Senior Design Director

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Design Director

Company: Verizon

Location: New York, NY, United States

Job Type: Full time

Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design / Management & Leadership

Date Posted: 2026-08-26

Experience Level: 7+ Years (Mid-Senior Level)

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in office minimum)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the tactical execution and scaling of Verizon's visual identity across all consumer touchpoints, ensuring brand consistency and technical excellence.

• Develop and implement comprehensive design systems, asset libraries, and scalable toolkits to empower internal and external teams.

• Collaborate with campaign creative teams to build and scale bespoke graphic identities for high-profile ATL campaigns, operationalizing conceptual ideas.

• Leverage Generative AI tools to accelerate creative development, rapid visual prototyping, and enhance the overall creative pipeline.

• Mentor and guide a dedicated Graphic Designer, fostering their technical development and upholding the integrity of their craft.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a critical operational function within the creative department, focusing on the systematic implementation and scaling of brand identity rather than purely conceptual design. The emphasis on "systems-driven," "tactical execution," and "scaling" highlights the operational backbone required for a large enterprise like Verizon. The explicit mention of Generative AI signifies a forward-thinking approach to creative operations and workflow optimization.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Execute and Scale Visual Identity: Lead the day-to-day tactical execution and expression of Verizon's overall visual identity, ensuring world-class design consistency and technical excellence across every consumer touchpoint.

• Build Design Systems and Toolkits: Get hands-on in the creation, rollout, and ongoing maintenance of comprehensive brand design systems, asset libraries, and scalable toolkits. These will enable internal and external teams to build unified assets efficiently and effectively.

• Deploy Campaign Graphic Identities: Collaborate closely with campaign creative teams to build out and scale bespoke graphic identities for high-profile brand and integrated Above-The-Line (ATL) campaigns, seamlessly operationalizing big conceptual ideas into executable visual frameworks.

• Collaborate and Guide Team Members: Partner with the Sr. Design Director to mentor, guide, and elevate one dedicated Graphic Designer. This includes taking an active role in their technical development, performance management, and protecting the integrity of their craft.

• Push Brand Boundaries with Modern Design: Honor the foundational principles of the Verizon brand while constantly identifying and implementing fresh, daring ways to evolve its visual identity through a modern, sophisticated, and system-optimized design lens.

• Articulate Design Vision and Rationale: Confidently present, defend, and articulate design executions, visual mechanics, systematic choices, and AI-driven outputs to internal creative leadership and cross-functional stakeholders, ensuring alignment and buy-in.

• Integrate Generative AI: Champion and actively utilize Generative AI tools to accelerate brainstorming, execute rapid visual prototyping, and overcome routine generation bottlenecks, thereby supercharging the creative development pipeline.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of strategic system building and hands-on execution, with a strong focus on operationalizing creative concepts for large-scale deployment. The inclusion of AI as a tool for efficiency and innovation is a key differentiator for this role, positioning it at the intersection of creative craft and operational excellence.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree or four or more years of equivalent work experience. Experience:

• Six or more years of relevant experience required, demonstrated through one or a combination of work and/or military experience, or specialized training.

• Seven or more years of experience within top-tier design studios, advertising agencies, or world-class in-house creative teams is strongly preferred. Required Skills:

• Visual Identity Execution: Proven ability to tactically execute and scale a comprehensive brand visual identity across diverse consumer touchpoints.

• Design System Development: Hands-on experience in creating, implementing, and maintaining robust design systems, asset libraries, and scalable toolkits.

• Graphic Design Proficiency: Deep understanding and demonstrated skill in typography, layout, photography, color theory, and overall graphic design principles.

• Campaign Graphic Identity Deployment: Experience in building and scaling bespoke graphic identities for high-impact ATL campaigns.

• Collaboration and Mentorship: Ability to effectively partner with leadership, guide junior designers, and protect the integrity of design craft.

Preferred Skills:

• Fortune 100 Brand Experience: Proven experience executing, maintaining, and scaling brand systems for a major Fortune 100 brand or large-scale enterprise, demonstrating an understanding of agility within flexible guidelines.

• Generative AI Integration: Demonstrated experience and enthusiasm for leveraging Generative AI tools to accelerate creative development, visual prototyping, and enhance the creative pipeline.

• Cross-Functional Communication: Confidence and ability to present, defend, and articulate design executions and systematic choices to internal creative leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.

• Modern Design Lens: A passion for evolving visual identity through a modern, sophisticated design perspective while respecting foundational brand principles.

• Zero-Ego, Analytical Approach: A highly collaborative, deeply analytical mindset focused on design systems and pushing the technical execution of creative work forward.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications highlight a strong blend of hands-on design execution and systems thinking, essential for managing a large brand's visual identity. The emphasis on experience with major brands and the explicit desire for candidates comfortable with Generative AI are critical for success in this role. The "zero-ego" and collaborative traits are key cultural indicators for a team-oriented operations function.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Brand System Case Studies: Showcase at least two comprehensive case studies detailing the development and execution of brand design systems for major clients or brands, highlighting scalability and consistency.

• Graphic Design Execution Examples: Provide clear examples of bespoke graphic identities created for ATL campaigns, demonstrating the operationalization of conceptual ideas into tangible assets.

• Design Toolkit/Brand Book Samples: Include examples of detailed brand books, design toolkits, mechanicals, and style guides that translate seamlessly across print, digital, motion, and experiential platforms.

• Systematic Problem-Solving: Demonstrate through your portfolio how you approach design challenges with a systematic, analytical mindset, focusing on scalable and efficient solutions.

• AI-Assisted Creation Examples (if available): If possible, include examples where Generative AI was used to accelerate design processes, prototype ideas rapidly, or overcome specific creative bottlenecks.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design and Optimization: Examples of how you have designed or optimized workflows for design execution, asset creation, and brand system implementation within a large organization.

• System Implementation and Automation: Showcase instances where you have implemented design systems or toolkits that enabled greater efficiency and automation for creative teams.

• Measurement and Performance Analysis: Illustrate how you have measured the effectiveness and consistency of design systems and brand executions, and how this data informed iterative improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are heavily geared towards demonstrating systematic execution and operational capability. Candidates must show they can not only design but also build and scale design frameworks, with a particular emphasis on how they manage complex brand guidelines and leverage tools (including AI) for efficiency.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $115,500.00 - $201,000.00 USD Annually (This range is based on the New York location and reflects the experience level and responsibilities of a Senior Design Director role within a Fortune 100 company. The final compensation will depend on confirmed job-related skills, experience, and specific qualifications.)

Benefits:

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Life & Disability: Basic and supplemental life insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, short-term and long-term disability coverage.

• Financial Well-being: Matched 401(k) savings plan, identity theft protection.

• Work-Life Balance: Up to 8 company-paid holidays, up to 6 personal days per year, 15 days of vacation per year (growing with service).

• Family Support: Paid parental leave, adoption assistance.

• Professional Development: Tuition assistance.

• Additional Perks: Pet insurance, group home & auto insurance.

Working Hours:

• 40 hours per week, standard full-time schedule.

• This is a hybrid role, requiring a minimum of three days per week in the New York office. Employees are responsible for maintaining compliance with hybrid work policies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is a strong indicator of the role's seniority and the company's investment in high-caliber talent. The comprehensive benefits package reflects Verizon's commitment to employee well-being and financial security, with specific mentions of professional development and family support being attractive to senior-level professionals. The hybrid work requirement with a defined office presence is crucial for team collaboration and operational oversight.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Telecommunications & Technology

Company Size: Large Enterprise (Fortune 100)

Founded: 1983 (as Bell Atlantic, leading to current Verizon structure)

Team Structure:

• Creative Department Focus: This role sits within a larger creative organization responsible for brand expression and marketing.

• Reporting Structure: Reports to a Sr. Design Director, with direct mentorship of one Graphic Designer. Operates within a hierarchy of creative leadership.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Will collaborate extensively with campaign creative teams, marketing departments, product teams, and potentially technology/engineering for system integration.

Methodology:

• Systems-Driven Design: Emphasis on building and maintaining scalable, consistent design systems.

• Data-Informed Creativity: While conceptual creativity is valued, execution is guided by brand guidelines and potentially performance metrics.

• AI-Augmented Workflow: Actively integrating Generative AI into the creative process to enhance speed, efficiency, and exploration.

• Agile Execution: Operating within a large enterprise requires agility and the ability to adapt flexible guidelines for rapid deployment.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Verizon's status as a Fortune 100 company in the dynamic telecommunications and technology sector means this role operates within a high-stakes, high-visibility environment. The culture likely values innovation, operational efficiency, and strong brand stewardship. The emphasis on systems and AI integration suggests a forward-thinking, data-aware approach to creative operations.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Management / Leadership

This role represents a senior-level position within the design and creative operations function. It demands strategic thinking for system implementation, tactical execution, and team leadership. The scope involves managing brand integrity across a vast organization, directly impacting consumer perception and brand consistency.

Reporting Structure:

The Senior Design Director reports to a higher-level creative lead (e.g., VP of Design, Creative Director) and directly manages a Graphic Designer. This structure allows for strategic direction from above and tactical execution through direct reports, facilitating efficient workflow management.

Operations Impact:

The role's primary impact is on the operational efficiency and visual consistency of the Verizon brand. By building robust design systems and leveraging AI, this position directly contributes to:

• Brand Equity: Ensuring a unified and professional brand appearance across all touchpoints.

• Marketing Efficiency: Enabling faster and more cost-effective creation of marketing assets.

• Consumer Experience: Delivering a cohesive and high-quality visual experience to customers.

• Innovation: Driving the adoption of new technologies like Generative AI within creative operations.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to advance to higher leadership roles within Verizon's creative organization (e.g., Director of Design Systems, Executive Creative Director).

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in design systems, AI in creative, or brand strategy for large enterprises.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Opportunities to move into related operational or strategic roles within marketing or product development.

• Industry Influence: Contribute to thought leadership on design systems and AI within the telecommunications and technology sectors.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a significant step for a design professional looking to blend creative expertise with operational rigor. The growth path clearly leads toward broader leadership and strategic influence within a major corporation, with a strong emphasis on modern operational practices like design systems and AI.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid Work Environment

Employees are expected to work from home and a minimum of three days per week in the specified New York office. This blend aims to provide flexibility while fostering in-person collaboration and team cohesion.

Office Location(s):

• 140 West St, New York, NY (NY0466)

This central New York City location offers accessibility via public transportation and proximity to a vibrant business ecosystem.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office environment is designed to facilitate collaboration, team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and cross-functional interactions.

• Technology-Enabled: Access to the necessary tools, software, and technological infrastructure to support design operations, including potential access to high-performance computing for AI tools.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with the design team, creative leadership, and stakeholders from other departments, fostering a dynamic and communicative work atmosphere.

Work Schedule:

• Standard 40-hour work week.

• The hybrid model allows for flexibility in work location, but requires adherence to the minimum in-office days for operational effectiveness and team engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key aspect of the work environment, balancing individual flexibility with the operational needs of a collaborative creative team. The New York City location places the role within a major hub for business and creative industries.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Initial Screening: HR or a recruiter will assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.

2. Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion with the Sr. Design Director to delve into experience, operational approach, and team fit.

3. Portfolio Review & Presentation: A critical stage where candidates present their portfolio, focusing on design systems, tactical execution, AI integration, and problem-solving. This will likely include a deep dive into case studies and systematic approaches.

4. Cross-Functional Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with peers and leaders from marketing, campaign teams, or other relevant departments to assess collaboration skills and strategic alignment.

5. Final Interview: Potential interview with a higher-level creative leader to confirm strategic fit and leadership potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Systems Thinking: Clearly articulate how you design, build, and scale design systems. Show the "why" behind your systematic choices.

• Showcase Tactical Execution: Present concrete examples of how you translated concepts into high-quality, consistent visual assets for large campaigns.

• Demonstrate AI Integration: If you have examples, explain how you used AI to accelerate processes, prototype, or solve design challenges. Be prepared to discuss your philosophy on AI in design.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics or qualitative descriptions to show the efficiency gains, consistency improvements, or brand impact achieved through your work.

• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies to clearly define the problem, your systematic approach, the execution, and the results.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design System Exercise: Be prepared for a hypothetical challenge to outline the structure of a design system for a specific Verizon product or campaign.

• AI Application Scenario: You might be asked how you would leverage AI to solve a particular design problem or accelerate a campaign launch.

• Brand Consistency Scenario: Expect questions about how you would ensure brand consistency across a multitude of touchpoints and teams.

• Stakeholder Alignment: Practice articulating complex design rationale and operational plans in a clear, concise manner suitable for diverse audiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes practical application and systematic thinking, with a strong focus on the portfolio. Candidates must demonstrate not only creative talent but also the operational capability to manage and scale a major brand's visual identity, with a particular emphasis on AI integration.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design & Execution Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign are fundamental for graphic design and asset creation.

• Figma/Sketch: Essential for design system development, collaborative UI/UX design, and prototyping.

• Brand Management Platforms: Experience with platforms for asset management, style guide hosting, and brand governance (e.g., Bynder, Brandfolder, Frontify) is highly beneficial.

AI & Prototyping Tools:

• Generative AI Platforms: Familiarity with tools such as Midjourney, DALL-E, Stable Diffusion, or Adobe Firefly for image generation, concept exploration, and rapid prototyping.

• Prototyping Tools: Tools like Adobe XD, InVision, or Principle for creating interactive mockups and visualizing motion.

Collaboration & Project Management:

• Jira/Confluence: For project tracking, workflow management, and documentation, especially within larger enterprise environments.

• Asana/Trello: Alternative project management tools for task organization and team coordination.

• Slack/Microsoft Teams: For daily communication and team collaboration.

Analytics & Reporting (Indirectly Relevant):

• While not directly a data analyst role, understanding how design impacts metrics is key. Familiarity with analytics dashboards (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) to understand user behavior and campaign performance can be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in industry-standard design software is a given. The key differentiator for this role will be practical experience with design system tools (like Figma) and a demonstrated ability to integrate Generative AI platforms into the creative workflow. Understanding how design contributes to broader business metrics is also crucial.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Systematic Rigor: A strong commitment to building, maintaining, and evolving robust, scalable design systems.

• Operational Excellence: Driving efficiency, consistency, and technical quality in all design execution.

• Collaborative Spirit: Working effectively across teams, valuing input, and fostering a shared sense of ownership.

• Data-Informed Innovation: Leveraging insights and new technologies (like AI) to push creative boundaries and improve processes.

• Brand Stewardship: A deep respect for the brand's integrity and a passion for its visual evolution.

Collaboration Style:

• Partnership-Oriented: Works closely with campaign creative teams, marketing, and other stakeholders to ensure seamless integration of brand identity.

• Mentorship-Driven: Actively guides and develops junior team members, fostering a culture of learning and skill enhancement.

• Transparent Communication: Openly shares design rationale, systemic decisions, and progress with leadership and cross-functional partners.

• Feedback Integration: Welcomes constructive feedback and uses it to refine design systems and executions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at Verizon, particularly within its creative operations, likely emphasizes efficiency, collaboration, and a drive for innovation. This role requires someone who can be both a meticulous system builder and an agile collaborator, contributing to a high-performing team environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scaling for Enterprise: Ensuring design consistency and system integrity across a vast and complex organization like Verizon requires meticulous planning and execution.

• Integrating AI Ethically and Effectively: Balancing the power of Generative AI with brand integrity, originality, and the role of human creativity can be a complex operational challenge.

• Managing Evolving Brand Identity: Continuously finding fresh ways to evolve the brand's visual identity while respecting its foundational principles requires strategic foresight.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Gaining buy-in and maintaining alignment on design systems and executions across diverse departments and stakeholders can be demanding.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Design Systems Mastery: Deepen expertise in advanced design system architecture, governance, and implementation strategies.

• AI in Creative Leadership: Become a leader in applying AI tools and workflows within creative operations, potentially influencing company-wide adoption.

• Strategic Brand Management: Gain deeper insights into large-scale brand strategy and its operationalization.

• Leadership Development: Enhance skills in team management, stakeholder negotiation, and strategic creative direction.

• Industry Conferences & Certifications: Opportunities to attend leading design and technology conferences, and pursue relevant certifications.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant challenges inherent to managing a major global brand's creative operations, particularly with the integration of new technologies like AI. However, these challenges are also rich with opportunities for professional growth and skill development in cutting-edge areas of design operations.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for developing and scaling a comprehensive design system for a Fortune 100 brand. What were the key operational challenges and how did you overcome them?"

• "How do you see Generative AI impacting the future of brand identity execution and campaign development? Provide specific examples of how you would leverage AI in a role like this."

• "Walk me through a time you had to defend a design system decision or a visual execution to senior leadership or a resistant stakeholder. What was your approach and the outcome?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do you ensure brand consistency across a diverse range of consumer touchpoints and marketing channels for a company as large as Verizon?"

• "Describe your experience working in a hybrid environment. How do you foster collaboration and maintain team cohesion when not everyone is in the office full-time?"

• "What excites you about Verizon's brand and how would you contribute to its visual evolution?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Organize your portfolio around key case studies that demonstrate your ability to build and execute design systems, deploy campaign identities, and integrate AI.

• Focus on Process: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your systematic approach, the tools and processes used (especially AI), and the measurable results or impact.

• Highlight Scalability: Emphasize how your work is designed for scalability and consistency across multiple platforms and teams.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Prepare to discuss the technical details of your design choices, the rationale behind your systems, and your operational considerations.

• Showcase AI Use: If you have AI-assisted work, be prepared to explain your workflow, the benefits gained, and any ethical considerations you addressed.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a strong understanding of design operations, systematic thinking, and the practical application of AI. Candidates need to articulate their strategic approach to brand management and showcase their ability to execute at an enterprise level.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Design Director position at Verizon:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday portal link.

• Curate Your Operations-Focused Portfolio: Select case studies that prominently feature your experience in building and scaling design systems, executing brand identities for large campaigns, and integrating AI into creative workflows. Quantify impact where possible.

• Optimize Your Resume for Operations Keywords: Ensure your resume highlights experience with "design systems," "visual identity," "brand strategy," "tactical execution," "generative AI," "workflow optimization," and "stakeholder management."

• Prepare Your Portfolio Presentation: Practice walking through your most relevant case studies, focusing on your systematic approach, operational challenges overcome, and the tangible results achieved. Be ready to discuss your AI philosophy and application.

• Research Verizon's Brand and Operations: Familiarize yourself with Verizon's current visual identity, recent campaigns, and any public information regarding their approach to technology and creative operations. Understand their commitment to innovation and customer experience.

⚠️ 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.