Lead Brand Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Brand Designer

Company: Patch

Location: San Francisco, California, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Marketing & Brand Operations

Date Posted: 2026-08-15

Experience Level: Senior (5-10 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Own and evolve Patch's visual identity system to maintain distinctiveness and scalability across all brand touchpoints.

• Lead hands-on design execution for web, including new pages, campaigns, and refreshes, in close collaboration with Marketing and Sales.

• Develop compelling visual narratives for flagship reports, whitepapers, and long-form editorial content to establish category authority.

• Design essential sales enablement collateral, including pitch decks and templates, to support Go-To-Market (GTM) team success.

• Drive the design of digital and campaign assets such as ads, social media content, landing pages, and email campaigns.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Lead Brand Designer, indicating a senior-level position that requires a blend of hands-on design execution and strategic creative direction. The "hybrid maker-and-manager" aspect suggests a need for both individual contributor skills and the ability to guide external partners and internal stakeholders. The focus on B2B and category-defining companies in the requirements points towards a strong emphasis on brand strategy and its impact on GTM success.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Evolve and maintain Patch's visual identity system, ensuring it remains distinctive as the company scales and meets brand standard requirements for all external assets.

• Spearhead website design initiatives, including the creation of new pages, campaign-specific landing pages, and ongoing refreshes, in partnership with Marketing and Sales leadership.

• Design high-impact reports, whitepapers, and long-form editorial content that solidify Patch's position as a thought leader and authority in the climate tech space.

• Create persuasive sales narrative decks, pitch templates, and supporting collateral that empower the GTM team to effectively communicate value and close deals.

• Design and optimize digital and campaign surfaces such as advertisements, social media graphics, landing pages, email templates, and cohesive campaign systems.

• Oversee the design of Patch's physical presence, including event materials, print collateral, signage, and branded merchandise.

• Brief, art-direct, and, when necessary, produce motion graphics and video content for product launches, marketing campaigns, and social media outreach.

• Build and manage a network of specialist contractors and agencies, including writing creative briefs, conducting design reviews, and overseeing the design budget and project timelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly outline a dual role: a hands-on designer responsible for execution across various mediums and a creative director responsible for managing external resources, budgets, and quality control. The emphasis on "category authority" and "sales narrative decks" highlights the strategic importance of design in B2B GTM success.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong educational foundation in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field is implied by the nature of the role.

Experience: 8+ years of comprehensive brand design experience, with a significant portion within a high-growth B2B environment or a company that has defined its market category. Prior experience working directly with or at a top-tier design agency is highly valued.

Required Skills:

• Expertise in evolving and managing a comprehensive visual identity system end-to-end.

• Proven ability to create distinctive, high-craft design work across web, print, motion, and experiential formats.

• Fluency in designing for diverse formats including web pages, editorial content, presentations, events, video, motion graphics, and digital advertising.

• Demonstrated experience in leading website design projects, from concept to execution.

• Strong proficiency in design software, particularly Figma, for hands-on creation and system management.

• Exceptional art direction skills, with the ability to effectively brief, guide, and review the work of external partners (agencies, contractors).

• Decisive and pragmatic approach to balancing creative craft with project timelines and speed-to-market requirements.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate and defend design decisions to diverse stakeholders, including C-suite executives, sales teams, and customers.

• A strong portfolio showcasing a range of distinctive and sharp design work that holds together cohesively across multiple media. Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the climate tech or sustainability sector, demonstrating an understanding of the industry's unique communication needs.

• Familiarity with AI as a tool for design enhancement or campaign amplification.

• Experience managing design budgets and pacing for external creative resources.

• Ability to direct specialists in areas where deep expertise may not be the primary focus (e.g., advanced motion graphics, complex video production).

📝 Enhancement Note: The "8+ years" and "time in-house at a high-growth B2B or category-defining company and time at or working closely with a top design agency" strongly suggest the need for a candidate who understands the pace and strategic demands of a scaling company. The emphasis on a "maker" with a strong portfolio implies that practical design skills are as critical as creative direction.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio demonstrating ownership and evolution of a visual identity system for a scaled company.

• Case studies showcasing end-to-end design projects across web, editorial, presentation, and campaign surfaces, highlighting strategic rationale and execution.

• Examples of direct collaboration with marketing, sales, or product teams, illustrating how design translated business strategy into tangible assets.

• Evidence of managing external creative partners, including brief development, art direction, and quality assurance processes.

• Demonstrations of design impact, ideally with metrics or qualitative feedback on how the work influenced buyer perception, sales enablement, or brand authority. Process Documentation:

• Clear articulation of the process for evolving a visual identity system, including research, ideation, stakeholder alignment, and implementation.

• Documentation of workflow for designing and refreshing website pages, including collaboration with web development or marketing operations.

• Examples of process for creating and refining sales collateral and pitch decks, emphasizing efficiency and consistency for the GTM team.

• Outlined methodology for briefing, managing, and reviewing work from external design contractors and agencies.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a senior brand design role, particularly one involving external partner management, a portfolio is critical. It needs to demonstrate not just aesthetic quality but also strategic thinking, process management, and the ability to drive business outcomes through design. The emphasis on "maker" suggests that the portfolio should include detailed case studies of their own work.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $175,000 - $210,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary and meaningful equity package.

• Unlimited vacation policy, offering flexibility and work-life balance.

• Generous parental leave to support new parents.

• Monthly wellness stipend for mental and physical health.

• Comprehensive insurance coverage.

• Opportunities for annual global offsites for strategy and team bonding.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with an expectation of flexibility to meet project demands, especially given the hybrid work arrangement and the need to collaborate across time zones and with external partners.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is specific and aligns with senior-level design roles in a high-cost-of-living area like San Francisco. The benefits package is comprehensive and reflects a startup environment that values employee well-being and work-life balance, with a strong emphasis on equity for long-term commitment.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Environmental & Sustainability / Climate Tech. Patch operates at the intersection of software and climate action, providing data and infrastructure for companies to achieve their climate goals. This involves complex environmental datasets (carbon, renewable energy, SAF) and a mission-driven approach to scaling impact.

Company Size: Patch is described as a "high-growth" company, implying a dynamic, fast-paced environment. Given the "lead" role and the need to manage contractors, the internal team is likely growing but still lean, requiring individuals to be adaptable and self-sufficient.

Founded: Patch was founded with the mission to "put the planet back in balance by scaling unified climate action through software, market infrastructure, and culture-driven execution." This indicates a company built on innovation, impact, and a forward-thinking approach to environmental challenges.

Team Structure:

• The Lead Brand Designer will report to a senior marketing or executive leader (e.g., Head of Marketing, Chief Marketing Officer, or potentially directly to the CEO given the company's stage and the role's influence).

• This role will be central to the Marketing function, working closely with Marketing leadership, Product Marketing, and Communications.

• Significant collaboration is expected with Sales leadership and their GTM teams to develop enablement materials.

• The role will also involve orchestrating a network of external contractors and agencies, requiring strong project management and vendor relationship skills. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Brand Strategy: Leveraging curated environmental datasets to inform brand messaging and visual storytelling.

• Category Definition: Designing to establish and reinforce Patch's leadership position in the emerging climate tech market.

• Culture-Driven Execution: Applying a mindset of building the future, collaborative teamwork, and urgency ("amp it up") to all design initiatives.

• Agile Design Processes: Balancing creative craft with speed and efficiency, particularly in a high-growth B2B context.

Company Website: https://www.patch.io/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's mission and culture are heavily emphasized, suggesting that candidates should align with these values. The "high-growth B2B" context is crucial, indicating a need for strategic design that directly supports sales and market positioning, not just aesthetic appeal.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is a senior-level individual contributor with leadership responsibilities in the brand design domain. It's a "Lead" position, signifying ownership and strategic influence over Patch's visual identity and brand expression. It blends "maker" and "manager" (of external resources) aspects, offering a path for designers who want to influence creative output without necessarily managing a large internal team immediately.

Reporting Structure: The Lead Brand Designer will likely report to a senior marketing leader (e.g., Head of Marketing, CMO). This position will have significant cross-functional interaction with CEO, Marketing, Product, and Sales leadership, requiring strong stakeholder management and the ability to communicate design strategy effectively at all levels.

Operations Impact: The role's output directly impacts the perception of Patch's brand, its ability to attract customers, and its capacity to define and lead its market category. High-quality, consistent, and strategic design is crucial for B2B sales enablement, investor relations, and building brand authority in a complex, mission-driven industry like climate tech.

Growth Opportunities:

• Strategic Brand Leadership: Opportunity to shape the long-term visual direction of a category-defining company in a critical sector (climate tech).

• Creative Director Expansion: Potential to grow into managing an internal design team as the company scales, moving beyond managing contractors.

• Industry Expertise: Deepen knowledge in the climate tech space, understanding how design can drive awareness and adoption of environmental solutions.

• Cross-Functional Influence: Develop strong relationships and influence across executive, marketing, product, and sales functions.

• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor and guide external creative partners, honing leadership and art direction skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a significant opportunity for a senior designer to make a substantial impact on a mission-driven company's brand. The growth potential lies in expanding strategic influence, leadership scope, and industry expertise within the climate tech sector.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Patch operates with an "onsite culture in San Francisco" with "annual global offsites." This implies a primary office location for day-to-day collaboration and team building, with remote work flexibility. The "hybrid maker-and-manager" aspect suggests that while remote work is possible, regular in-office presence is likely expected for collaboration and team cohesion.

Office Location(s): San Francisco, California, United States. This location is known for its vibrant tech scene and is a hub for innovation, particularly in sustainability and climate tech.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The emphasis on "direct, empathetic teamwork" and "onsite culture" suggests a collaborative workspace designed for interaction, brainstorming, and cross-functional alignment.

• Tools and Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (like Figma), and potentially other collaborative tools, will be available to facilitate both individual creation and team projects.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities to interact directly with leadership, marketing peers, sales teams, and product stakeholders, fostering a holistic understanding of the business and its design needs.

Work Schedule: While a standard 40-hour work week is stated, the hybrid nature and the "build the future we want" and "amp it up" culture suggest a results-oriented environment where flexibility and dedication are key. This may involve occasional work outside standard hours to meet critical deadlines or accommodate global collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "hybrid" designation, combined with "onsite culture," indicates a need for candidates to be comfortable with a mix of remote and in-office work, likely with expectations for regular collaboration in the San Francisco office.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio by the recruiting team to assess alignment with core requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A session where you present your portfolio, focusing on key case studies that demonstrate your experience in brand identity evolution, B2B design, and managing creative projects. Be prepared to discuss your strategic rationale, design process, and impact.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with leaders from Marketing, Sales, and potentially Product to assess your ability to collaborate, understand business needs, and translate strategy into design. This may include discussions on GTM collateral and category definition.

• Creative Director/Leadership Interview: A conversation with a senior leader (potentially CEO or Head of Marketing) to discuss your vision for Patch's brand, your approach to leading creative initiatives, and your fit with the company culture.

• Potential Design Challenge: A focused exercise, possibly a mini-brief related to a specific Patch initiative, to evaluate your problem-solving skills, creative approach, and ability to work within constraints.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects. Prioritize B2B, category-defining, and end-to-end brand identity projects.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your strategic approach, your role, the execution, and the outcome/impact. Use visuals effectively to support your narrative.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Demonstrate your ability to evolve a brand system and apply it consistently across various touchpoints (web, print, motion, events).

• Highlight Collaboration: If possible, showcase projects where you collaborated effectively with marketing, sales, or product teams, or managed external partners.

• Be Ready for "Why": Be prepared to defend your design decisions, articulate your process, and discuss how your work aligns with business objectives and brand strategy.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Patch: Thoroughly research Patch's mission, products, target audience, and current brand presence. Identify opportunities and potential challenges for their brand design.

• Think Strategically: Prepare to approach a design challenge with a strategic mindset, considering business goals, audience, and competitive landscape.

• Focus on Process: Be ready to explain your thought process, how you would gather requirements, brainstorm solutions, and refine concepts.

• Consider Scale: Think about how your solutions can scale with the company and maintain brand consistency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to evaluate a candidate's full range of skills: hands-on design craft, strategic thinking, leadership capabilities (especially in art direction), and cultural fit. The portfolio is paramount and should be treated as a primary communication tool.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for hands-on design, prototyping, and managing the visual identity system. Proficiency is non-negotiable.

• Adobe Creative Suite: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign for detailed graphic design, photo editing, and print production.

• After Effects / Motion Graphics Software: For creating motion graphics and video content.

• Video Editing Software (e.g., Premiere Pro): For editing video content.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a direct responsibility, understanding how design impacts website analytics (e.g., conversion rates, bounce rates) and campaign performance is beneficial. Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics or similar platforms may be advantageous. CRM & Automation:

• Salesforce / HubSpot (or similar): Understanding how design assets are used within CRM and marketing automation platforms to support GTM efforts.

• Project Management Tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, Jira): For managing design projects, briefs, and workflows, especially when coordinating with external partners.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core requirement is mastery of Figma and the Adobe Creative Suite. Experience with motion graphics and video production tools is also highlighted. Familiarity with how design assets integrate into GTM tools like CRMs and project management software will be a plus.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Build the Future We Want: Proactively shape the market and brand direction, rather than waiting for directives. This means taking initiative, proposing innovative design solutions, and driving strategic brand evolution.

• We're All in This Together: Foster direct, empathetic teamwork internally and collaborate effectively across the climate ecosystem. This translates to open communication, constructive feedback, and a supportive approach to cross-functional partnerships.

• We Amp It Up: Bring urgency and unreasonably high standards to every task. This means a commitment to excellence, a drive for impactful results, and a proactive approach to problem-solving because the planet can't wait.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Actively partner with Marketing, Sales, Product, and Executive leadership to ensure design is aligned with business objectives and GTM strategies.

• Open Feedback Culture: Embrace constructive criticism and provide clear, empathetic feedback to both internal team members and external creative partners.

• Shared Ownership: Contribute to a culture where everyone feels responsible for the brand's success, promoting knowledge sharing and collaborative problem-solving.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's three core values are critical to understanding the expected mindset and work ethic. Candidates should be able to articulate how their approach to design and collaboration aligns with these principles.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Craft and Speed: Maintaining exceptionally high design quality while operating in a fast-paced, high-growth environment with tight deadlines.

• Defining a New Category: Establishing a distinctive and authoritative visual identity for a company in a nascent and complex market (climate tech), which requires strategic foresight and clear communication.

• Managing External Resources: Effectively briefing, art-directing, and managing a network of contractors and agencies to ensure consistent brand quality and budget adherence.

• Translating Complex Data into Accessible Design: Communicating intricate environmental data and solutions in a visually compelling and understandable manner for diverse audiences.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepening Climate Tech Expertise: Gaining in-depth knowledge of climate science, carbon markets, and sustainability solutions, and understanding how design can support these critical areas.

• Strategic Brand Development: Opportunity to significantly influence and shape the brand narrative and visual identity of a mission-driven, category-defining company.

• Leadership and Management Skills: Developing skills in art direction, vendor management, and potentially team leadership as the company grows.

• Exposure to Executive Leadership: Working directly with C-suite and senior leaders, gaining insights into high-level business strategy and decision-making.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to a senior role in a rapidly scaling, mission-critical startup. The growth opportunities are substantial, focusing on strategic impact, leadership development, and specialized industry knowledge.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach evolving Patch's visual identity system to reflect our growth and solidify our category leadership?" (Focus on process, research, stakeholder buy-in, and scalability.)

• "Describe a time you had to balance creative excellence with aggressive deadlines. What was your strategy, and what was the outcome?" (Highlight pragmatism, decision-making under pressure, and trade-offs.)

• "How do you brief and manage external creative partners (agencies/freelancers) to ensure they deliver on brand strategy and quality standards?" (Detail your process for briefs, reviews, feedback, and budget management.)

• "Walk us through a project where your design work directly supported a B2B sales motion or GTM objective. What was the challenge, your solution, and the impact?" (Prepare a case study demonstrating ROI and strategic alignment.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do Patch's core values – 'We build the future we want,' 'We're all in this together,' and 'We amp it up' – resonate with your personal work philosophy and how would you embody them in this role?" (Connect your experience and approach to each value.)

• "What are your thoughts on the current state of branding in the climate tech space, and how can Patch differentiate itself visually?" (Showcase your industry understanding and strategic brand thinking.)

• "How do you approach collaboration with non-design stakeholders, such as CEOs or sales leaders, to ensure design alignment and buy-in?" (Emphasize communication, empathy, and clarity.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly outline the problem, your strategic approach, your specific contributions, the execution, and the measurable impact or key learnings.

• Focus on Impact: Quantify results whenever possible (e.g., improved conversion rates, increased engagement, successful campaign launch). If direct metrics are unavailable, focus on qualitative outcomes and strategic rationale.

• Showcase Process: Be prepared to discuss your design process, including research, ideation, iteration, and how you incorporated feedback.

• Articulate Your "Why": Be ready to defend your design choices with a clear strategic rationale tied to business objectives and brand goals.

• Tailor to Patch: Highlight projects that demonstrate experience in B2B, brand identity evolution, and cross-functional collaboration, showing how your skills directly apply to Patch's needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a blend of creative vision, strategic thinking, practical execution, and leadership/collaboration skills. The portfolio is the centerpiece, so practice presenting it effectively with a clear narrative and focus on impact.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Brand Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight the 8+ years of B2B experience, brand identity ownership, art direction of external partners, and any relevant climate tech or sustainability passion. Use keywords from the job description such as "visual identity system," "creative director," "Figma," "B2B," "GTM collateral," and "agency management."

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your most impactful B2B brand design projects. For each, prepare a concise narrative that addresses the problem, your strategic approach, execution, and any demonstrable impact. Ensure it showcases a range of formats (web, editorial, presentation, motion).

• Practice Your Presentation: Rehearse presenting your portfolio, focusing on clear communication, strategic rationale, and your ability to answer questions about your process and decision-making. Practice articulating how your work aligns with Patch's mission and values.

• Research Patch Thoroughly: Understand Patch's mission, product offerings, target audience, and current brand positioning. Identify how your design expertise can contribute to their goals of scaling climate action and defining their market.

⚠️ 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.