(Sr.) Graphic Designer (m/f/d)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Graphic Designer (m/f/d)
Company: Holy Energy GmbH
Location: Berlin, Germany
Job Type: Full-time
Category: Creative & Media / Marketing / Art & Design
Date Posted: October 16, 2025
Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (3-5 years)
Remote Status: Hybrid (3+ days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive creative excellence and visual brand consistency across all marketing channels for a rapidly growing D2C and Omnichannel consumer brand.
• Conceptualize, design, and execute high-impact print and digital marketing assets that engage a community of over 2 million customers.
• Collaborate closely with marketing, product, and sales teams to translate brand strategy into compelling visual narratives.
• Contribute to the evolution of a global brand's visual identity in a fast-paced, innovative startup environment.
• Leverage advanced design software and a keen eye for detail to produce polished, effective creative solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title includes "(Sr.)", the experience requirement of 3-5 years positions this role as a solid mid-level to early senior graphic designer. The emphasis on driving creative excellence and influencing visual brand identity suggests a significant level of autonomy and strategic input, aligning with senior expectations. The role is firmly within the creative and marketing operations umbrella, focusing on the execution of Go-To-Market visual strategies.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Print Marketing Material Design: Conceptualize and create visually appealing print assets, including promotional brochures, trade marketing materials, and merchandise (e.g., stickers, apparel).
• Digital Marketing Asset Creation: Develop and implement engaging digital marketing materials for diverse channels such as paid advertising campaigns, social media content, influencer collaborations, CRM communications, and the company's online shop.
• Packaging Design Support: Assist in the design and finalization of product packaging, with a focus on adapting and duplicating necessary information and formats to ensure brand consistency and compliance.
• Ad-hoc Design Projects: Undertake various design tasks as needed, such as preparing stakeholder presentations, supporting colleagues in applying the visual brand identity, and contributing to internal creative initiatives.
• Brand Identity Application: Ensure all design output adheres strictly to HOLY's established visual brand guidelines, maintaining a cohesive and recognizable brand presence across all touchpoints.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with marketing, product development, and sales teams to understand project requirements, gather feedback, and deliver creative solutions that align with business objectives.
• Process Improvement: Identify opportunities to streamline design workflows and improve the efficiency of creative asset production and distribution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of tactical execution and strategic contribution. The emphasis on "adjusting and duplicating necessary information and formats" for packaging suggests a need for meticulousness and understanding of production constraints, common in operations-adjacent creative roles. The ad-hoc tasks indicate a dynamic environment requiring flexibility and a proactive approach to supporting various business functions.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Communication Design, Graphic Design, or a closely related field.

Experience:

• Minimum of 3 to 5 years of professional work experience in graphic design, with a strong emphasis on promotional and brand-focused design.
• Experience within the e-commerce or Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) space is considered a significant advantage.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite: Expert-level skills in InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator are mandatory.
• Familiarity with Figma: Basic to intermediate proficiency in Figma for collaborative design and prototyping.
• Strong Typography and Layout Skills: Demonstrated ability to create visually compelling compositions with excellent typography and layout principles, evidenced by a strong portfolio.
• Fluency in English: Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English are essential for team collaboration and project execution.
• Attention to Detail: Meticulous approach to design, ensuring accuracy in all visual outputs.
• Growth Mindset: Eagerness to learn, adapt to new tools and techniques, and embrace evolving design trends.
• Diligence and Work Ethic: A focused and productive work style, capable of managing multiple projects simultaneously.

Preferred Skills:

• Adobe After Effects: Familiarity or proficiency in After Effects for motion graphics and animated content.
• German Language Proficiency: Fluency in German is a strong plus, facilitating communication within the local team and market.
• French Language Proficiency: Fluency in French is also considered a strong advantage, potentially for international market expansion.
• E-commerce/D2C Experience: Prior hands-on experience in designing assets for online shops, paid ads, and D2C campaigns.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for specific Adobe Creative Suite proficiency (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator) and familiarity with Figma are critical technical skills for this role. The emphasis on English fluency highlights the international nature of the company and its operations. The "growth mindset" and "diligent work style" are soft skills crucial for thriving in a fast-paced startup environment, common in GTM operations.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstration of Print & Digital Assets: Showcase a diverse range of print marketing materials (brochures, flyers, merchandise concepts) and digital assets (social media ads, banners, web graphics).
• Brand Identity Application: Include case studies or examples demonstrating how you've applied and adapted brand guidelines across different platforms and campaigns.
• Typography and Layout Mastery: Highlight projects that exhibit exceptional typographic hierarchy, visual flow, and aesthetic appeal.
• E-commerce/D2C Focus (if applicable): If you have experience in this area, feature projects that directly contributed to online sales, customer acquisition, or brand engagement for D2C brands.
• Process Understanding: Briefly explain your design process for key projects, from brief to final delivery, emphasizing problem-solving and creative decision-making.

Process Documentation:

• While not explicitly a "process documentation" role in the traditional operations sense, candidates are expected to articulate their design process clearly. This includes understanding how assets move from concept to final production, including feedback loops and stakeholder approvals relevant to marketing operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a design role, the portfolio is paramount. The "Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements" section focuses on what the hiring team will look for to assess a candidate's ability to execute marketing operations' visual needs. The emphasis on showing how brand guidelines are applied across channels is key to understanding their role in maintaining brand integrity within the broader GTM strategy.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for a Senior Graphic Designer with 3-5 years of experience in Berlin, Germany, with strong Adobe Suite skills and English fluency, the estimated annual salary range is €45,000 - €60,000. This range accounts for the hybrid work model and the company's growth stage.

Benefits:

• Competitive Compensation: Including company shares, reflecting a commitment to employee ownership and success.
• Professional Development: Opportunities to learn from experienced designers and advance your career within the creative industry.
• Impactful Role: Significant influence on the visual identity of a rapidly growing global brand.
• Collaborative Team Environment: Work with ambitious, down-to-earth, and authentic colleagues.
• High-Quality Product: Be part of marketing a differentiated and well-received soft drink product.
• Future of E-commerce: Contribute to shaping the future of e-commerce and setting new industry standards.
• Startup Culture: Experience a dynamic environment with flat hierarchies, rapid pace, and personal development.
• Modern Employer Setup: Central office location in Berlin Prenzlauerberg, flexible working hours, and comprehensive modern employment benefits.
• Free Product Samples: Opportunity to experience and enjoy HOLY's product range.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours per week), with flexible working hours to accommodate work-life balance and operational needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on current market data for similar roles in Berlin. The inclusion of company shares is a significant benefit that aligns with startup culture and employee incentivization. Flexible working hours are a key aspect of modern work arrangements, particularly relevant for creative roles that often benefit from varied schedules.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Soft Drinks / Food & Beverage, E-commerce, Consumer Goods. HOLY is positioned as a disruptive force in the beverage industry, focusing on healthier, tastier, and more sustainable alternatives to traditional soft drinks. Company Size: 100+ employees. This indicates a growing, mid-sized company that has moved beyond the early startup phase but retains a dynamic and agile culture. The size allows for substantial impact from individual contributors while offering structured teams and processes. Founded: April 2021. A relatively young company, demonstrating rapid growth and a strong entrepreneurial spirit.

Team Structure:

• Graphic Design Team: The graphic design team is a crucial component of HOLY's creative function, responsible for the visual brand identity that reaches millions. It likely operates within a broader marketing or creative department.
• Reporting Structure: The Senior Graphic Designer will report to a Design Lead or Head of Creative, with potential collaboration across marketing, product, and sales departments.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Expect close collaboration with marketing managers, digital marketing specialists, product managers, and potentially sales teams for trade marketing assets.

Methodology:

• Data-Informed Creativity: While creative excellence is a pillar, the company's rapid online growth suggests a data-informed approach to marketing. Designs are likely evaluated for their effectiveness in driving engagement and conversion.
• Agile Workflow: Given the fast-paced environment and rapid growth, design processes are expected to be agile, adaptable, and iterative.
• Customer-Centric Design: The emphasis on a large customer base and community ("HOLY Squad") implies a design approach that resonates with and appeals to target consumers.

Company Website: https://weareholy.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's rapid growth from a D2C model to omnichannel, coupled with its mission-driven focus on sustainability and health, shapes its culture. The "HOLY Squad" concept suggests a strong community focus, which the design team directly supports. The team structure implies that the designer will be part of a dedicated creative unit but will need to integrate closely with other business functions, typical of GTM operations.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Senior Graphic Designer. It offers a significant level of responsibility in executing and maintaining brand visual identity, with opportunities to influence creative direction. It's a step beyond junior execution, requiring independent project management and creative problem-solving.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Graphic Designer will likely report to a Creative Director or Head of Design. They will collaborate extensively with marketing teams, potentially including Revenue Operations or Sales Operations specialists who rely on design assets for campaigns and collateral.

Operations Impact: The graphic design team's output directly impacts the company's Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy by:

• Enhancing brand recognition and recall across all channels.
• Driving customer engagement and conversion through compelling visuals in digital ads, social media, and online shops.
• Supporting sales efforts with effective trade marketing materials.
• Contributing to brand loyalty through merchandise and consistent visual communication.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific design areas like digital advertising, motion graphics (with After Effects), or packaging design.
• Creative Leadership: Potential to grow into a Design Lead or Art Director role as the company scales its creative operations.
• Cross-functional Exposure: Gain experience collaborating with various departments, understanding how design integrates with broader business functions like marketing operations, product management, and sales strategy.
• Industry Exposure: Work with a fast-growing consumer brand, gaining insights into e-commerce, D2C, and omnichannel strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth opportunities emphasize not just vertical progression within design but also horizontal movement and impact across operations. The role's influence on GTM strategy is significant, making it a valuable position for designers looking to understand the broader business context of their creative work.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model, requiring 3+ days per week in the office. This suggests a balance between remote flexibility and in-person collaboration. Office Location(s): The company has a central office in Berlin Prenzlauerberg, a vibrant and accessible area known for its creative and startup scene.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The emphasis on an "awesome team" and "down-to-earth" colleagues suggests a supportive and interactive workspace where open communication and idea-sharing are encouraged.
• Tools and Technology: Access to necessary design software (Adobe Creative Suite, Figma) and potentially other collaboration tools used by the marketing and operations teams.
• Team Interaction: Regular opportunities to interact with the design team, marketing professionals, and potentially founders, fostering a dynamic and engaging work atmosphere.

Work Schedule: Flexible working hours are offered, allowing employees to structure their workday to best suit their productivity and personal needs, while ensuring core collaboration hours are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model and flexible hours are key components of the work environment, catering to modern employee expectations. The location in Prenzlauerberg is a strong draw for creative professionals in Berlin. The context implies an environment that supports both focused individual work and dynamic team collaboration, essential for creative operations.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Initial Screening (30 mins): A call with Lutza, the Sr. Talent Partner, to discuss HOLY, the role, and mutual expectations. Preparation involves understanding HOLY's mission, products, and recent growth.
2. Case Study: Candidates will receive a design challenge relevant to HOLY's marketing needs. This assesses practical design skills, problem-solving abilities, and understanding of brand application.
3. On-site Advanced Discussion: A meeting at the "HOLY Temple" (office) to discuss the case study with the design team. Be prepared to articulate design choices, rationale, and potential improvements. This is where they assess your fit with the team and your technical depth.
4. Founder Interview: A final meeting with Mathias, one of the HOLY Founders, to assess cultural fit and strategic alignment. Demonstrate enthusiasm for the company's vision and your potential contribution.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects that showcase your skills in print, digital, and potentially packaging design for consumer brands.
• Tell the Story: For each project, clearly outline the brief, your role, the challenges, your creative process, the solutions implemented, and the results achieved (even if qualitative). Use visuals effectively.
• Highlight Brand Application: Emphasize how you adapted or maintained brand consistency, especially if you have experience with established brands or D2C companies.
• Showcase Technical Proficiency: Ensure your portfolio clearly demonstrates your command of Adobe Creative Suite and Figma, especially typography and layout.
• Prepare for Q&A: Be ready to discuss your design choices, software proficiency, and how you handle feedback and revisions.

Challenge Preparation:

• Analyze HOLY's Brand: Thoroughly review HOLY's website, social media, and any available marketing materials to understand their current visual identity, tone, and target audience.
• Anticipate Project Scope: The case study will likely involve creating assets for a specific campaign or channel. Think about how you would approach designing for paid ads, social media, or a new product launch.
• Focus on ROI: While it's a design role, consider how your designs contribute to business objectives like engagement, conversion, and brand loyalty. Frame your solutions in terms of business impact.
• Practice Presentation: Rehearse explaining your case study solutions concisely and confidently, as you will need to present them to the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application process is structured and designed to assess both creative talent and cultural fit. The emphasis on a case study and on-site discussion highlights the company's focus on practical skills and team integration, common in creative operations roles.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator (Expert Level). These are fundamental for creating a wide range of print and digital assets.
• Figma: Required for collaborative design, prototyping, and potentially handoff to developers or marketing automation platforms.
• Adobe After Effects: A plus, indicating potential for motion graphics and animated content creation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly using analytics tools day-to-day for reporting, the designer will need to interpret data-driven feedback on asset performance to inform future designs. Understanding basic analytics concepts related to ad performance and website engagement is beneficial.

CRM & Automation:

• Familiarity with how design assets are used within CRM systems (e.g., email marketing templates) and marketing automation platforms is advantageous, though direct use is unlikely. Understanding the technical constraints of these platforms for design implementation is key.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specified tools are standard for graphic design roles but the mention of Figma and potential After Effects points towards a modern, dynamic creative workflow. Understanding how design integrates with marketing automation and CRM is a GTM operations consideration.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Creative Excellence: A core value, emphasizing high-quality, impactful visual design across all touchpoints.
• Customer Focus: Designing with the "HOLY Squad" in mind, ensuring resonance and engagement with the target audience.
• Sustainability & Health: Reflecting the company's mission in design choices where applicable, promoting a responsible brand image.
• Agility & Speed: Embracing a fast-paced startup culture, adapting quickly to new projects and market demands.
• Authenticity: Maintaining a genuine and down-to-earth approach in all creative communications.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are expected to collaborate closely with marketing, product, and sales teams, acting as a key partner in Go-To-Market execution.
• Open Feedback: A culture that encourages constructive feedback exchanges to refine designs and improve processes.
• Shared Ambition: Working within a team of ambitious individuals who are driven to achieve high goals for the company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values emphasize creativity, customer-centricity, and a startup mentality. The collaboration style highlights the integrated nature of creative roles within a broader operational framework, where designers support multiple business functions.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Rapid Pace & High Volume: Managing a high volume of design requests from various departments in a fast-paced environment requires excellent time management and prioritization skills.
• Balancing Creative Vision with Brand Constraints: Ensuring creative innovation while strictly adhering to brand guidelines and marketing objectives.
• Adapting to Evolving Marketing Strategies: Staying current with digital marketing trends and adapting design approaches to new platforms and campaign formats.
• Internationalization: Designing assets that are culturally relevant and effective across different regional markets.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Tool Proficiency: Opportunities to master Figma or become proficient in Adobe After Effects.
• E-commerce & D2C Expertise: Gain deep experience in designing for successful online consumer brands.
• Brand Strategy Involvement: Contribute to the evolution of a global brand's visual identity.
• Cross-Departmental Learning: Understand the intricacies of marketing operations, product development, and sales strategies through close collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a designer in a high-growth startup, particularly those supporting GTM functions. The growth opportunities are framed around skill development and strategic exposure, valuable for career advancement in creative operations.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach designing a new social media campaign for HOLY to increase customer engagement by 15%?" - Prepare by outlining your process, considering target audience, platform specifics, and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting feedback from multiple stakeholders on a design project. How did you resolve it?" - Focus on your communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• "How do you ensure your designs not only look good but also drive business results (e.g., conversion, brand loyalty)?" - Discuss your understanding of design's impact on marketing objectives and how you incorporate this into your work.

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you most about HOLY's mission and products?" - Research the company's values, sustainability efforts, and product benefits.
• "How do you see yourself contributing to our 'HOLY Squad' community through your design work?" - Think about how visual elements can foster community and brand advocacy.
• "Describe your ideal work environment and how you collaborate with your team." - Align your answer with the company's described culture of ambition, authenticity, and collaboration.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Concise Storytelling: For each project, dedicate 1-2 minutes to explain the context, your role, the challenge, your solution, and the outcome.
• Visual Clarity: Ensure your slides are clean, well-designed, and easy to follow. Use visuals to support your narrative.
• Focus on Process: Be ready to deep-dive into your design process, explaining why you made certain choices.
• Demonstrate Tool Proficiency: Be prepared to discuss your use of Adobe Creative Suite and Figma.
• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics or qualitative feedback to showcase the effectiveness of your designs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skill but also an understanding of HOLY's business, brand, and the role of design within its marketing and operations strategy.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application and portfolio through the provided application link on the HOLY Energy careers page.
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects most relevant to HOLY's current needs (e.g., D2C marketing, packaging, social media assets). Ensure it clearly showcases your proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Figma.
• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to emphasize your 3-5 years of experience, key design skills, and any relevant e-commerce or D2C achievements. Use keywords like "graphic design," "brand identity," "digital marketing assets," and "Adobe Creative Suite."
• Interview Preparation: Thoroughly research HOLY, its products, and its market position. Practice articulating your design process and business impact for potential case study scenarios and interview questions.
• Company Research: Understand HOLY's mission, values, and recent growth trajectory. Be prepared to discuss how your creative contributions align with their goals and the fast-paced startup culture.

⚠️ 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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