing Designer (Contractor)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Retention Marketing Designer (Contractor) Company: UN/COMMON Location: São Paulo, State of São Paulo, Brazil Job Type: CONTRACTOR Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Design Date Posted: January 18, 2026 Experience Level: Mid-Level Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Design compelling and effective email campaigns and automated flows for e-commerce brands to enhance customer retention and engagement.
• Collaborate closely with the UN/COMMON creative team to develop strategic design solutions that align with brand identity and marketing objectives.
• Translate brand stories into visually engaging digital experiences, leveraging motion design and interactive elements where appropriate.
• Maintain a deep understanding of email design best practices, user-centered design principles, and current e-commerce trends to drive measurable results for clients.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role sits at the intersection of marketing operations and creative design, with a strong emphasis on retention strategies for e-commerce brands. The "Retention Marketing Designer" title implies a focus on customer lifecycle marketing through email, requiring a blend of creative execution and strategic understanding of customer journeys. While not a traditional "operations" role focused on CRM administration or data analysis, it heavily impacts revenue through customer loyalty and repeat purchases, making it a critical component of the Go-To-Market (GTM) function.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and execute creative design concepts for email marketing campaigns, including newsletters, promotional emails, and automated customer journey sequences (e.g., welcome series, abandoned cart, post-purchase flows).
• Create visually appealing and on-brand static and animated GIFs for email content, ensuring optimal performance across various email clients and devices.
• Collaborate with marketing strategists and account managers to understand client objectives, target audience, and campaign goals, translating these into impactful design solutions.
• Iterate on designs based on feedback from internal teams and clients, managing the design process from initial concept through to final asset delivery and implementation.
• Ensure all designs adhere to email accessibility standards, brand guidelines, and email marketing best practices to maximize engagement and conversion rates.
• Support the creation of internal sales and marketing collateral as needed, contributing to the UN/COMMON brand's visual identity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a hands-on design role focused on the execution of retention marketing strategies, primarily through email. The emphasis on "iterative design," "seeing work through launch," and "solving significant design problems" indicates a need for a designer comfortable with project management and client-facing collaboration, typical in agency environments.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Design, Graphic Arts, Communications, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Experience:

• 3-5 years of professional design experience, with a strong preference for experience working with Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) brands and e-commerce businesses.
• Prior agency experience is highly beneficial, demonstrating an ability to manage multiple clients and fast-paced project cycles.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in modern design tools, specifically Figma, Adobe Photoshop, and other relevant creative software.
• Deep understanding of email design best practices, including responsive design principles, deliverability considerations, and user-centered experience design.
• Demonstrated ability to articulate and present design rationale effectively, explaining creative choices and their strategic impact.
• Proven experience in iterative design processes, taking feedback constructively, and adapting designs efficiently.
• Strong grasp of brand development principles and the creative process from concept to execution.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks, and solve design challenges with a proactive approach.
• Exceptional attention to detail in creating high-quality visual assets.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with motion design and creating engaging GIFs or short animations.
• Familiarity with A/B testing principles in email marketing and how design impacts performance metrics.
• Knowledge of basic HTML/CSS for email, or experience working closely with developers to implement designs.
• Understanding of customer journey mapping and retention marketing strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for demonstrable proficiency through resume experience and a portfolio is critical for this role. The emphasis on Figma, Photoshop, and user-centered design points to a need for a designer who can create not just aesthetically pleasing assets, but also functional and effective email experiences that drive retention.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 3-5 relevant design projects, with a strong emphasis on email marketing campaigns for DTC and e-commerce brands.
• Demonstrate a clear understanding of the design process for each project, from initial brief and concept development to final execution and any measured results.
• Include examples of responsive email designs that perform well across various devices and email clients.
• Showcase your ability to create engaging visual elements, including static graphics and GIFs, that enhance user experience and drive desired actions.
• Highlight projects where you've applied user-centered design principles and brand development strategies effectively.

Process Documentation:

• Be prepared to discuss your personal design workflow, including how you approach project briefs, ideation, iteration, and final asset delivery in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
• Exhibit a clear understanding of the email marketing lifecycle and how design contributes to key retention metrics such as open rates, click-through rates, conversion rates, and customer lifetime value.
• Demonstrate your approach to incorporating feedback and making revisions, showcasing agility and a results-oriented mindset.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a design role focused on retention marketing, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to clearly articulate not just aesthetic capabilities but also strategic thinking, understanding of e-commerce dynamics, and the ability to execute designs that have a tangible impact on customer engagement and revenue.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Given the contractor nature, location in São Paulo, Brazil, and the 3-5 years of experience requirement, a competitive hourly rate or project-based fee would be expected. Based on industry benchmarks for skilled contract designers in major Brazilian cities and considering the remote nature, a range of R$60 - R$120 per hour (approximately $12 - $24 USD per hour, subject to exchange rates) is a reasonable estimate. This range accounts for the specialized skills in email design, retention marketing, and proficiency with tools like Figma and Photoshop.

Benefits:

• As a contractor, standard employee benefits like health insurance, paid time off, and retirement plans are typically not included.
• Potential benefits may include:
  • Flexibility in work schedule within the defined working hours.
  • Opportunity to work with a portfolio of high-profile, emerging DTC brands.
  • Exposure to a dynamic and collaborative agency environment.
  • Development of skills in retention marketing and e-commerce design.
  • Potential for contract extension based on performance and business needs.

Working Hours:

• Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time (ET).
• The role is fully remote, requiring a dedicated workspace and reliable internet connection.

📝 Enhancement Note: For contract roles, compensation is often negotiated based on experience, project scope, and market rates. The provided range is an estimate based on São Paulo market data for skilled design contractors and the specified experience level. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their hourly rate expectations.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital Experience and Marketing Agency, specializing in launching and growing emerging consumer brands. Company Size: UN/COMMON is described as an agency, and while specific numbers aren't provided, the context suggests a growing, dynamic team focused on innovation and client success. Founded: Not specified, but the focus on "emerging brands" implies a relatively modern or forward-thinking company.

Team Structure:

• The Retention Marketing Designer will be embedded within the existing creative team at UN/COMMON, acting as an extension of their staff.
• This structure suggests close collaboration with other designers, art directors, and potentially marketing strategists or account managers.
• Cross-functional collaboration will be key, working with internal teams to understand client needs and deliver integrated solutions.

Methodology:

• UN/COMMON emphasizes an "authentic stories built for the consumer first and brand second" approach.
• The agency operates with a "mission first" mentality, aiming to create brand stories that benefit the greater good and improve people's lives.
• A highly iterative and collaborative environment where team members share work and contribute positively is a core aspect of their methodology.
• Emphasis on strategic thinking, proactive problem-solving, and delivering best-in-class experiences.

Company Website: uncommonagency.co

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture prioritizes authenticity, purpose, and a fun, collaborative work environment. For a designer, this means an opportunity to contribute creatively to meaningful brands while working within a supportive and iterative team structure.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is a Mid-Level to Senior-level individual contributor position within a specialized design function. While not a direct "operations" role, it significantly contributes to the Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy by focusing on customer retention, which directly impacts revenue and customer lifetime value. Reporting Structure: The designer will likely report to a Creative Director, Design Lead, or an Art Director within UN/COMMON's creative team. They will also work closely with account management and marketing teams responsible for client strategy. Operations Impact: The impact on revenue is indirect but substantial. Effective retention marketing designs lead to increased customer loyalty, repeat purchases, and higher customer lifetime value, all of which are critical revenue drivers for e-commerce brands. The designer's work directly supports the marketing team's efforts to achieve these GTM objectives.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in retention marketing design, e-commerce UX/UI, and advanced email design techniques.
• Brand Portfolio Expansion: Gain experience working with a diverse range of high-profile, emerging brands, enhancing the designer's professional portfolio.
• Creative Leadership: Potential to take on more complex design challenges, lead design for specific client projects, or mentor junior designers as the agency grows.
• Contract to Full-Time: Strong performance in this contract role could lead to opportunities for full-time employment with UN/COMMON, offering a path to traditional benefits and career progression within the agency.

📝 Enhancement Note: This contract role offers a valuable opportunity for a designer to hone their skills in a high-demand area (retention marketing for e-commerce) and gain exposure to a leading agency and its impressive client roster, paving the way for future career advancements.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. This implies a distributed workforce, with team members collaborating virtually. Office Location(s): While the role is remote, candidates must be based in specific locations: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo (Brazil); Madrid, Barcelona (Spain); Lisbon (Portugal); or Buenos Aires (Argentina). This geographic constraint may be due to payment processing, legal/tax reasons, or time zone alignment for collaborative work.

Workspace Context:

• The work environment is highly collaborative, requiring active participation in virtual team meetings, design critiques, and brainstorming sessions.
• Access to modern design tools (Figma, Photoshop) and reliable internet connectivity is essential.
• Team members are expected to share work openly and maintain a positive, enthusiastic, and curious attitude.
• The agency culture values creativity, technology, and a passion for design.

Work Schedule:

• The core working hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time (ET). This means candidates in Brazil will work during their local evening/night hours for a portion of the day to align with ET, while those in Europe will work during their morning/afternoon. This schedule requires flexibility and commitment to ET working hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specific ET working hours requirement is crucial for candidates to consider, as it will necessitate a significant adjustment for those located in Brazil, Spain, Portugal, and Argentina, impacting their daily routines and work-life balance.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Resume Review: Initial screening to assess experience, skills, and alignment with job requirements.
• Video Interview(s): Likely includes introductory calls with HR or a hiring manager to discuss background, motivation, and cultural fit.
• Manager Interview(s): Deeper dive into design experience, strategic thinking, and problem-solving abilities with the hiring manager or design lead.
• Skills Assessment and/or Portfolio Review: This is a critical stage where candidates will present their portfolio, discuss specific projects in detail, and potentially complete a design exercise to evaluate their technical skills, creative approach, and ability to articulate design rationale.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects. Prioritize work done for DTC/e-commerce brands and focus on email campaign design.
• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly outline the client's challenge, your role, the design process you followed, your creative solutions, and the impact of your work (if data is available).
• Highlight Retention Focus: Explicitly discuss how your designs were intended to improve customer retention, engagement, or drive repeat purchases.
• Showcase Technical Skills: Ensure your portfolio demonstrates proficiency in Figma, Photoshop, and an understanding of responsive email design and GIF creation.
• Be Prepared to Discuss: Anticipate questions about your design choices, how you handle feedback, your collaboration style, and your understanding of email best practices.

Challenge Preparation:

• If a skills assessment is provided, treat it as a mini-portfolio project. Understand the brief thoroughly, plan your approach, and execute with attention to detail.
• Practice articulating your design process and rationale concisely. Be ready to explain why you made certain design decisions.
• Familiarize yourself with UN/COMMON's client roster and general design aesthetic to ensure your presentation aligns with their brand.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is the most significant component of this interview process. Candidates should invest considerable time in curating and preparing to present their work, focusing on demonstrating strategic thinking and measurable impact in retention marketing.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI/UX design, prototyping, and collaborative design workflows. Proficiency is a must.
• Adobe Photoshop: Critical for image editing, graphic creation, and asset preparation for email.
• Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, After Effects): Potentially useful for advanced graphic creation or motion design, though not explicitly listed as required.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a direct responsibility of the designer, a strong understanding of how design impacts key marketing metrics (open rates, click-through rates, conversion rates) is crucial. Familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, email platform analytics) is a plus for understanding performance.

CRM & Automation:

• No specific CRM or marketing automation tools are listed as required for the designer. However, an understanding of how designs are implemented within email marketing platforms (e.g., Klaviyo, Mailchimp, HubSpot) and the role of automation in retention campaigns would be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary technical requirement is strong design tool proficiency, particularly Figma and Photoshop. The role requires a designer who can execute visually but also understands the interplay between design and performance metrics within email marketing systems.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Consumer-First Approach: Designing with the end-user experience at the forefront, ensuring emails are engaging, informative, and easy to interact with.
• Authenticity & Purpose: Contributing to brands that have meaningful stories and positive impacts.
• Collaboration & Positivity: Working effectively in a team, sharing ideas, and maintaining an enthusiastic and supportive attitude.
• Creativity & Innovation: Bringing fresh perspectives and strategic thinking to solve design challenges and create best-in-class experiences.
• Iterative Improvement: Embracing a continuous cycle of design, feedback, and refinement to achieve optimal results.

Collaboration Style:

• Embedded Team Member: Acting as an integral part of the UN/COMMON creative team, seamlessly integrating workflows and communication.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Working closely with account managers, marketing strategists, and potentially client-side teams.
• Open Feedback Culture: Willingness to share work early and often, provide constructive feedback, and receive it openly.
• Proactive Communication: Maintaining clear and consistent communication regarding project status, challenges, and creative solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "authentic stories," "greater good," and a "fun" environment suggests a company culture that values purpose-driven work and positive interpersonal dynamics. Designers who thrive in collaborative, feedback-rich environments will likely find this a good fit.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Time Zone Alignment: Working within the 9 AM - 5 PM ET schedule while based in Brazil, Spain, Portugal, or Argentina requires significant personal adjustment and discipline.
• Remote Collaboration: Effectively contributing to a distributed team, ensuring clear communication and seamless workflow without in-person interaction.
• Client Demands: Balancing the creative vision with client expectations and project deadlines for multiple brands simultaneously.
• Measuring Design Impact: Quantifying the direct impact of design choices on retention metrics can be challenging, requiring close collaboration with marketing teams to track performance.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Craft: Deepening expertise in retention marketing, e-commerce design trends, and advanced email design techniques.
• Brand Exposure: Working with a high-profile portfolio of emerging brands provides excellent learning opportunities in brand building and strategy.
• Agency Best Practices: Gaining insight into the operational and creative processes of a successful digital experience agency.
• Networking: Building connections within the agency and with clients, potentially leading to future opportunities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The main challenge is the significant time zone difference, which will require careful scheduling and communication. Growth opportunities are strong for a designer looking to specialize in the lucrative e-commerce retention marketing space.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you designed an email campaign for an e-commerce brand that successfully improved customer retention or drove repeat purchases. What was your process, and what were the results?" (Focus on your process, design rationale, and any metrics.)
• "How do you approach translating a brand's identity and marketing objectives into effective email designs?" (Highlight your understanding of brand development and user-centered design.)
• "Walk us through your experience with Figma and Photoshop for email design. What are some of your favorite features or workflows?" (Be specific about your technical skills.)
• "How do you handle constructive criticism or feedback on your designs, especially when working with multiple stakeholders?" (Emphasize your iterative process and collaborative attitude.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about UN/COMMON and our work with emerging brands?" (Research their clients and mission.)
• "How do you see your design skills contributing to customer retention strategies?" (Connect your abilities to the role's core objective.)
• "Describe your ideal work environment. How do you thrive in a remote, collaborative setting?" (Highlight your communication and teamwork skills.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your solution, your process, and the outcome. Use visuals effectively.
• Focus on Retention: Emphasize how your design decisions aimed to improve engagement, encourage repeat purchases, or reduce churn.
• Showcase Tools: Mention and demonstrate your proficiency with Figma, Photoshop, and any other relevant tools.
• Be Concise and Engaging: Practice your presentation to ensure it flows well and stays within any time limits. Be ready to answer questions thoroughly.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare to discuss specific projects that demonstrate your ability to create visually appealing, strategically sound, and effective retention marketing emails for e-commerce clients. Highlight your understanding of user experience and brand consistency.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations-adjacent design position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your submitted portfolio prominently features your best work in email design, particularly for DTC and e-commerce brands, and clearly outlines your role and the impact of your designs.
• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords from the job description, such as "retention marketing," "email design," "Figma," "Photoshop," "DTC brands," "e-commerce," and "user-centered design." Quantify achievements where possible.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, rationale, and experience with retention marketing strategies. Prepare to present your portfolio with confidence and answer questions about your collaborative approach and problem-solving skills.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with UN/COMMON's website, their client roster, and their agency philosophy to demonstrate genuine interest and cultural alignment. Understand their emphasis on authentic storytelling and consumer-first approaches.

⚠️ 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.