Retention Marketing Designer (Contractor)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Retention Marketing Designer (Contractor)

Company: UN/COMMON

Location: Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Job Type: CONTRACTOR

Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Operations

Date Posted: January 18, 2026

Experience Level: 3-5 Years Experience

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on designing and executing retention marketing initiatives, primarily through email campaigns and automated flows, for a portfolio of e-commerce brands.

• The position involves creating visually compelling and strategically effective digital assets that drive customer engagement and loyalty within a contract structure.

• Successful candidates will collaborate closely with internal creative teams to develop innovative design solutions that align with brand identity and marketing objectives.

• The role requires a strong understanding of user-centered design principles, brand development, and the complete creative process from concept to launch.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Retention Marketing Designer," the core responsibilities lean heavily into creative operations and execution within marketing. The focus on email campaigns and flows, combined with the need for strategic thinking and problem-solving, positions this role within a broader marketing operations umbrella, with a strong emphasis on visual execution. The contract nature and specific location eligibility suggest a need for flexibility and localized talent pools.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and develop engaging email campaigns, automated email flows, and other digital marketing assets for a diverse range of e-commerce clients.

• Collaborate with the UN/COMMON creative team to seamlessly integrate into client projects, acting as an extension of their existing design capabilities.

• Translate strategic marketing objectives into creative, user-centered design solutions that enhance customer retention and brand loyalty.

• Create high-quality visual content, including GIFs and animated elements, to bring email designs to life and improve engagement metrics.

• Manage the end-to-end design process for assigned projects, from initial concept ideation and wireframing through to final asset delivery and post-launch iterations.

• Proactively identify design challenges and opportunities, offering strategic perspectives and innovative solutions to drive client success and optimize campaign performance.

• Ensure all designs adhere to email marketing best practices, usability standards, and brand guidelines to maximize deliverability and user experience.

• Support internal UN/COMMON sales and marketing collateral design needs as required.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of tactical design execution and strategic contribution. The emphasis on "solving significant design problems" and "bringing fresh and creative perspectives and strategic thinking" indicates a need for proactive problem-solving beyond just executing briefs. The inclusion of "internal sales and marketing collateral" suggests a broader scope within the agency's operational needs.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

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 DTC and e-commerce brands is highly preferred.

Required Skills:

• Email Design Expertise: Proven ability to design effective and visually appealing email campaigns and automated flows, understanding of email client rendering and best practices.

• User-Centered Design: Deep understanding of user experience (UX) principles and how to apply them to create intuitive and engaging digital interactions.

• Brand Development: Ability to interpret and apply brand guidelines consistently across various marketing materials, ensuring brand integrity.

• Creative Process Proficiency: Mastery of the full design lifecycle, from ideation and sketching to final asset creation and iteration.

• Design Tool Proficiency: Advanced skills in Figma, Adobe Photoshop, and other modern design and prototyping tools.

• Design Rationale Articulation: Demonstrated ability to clearly present and defend design choices, linking them to strategic objectives and user needs.

• Agile Workflow Management: Capacity to work iteratively, receive constructive feedback, and adapt designs efficiently within a fast-paced environment.

• Attention to Detail: Meticulous approach to design, ensuring high quality, accuracy, and polish in all deliverables.

• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent interpersonal skills for effective teamwork and communication within a remote and cross-functional environment.

• Problem-Solving Aptitude: Ability to analyze challenges, identify root causes, and develop creative and practical design solutions.

• GIF & Motion Design: Experience creating animated GIFs and incorporating motion into designs to enhance visual appeal and engagement.

• Multi-Tasking Capability: Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously without compromising quality.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with email marketing platforms (e.g., Klaviyo, Mailchimp, HubSpot) from a design implementation perspective.

• Familiarity with basic HTML/CSS for email templating.

• Experience in creating marketing collateral beyond email, such as social media graphics or ad banners.

• A strong understanding of conversion rate optimization (CRO) principles as they relate to design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The listed skills are comprehensive for a design role within marketing operations. The emphasis on "Figma, Photoshop, and modern design tools" is critical. The requirement to "synthesize, present, and articulate design rationale" points towards a need for strong communication and strategic thinking beyond pure aesthetics. The "Portfolio showcasing your work" is a non-negotiable requirement.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Campaign Case Studies: Showcase at least 2-3 detailed case studies of successful email campaign designs, illustrating the problem, your design solution, and the measurable impact (e.g., increased open rates, click-through rates, conversions).

• Flow Design Examples: Include examples of automated email flows (e.g., welcome series, abandoned cart, re-engagement) and explain the logic and strategic thinking behind their design.

• Brand Consistency Examples: Demonstrate your ability to maintain brand consistency across different campaigns and assets for a single brand or across multiple brands.

• GIF/Motion Examples: Highlight your proficiency in creating engaging animated GIFs or short motion graphics for email.

• Tool Proficiency Showcase: While not explicitly stated, subtly demonstrate your command of Figma and Photoshop through the quality and presentation of your portfolio pieces.

Process Documentation:

• Ability to document design processes and rationale clearly, facilitating understanding and collaboration with team members and stakeholders.

• Experience working within established design workflows and contributing to their optimization for efficiency.

• Understanding of how design processes integrate with broader marketing automation and CRM workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a design role focused on retention marketing, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to demonstrate not just aesthetic skill but also strategic thinking, an understanding of user journeys, and the ability to drive measurable results through design. The emphasis should be on showing how the design solved a problem or achieved an objective.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• As a contractor based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the estimated hourly rate for a Retention Marketing Designer with 3-5 years of experience typically ranges from BRL 50 to BRL 100+ per hour. This translates to an approximate annual contract value of BRL 104,000 to BRL 208,000+, depending on specific experience, negotiation, and the scope of work.

Benefits:

• Contractual Flexibility: Opportunity to work on diverse projects for leading emerging brands.

• Remote Work: Full remote work arrangement, allowing for a flexible work-life balance.

• Professional Development: Exposure to a fast-paced agency environment with opportunities to learn and grow alongside talented professionals.

• Project Variety: Work with a portfolio of high-profile, innovative DTC brands.

• Potential for Extension: While a 12-month contract, successful performance may lead to extensions or future opportunities.

Working Hours:

• Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time (ET).

• This implies a requirement to align with US East Coast business hours for collaboration and meetings, regardless of the contractor's local time zone.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary is presented as an hourly range for a contractor role, which is standard. The conversion to an annual estimate provides a broader financial perspective. The "Benefits" section is tailored to reflect typical advantages of contract roles and agency work. The "Working Hours" specifically mention Eastern Time, which is a crucial detail for a remote contractor.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital Experience & Marketing Agency, specializing in launching and growing emerging DTC brands.

Company Size: UN/COMMON operates as a dynamic agency, likely with a team size that allows for agility and close collaboration, potentially ranging from 50-200 employees based on typical agency structures of this nature.

Founded: The founding date is not explicitly provided, but the agency's focus on "emerging brands" suggests a modern, forward-thinking approach to marketing and brand building.

Team Structure:

• The Retention Marketing Designer will be part of the creative team, working closely with other designers, copywriters, and marketing strategists.

• This role acts as an extension of the UN/COMMON team, implying seamless integration and collaborative workflows with internal agency staff.

Methodology:

• Brand-First Storytelling: UN/COMMON emphasizes creating authentic stories built "consumer first and brand second," suggesting a strategic approach that prioritizes audience connection.

• Data-Informed Creativity: While creative execution is key, the focus on retention and growth implies that designs are informed by performance data and user insights.

• Iterative Design & Development: The role requires working iteratively through project phases, suggesting a Lean or Agile approach to design and campaign deployment.

• Mission-Driven: The agency describes itself as "employee and customer-centric" and "mission first," indicating a focus on positive impact and strong company values.

Company Website: uncommonagency.co

📝 Enhancement Note: The company description highlights a strong focus on DTC brands and authentic storytelling. This context is crucial for a designer; it means understanding brand voice, target audiences, and creative differentiation. The "employee and customer-centric" and "mission first" aspects suggest a positive and purpose-driven work environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as an experienced individual contributor within the creative operations and marketing design function. It requires a solid foundation in design principles and practical application in a professional setting.

Reporting Structure: The designer will likely report to a Creative Director, Design Lead, or Art Director within the UN/COMMON agency structure. They will also collaborate closely with account managers or project managers overseeing client engagements.

Operations Impact: The designer's work directly influences customer retention rates, brand perception, and revenue generation for client brands through effective email marketing and digital asset creation. Their strategic input can significantly improve campaign performance and client satisfaction.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in retention marketing design, email automation UX/UI, and GIF/motion design for digital platforms.

• Client Portfolio Expansion: Gain experience working with a variety of high-profile emerging brands across different industries.

• Strategic Contribution: Develop a stronger strategic voice by contributing to campaign planning and offering innovative design solutions that drive business outcomes.

• Agency Advancement: Potential for contract extensions, full-time conversion, or opportunities to lead design initiatives on specific client accounts based on performance and agency needs.

• Learning & Development: Exposure to agency best practices, industry trends, and collaboration with seasoned marketing professionals.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a contractor role, "growth" often means gaining valuable experience, expanding a portfolio, and potentially leading to longer-term engagements or full-time opportunities. The impact on client revenue and brand perception is a key growth metric for operations and marketing roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. This contractor role operates entirely outside a traditional office setting, requiring self-discipline and effective communication tools.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote, candidates must be based in specific eligible locations: Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), São Paulo (Brazil), Madrid (Spain), Barcelona (Spain), Lisbon (Portugal), or Buenos Aires (Argentina). This is likely due to tax, legal, or operational considerations for contract engagement.

Workspace Context:

• Remote Collaboration: Emphasis on utilizing digital collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Zoom, Figma's collaborative features) for seamless teamwork.

• Asynchronous Communication: The need to align with ET working hours suggests a blend of synchronous meetings and asynchronous work, requiring clear documentation and communication.

• Independent Work: The role demands a high degree of autonomy, self-management, and the ability to create a productive home office environment.

• Technology Stack: Access to necessary design software (Figma, Photoshop) and reliable internet connectivity is essential.

Work Schedule:

• Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time (ET). This is a critical requirement for consistent collaboration with the US-based agency team. Contractors will need to manage their local time zone accordingly.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specific eligible locations for remote work are unusual and suggest a strategic choice by UN/COMMON, possibly related to talent acquisition or cost management. The ET working hours are a significant constraint and require careful consideration by potential applicants.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

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

• Video Interview(s): Likely a preliminary call with a recruiter or hiring manager to discuss experience, motivation, and cultural fit.

• Manager Interview(s): Deeper dive into design approach, problem-solving skills, and strategic thinking with the direct reporting manager or team lead.

• Skills Assessment and/or Portfolio Review: This is a critical stage. Candidates will be asked to present their portfolio, discuss specific projects, and potentially complete a design challenge or take-home assignment relevant to retention marketing.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects that showcase your expertise in email design, DTC brands, and retention marketing.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the client's objective, the problem you were solving, your design process and rationale, and the quantifiable results achieved. Use metrics wherever possible.

• Highlight Retention Focus: Emphasize projects that specifically aimed to improve customer engagement, loyalty, or lifetime value.

• Showcase Tool Proficiency: Ensure your portfolio demonstrates advanced skills in Figma and Photoshop. If possible, include interactive prototypes or explanations of your design system approach.

• Address GIF/Motion: Include examples of your animation or GIF creation skills if applicable to your chosen projects.

• Be Prepared for a Design Challenge: Anticipate a small design task or case study that you may need to complete under a time constraint or present during the interview.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Goal: If a design challenge is given, focus on understanding the core objective (e.g., increase conversion, improve user flow) and the target audience.

• Time Management: Allocate your time effectively between ideation, design, and preparation for presentation.

• Communicate Your Process: Be ready to explain your thought process, design decisions, and any assumptions you made. This is as important as the final output.

• Focus on Retention: Tailor any challenge response to the principles of retention marketing and e-commerce best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is the most critical part of this application process for a designer. Candidates must prepare thoroughly to showcase not just their aesthetic capabilities but their strategic thinking and ability to deliver results. The mention of a "skills assessment and/or portfolio review" implies a hands-on evaluation.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for collaborative design, prototyping, and creating UI assets. Proficiency in its advanced features is expected.

• Adobe Photoshop: Crucial for image editing, manipulation, and creating detailed visual assets.

• Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, After Effects): While not explicitly listed, familiarity with other Adobe tools like Illustrator for vector graphics or After Effects for more advanced motion graphics could be beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Email Marketing Platforms: Experience with platforms like Klaviyo, Mailchimp, HubSpot, or similar is highly advantageous for understanding the technical constraints and capabilities of email deployment.

• Project Management Tools: Familiarity with tools like Asana, Trello, or Jira for managing tasks and workflows within an agency setting.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma and Photoshop is critical. For a retention marketing designer, understanding the ecosystem of email marketing platforms is also highly relevant, even if they aren't directly configuring them.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A strong focus on understanding and serving the customer, ensuring designs are built with the end-user in mind.

• Authentic Storytelling: Commitment to creating genuine brand narratives that resonate with consumers.

• Mission-Driven Impact: A desire to work with brands that have a positive social or environmental mission, contributing to the "greater good."

• Collaboration & Positivity: Encouragement of a team environment where individuals share work, offer support, and maintain a positive attitude.

• Curiosity & Enthusiasm: A passion for design, creativity, and technology, fostering a culture of continuous learning and exploration.

Collaboration Style:

• Embedded Teamwork: The role requires seamless integration into the existing creative team, working closely and collaboratively on client projects.

• Iterative Feedback Loops: An environment that encourages sharing work early and often, with a willingness to receive and incorporate feedback constructively.

• Proactive Contribution: Team members are expected to bring ideas, solve problems, and contribute strategically, not just execute tasks.

• Cross-Functional Integration: Working effectively with strategists, account managers, and other agency functions to ensure cohesive campaign execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The agency's values – "employee and customer-centric," "mission first," and "fun" – suggest a culture that balances professional rigor with a positive, purpose-driven atmosphere. The emphasis on collaboration and positivity is key for a remote contractor integrating into an existing team.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creative Vision with Brand Constraints: Effectively translating client brand identities and marketing objectives into compelling designs while adhering to platform limitations and best practices.

• Managing Multiple Client Projects: Juggling diverse projects with varying deadlines, brand styles, and strategic goals within a contract timeframe.

• Remote Collaboration Effectiveness: Maintaining strong communication and creative synergy with a distributed team and clients across different time zones.

• Adapting to Emerging Trends: Staying current with the rapidly evolving landscape of digital marketing, email design, and e-commerce trends to ensure designs remain innovative and effective.

• Quantifying Design Impact: Clearly demonstrating the ROI and impact of design choices on retention metrics, which can sometimes be challenging to isolate.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Mastering Retention Strategies: Gaining in-depth experience designing for customer lifecycle marketing, loyalty programs, and re-engagement campaigns.

• Expanding Design Toolkit: Enhancing skills in motion graphics, GIF creation, and potentially basic HTML/CSS for email.

• Agency Best Practices: Learning from experienced professionals about client management, project workflow optimization, and agency operations.

• Exposure to High-Growth Brands: Working with leading emerging brands provides valuable insights into successful DTC growth strategies.

• Portfolio Enrichment: Building a robust portfolio with high-impact projects for well-known brands, enhancing future career prospects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are framed around the realities of agency work, remote collaboration, and the dynamic nature of digital marketing. The growth opportunities focus on skill enhancement, strategic contribution, and career advancement through practical experience.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Tell me about a time you designed an email campaign that significantly improved customer retention or engagement. What was the objective, your approach, and the results?"

  • Preparation: Select a strong portfolio case study that highlights your process, strategic thinking, and measurable outcomes. Focus on metrics like open rates, CTR, conversion rates, or customer lifetime value.

• "How do you approach balancing creative innovation with strict brand guidelines and technical limitations in email design?"

  • Preparation: Discuss your process for understanding brand DNA, researching technical constraints of email clients, and finding creative solutions within those boundaries. Mention your experience with Figma and Photoshop in this context.

• "Describe a challenging design problem you faced on a past project and how you solved it. What was your approach to problem-solving?"

Company & Culture Questions:

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

  • Preparation: Research UN/COMMON's website, client roster, and mission. Be ready to articulate what specifically appeals to you about their approach and the brands they represent.

• "How do you thrive in a remote, collaborative environment, especially when working with a team in a different time zone?"

  • Preparation: Discuss your experience with remote work tools, communication strategies (e.g., proactive updates, clear documentation), and your ability to manage your schedule to align with ET hours.

• "Our agency values authentic storytelling and a mission-first approach. How do you see your design work contributing to these values?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: Organize your portfolio logically, perhaps by project type (e.g., email campaigns, flows) or by client. Have a clear opening and closing.

• Focus on Impact: For each project, clearly state the objective, your role, the problem, your solution (design process), and the results. Quantify whenever possible.

• Demonstrate Process: Walk through your design thinking. Explain why you made certain choices, not just what you designed. Use Figma/Photoshop examples to show your technical skill.

• Highlight Retention: Emphasize projects that directly relate to customer retention, engagement, or loyalty.

• Be Concise and Engaging: Practice your presentation to be clear, confident, and within the allotted time. Be ready to answer questions about any aspect of your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation emphasizes practical application of design skills in a retention marketing context, strategic thinking, and cultural fit. The portfolio presentation is highlighted as a crucial element requiring thorough preparation.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your submitted portfolio is up-to-date and specifically highlights your experience in email design, retention marketing, and DTC brands. Tailor the selection of projects to showcase your strongest work relevant to this role.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly articulate your 3-5 years of experience, emphasizing skills in Figma, Photoshop, email design best practices, and any experience with DTC or agency environments. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Review common interview questions for design roles in marketing agencies, focusing on your portfolio, design process, and ability to articulate strategic rationale. Practice presenting your key projects.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research UN/COMMON's website, client list, and overall brand philosophy. Understand their approach to marketing and brand building to better align your responses during the interview process.

⚠️ 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.

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