Senior Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Graphic Designer Company: Johnson Controls Location: MSD Denmark, Ballerup, Denmark Job Type: FULL_TIME Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Operations Date Posted: 2025-07-23 Experience Level: 5-10 years Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead creative project leadership and strategic visual direction for high-impact campaigns and corporate assets, aligning with overall marketing and brand objectives.
• Drive concept development and execution, ensuring brand consistency while fostering innovation and exploring new creative possibilities within established guidelines.
• Provide essential design direction, feedback, and mentorship to junior and middleweight designers, elevating the team's creative output and skill development.
• Act as a key liaison between creative services and business stakeholders, translating complex business goals into compelling visual narratives and presenting design rationale effectively.
• Champion strategic thinking and tactical execution in resource planning and project prioritization, utilizing tools like Wrike to optimize workflow and align services with customer needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Senior Graphic Designer," the responsibilities described, particularly leading creative projects, mentoring, strategic thinking, and stakeholder collaboration, position this role within a broader creative operations or marketing operations framework, focusing on the strategic delivery of creative assets rather than purely individual design execution. The emphasis on project leadership and strategic alignment suggests a role that bridges creative execution with business objectives.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the concept development and visual execution for high-impact marketing campaigns, ensuring alignment with strategic business goals and brand messaging.
• Collaborate closely with marketing, brand, and other business stakeholders to understand project requirements, objectives, and target audiences, translating these into compelling design solutions.
• Provide clear design direction, constructive feedback, and mentorship to junior and middleweight designers, fostering their growth and ensuring the quality and consistency of all creative output.
• Champion brand consistency across all visual assets and campaigns, while proactively exploring and advocating for new creative approaches and innovative design possibilities within brand guidelines.
• Present design concepts, rationale, and final executions to marketing teams, brand partners, and other internal stakeholders, effectively articulating the strategic thinking behind each creative decision.
• Maintain an awareness of current industry design trends, emerging technologies, and best practices, bringing fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to the creative team and projects.
• Champion efficient resource planning and project prioritization using project management tools such as Wrike, ensuring timely delivery of creative services aligned with customer needs and business priorities.
• Demonstrate a strategic and analytical approach to problem-solving, balancing multiple project demands, priorities, and functions simultaneously with flexibility and adaptability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize leadership, strategy, and stakeholder management, indicating a senior role focused on driving creative initiatives and team performance, not just individual design tasks. The mention of Wrike suggests a need for process-oriented project management within the creative function.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Communication Design, Digital Media, Visual Communication, or a closely related field is preferred. A Master's degree (MA) in a similar discipline is considered a strong plus.

Experience:

• Minimum of 6 years of professional design experience, with a significant portion ideally gained in an in-house creative department or a fast-paced agency environment.
• Demonstrated track record of successfully leading creative projects from concept through to completion, including managing multiple projects concurrently.
• Proven ability to mentor and provide constructive feedback to junior and middleweight designers, fostering skill development and team growth.

Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in the full Adobe Creative Suite, including InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, and potentially After Effects or Premiere Pro for motion graphics or video editing elements.
• Exceptional conceptual thinking and visual storytelling skills, with the ability to translate complex ideas into clear, impactful visual narratives.
• Strong project management capabilities, including the ability to manage priorities, resources, and timelines effectively, particularly within a virtual or hybrid setting.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the capacity for tact, diplomacy, and clarity in both written and spoken interactions with diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated analytical and strategic approach to problem-solving, enabling the ability to navigate ambiguity and balance strategic execution with tactical implementation.
• Proficiency in championing brand consistency and advocating for creative innovation within established brand frameworks.
• Experience working effectively in a virtual or hybrid, high-growth, matrix-managed, and geographically dispersed organizational structure.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with project management software such as Wrike for resource planning and workflow optimization.
• Familiarity with digital design principles, UI/UX considerations, and web design best practices.
• Experience in developing and executing integrated marketing campaigns across various channels.
• Knowledge of animation or motion graphics software (e.g., After Effects) for dynamic visual content creation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 6+ years of experience, coupled with leadership and mentoring responsibilities, clearly places this role at a senior level within the design function. The emphasis on adaptability, handling multiple functions, and strategic thinking indicates a need for a well-rounded operations-minded designer who can manage processes and people effectively.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A diverse portfolio showcasing a strong range of design work, demonstrating expertise in concept development, visual execution, and brand stewardship across various media (digital, print, campaign assets).
• Evidence of successfully leading and completing complex creative projects, highlighting your role in driving the project from ideation to final delivery.
• Examples that illustrate your ability to mentor junior designers, providing context on how you offered guidance and feedback to improve their work.
• Case studies or project examples that clearly articulate your strategic thinking process, how you translated business objectives into design solutions, and the measurable impact of your work.
• Demonstration of adaptability and problem-solving skills through specific project examples where you navigated challenges or managed multiple concurrent tasks.

Process Documentation:

• Candidates are expected to be able to discuss their personal workflow for managing creative projects, from initial brief and concept development through to final asset delivery and stakeholder feedback incorporation.
• Familiarity with project management methodologies and tools (like Wrike) for planning, organizing, and tracking creative projects is beneficial.
• The ability to articulate how you ensure brand consistency and quality control throughout the creative process will be assessed.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not explicitly stated as a formal portfolio requirement, the responsibilities and skills necessitate a portfolio that demonstrates leadership, strategic thinking, and process management, not just aesthetic output. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their project management and team collaboration processes.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Given the Senior Graphic Designer title, 6+ years of experience, and location (Ballerup, Denmark), a competitive salary range is expected. Based on industry benchmarks for senior creative professionals in Denmark, the estimated annual salary could range from DKK 450,000 to DKK 650,000 (approximately $65,000 - $94,000 USD, subject to exchange rates). This range accounts for the responsibilities, skill set, and cost of living in the region.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health and wellness programs, potentially including medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Retirement savings plans or pension contributions.
• Paid time off, including vacation days, sick leave, and public holidays.
• Opportunities for professional development, training, and continuing education to stay current with design trends and technologies.
• Access to company-provided resources and tools, including the Adobe Creative Suite.
• Potential for performance-based bonuses or incentives.
• Employee assistance programs for personal and professional support.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours are typically around 37-40 hours per week, Monday through Friday. The role is hybrid, implying a balance between working from the office and remotely. Flexibility may be offered within core business hours to accommodate project deadlines and team collaboration needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on general market data for senior graphic designers in Denmark and the specified experience level. Actual compensation may vary based on specific qualifications, interview performance, and internal company compensation structures.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Building Technology & Solutions (Johnson Controls is a global leader in smart, healthy, and sustainable building technologies and services). Company Size: Large (Johnson Controls is a Fortune 500 company with tens of thousands of employees globally). This size offers stability and resources but also requires navigating a larger corporate structure. Founded: 1885. With a long history, the company likely has established processes and a strong brand legacy, but also a drive for innovation and adaptation.

Team Structure:

• The Senior Graphic Designer will report to the Head of Global Creative Design, indicating a centralized creative function within the marketing or communications department.
• The role involves collaboration with other designers (junior and middleweight) within the Global Creative team, suggesting a team-based approach to creative production and quality assurance.
• Significant cross-functional collaboration is expected with various marketing teams, brand managers, product marketing, and other business units to understand project needs and deliver tailored creative solutions.

Methodology:

• The team likely employs a hybrid approach to creative operations, combining structured project management (e.g., using Wrike) with agile creative development to respond to evolving business needs.
• Emphasis is placed on data-driven decision-making and strategic alignment, ensuring creative output directly supports business goals and customer engagement strategies.
• A strong focus on brand governance and consistency is crucial, balanced with a drive for innovation and exploring new creative avenues.

Company Website: https://www.johnsoncontrols.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Johnson Controls' industry implies a need for professional, technically informed, and brand-conscious creative output. The company's size suggests established operational frameworks and potential for structured career development, while its global presence points to a need for cultural sensitivity and effective communication across diverse teams.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as "Senior," indicating a level of expertise and responsibility above entry-level or mid-level designers. It implies a capacity for independent work, project leadership, and mentorship.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Graphic Designer will report directly to the Head of Global Creative Design. This provides a clear line of communication and mentorship from a senior creative leader, offering opportunities to learn advanced strategic and leadership skills.

Operations Impact: As a Senior Graphic Designer, the role has a direct impact on the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, brand perception, and overall communication efforts. By shaping visual direction and ensuring high-quality creative assets, this individual contributes to lead generation, customer engagement, and brand loyalty, ultimately influencing revenue and market position.

Growth Opportunities:

• Creative Leadership: Potential to advance into Lead Designer, Art Director, or Creative Director roles, managing larger teams and more significant creative initiatives.
• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas such as campaign strategy, digital design, motion graphics, or brand system management.
• Project Management: Develop stronger project management and operational skills through leading projects and utilizing tools like Wrike, potentially leading to roles in creative operations management.
• Cross-functional Exposure: Gain broader business acumen by collaborating across different departments, understanding diverse strategic objectives and how creative supports them.
• Global Exposure: Work on projects with a global scope, offering exposure to international markets and diverse cultural perspectives in design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" designation, coupled with reporting to a Head of Global Creative, suggests a clear path for career progression within a large, established organization. Growth opportunities likely involve increased strategic responsibility, team leadership, and specialized creative development.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is hybrid, meaning it combines working from a physical Johnson Controls office location (MSD Denmark, Ballerup) with remote work. This suggests a modern office setup designed for collaboration and individual focus.

Office Location(s): The specific office is located in Ballerup, Denmark. This location likely offers amenities and a professional workspace conducive to creative tasks and team meetings.

Workspace Context:

• The office environment is expected to be collaborative, with opportunities for designers to interact with colleagues, share ideas, and receive feedback.
• Access to industry-standard design software (Adobe Creative Suite) and potentially other creative tools and technologies will be provided.
• The hybrid model allows for focused individual work at home, potentially enhancing productivity for tasks requiring deep concentration, while office days facilitate team collaboration, brainstorming, and stakeholder meetings.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time hours (approx. 37-40 per week) are expected, typically Monday to Friday. The hybrid nature allows for some flexibility in structuring the work week, balancing office presence with remote workdays to optimize personal productivity and team collaboration needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work arrangement is a key aspect of the work environment, requiring strong self-management and communication skills to maintain productivity and team cohesion across different work locations.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio by a recruiter or hiring manager to assess qualifications and creative fit.
• Portfolio Presentation/Discussion: You will likely be asked to present your portfolio, discussing your most relevant projects, your design process, your strategic thinking, and your experience leading projects and mentoring others. Be prepared to articulate the "why" behind your design choices and the impact of your work.
• Skills Assessment: A potential technical assessment or a more in-depth discussion about your proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite and other relevant design tools.
• Behavioral/Situational Interviews: Questions focused on your experience with collaboration, problem-solving, handling ambiguity, leadership, mentorship, and adapting to change. Expect questions related to working in a hybrid, global, and matrixed environment.
• Stakeholder/Team Interviews: Interviews with the Head of Global Creative Design and potentially other team members or key stakeholders you would collaborate with to assess cultural fit and team dynamics.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 4-6 of your strongest projects that best showcase your senior-level experience, leadership, strategic thinking, and impact. Prioritize projects relevant to B2B, technology, or global brands if possible.
• Showcase Process: For each project, outline the brief, your role, the challenges faced, your strategic approach, the solutions you developed, and the quantifiable results or impact (e.g., increased engagement, brand consistency improvements, successful campaign launch).
• Highlight Leadership: Include examples where you led projects, mentored junior designers, or influenced creative direction. Explain your approach to feedback and team collaboration.
• Visual Clarity & Storytelling: Ensure your portfolio is visually polished, easy to navigate, and tells a compelling story about your skills and achievements. Use concise descriptions and high-quality visuals.
• Prepare to Present: Practice presenting your portfolio concisely, focusing on key insights and strategic contributions rather than just showing finished work. Be ready for Q&A.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for potential design challenges that might involve creating a concept for a campaign, refining existing assets, or solving a visual communication problem.
• Focus on demonstrating your strategic thinking, understanding of brand, and ability to work efficiently under time constraints.
• Practice articulating your thought process and justifying your creative decisions clearly and concisely.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is likely multi-stage, emphasizing not just design skills but also strategic thinking, leadership, and collaborative abilities. A well-prepared portfolio presentation that highlights process and impact is crucial.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Advanced proficiency is essential, specifically:
  • Adobe InDesign: For layout, print design, and digital publishing.
  • Adobe Illustrator: For vector graphics, logos, and illustrations.
  • Adobe Photoshop: For image editing, manipulation, and digital asset creation.
• Project Management Software: Experience with or ability to quickly learn tools like Wrike for resource planning, task management, and project prioritization.
• Collaboration Platforms: Familiarity with tools like Microsoft Teams, Slack, or similar for day-to-day communication and collaboration in a hybrid environment.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary requirement for a designer, understanding how design impacts user engagement or campaign performance metrics (e.g., click-through rates, conversion rates) is beneficial. Familiarity with basic analytics dashboards might be helpful.

CRM & Automation:

• No specific CRM or automation tool proficiency is explicitly required for the designer role, but an understanding of how marketing automation platforms (like Marketo, HubSpot) or CRMs (like Salesforce) are used for campaign delivery can provide valuable context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technical requirement is mastery of the Adobe Creative Suite. Experience with project management tools like Wrike is specifically mentioned, highlighting the operational aspect of this creative role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Focus: Understanding and translating customer needs into effective visual communications that support business objectives.
• Collaboration: Working seamlessly with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to achieve shared goals.
• Excellence: A commitment to high-quality design, brand consistency, and continuous improvement in creative output.
• Innovation: A drive to explore new creative ideas, technologies, and approaches to elevate the brand and campaigns.
• Adaptability: Flexibility and resilience in managing multiple priorities, adapting to changing business needs, and thriving in a dynamic environment.
• Data-Driven Approach: Using insights and feedback to inform design decisions and measure impact.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Proactively engaging with marketing, brand, product, and other teams to ensure creative alignment and effectiveness.
• Constructive Feedback Culture: Openness to giving and receiving feedback to improve design quality and team performance.
• Knowledge Sharing: Willingness to share expertise, best practices, and learnings with colleagues to foster a collaborative and learning-oriented environment.
• Partnership: Treating internal stakeholders as partners, building strong working relationships based on trust and mutual respect.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values emphasize a blend of creative excellence, strategic thinking, and collaborative execution, reflecting a mature operational approach to marketing and creative functions within a large corporation.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Multiple Priorities: Effectively managing numerous creative projects with competing deadlines and stakeholder demands in a fast-paced environment.
• Navigating Ambiguity: Thriving in situations where project briefs may be incomplete or requirements evolve, requiring strong problem-solving and strategic thinking to define clear paths forward.
• Global Brand Consistency: Ensuring consistent application of brand guidelines across diverse markets and campaigns while allowing for local relevance.
• Hybrid Work Management: Maintaining strong team cohesion, communication, and productivity while working across different locations and time zones.
• Driving Creative Innovation: Pushing creative boundaries and introducing new ideas within the framework of corporate brand guidelines and business objectives.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Creative Techniques: Opportunities to learn and apply new design software features, animation techniques, or digital design trends.
• Strategic Marketing Insights: Gaining a deeper understanding of marketing strategy, campaign planning, and customer engagement through cross-functional collaboration.
• Leadership & Mentorship Skills: Honing leadership abilities through mentoring junior designers and potentially leading project teams.
• Project Management Proficiency: Enhancing skills in project planning, resource allocation, and workflow optimization using tools like Wrike.
• Industry Exposure: Participating in industry events, webinars, or training sessions to stay abreast of the latest in design and marketing trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented offer significant opportunities for professional growth, particularly in areas of project management, strategic thinking, and leadership within a creative operations context.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led a significant creative project from concept to completion. What was your process, what challenges did you face, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your leadership, strategic thinking, and problem-solving).
• "How do you approach mentoring junior designers? Can you share an example of how you provided feedback that led to a significant improvement in their work?" (Highlight your coaching and developmental skills).
• "How do you balance maintaining brand consistency with pushing creative boundaries and introducing new ideas?" (Showcase your understanding of brand stewardship and innovation).
• "Describe a situation where you had to manage multiple competing project priorities. How did you decide what to focus on, and how did you communicate your plan to stakeholders?" (Demonstrate your organizational and communication skills).
• "How do you translate complex business goals or technical information into compelling visual designs?" (Focus on your strategic interpretation and visual communication skills).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Johnson Controls and our mission/industry?" (Research the company's products, services, values, and recent news).
• "How do you envision contributing to our Global Creative team and our company culture?" (Align your skills and values with the company's stated values and team structure).
• "How do you approach collaboration in a hybrid or remote work environment?" (Discuss your communication strategies and how you build relationships virtually).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically: Introduction (briefly introduce yourself and your role), Project 1 (brief, your role, strategy, challenges, solution, impact), Project 2, etc., Conclusion (summarize key skills and fit).
• Focus on Impact: Quantify results whenever possible. Instead of "designed a brochure," say "designed a brochure that contributed to a 15% increase in lead generation for the Q3 campaign."
• Tell a Story: For each project, explain the narrative arc – the problem, your strategic approach, the creative solution, and the resolution/impact.
• Highlight Leadership: Explicitly point out instances where you led, mentored, or influenced creative outcomes.
• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design choices, software techniques, or your strategic rationale.
• Conciseness: Respect the allocated time. Practice your presentation to ensure it's clear, engaging, and within the time limit.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation emphasizes demonstrating strategic thinking, leadership, and problem-solving skills, alongside design expertise. A well-prepared and impactful portfolio presentation is critical for success.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Johnson Controls careers portal (link provided).
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your submitted portfolio is tailored to showcase projects demonstrating leadership, strategic thinking, and successful project execution relevant to a global B2B technology company. Prioritize examples of campaign leadership and mentorship.
• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to highlight your 6+ years of experience, specific achievements in leading creative projects, mentoring capabilities, proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, and experience with strategic problem-solving. Use keywords from the job description.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, strategic rationale, and leadership experiences. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions related to collaboration, adaptability, and mentorship. Rehearse your portfolio presentation for clarity and impact.
• Company Research: Gain a thorough understanding of Johnson Controls' business, industry, products, and brand values. Research their recent marketing campaigns and creative output to better align your responses and portfolio.

⚠️ 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.