Principal Brand Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Principal Brand Designer

Company: OLX

Location: Remote Poland, Poland

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Brand Design / Creative Operations

Date Posted: 2026-09-24

Experience Level: 10+ years

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the evolution and strategic direction of OLX Group's multi-brand visual identity and creative systems.

• Develop and govern scalable, AI-powered design systems and workflows to ensure brand consistency and efficiency.

• Drive adoption of brand standards and creative vision across global and regional teams through influence and enablement.

• Partner closely with Marketing, Brand Strategy, and executive stakeholders to translate business objectives into compelling brand experiences.

• Elevate the craft of brand design across the organization through mentorship, critique, and setting high creative standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior individual contributor with significant strategic influence, focusing on the foundational elements of brand expression and operationalizing creative consistency across a diverse portfolio of brands. The emphasis on AI integration and design systems indicates a need for a forward-thinking professional adept at leveraging technology to scale creative output.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and evolve the group-wide brand identity systems, visual standards, and multi-brand design systems for OLX Group and its portfolio.

• Establish and maintain brand visual identity governance, quality assurance processes, and core design principles to ensure brand integrity.

• Develop AI-ready design systems, prompt libraries, reusable templates, and automation workflows to enhance creative production efficiency and consistency.

• Provide creative direction and hands-on design leadership for brand expressions across digital, physical, and experiential touchpoints (excluding advertising).

• Translate complex business strategies, customer insights, and brand positioning into cohesive and impactful visual systems.

• Build enablement programs, design resources, and governance models to drive global and regional adoption of brand standards.

• Influence senior stakeholders across Product, Marketing, and Executive Leadership to align teams around a shared creative vision.

• Coach and mentor designers through critique and collaboration, fostering a culture of craftsmanship, systems thinking, and continuous improvement.

• Stay abreast of emerging AI technologies and identify opportunities to improve creative workflows, collaboration, and design quality.

• Act as the most senior brand design practitioner, establishing a benchmark for brand application in product launches, presentations, employer branding, and web experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic brand stewardship, operational system design, and cross-functional leadership. The emphasis on "AI-powered creative systems" and "design systems" points to a need for a practitioner who can build scalable frameworks rather than just execute individual design tasks.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent knowledge and experience in visual design and brand strategy is paramount.

Experience: 10+ years of progressive experience in brand design, visual design, or a related creative field, with a proven track record of building and evolving brands at scale.

Required Skills:

• Exceptional craft in visual identity, typography, layout, storytelling, motion, and digital experiences.

• Proven ability to build and evolve scalable creative systems, frameworks, and governance models.

• Deep understanding of design systems principles and practical application in large organizations.

• Proficiency in AI-enabled design tools and workflows, understanding their value and limitations.

• Expertise in Figma and/or Adobe Creative Suite.

• Strong strategic thinking and ability to translate business objectives and customer insights into creative solutions.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence without direct authority.

• Experience in mentoring and elevating the design craft of other team members.

• Familiarity with motion design, storytelling techniques, and digital brand experiences. Preferred Skills:

• Experience building or contributing to enterprise-level design systems.

• Experience with brand design across multiple products or international markets.

• Familiarity with employer branding initiatives and their visual representation.

• Understanding of how to integrate AI into creative production for quality, speed, experimentation, and consistency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement of "10+ years" and the focus on "building or evolving brands at scale" and "enterprise design systems" clearly position this as a Principal-level role, demanding significant strategic impact and operational system design capabilities. The explicit mention of AI integration suggests a need for candidates who are not only proficient designers but also early adopters and thinkers in leveraging new technologies.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a range of visual identity projects, demonstrating the ability to create memorable brands and evolve them over time.

• Include case studies that highlight the development and implementation of design systems, frameworks, or governance models.

• Present examples of how strategic thinking and customer insights were translated into tangible brand experiences.

• Demonstrate experience with AI-powered creative tools and workflows, illustrating their application and impact on quality, speed, or consistency.

• Feature work that spans digital, physical, or experiential touchpoints, illustrating a holistic approach to brand expression.

• Highlight projects involving multi-brand ecosystems, showcasing the ability to balance brand cohesion with individual brand distinction. Process Documentation:

• Evidence of establishing design principles, quality assurance processes, and governance for brand application.

• Examples of creating AI-ready design systems, prompt libraries, reusable templates, or automation workflows.

• Documentation or case studies illustrating how design systems were adopted and scaled across different teams or regions.

• Demonstrations of strategic partnership with Marketing or Brand Strategy teams from initiative inception.

• Materials or descriptions of enablement programs, design resources, or mentorship initiatives led by the candidate.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's emphasis on systems thinking and scalability, the portfolio must go beyond individual design deliverables. It needs to showcase the candidate's ability to build and operationalize creative frameworks that empower others and ensure brand consistency across a large, distributed organization. The integration of AI into these systems is a critical component.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Principal Brand Designer role with 10+ years of experience, based in Poland and operating remotely, a competitive salary range is estimated between PLN 25,000 - 40,000 gross per month. This range accounts for the seniority, specialized skills in brand systems and AI, and the remote nature of the position within the Polish market.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary and potential for performance-based bonuses.

• Comprehensive health insurance package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage.

• Generous paid time off (PTO) and public holiday allowance.

• Opportunities for professional development, including training, conferences, and access to learning platforms.

• Remote work setup allowance or stipend for home office equipment.

• Access to cutting-edge AI creative tools and technologies.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for well-being support.

• Potential for stock options or long-term incentive plans.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours are approximately 40 hours per week. While the role is remote, flexibility is expected to accommodate collaboration with global teams across different time zones, with core working hours typically aligned with Central European Time (CET) business hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on research for senior-level design roles in Poland, considering the high demand for specialized skills like design systems, brand strategy, and AI integration. The range reflects the Principal level and the remote work flexibility. Benefits are aligned with typical offerings for senior tech and design roles in major European markets.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Online Marketplaces / E-commerce Platform Technology. OLX operates global online marketplaces, facilitating millions of transactions daily. This industry is characterized by rapid growth, technological innovation, and a strong focus on user trust and experience.

Company Size: OLX is a large, global organization, part of the Prosus Group. While specific employee numbers for OLX Group can fluctuate, it is considered a major player in the tech industry with thousands of employees worldwide. This scale implies complex organizational structures, diverse user bases, and a need for robust, scalable brand systems.

Founded: OLX was founded in 2006. Its history reflects a journey of expansion and diversification, building a portfolio of brands that serve different local markets and needs. This long-standing presence suggests a mature approach to brand management and a need for continuous evolution.

Team Structure:

• The Principal Brand Designer reports to the Director of Product Design, indicating a strong connection between product and brand strategy.

• Collaboration is expected with Marketing, Brand Strategy, Communications, Employer Brand, and regional teams, highlighting a cross-functional operational model.

• The role is an individual contributor but requires significant influence and leadership within the design and broader creative community. Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making and customer insights are central to OLX's operations, influencing brand strategy and design.

• Emphasis on building scalable creative systems and leveraging AI to enhance efficiency, consistency, and quality in design execution.

• A collaborative approach to design, involving stakeholders from various departments to ensure alignment and impact.

• Focus on establishing clear governance and quality assurance for brand application across all touchpoints.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: OLX's positioning as a global marketplace provider means brand consistency and trust are paramount. The company's scale and diverse portfolio necessitate sophisticated brand management and operational excellence in creative execution. The integration of AI points to a forward-thinking culture embracing technological advancements.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Principal-level individual contributor role. It represents a senior position within the design function, focused on setting strategic direction, building foundational systems, and influencing organizational-wide creative output. It is a career path for highly experienced designers who excel in strategic thinking, systems design, and leadership through expertise, rather than people management.

Reporting Structure: The Principal Brand Designer reports to the Director of Product Design. This structure suggests a close integration between brand identity and product experience, with the Director overseeing both strategic product design and brand direction. The role will likely interact with various senior leaders across Marketing, Brand Strategy, and other business units.

Operations Impact: The primary impact of this role is on strengthening OLX Group's brand equity, building customer trust, and accelerating high-quality creative execution across its diverse portfolio. By establishing cohesive creative systems and driving adoption, the Principal Brand Designer will enable more effective marketing, product launches, and overall brand perception, directly contributing to business growth and market position. The focus on AI will also drive operational efficiencies in creative production.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI-driven design, advanced design systems, or multi-brand portfolio management.

• Leadership: Transition into a formal leadership role (e.g., Design Lead, Head of Brand Design) if desired, or continue to grow as a recognized design authority and strategic advisor within the company.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gain deeper insights into marketing strategy, product development, and executive decision-making through close collaboration.

• Industry Influence: Become a thought leader in AI-enabled brand design and scalable creative systems through contributions to internal best practices and potentially external speaking engagements or publications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Principal level signifies a high degree of autonomy and strategic influence. Growth opportunities lean towards deepening specialized expertise or moving into broader leadership roles, either in design or a more strategic capacity within marketing or brand.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a fully remote position. The company has embraced a remote-first or remote-heavy approach, particularly for roles like this that can be effectively executed from anywhere. This offers significant flexibility.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote, it is specified as "Remote Poland." This suggests that candidates must be legally authorized to work and reside in Poland. OLX Group operates globally with offices in various locations, but this specific role is tied to Poland for employment purposes.

Workspace Context:

• Flexibility: The remote nature allows for personalized work environments and schedules, promoting work-life balance.

• Technology: Access to a robust digital infrastructure, cloud-based collaboration tools, and potentially company-provided hardware or stipends for home office setup.

• Collaboration: Virtual collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Zoom, Figma) will be essential for connecting with colleagues across different time zones and departments. Emphasis will be placed on asynchronous communication and well-documented processes.

• Autonomy: A high degree of autonomy is expected, with a focus on results and impact rather than direct supervision.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, approximately 40 hours per week. While core working hours will likely align with CET business days, the remote nature allows for some flexibility in structuring the workday, provided that collaboration with teams in different time zones is effectively managed.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Remote Poland" designation is crucial, implying legal and tax compliance requirements for the employee to be based in Poland. The remote environment necessitates strong self-discipline, proactive communication, and proficiency with digital collaboration tools.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• First Stage: Portfolio & Design Leadership (90 minutes): A deep dive into your portfolio with the Hiring Manager. Expect to discuss your design craft, strategic thinking, systems mindset, and leadership approach to complex challenges. Prepare specific examples of how you've led design initiatives and influenced outcomes.

• Second Stage: Multi-Brand Systems & Creative Leadership (60 minutes): A session with a senior Creative team leader. Focus on your experience building, evolving, and governing brand systems across a diverse portfolio. Demonstrate your understanding of brand consistency, innovation, and quality assurance in a multi-brand context.

• Third Stage: Executive Partnership & Business Impact (45 minutes): Meet with a senior Marketing leader. Assess your ability to form strategic partnerships, your commercial thinking, and how you drive organizational influence and business impact through brand design. Be ready to discuss how you align design with business objectives.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best demonstrate your expertise in brand strategy, visual identity systems, and AI integration. Prioritize case studies that show impact and strategic thinking.

• Showcase Systems Thinking: Clearly articulate the systems, frameworks, or governance models you've developed. Explain the problem, your solution, and the resulting benefits (e.g., efficiency, consistency, scale).

• Demonstrate AI Integration: If possible, include examples of how you've used AI in your workflow, the tools you employed, and the outcomes achieved. Highlight your understanding of AI's role in creative production.

• Highlight Leadership & Influence: Use your portfolio to tell stories about how you've influenced stakeholders, mentored others, or driven adoption of design standards.

• Prepare for Deep Dives: Be ready to discuss the "why" behind every design decision, your process, and the challenges you overcame.

Challenge Preparation:

• Systems Design Exercise: Anticipate a hypothetical scenario where you'll need to propose a brand system or strategy for a new product or market, considering AI integration.

• Stakeholder Alignment Scenario: Prepare to discuss how you would approach gaining buy-in from different departments (e.g., Marketing, Product) for a new brand initiative or system.

• Creative Critique: Be ready to analyze existing brand elements and provide constructive critique, proposing improvements aligned with strategic goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is structured to assess different facets of the role: core design craft and strategic leadership, systems thinking and multi-brand management, and executive partnership and business impact. Candidates should prepare to demonstrate not just design skills but also strategic acumen and leadership presence.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for collaborative design, prototyping, and building design systems. Expect advanced usage in creating reusable components, styles, and complex layouts.

• Adobe Creative Suite: Including Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects (for motion design), and InDesign. Proficiency in these tools is expected for asset creation, editing, and final production.

• AI-Powered Creative Tools: This is a key area. Candidates should be familiar with generative AI platforms (e.g., Midjourney, DALL-E, Stable Diffusion for image generation), AI-assisted design tools, and potentially AI for content generation or workflow automation. Specific tools may vary, but a strong understanding of their capabilities and limitations is crucial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary focus for this role, understanding how brand performance is measured (e.g., brand recall, perception, engagement metrics) will be beneficial for strategic discussions. Familiarity with analytics platforms used by Marketing may be advantageous. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly within the scope of this role, but awareness of how brand assets are managed and distributed within marketing automation platforms or DAM (Digital Asset Management) systems could be a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma and Adobe Creative Suite, combined with the significant emphasis on "AI-powered creative tools and workflows," highlights the modern technology stack expected. Candidates must demonstrate practical experience and strategic thinking regarding AI's role in design.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Craftsmanship: A commitment to exceptionally high-quality design execution, attention to detail, and a continuous pursuit of design excellence.

• Systems Thinking: A focus on building scalable, sustainable, and efficient frameworks that empower teams and ensure consistency.

• Collaboration: A proactive, inclusive, and communicative approach to working with diverse teams and stakeholders across the organization.

• Innovation: Embracing new technologies (especially AI) and methodologies to push creative boundaries and improve processes.

• Impact-Driven: A focus on design that delivers measurable business results and strengthens brand equity and customer trust.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Actively partnering with Marketing, Product, Brand Strategy, and other departments to ensure brand alignment and strategic execution.

• Influence and Enablement: Leading through expertise, providing clear direction, and empowering global and regional teams to apply brand standards effectively.

• Feedback Culture: Openness to constructive critique and a proactive approach to sharing knowledge and best practices within the design community.

• Mentorship: A willingness to coach and develop fellow designers, fostering a culture of continuous learning and skill enhancement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture emphasizes a blend of high creative standards, operational efficiency through systems and technology, and collaborative influence. The role requires someone who can not only design but also build the infrastructure and relationships to ensure design success across a global organization.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Brand Consistency with Local Identity: Managing a diverse portfolio requires creating overarching systems that allow for unique expressions in different markets without diluting the core brand.

• Driving Adoption of New Systems: Ensuring that global and regional teams consistently adopt and correctly apply new brand guidelines, design systems, and AI workflows.

• Integrating AI Effectively: Navigating the evolving landscape of AI in creative work, ensuring it enhances rather than detracts from brand quality and human creativity.

• Influencing Without Authority: Gaining buy-in from senior stakeholders and diverse teams for strategic creative direction and system implementations.

• Staying Ahead of Trends: Keeping pace with rapid advancements in design technology, AI, and consumer expectations