Visual Designer, GSS Creative Ops
📍 Job Overview
Job Title: Visual Designer, GSS Creative Ops
Company: Amazon
Location: San Jose, Costa Rica
Job Type: Full-time
Category: Creative Operations / Marketing Operations
Date Posted: 2025-09-29
Experience Level: Mid-Level (4+ years)
Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Role Summary
- This role focuses on the intersection of creative development and operational excellence within the Prime Video Sports marketing team.
- You will be instrumental in defining and maintaining brand integrity and quality standards across a diverse range of sports marketing assets.
- Key responsibilities include developing comprehensive style guides and templates to ensure consistent brand expression across all platforms.
- The position requires a blend of artistic direction, meticulous quality assurance, and strategic process improvement to streamline creative asset delivery.
📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a "Visual Designer, GSS Creative Ops," indicating a strong focus on operationalizing creative processes and ensuring brand consistency through structured guidelines and quality control. GSS (Global Specialized Services) suggests this role might support a global team or function. The emphasis on "Creative Ops" signifies a need for process thinking and efficiency in a creative environment, aligning with Revenue Operations principles of process optimization and standardization, but applied to creative assets.
📈 Primary Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain comprehensive style guides and graphic design standards for Prime Video Sports properties, including live events, pay-per-view, and docuseries.
- Conduct rigorous quality control reviews of all creative assets (e.g., Key Art, digital in-app assets, out-of-home, social media) against established brand guidelines and quality benchmarks.
- Proactively identify, document, and resolve quality issues within the creative production pipeline before final asset delivery.
- Collaborate closely with Creative Directors, Marketing, Production, and Project Management teams to ensure seamless integration and consistent brand messaging.
- Contribute to the design and implementation of internal processes and workflows that enhance the efficiency and speed of creative asset delivery.
- Make critical judgment calls on creative quality and brand adherence, acting as a gatekeeper for brand integrity.
- Create and manage templates and guidelines to empower internal and external partners to produce high-quality, on-brand content consistently.
- Track and document quality control metrics, issues, and their resolutions to inform continuous process improvement.
- Ensure brand consistency and visual coherence across all marketing touchpoints and platforms.
- Work with cross-functional teams to understand evolving marketing needs and adapt creative standards accordingly.
📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus: creative stewardship (style guides, brand integrity) and operational management (quality control, process improvement, asset delivery). This blend is characteristic of "Creative Operations" roles, which bridge the gap between creative teams and business objectives by optimizing workflows, tools, and standards.
🎓 Skills & Qualifications
Education:
- While a specific degree is not listed, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Marketing, or a related field is typically expected for roles requiring this level of creative expertise and strategic thinking.
Experience:
- 4+ years of professional creative experience, with a significant portion spent in advertising agencies or in-house creative departments, focusing on brand development and asset production.
- Proven experience in developing and managing brand style guides, templates, and creative guidelines.
- Demonstrated experience in quality assurance or quality control processes within a creative production environment.
Required Skills:
- Graphic Design Proficiency: Mastery of visual design principles, typography, color theory, and layout.
- Art Direction: Ability to define and guide visual aesthetics for creative campaigns and assets.
- Brand Standards Management: Expertise in establishing, documenting, and enforcing brand guidelines.
- Quality Assurance (QA): Strong analytical skills for reviewing assets against strict criteria and identifying discrepancies.
- Creative Development: Experience conceptualizing and executing creative assets that meet marketing objectives.
- Adobe Creative Suite: Advanced proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
- Figma: Strong working knowledge of Figma for collaborative design and prototyping.
- Project Management Fundamentals: Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, track progress, and meet deadlines, particularly within a creative workflow.
- Collaboration & Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders across creative, marketing, and production teams.
- Organizational & Time Management Skills: Exceptional ability to prioritize tasks, manage workload, and maintain meticulous records.
Preferred Skills:
- Sports or Entertainment Industry Experience: Familiarity with the unique demands and aesthetics of sports and entertainment marketing.
- Production Workflows & Trafficking: Understanding of end-to-end creative production processes, including asset trafficking systems.
- Broadcast/Streaming Design Standards: Knowledge of design specifications and best practices for broadcast and digital streaming platforms.
- Cross-Platform Marketing: Experience in executing marketing campaigns across various channels (digital, OOH, social, in-app).
- Accessibility Standards: Understanding of WCAG or other accessibility guidelines for digital assets.
- Vendor Management: Experience working with external creative agencies and vendors.
- Storytelling: Ability to articulate creative concepts and brand narratives effectively.
📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Adobe Creative Cloud and Figma, alongside a strong portfolio requirement, signals a need for hands-on design skills combined with collaborative tool proficiency. The mention of "storytelling" suggests that candidates should be able to articulate not just design execution, but also the strategic intent behind creative choices.
📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements
Portfolio Essentials:
- Art Direction & Brand Consistency: Showcase examples of projects where you've defined or maintained brand standards, demonstrating a keen eye for detail and consistency across various assets.
- Style Guide/Template Examples: Include samples of style guides, template designs, or brand guideline documents you have created or significantly contributed to.
- Quality Control Case Studies: Present projects where you were involved in reviewing and approving creative assets, highlighting the process you followed and the impact of your QA efforts on final deliverables.
- Process Improvement Examples: If possible, include a project where you identified an inefficiency in a creative workflow and proposed or implemented a solution.
Process Documentation:
- Demonstrate an understanding of how to document creative workflows, from briefing and concepting through to final asset delivery and archival.
- Be prepared to discuss how you would approach creating and maintaining templates and guidelines to ensure brand consistency and operational efficiency.
- Highlight experience in tracking and reporting on creative asset quality and production timelines.
📝 Enhancement Note: For a "Creative Ops" role, the portfolio is critical not just for showcasing design talent but also for demonstrating an understanding of process, standardization, and operational efficiency. Candidates should aim to present projects that highlight their ability to manage creative output systematically.
💵 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range:
- Based on industry benchmarks for a Visual Designer with 4+ years of experience in a major global company like Amazon, and considering the location in San Jose, Costa Rica, the estimated annual salary range would be between $45,000 - $70,000 USD. This estimate accounts for the cost of living in Costa Rica and Amazon's typical compensation structure for creative roles in its international hubs.
Benefits:
- Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision).
- Paid time off (vacation days, holidays, sick leave).
- Retirement savings plan (e.g., 401k equivalent).
- Employee discount on Amazon products and services.
- Opportunities for professional development, training, and certifications.
- Potential for performance-based bonuses or stock options (depending on role level and region).
- Access to Amazon's global network of creative and operational professionals.
- Relocation assistance may be available if applicable.
Working Hours:
- The standard working hours are likely to be 40 hours per week, aligning with a full-time position. While the role is on-site, there may be some flexibility depending on team needs and project deadlines, but core hours will be expected. Operations roles often require a degree of responsiveness to ensure continuous workflow.
📝 Enhancement Note: Salary is an estimate based on industry data for similar roles in Costa Rica and Amazon's known compensation practices. Benefits are typical for a large multinational corporation. The role is classified as full-time, 40 hours/week, and on-site.
🎯 Team & Company Context
🏢 Company Culture
Industry: E-commerce, Digital Streaming, Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence, and more. Amazon is a diversified technology conglomerate with a significant presence in media and entertainment through Prime Video. Company Size: Extremely Large (Over 1,000,000 employees globally). Founded: 1994. Amazon has a history of innovation, customer obsession, and a focus on long-term growth, which translates into a dynamic and fast-paced work environment.
Team Structure:
- The Visual Designer will be part of the Prime Video Sports creative team, specifically within the "GSS Creative Ops" function.
- This team likely works closely with Creative Directors, Art Directors, Project Managers, and other designers.
- Collaboration is expected with broader marketing, production, and content acquisition teams within Prime Video.
- The reporting structure will likely be to a Creative Lead or Head of Creative Operations within the GSS function.
Methodology:
- Amazon's culture emphasizes a "Day 1" mentality, innovation, and a strong focus on data-driven decision-making.
- For Creative Operations, this translates to a focus on measurable outcomes, process efficiency, and continuous improvement.
- Expect a culture that values ownership, accountability, and the ability to operate effectively in ambiguous environments.
- A strong emphasis on customer obsession means ensuring creative outputs resonate with and serve the target audience effectively.
Company Website: https://www.amazon.com
📝 Enhancement Note: Amazon's culture is notoriously fast-paced and data-driven. For a Creative Ops role, this means a strong emphasis on measurable results, clear processes, and adapting quickly to new information or market shifts. The "GSS" designation suggests a centralized or specialized operational support function.
📈 Career & Growth Analysis
Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a mid-level, typically requiring 4+ years of experience. It's a specialized role within Creative Operations, focusing on the execution and standardization of creative assets. Reporting Structure: The Visual Designer will likely report to a Creative Operations Manager or a Senior Art Director/Creative Director who oversees brand consistency and operational efficiency. They will collaborate extensively with various marketing and production stakeholders. Operations Impact: This role directly impacts the perceived quality and brand consistency of Prime Video's sports offerings. High-quality, on-brand creative assets are crucial for marketing effectiveness, customer engagement, and ultimately, driving viewership and subscription growth for sports content. By optimizing the creative production pipeline, this role contributes to efficiency and cost-effectiveness in marketing campaigns.
Growth Opportunities:
- Specialization: Deepen expertise in sports/entertainment branding, motion graphics, or advanced creative operations management.
- Leadership: Progress into roles like Senior Visual Designer, Art Director, or Creative Operations Lead, managing teams or larger projects.
- Cross-Functional Moves: Transition into broader marketing roles, production management, or even product design within Amazon's vast ecosystem.
- Skill Development: Access to Amazon's internal learning platforms and opportunities to attend industry conferences for continuous skill enhancement in design and operations.
📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path for an operations-focused creative role like this often involves moving into more strategic oversight of processes, managing larger creative teams, or specializing in a particular area of creative production or brand management.
🌐 Work Environment
Office Type: This is an on-site role, indicating a traditional office environment where collaboration and access to specific hardware/software are prioritized. Office Location(s): San Jose, Costa Rica. This location serves as a key operational hub for Amazon, offering a dynamic work environment with a diverse talent pool.
Workspace Context:
- Collaborative Spaces: Expect an office designed to foster teamwork, with meeting rooms, common areas, and potentially open-plan workstations.
- Tools & Technology: Access to high-performance workstations, industry-standard design software (Adobe Creative Cloud, Figma), and internal Amazon tools for project management and asset management.
- Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular face-to-face interaction with colleagues, fostering a strong sense of team cohesion and facilitating quick problem-solving.
- Global Connectivity: While on-site, the role will involve collaborating with teams across different time zones and geographies.
Work Schedule: The standard 40-hour work week is expected, with potential for occasional overtime during peak periods or critical project phases. Flexibility may be offered within the on-site framework, but consistent presence is key for this operational role.
📝 Enhancement Note: An on-site role in a major hub like San Jose suggests access to robust infrastructure and a structured environment conducive to operational roles that require consistent workflow and team presence.
📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process
Interview Process:
- Initial Screening: HR or recruiting team will review applications and portfolios for basic qualifications.
- Hiring Manager Interview: An in-depth discussion about your experience, creative approach, and understanding of brand operations.
- Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: This is a critical stage. You will likely present your portfolio and may be given a small design challenge or asked to critique existing assets, focusing on quality, brand consistency, and operational efficiency.
- Team Interviews: Interviews with potential peers and cross-functional collaborators to assess cultural fit, teamwork, and communication skills.
- Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader to discuss strategic alignment and long-term vision.
Portfolio Review Tips:
- Curate for Relevance: Select projects that best showcase your art direction, brand guideline creation, quality control experience, and operational thinking.
- Showcase Process: For each project, explain your role, the challenges, your approach to maintaining brand standards and quality, and the outcome.
- Highlight Operations: Emphasize instances where you improved a process, standardized assets, or ensured consistent delivery.
- Quantify Impact: If possible, use metrics to demonstrate the value of your work (e.g., reduction in asset errors, faster delivery times, improved brand recognition).
- Be Prepared to Discuss: Think critically about how you would approach the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Challenge Preparation:
- Analyze Existing Assets: Be ready to critically review creative assets, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement based on brand guidelines and operational efficiency.
- Process Thinking: Prepare to discuss how you would streamline creative workflows, implement new standards, or manage a high volume of assets.
- Brand Alignment: Demonstrate a deep understanding of brand consistency and how to enforce it.
📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Creative Ops" means interviewers will be looking for more than just design talent; they'll want to see how you apply operational discipline to creative processes. Your portfolio and challenge responses should reflect this.
🛠 Tools & Technology Stack
Primary Tools:
- Adobe Creative Cloud: Essential suite including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign.
- Figma: Critical for modern collaborative design, prototyping, and style guide creation.
- Project Management Software: Familiarity with tools like Asana, Jira, or Amazon's internal equivalents (e.g., Workfront, proprietary tools) for tracking creative projects and tasks.
- Digital Asset Management (DAM) Systems: Experience with DAM platforms for organizing, storing, and retrieving creative assets.
Analytics & Reporting:
- Basic Analytics Understanding: Familiarity with how creative assets perform (e.g., engagement metrics on social media, click-through rates for digital ads) can inform design decisions and demonstrate impact.
- Reporting Tools: Ability to use or interpret data from reporting dashboards to track asset delivery, quality metrics, and workflow efficiency.
CRM & Automation:
- While not a direct CRM role, understanding how creative assets are used within marketing campaigns that are driven by CRM and marketing automation platforms is beneficial.
- Workflow Automation: Awareness of how automation can streamline creative processes (e.g., template-based asset generation, automated file naming conventions).
📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud and Figma is explicitly mentioned. Experience with project management and asset management systems is highly relevant for an operations role.
👥 Team Culture & Values
Operations Values:
- Customer Obsession: Ensuring all creative outputs serve the needs of the target sports fan audience.
- Ownership: Taking responsibility for the quality and timely delivery of creative assets.
- Bias for Action: Moving quickly and decisively, especially in a fast-paced sports environment.
- Invent and Simplify: Finding innovative ways to improve creative processes and deliver high-quality work efficiently.
- High Standards: Maintaining bar-raising quality in all creative deliverables.
Collaboration Style:
- Cross-Functional Integration: Working seamlessly with marketing, production, and project management teams to achieve shared goals.
- Proactive Communication: Keeping stakeholders informed about project status, potential issues, and quality assessments.
- Feedback Loop: Actively participating in and contributing to feedback sessions to continuously improve creative output and processes.
- Team-Oriented: Contributing to a positive and productive team environment where knowledge is shared and challenges are tackled collaboratively.
📝 Enhancement Note: Amazon's Leadership Principles heavily influence its culture. For this role, "Customer Obsession," "Ownership," "Bias for Action," "Invent and Simplify," and "High Standards" are particularly relevant.
⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities
Challenges:
- Pace and Ambiguity: Operating effectively in a fast-paced, ever-evolving sports landscape with potential for shifting priorities and undefined processes.
- Maintaining Consistency at Scale: Ensuring brand integrity across a high volume of assets and multiple simultaneous projects for diverse sports properties.
- Balancing Creativity and Operations: Effectively merging creative vision with the need for standardization, efficiency, and quality control.
- Global Collaboration: Working with teams across different regions, cultures, and time zones.
Learning & Development Opportunities:
- Deep Dive into Sports Marketing: Gain in-depth knowledge of marketing strategies and creative execution within the sports and entertainment sectors.
- Process Optimization Skills: Develop advanced skills in workflow design, automation, and operational efficiency for creative teams.
- Leadership Training: Opportunities to hone leadership and management skills through internal Amazon programs.
- Industry Exposure: Potential to attend industry events or workshops focused on design, marketing, and operations.
📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the dynamic nature of sports marketing and the demands of working within a large, global organization. Growth opportunities focus on specialization and leadership within creative operations.
💡 Interview Preparation
Strategy Questions:
- "Describe a time you had to enforce strict brand guidelines on a project where stakeholders pushed back. How did you handle it, and what was the outcome?" (Assesses ability to manage stakeholders and uphold standards.)
- "How would you approach developing a comprehensive style guide for a new sports property, considering different platforms (digital, social, OOH)?" (Evaluates process thinking and understanding of brand consistency.)
- "Walk me through your process for reviewing and approving creative assets. What are the key elements you look for, and how do you track issues?" (Tests QA methodology and attention to detail.)
Company & Culture Questions:
- "Why are you interested in Amazon and specifically this role within Prime Video Sports?" (Assesses motivation and research.)
- "How do you approach working in a fast-paced, sometimes ambiguous environment? Give an example." (Tests adaptability and problem-solving.)
- "How do Amazon's Leadership Principles, such as Customer Obsession and High Standards, resonate with your own work philosophy?" (Evaluates cultural fit.)
Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
- Structure Your Narrative: For each portfolio piece, clearly state the project objective, your specific role, the creative process (especially how you ensured brand consistency/quality), and quantifiable results.
- Focus on Operations: Highlight projects where you managed workflows, standardized assets, implemented quality checks, or improved efficiency.
- Demonstrate Tool Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your experience with Adobe Creative Cloud and Figma, and how you leverage them collaboratively.
- Articulate Strategic Thinking: Explain the "why" behind your design choices and how they align with marketing objectives and brand strategy.
📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not only design skill but also operational acumen, problem-solving capabilities, and alignment with Amazon's culture and leadership principles.
📌 Application Steps
To apply for this operations position:
- Submit your application through the Amazon Jobs portal using the provided link.
- Portfolio Customization: Tailor your online portfolio to prominently feature projects demonstrating your art direction, style guide creation, and quality assurance experience within a creative operations context.
- Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly highlights your 4+ years of relevant experience, specific design tool proficiencies (Adobe CC, Figma), and any experience with process improvement or quality control in creative environments. Use keywords from the job description.
- Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your experience using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result), focusing on your contributions to brand consistency, operational efficiency, and high-quality asset delivery.
- Research Amazon & Prime Video Sports: Understand Amazon's culture, leadership principles, and the specific goals and challenges of the Prime Video Sports division. Be ready to discuss how your skills can contribute to their success.
⚠️ 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.
Application Requirements
Candidates should have 4+ years of creative experience and a strong understanding of brand and entertainment marketing. Proficiency in design tools and excellent communication skills are essential.