Senior Brand Designer - Campaigns

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Brand Designer - Campaigns

Company: Mercury

Location: San Francisco, CA; New York, NY; Portland, OR; Remote within Canada; United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Brand Design / Creative Operations

Date Posted: March 10, 2026

Experience Level: 7-10 Years

Remote Status: Remote OK

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the creative development and execution of large-scale visual storytelling for brand campaigns, ensuring a cohesive and impactful brand presence across all touchpoints.

• Translate complex brand strategy and messaging into simple, magnetic, and emotionally resonant visual narratives that connect with Mercury's target audience of founders and builders.

• Art-direct campaigns that embody Mercury's voice and visual system, creating bold, memorable, and culturally attuned experiences in collaboration with cross-functional teams.

• Champion exceptional craft and clarity in all design deliverables, from initial concept sketches to final production files, maintaining high standards of quality and precision.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is situated within the Brand Design and Creative Operations function, focusing on campaign development and visual storytelling. While not a traditional Revenue Operations or Sales Operations role, it requires strong collaboration with marketing and performance teams, necessitating an understanding of how creative campaigns drive business objectives and customer acquisition, akin to GTM operations. The emphasis on visual communication and campaign execution suggests a need for process-oriented thinking in managing creative workflows.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the conceptualization, design, and art direction of major brand campaigns, ensuring alignment with Mercury's brand strategy and market positioning.

• Develop and execute visual narratives that seamlessly integrate across diverse formats, including out-of-home advertising, experiential activations, digital placements, paid social media, and performance marketing ads.

• Collaborate closely with brand leadership, copywriters, motion designers, and performance marketing specialists to craft compelling and impactful campaign work.

• Design across various scales, from the macro impact of citywide takeovers to the micro-level details of typography, layout, and color harmony.

• Partner with external agencies, photographers, illustrators, and fabricators to bring ambitious creative concepts to life with exceptional quality and precision.

• Champion and uphold the highest standards of craft, clarity, and conceptual integrity in all design outputs and deliverables.

• Proactively manage multiple projects simultaneously, effectively balancing concept development, design execution, and production timelines with clarity and composure.

• Foster a highly collaborative environment, valuing diverse perspectives and contributing to innovative creative solutions through effective communication and teamwork.

• Mentor junior designers and cross-functional partners, elevating the overall creative execution and brand consistency across the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a senior-level role with significant leadership in campaign strategy and execution. The emphasis on cross-functional collaboration and managing external partners suggests a need for strong project management and vendor management skills, crucial for efficient GTM operations. The scope from macro to micro design indicates a comprehensive understanding of brand application across all levels of a campaign.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong foundation in graphic design, visual communication, or a related field is expected through experience and portfolio.

Experience: 7–10 years of progressive experience in brand design, art direction, or visual communication, ideally with a blend of in-house and agency experience.

Required Skills:

• Proven ability to lead the creative development of large-scale visual storytelling and brand campaigns.

• Demonstrated conceptual range, systems thinking, and refined visual execution across print, environmental, and digital formats.

• Deep understanding of typography, composition, color theory, and visual storytelling principles.

• Proactive problem-solving drive with the capacity to manage multiple complex deliverables and project handoffs effectively.

• Experience leading campaigns from concept through production, including vendor management, proof testing, and navigating print or fabrication logistics.

• Ability to work autonomously and collaboratively in a fast-paced, high-ownership environment.

• A sharp eye for aesthetic craft, cultural relevance, and conceptual application in design.

• Strong communication and presentation skills, capable of clearly articulating concepts, ideas, and creative decisions.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience within the fintech or SaaS industries.

• Familiarity with performance marketing creative best practices.

• Experience with motion graphics or animation principles.

• Ability to art-direct photo or video shoots.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirements are substantial, indicating a need for seasoned professionals. The emphasis on "systems thinking" and "conceptual range" suggests a strategic approach to design, aligning with the operational need for consistency and scalability in brand messaging across campaigns. The requirement for managing production logistics also touches upon operational execution.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 7-10 years of professional brand design and art direction experience.

• Demonstrated examples of leading large-scale visual storytelling and integrated brand campaigns from concept to execution.

• Case studies that highlight conceptual thinking, systems thinking, and refined visual execution across diverse formats (e.g., OOH, digital, experiential).

• Evidence of strong typography, composition, and storytelling skills applied in real-world projects.

Process Documentation:

• Examples of campaign development processes, illustrating how strategic objectives were translated into creative briefs and design solutions.

• Documentation or case studies detailing the management of production logistics, vendor collaboration, and quality control for campaign elements.

• Visuals showcasing the application of a consistent brand system across multiple campaign touchpoints and formats.

• Demonstrations of how design decisions effectively resonated with target audiences (founders and builders) and contributed to campaign goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Brand Designer role, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to demonstrate not just aesthetic skill but also strategic thinking, process management, and the ability to deliver complex, integrated campaigns. This aligns with operational needs for structured creative output and measurable campaign impact.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• US Employees (any location): $154,200 – $192,800 USD per year

• Canadian Employees (any location): 145,800 – 182,200 CAD per year

Benefits:

• Competitive base salary and equity package within the SaaS and fintech industry.

• Comprehensive benefits package designed to support employee well-being and professional growth.

• Opportunities for professional development and continuous learning in a fast-paced environment.

• A collaborative and innovative work culture that values diverse perspectives.

Working Hours: The role is typically a full-time position, implying approximately 40 hours per week. However, given the nature of campaign development and creative execution, flexibility may be required to meet project deadlines and campaign launch schedules.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary ranges provided are specific and competitive for senior-level design roles in the US and Canada, reflecting industry benchmarks for fintech and SaaS. The mention of equity is a significant component of total compensation in this sector. While specific benefits are not detailed, the context implies a robust package common in tech companies. The implicit flexibility in working hours for campaign roles aligns with operational realities of creative project management.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Technology (Fintech) and Software as a Service (SaaS). Mercury aims to bring a design-forward, customer-centric approach to banking and financial services for businesses.

Company Size: Mercury is a growing company, likely within the range of 200-500 employees, indicated by its stage of development and the scale of roles being hired. This size suggests a dynamic environment with opportunities for influence but also requires structured processes for efficient operation.

Founded: Founded in 2019, Mercury is a relatively young company, which often translates to a fast-paced, innovative, and evolving culture.

Team Structure:

• The Senior Brand Designer will likely be part of the Marketing or Brand team, reporting to a Brand Director or Head of Marketing.

• This role requires significant cross-functional collaboration with Copywriting, Motion Design, Performance Marketing, Product Marketing, and potentially Product Design teams.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Creativity: While creative in nature, campaigns are expected to be informed by brand strategy and potentially performance data from marketing efforts.

• Process Optimization: The role involves managing campaigns from concept to execution, implying a structured approach to creative workflows, vendor management, and production.

• Collaboration & Iteration: The culture encourages open communication, diverse perspectives, and iterative design processes to refine creative output.

Company Website: https://mercury.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Mercury's culture is positioned as design-forward and innovative, drawing inspiration from modern architecture and a user-centric philosophy. This implies a high standard for creative output and a collaborative, fast-paced work environment. For operations professionals, this means a need for adaptability, strong communication, and a focus on delivering high-quality, impactful results within a growth-stage company.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as Senior, indicating a significant level of expertise, autonomy, and responsibility. It signifies a transition from individual contributor to a key player in shaping brand direction and campaign execution, with potential for leadership.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Brand Designer will likely report to a Brand Director or Head of Marketing, who oversees the overall brand strategy and marketing initiatives. They will also work closely with creative leads and marketing managers.

Operations Impact: The Senior Brand Designer's work directly impacts Mercury's brand perception, customer acquisition, and market positioning. Successful campaigns drive engagement, build brand equity, and contribute to growth objectives by making Mercury's offerings clear, desirable, and memorable to its target audience of founders and builders.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Potential to lead creative projects, mentor junior designers, and influence brand strategy.

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in campaign development, art direction, and visual storytelling within the fintech/SaaS sector.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain in-depth understanding of marketing operations, performance analytics, and product marketing through close collaboration.

• Career Progression: Pathways could lead to roles such as Creative Director, Head of Brand Design, or senior leadership positions within marketing.

📝 Enhancement Note: As a senior role, this position offers significant growth potential beyond individual design contribution. The emphasis on leadership and strategic impact aligns with career progression in operations-focused creative roles, where managing processes and driving measurable outcomes are key.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Mercury offers a remote-first work environment, with physical offices in San Francisco, New York, and Portland, OR. This allows for flexibility in location for employees within the US and Canada.

Office Location(s):

• San Francisco, CA, United States

• New York, NY, United States

• Portland, OR, United States

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative & Remote-First: The environment encourages asynchronous and synchronous collaboration using digital tools to connect remote teams effectively.

• Technology-Enabled: Access to modern design software and collaboration platforms is essential for remote workflow efficiency.

• High-Ownership Culture: Employees are expected to be proactive and take ownership of their work, fostering an environment of trust and accountability.

Work Schedule: While typically a 40-hour work week, the demands of campaign launches and creative project deadlines may require occasional flexibility. The remote nature allows for some personal schedule management, provided core collaboration hours and deadlines are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote-first nature of Mercury necessitates strong communication protocols and proficiency with digital collaboration tools, which is a critical operational aspect for distributed teams. The flexibility offered is balanced by the expectation of high ownership and proactive engagement.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess experience and alignment with the role's requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where you will present your portfolio, discuss key projects, and articulate your design process, strategic thinking, and conceptual approach. This is a critical step for evaluating your fit.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from brand leadership, copywriting, performance marketing, and potentially product teams to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and strategic alignment.

• Creative Challenge/Case Study: You may be asked to complete a design challenge or present a hypothetical campaign concept based on Mercury's brand, demonstrating your ability to translate strategy into creative solutions under time constraints.

• Final Round: Discussion with senior leadership to evaluate overall fit, strategic vision, and potential impact on the company.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best demonstrate your experience in campaign development, art direction, visual storytelling, and systems thinking. Prioritize work that aligns with Mercury's brand aesthetic and target audience (founders and builders).

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your strategic approach, the creative process, your specific role and contributions, and the impact or results achieved. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

• Highlight Craft and Concept: Showcase both the meticulous attention to detail in your execution (typography, layout, color) and the strength of your underlying concepts.

• Demonstrate Process: Explain your workflow, how you collaborate with others (copywriters, marketers), and how you manage projects from ideation through to final production.

• Be Ready to Discuss: Prepare to discuss your design decisions, defend your creative choices, and articulate how your work aligns with business objectives.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Mercury's Brand: Thoroughly research Mercury's current brand, messaging, target audience, and competitive landscape. Analyze their existing campaigns and visual identity.

• Think Strategically: For any hypothetical challenge, focus on understanding the objective first. How can design and art direction best achieve Mercury's business goals for a specific campaign?

• Show Your Process: Even in a short challenge, outline your thought process, how you'd approach research, concepting, and execution.

• Practice Art Direction: If the challenge involves art direction, be prepared to articulate your vision for photography, illustration, or other visual elements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process heavily emphasizes portfolio review and presentation, which is standard for senior creative roles. Candidates should prepare to demonstrate not only design skills but also strategic thinking, communication, and the ability to manage complex creative projects, mirroring operational rigor.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design Software: Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) is essential. Figma or Sketch for UI/UX and collaborative design.

• Prototyping/Presentation: Tools like Figma, InVision, or Adobe XD for creating interactive prototypes and presentations.

• Project Management: Familiarity with tools like Asana, Jira, Trello, or Monday.com for managing creative workflows and project timelines, crucial for operational efficiency.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• No direct CRM/automation tools are listed as primary requirements, but an understanding of how creative assets are deployed through marketing automation platforms or CRM-integrated campaign tools would be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in industry-standard design software is a given. The mention of project management tools highlights the operational aspect of managing creative workflows, ensuring projects stay on track and within scope. An awareness of how creative impacts performance metrics is also key for GTM alignment.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Design Excellence: A commitment to high craft, aesthetic quality, and innovative visual solutions that push creative boundaries.

• Customer Focus: Designing with the user (founders and builders) at the forefront, ensuring that campaigns are resonant, clear, and valuable.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Open communication, respect for diverse perspectives, and a willingness to share ideas and feedback to achieve collective success.

• Ownership & Accountability: Taking responsibility for projects, driving them to completion with high standards, and contributing proactively to team goals.

• Data-Informed Creativity: Using insights from brand strategy and performance to inform creative decisions, ensuring campaigns are both impactful and effective.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Proactive engagement with marketing, copywriting, motion design, and performance teams to ensure cohesive campaign development.

• Constructive Feedback: A culture where feedback is given and received openly to refine creative work and foster continuous improvement.

• Shared Vision: Working towards common campaign objectives and brand goals with a unified approach.

• Agile Workflow: Adapting to fast-paced environments and iterating on creative solutions based on evolving needs and feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on values like "Design Excellence," "Customer Focus," and "Collaboration" points to a culture that balances creative ambition with practical execution and user-centricity, aligning with operational goals of delivering effective and targeted campaigns.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Craft and Scale: Ensuring high-quality design execution across numerous campaign touchpoints and formats, from large-scale OOH to digital ads.

• Translating Complex Strategy: Effectively distilling intricate brand strategy and financial concepts into simple, compelling visual stories.

• Navigating a Fast-Paced Environment: Adapting quickly to evolving campaign needs, market dynamics, and business priorities in a high-growth fintech company.

• Managing External Partnerships: Collaborating effectively with and managing agencies, photographers, and illustrators to achieve ambitious creative visions while adhering to budgets and timelines.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Campaign Strategy Mastery: Deepening expertise in developing integrated campaign strategies that drive measurable business outcomes.

• Art Direction Evolution: Expanding skills in directing photo, video, and illustration to create unique and impactful visual narratives.

• Fintech Industry Insight: Gaining a deeper understanding of the financial technology landscape and its unique communication challenges and opportunities.

• Cross-Functional Skill Development: Enhancing understanding of marketing operations, performance analytics, and product strategy through collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges and growth opportunities are framed to highlight the senior nature of the role, emphasizing strategic problem-solving and continuous learning within the dynamic fintech sector. This aligns with the operational need for adaptability and skill development in a rapidly changing market.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led the creative development of a large-scale brand campaign. What was your process, from concept to execution, and what were the key challenges and successes?" (Focus on process, strategy, and outcome demonstration).

• "How do you translate complex brand strategy or product features into simple, impactful visual stories for a specific audience, like founders and builders?" (Prepare examples showcasing simplification and audience resonance).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Mercury's mission and its approach to design in fintech?" (Research Mercury's values, history, and design philosophy).

• "How do you approach collaborating with copywriters, performance marketers, and other cross-functional partners on campaigns?" (Emphasize your communication style and collaborative approach).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly outline the problem, your strategic approach, your creative process, your specific contribution, and the measurable impact or outcome.

• Highlight Campaign Integration: Showcase how your work connects across different platforms and formats (OOH, digital, social).

• Demonstrate Systems Thinking: Explain how your designs maintain brand consistency and visual integrity across various applications.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about your design decisions, technical choices, and how you handled challenges.

• Articulate Your Vision: Clearly communicate your artistic direction and how you collaborate with external partners to bring that vision to life.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, process management, and the ability to translate creative vision into measurable business impact, reflecting the operational demands of high-stakes campaign execution.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Brand Designer - Campaigns position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Greenhouse.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature integrated brand campaigns, art direction examples, and projects demonstrating systems thinking and conceptual range. Tailor your case studies to highlight your process, collaboration, and impact on business objectives relevant to Mercury's market.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 7-10 years of experience, highlighting leadership in campaign development, art direction, and cross-functional collaboration. Use keywords from the job description, such as "visual storytelling," "brand strategy," "art direction," and "campaign execution."

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on telling compelling stories about your projects, articulating your design process, and demonstrating how you translate strategy into impactful creative work. Prepare specific examples to answer behavioral and strategic questions.

• Company Research: Deeply understand Mercury's brand, mission, target audience (founders and builders), and their design-forward philosophy. This will enable you to articulate your alignment with their culture and strategic goals during interviews.

⚠️ 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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