Senior Brand Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Brand Designer

Company: HEALTHIERHERE

Location: Seattle, WA, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Marketing & Communications / Creative & Media / Art & Design

Date Posted: October 04, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Leads visual brand stewardship and design strategy for a growing nonprofit organization and its portfolio of services, ensuring consistent and compelling communication of its mission.

• Develops and maintains scalable design systems, templates, and asset libraries to empower a small team to produce high-quality, on-brand materials efficiently.

• Balances hands-on design production for a wide range of print, digital, and multimedia assets with strategic brand governance and art direction.

• Champions accessibility and inclusive design principles across all visual communications, reflecting the diversity of the communities served.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a critical individual contributor with significant ownership over the brand's visual identity and its operational execution. The emphasis on building design systems and templates suggests a need for strategic thinking beyond just execution, aiming to scale design capabilities within a lean team. The direct reporting to the "Marketing Operations and Communications Manager" highlights the operational integration of this design role.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Brand and Design Leadership:

  • Serve as the day-to-day steward of the HealthierHere 2022 Brand Guidelines, ensuring consistent application of logo, color, typography, photography, iconography, and graphic elements across all communication channels.
  • Develop, implement, and maintain a scalable design system, including reusable components and templates for presentations, one-pagers, reports, toolkits, social graphics, email campaigns, and event collateral.
  • Propose and support updates to brand architecture and guidelines as HealthierHere's programs and services evolve, ensuring brand coherence.
  • Conduct quality assurance reviews of design work produced by vendors and internal staff to ensure brand compliance and high standards before publication.

• Design Production:

  • Create high-quality print, digital, and multimedia materials such as annual reports, comprehensive toolkits, impactful infographics, clear data visualizations, effective sales and partner enablement materials, event signage, and engaging social media graphics.
  • Design and build branded email templates, landing pages, and website page modules within HubSpot, and develop Figma assets for the website in collaboration with web vendors and the Marketing Operations and Communications Manager.
  • Translate complex data and concepts into clear, actionable visuals understandable by non-technical audiences.
  • Collaborate with the Multimedia Storyteller to integrate design with video, photography, and motion graphics for cohesive campaigns and storytelling initiatives.

• Accessibility and Inclusive Design:

  • Adhere to accessibility best practices in all designs, including appropriate color contrast, readable typography, alt text considerations, accessible PDF creation, and plain-language layout design.
  • Curate and direct imagery that authentically reflects the gender, race, ability, and age diversity of the communities HealthierHere serves, aligning with established brand photography standards.
  • Support the integration of multilingual and translated content layouts in coordination with translation vendors.

• Creative Workflow and Collaboration:

  • Execute design tasks based on creative briefs and participate actively in the standard creative production process, including managing review cycles for each deliverable.

  • Partner with the Marketing Operations and Communications Manager to manage project prioritization, provide workload estimates, and maintain project timelines using the team's project tracking system (Asana).

  • Organize and maintain the shared design asset library, ensuring proper management of source files and version control.

  • Art direct freelance designers, illustrators, and print vendors, providing clear, constructive creative direction and feedback to ensure alignment with project goals and brand standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly delineate a hybrid role requiring both strategic design system thinking and hands-on production. The emphasis on "scalable design systems," "templates," and "asset libraries" points to a need for efficiency and standardization, critical for a small team. The inclusion of "Asana" as the project tracking system indicates a structured workflow environment.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, or a closely related field, or equivalent professional experience demonstrating mastery of design principles. Experience:

• 6+ years of progressive professional experience in graphic design, brand design, or marketing design, with a proven track record of developing and implementing visual identities.

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, multi-stakeholder environment. Required Skills:

• Expert proficiency in Figma and the Adobe Creative Cloud suite (InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop).

• Proficiency in building branded templates using Canva, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Microsoft Word.

• Experience designing for web and email platforms, including familiarity with content management systems (e.g., Webflow) or marketing automation platforms (e.g., HubSpot).

• Working knowledge of accessible design standards, such as WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines).

• Exceptional typography, layout, color theory, and visual hierarchy skills, evident in a strong portfolio.

• Ability to design clear, compelling data visualizations and infographics that effectively communicate complex information.

• Strong verbal and interpersonal communication skills, with the capacity to give and receive constructive feedback effectively.

• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with a demonstrated ability to balance high-quality output with timely delivery.

• Self-starter with a proactive approach to learning and staying current with emerging design trends and tools, including the responsible application of AI-assisted design tools. Preferred Skills:

• Experience working within a nonprofit, public health, social services, or healthcare organization.

• Background in designing for B2B marketing, product marketing, or technology/software brands.

• Prior experience with Figma or similar advanced interface design tools for system building.

• Basic motion graphics skills (e.g., experience with After Effects and other AI tools for animation).

• Proven experience in leading a brand refresh initiative or developing a comprehensive design system from its inception.

• Fluency or professional proficiency in languages commonly spoken by communities in King County.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "6+ years of progressive professional experience" combined with the Bachelor's degree positions this as a senior-level role. The explicit mention of "responsible use of AI-assisted design tools" indicates a forward-thinking approach to technology adoption within the design function. The preference for nonprofit/public health experience and multilingual skills strongly suggests the company's mission-driven culture and community focus.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio showcasing experience in developing and maintaining comprehensive brand systems, demonstrating how brand guidelines were applied consistently across diverse touchpoints.

• Case studies highlighting multi-channel campaign design, illustrating the strategic thinking behind integrated campaigns across digital and print media.

• Examples of exceptional print and digital layout design, emphasizing clarity, visual appeal, and effective information hierarchy.

• Evidence of designing accessible and inclusive materials, with explanations of how accessibility standards were met.

• Demonstrations of data visualization and infographic design, showing the ability to translate complex data into easily understandable visual narratives. Process Documentation:

• Examples of workflow design for creative projects, including how briefs were managed, feedback was incorporated, and final assets were delivered.

• Evidence of experience in building and utilizing design templates and asset libraries to streamline production and ensure brand consistency.

• Documentation or examples of how brand architecture and guidelines were managed or updated to reflect organizational growth or program evolution.

• Case studies detailing the process of art directing external vendors or internal teams, including how creative direction was provided and quality was assured.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are heavily focused on demonstrating strategic thinking in brand system development and operational efficiency through design assets, aligning with the role's emphasis on building scalable design infrastructure. The mention of "process documentation" suggests that candidates should be prepared to articulate their methodologies and how they manage creative workflows.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $100,000 - $115,000 per year.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: 100% employer-paid premiums for select medical, dental, and vision plans, ensuring robust health and wellness support.

• Retirement Planning: A 403(b) retirement plan with a generous employer match of up to 6%, supporting long-term financial security.

• Generous Paid Time Off: Ample paid time off (PTO), sick leave, dedicated mental health days, and up to 13 paid holidays annually, promoting work-life balance and well-being.

• Insurance: Short-term and long-term disability insurance, along with life insurance, providing financial protection for employees and their families.

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs): Healthcare and dependent care FSAs to help manage out-of-pocket expenses with pre-tax dollars.

• Wellness Initiatives: An annual wellness benefit to support employee health and encourage healthy lifestyle choices.

• Professional Development: An annual professional development allowance to foster continuous learning and skill enhancement.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with a hybrid work environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range of $100,000-$115,000 aligns with senior-level design roles in a major metropolitan area like Seattle, reflecting the required expertise and responsibilities. The benefits package is comprehensive, with a notable emphasis on 100% employer-paid health premiums, generous PTO, and professional development, indicating a strong commitment to employee well-being and growth. The "hybrid work environment" suggests flexibility.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Health Equity & Social Services Nonprofit. HealthierHere operates at the intersection of community health, healthcare, behavioral health, social services, Tribal nations, and government. This collaborative ecosystem aims to strengthen systems and promote equitable care approaches.

Company Size: The description implies a small but growing team, emphasizing the need for individuals who can build infrastructure and scale processes. This means each role has a significant impact.

Founded: While the founding date isn't provided, the mention of "HealthierHere 2022 Brand Guidelines" suggests a recent brand refresh or a period of significant organizational development around 2022.

Team Structure:

• Reporting: The Senior Brand Designer reports to the Marketing Operations and Communications Manager, indicating a structure where design is integrated with broader marketing strategy and operational execution.

• Collaboration: The role requires close collaboration with various internal teams (e.g., Multimedia Storyteller) and external partners (e.g., web vendors, freelancers, creative vendors), highlighting a cross-functional and partnership-oriented approach.

• Team Dynamics: The emphasis on a "small team" suggests a need for proactive, self-directed individuals who can contribute broadly and support each other in a dynamic environment.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: The role requires translating "complex health and social care systems work into clear, accessible, visually compelling materials," with a specific mention of designing "clear visuals that non-technical audiences can understand and act on," indicating a focus on clarity and impact.

• Systems Thinking: Building "scalable design systems, templates, and asset libraries" is a core responsibility, emphasizing a systematic approach to design production and brand management.

• Efficiency & Automation: The goal of enabling the team to "produce consistent, high-quality work quickly" points to a drive for efficiency, likely leveraging templates and streamlined workflows.

Company Website: https://www.healthierhere.org/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's mission-driven nature in health equity is a significant cultural driver. The "small team" context suggests a fast-paced, hands-on environment where individuals must be adaptable and contribute across various functions. The reporting structure to Marketing Operations underscores the practical, results-oriented application of design within the organization.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Individual Contributor role, focusing on specialized expertise in brand design and visual systems. The scope includes leading design initiatives, developing foundational assets (design systems, templates), and ensuring brand consistency across a growing portfolio. It represents a significant step up from an intermediate designer, requiring strategic thinking and ownership.

Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Marketing Operations and Communications Manager. This structure places design within a broader operational framework, emphasizing its contribution to marketing goals and communication efficiency.

Operations Impact: The Senior Brand Designer's impact is crucial for translating HealthierHere's complex mission and work into accessible, compelling visuals that drive stakeholder understanding, engagement, and trust. By building robust design systems, this role directly enhances the team's ability to communicate effectively and efficiently, supporting fundraising, partnership development, and community outreach efforts.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a Design Lead or Art Director role as the organization expands its marketing and communications functions, possibly managing a small team or external agencies.

• Strategic Brand Development: Opportunity to influence and shape the brand's evolution across multiple sub-brands and new service launches, deepening expertise in brand architecture and strategy.

• Cross-Functional Skill Development: Exposure to marketing operations, communications strategy, and project management through close collaboration with the Marketing Operations and Communications Manager and other teams, fostering broader business acumen.

• Specialization: Potential to deepen expertise in specific areas like accessibility design, data visualization, or motion graphics through project work and professional development allowances.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path is geared towards increasing strategic influence and potential leadership within the design and marketing functions. The emphasis on building systems and enabling a small team suggests that demonstrating scalability and efficiency will be key to career advancement within HealthierHere.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work environment. This suggests a combination of remote work flexibility and in-office collaboration.

Office Location(s): The primary office is located at 3211 W McGraw St., Seattle, WA 98199. This specific location within Seattle likely offers access to public transportation and proximity to other community and business hubs.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model likely involves designated days for in-office collaboration, team meetings, and brainstorming sessions, fostering a connected team dynamic.

• Tools and Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud) and project management tools (Asana) is essential for daily operations. The company supports the use of these tools to ensure efficient and high-quality output.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with the Marketing Operations and Communications Manager and other team members during in-office days, facilitating clear communication, feedback exchange, and alignment on projects.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is expected, with the hybrid arrangement offering flexibility in how and where those hours are structured, balancing remote productivity with in-office collaboration needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role is a key aspect of the work environment, offering a blend of autonomy and structured collaboration. The specific Seattle location is noted, which can be relevant for local candidates regarding commute and networking.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of applications and portfolios to assess alignment with the required skills, experience, and demonstrated commitment to equity.

• Portfolio Presentation & Skills Assessment: Candidates will likely present their portfolio, focusing on brand system work, multi-channel campaigns, and data visualization. This may include a hands-on design exercise or a case study presentation to evaluate practical design skills, problem-solving abilities, and approach to accessibility and inclusive design.

• Behavioral & Cultural Fit Interview: Discussions focused on understanding the candidate's commitment to health equity, social justice, and alignment with HealthierHere's values. This may involve situational questions related to collaboration, managing feedback, and working in a fast-paced nonprofit environment.

• Final Interview: Likely with senior leadership or department heads to discuss strategic vision, long-term impact, and final fit for the organization.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Brand Systems: Clearly showcase examples of how you've built, maintained, or evolved brand systems. Explain the process, the components, and the impact.

• Demonstrate Multi-Channel Campaigns: Detail your role in integrated campaigns, showing how visual consistency was maintained across different platforms and formats.

• Showcase Data Visualization: Present your ability to translate complex data into clear, compelling, and accessible visuals. Explain your design choices and the intended audience impact.

• Emphasize Accessibility: Include examples where accessibility was a core consideration. Explain the specific measures taken (e.g., color contrast, typography choices, accessible PDFs).

• Tell the Story: For each project, explain the challenge, your approach, the solution, and the measurable outcomes or impact. Focus on process and strategic thinking, not just aesthetics.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Systems Exercise: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach building or refining a design system for a hypothetical HealthierHere initiative.

• Accessibility Scenario: Anticipate questions about how you would ensure design compliance with WCAG standards for a specific project.

• Brand Consistency Challenge: Prepare to explain how you would address inconsistencies in branding across different materials or departments.

• Data Translation: Be ready to walk through how you would visually represent a piece of complex health equity data.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on portfolio presentation and specific challenge preparation indicates that practical application of skills and alignment with the company's mission are key evaluation criteria. Candidates should be ready to articulate their process and impact, particularly concerning brand systems and accessibility.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Expert proficiency required for collaborative design, prototyping, and building scalable design systems.

• Adobe Creative Cloud (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop): Essential for high-quality print and digital asset creation, illustration, and photo manipulation.

• Canva: Proficiency in using Canva for building branded templates, indicating a need for accessible design tools for broader team use.

• Microsoft PowerPoint & Word: Proficiency in creating branded templates and materials within these standard office suites.

Analytics & Reporting:

• HubSpot: Experience designing for web and email within HubSpot is required, suggesting familiarity with its design capabilities and marketing automation features.

• Webflow (or similar CMS): Experience designing for web platforms like Webflow is preferred, indicating a need for understanding web design principles and CMS integration.

CRM & Automation:

• Asana: Used for project tracking and workflow management, requiring familiarity with its task assignment, timeline, and collaboration features.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is heavily focused on design production and workflow management. Figma and Adobe Creative Cloud are core, with HubSpot and Webflow indicating a need for digital design skills within marketing platforms. Asana highlights a structured project management approach.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Health Equity & Social Justice: A deep, demonstrated personal commitment to advancing equity and social justice is paramount, forming the foundation of all work.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Strong emphasis on working respectfully and effectively with diverse partners, including community members, healthcare providers, government agencies, and Tribal nations.

• Systems Improvement: A focus on strengthening systems and creating more equitable approaches to care, driving a mission-oriented and impact-focused mindset.

• Clarity & Accessibility: Commitment to making complex information clear, accessible, and actionable for non-technical audiences through effective visual communication.

• Efficiency & Quality: A drive to produce consistent, high-quality work quickly, leveraging design systems and streamlined processes.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Seamless collaboration with marketing operations, communications, and program teams to ensure design efforts align with organizational goals and effectively communicate program impact.

• Feedback-Rich Environment: Openness to giving and receiving constructive feedback on design work, fostering continuous improvement and shared learning.

• Knowledge Sharing: A culture that encourages sharing best practices, design resources, and learnings, particularly in building and maintaining design systems and accessible design techniques.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's core values are deeply intertwined with its mission. Candidates must demonstrate a genuine commitment to health equity and social justice, alongside strong collaboration and communication skills, essential for working within a complex, multi-stakeholder environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Brand Consistency with Growth: Ensuring brand integrity across a growing portfolio of services and new initiatives while maintaining efficiency with a small team.

• Translating Complex Systems: Visually representing intricate health and social care systems and data in a way that is easily understood by diverse, non-technical audiences.

• Art Directing Diverse Stakeholders: Effectively art directing freelancers, vendors, and internal staff with varying levels of design understanding, ensuring all deliverables meet brand standards and quality expectations.

• Staying Ahead of Design Trends: Keeping pace with evolving design tools, techniques, and AI advancements while maintaining a focus on ethical and accessible design practices.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen Expertise in Health Equity Design: Gain specialized experience in designing for public health, social services, and health equity contexts.

• Master Design Systems: Develop advanced skills in building, managing, and scaling design systems for complex organizations.

• Expand Digital Design Skills: Enhance proficiency in web and email design platforms like HubSpot and Webflow, potentially exploring UI/UX further.

• Explore Motion Graphics: Develop basic motion graphics skills to enhance storytelling and engagement through video and animation.

• Professional Development: Utilize the annual allowance for courses, workshops, conferences, or certifications to expand design capabilities and stay current with industry trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are common in mission-driven organizations experiencing growth. The opportunities highlight a path for specialized growth within design, particularly in areas relevant to the nonprofit's mission and the evolving digital landscape.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach building a scalable design system for an organization with a growing portfolio of services, like HealthierHere?" (Focus on process, components, collaboration, and scalability.)

• "Describe a time you had to translate complex data or a complicated system into a clear visual for a non-technical audience. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Demonstrate data visualization skills and ability to simplify complexity.)

• "How do you ensure brand consistency across multiple projects and stakeholders, especially when working with external vendors or a small internal team?" (Highlight your approach to brand governance, asset management, and art direction.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What aspects of HealthierHere's mission related to health equity and social justice resonate most with you, and how do you see your design work contributing to it?" (Showcase your alignment with the company's core values.)

• "Describe your experience working in a hybrid environment and how you maintain collaboration and productivity." (Address your adaptability to flexible work arrangements.)

• "How do you prioritize tasks and manage your workload when faced with competing deadlines and multiple project requests?" (Demonstrate organizational and time management skills.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the creative process, the solution, and the impact or results.

• Highlight System Thinking: Emphasize examples where you built or maintained design systems, templates, or reusable assets. Explain the benefits and how they improved efficiency or consistency.

• Showcase Accessibility: Point out specific design choices you made to ensure accessibility and inclusive design principles were met.

• Be Ready for Technical Deep Dives: Prepare to discuss your proficiency with Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud, and other relevant tools, including how you use them for efficiency and collaboration.

• Articulate Your Art Direction Approach: If you have experience art directing, be ready to explain how you provide feedback and guide others to achieve desired creative outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a blend of strategic design thinking, operational efficiency, technical proficiency, and a strong alignment with the organization's mission and values. The portfolio is a critical tool for showcasing these capabilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Brand Designer position:

• Submit your application, including your resume and a link to your online portfolio, through the provided application link on Paycom.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to prominently feature examples of brand system development, multi-channel campaign design, and data visualization. Ensure case studies clearly articulate your process, challenges, and impact, especially concerning accessibility and inclusive design.

• Resume Optimization: Highlight your 6+ years of experience, specific technical proficiencies (Figma, Adobe CC, HubSpot), and any experience relevant to nonprofit, public health, or social services sectors. Quantify achievements where possible, focusing on efficiency gains or brand consistency improvements.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design philosophy, your approach to building design systems, and how you translate complex information visually. Prepare to discuss your commitment to health equity and social justice. Be ready to present specific portfolio pieces and discuss your role in them.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with HealthierHere's mission, values, and current initiatives. Understand their approach to health equity and how design supports their broader communication and operational goals. Research their existing brand guidelines and any recent campaigns.

⚠️ 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.

---