Senior Design Manager

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Design Manager

Company: Inaba Foods USA Inc

Location: Torrance, California, United States

Job Type: Full Time

Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Management

Date Posted: July 31, 2026

Experience Level: 7-10 years (with 3+ years of leadership)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and mentor a high-performing in-house creative team, focusing on quality, collaboration, and execution within a fast-paced consumer products environment.

• Elevate Inaba Foods' visual brand presence and storytelling across crucial consumer-facing channels including ecommerce, retail, digital marketing, and trade marketing.

• Establish and scale creative processes to enhance workflow efficiency, project execution, and overall operational effectiveness within the design function.

• Partner cross-functionally with Marketing, Ecommerce, Sales, and Product Development teams to deliver impactful creative solutions that support business growth and market expansion.

• Maintain and enforce a high standard of visual quality, brand consistency, and compelling brand storytelling across all creative touchpoints and consumer interactions.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role, while titled "Senior Design Manager," has significant overlap with Revenue Operations and GTM functions due to its focus on driving business growth through creative strategy across sales and marketing channels, particularly in ecommerce and retail. The emphasis on scalable processes, cross-functional collaboration, and measuring impact through visual storytelling positions it as a strategic operations role within the creative domain.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Provide strategic creative direction and oversight for all design initiatives, encompassing ecommerce assets, digital marketing campaigns, retail merchandising, packaging support, trade marketing materials, and corporate communications.

• Manage the end-to-end creative workflow, including project prioritization, resource allocation, timeline management, and ensuring timely delivery of high-quality creative assets.

• Collaborate closely with Marketing, Ecommerce, Sales, and Leadership teams to thoroughly understand project objectives, define scope, and ensure creative deliverables align with business goals.

• Oversee the development and execution of visual assets for diverse platforms such as retailer marketplaces, ecommerce product pages, social media channels, email marketing campaigns, websites, trade shows, and in-store displays.

• Support product launches and integrated marketing campaigns through conceptualization, creative development, and meticulous execution of all visual elements.

• Develop and implement scalable creative systems, templates, and standardized processes to enhance operational efficiency, ensure brand consistency, and facilitate smoother project handoffs.

• Manage relationships and collaborations with external vendors, agencies, photographers, printers, and other production partners to ensure successful project completion and quality outcomes.

• Proactively monitor industry design, ecommerce, retail, and consumer trends to identify and introduce innovative creative approaches and technologies, including AI-powered tools.

• Demonstrate strong leadership, exceptional communication, meticulous organization, and robust project management skills necessary for thriving in a dynamic, fast-paced business environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong operational component, including workflow management, resource allocation, process development, and vendor management, which are critical for GTM and Marketing Operations roles. The integration of AI tools and trend monitoring points to a forward-thinking approach to creative operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Marketing, or a closely related field is required.

Experience: 7-10 years of progressive experience in graphic design, brand design, creative marketing, or other relevant creative leadership roles. A minimum of 3 years of direct experience leading, mentoring, and managing creative teams is essential.

Required Skills:

• Creative Direction & Brand Development: Proven ability to set and maintain a strong visual identity and brand narrative across multiple platforms.

• Team Leadership & Mentoring: Demonstrated experience in managing, motivating, and developing a team of designers to achieve high performance and foster a collaborative environment.

• Adobe Creative Suite Proficiency: Advanced expertise in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Premiere Pro is mandatory for creative execution and asset production.

• Ecommerce & Retail Marketing Support: Solid understanding and practical experience in creating assets for online marketplaces, digital advertising, and in-store merchandising.

• Project Management & Workflow Optimization: Excellent organizational skills with a proven track record of managing multiple projects, prioritizing tasks, and optimizing creative workflows for efficiency.

• Visual Storytelling & Typography: Strong aesthetic sense with the ability to craft compelling visual narratives and demonstrate mastery of typography and layout principles.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Ability to effectively partner with diverse teams (Marketing, Sales, Ecommerce, Product Development) to achieve shared objectives.

Preferred Skills:

• Motion Graphics & Video Editing: Experience with creating dynamic visual content for digital platforms.

• Photography Direction: Ability to guide and direct photo shoots to achieve desired brand aesthetics.

• AI-Powered Creative Tools: Familiarity and practical experience with emerging AI tools for design and content creation to enhance efficiency and innovation.

• Print Production & Digital Workflow Understanding: In-depth knowledge of print processes and digital content development pipelines.

• Consumer Product Marketing: Specific experience within the consumer packaged goods (CPG) or food and beverage industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications emphasize a blend of creative expertise and operational management. The inclusion of "AI-powered creative tools" and "workflow optimization" suggests a focus on modern operational efficiency within the creative function, aligning with GTM and RevOps principles of leveraging technology for better performance.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Brand Development Case Studies: Showcase examples of successful brand identity development or rebranding initiatives, detailing the strategic approach and visual outcomes.

• Multi-Channel Campaign Execution: Present a portfolio that clearly demonstrates the ability to execute cohesive creative campaigns across various channels (e.g., digital ads, social media, email, print, in-store).

• Ecommerce & Retail Asset Examples: Include specific examples of high-impact creative assets developed for online retail platforms and physical store environments, highlighting their contribution to sales or brand visibility.

• Process Improvement Examples: Highlight instances where you implemented new processes or systems to improve design team efficiency, project turnaround times, or brand consistency.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design and Optimization: Candidates are expected to articulate their methodology for designing and optimizing creative workflows, including how they identify bottlenecks and implement improvements.

• System Implementation & Standardization: Demonstrate experience in establishing and maintaining creative systems, templates, and style guides to ensure brand consistency and facilitate efficient asset creation.

• Performance Measurement: Outline how you would measure the effectiveness and impact of creative output, linking it to business objectives such as engagement, conversion rates, or sales performance.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section is crucial for operations roles. The emphasis on "scalable creative systems," "workflow design and optimization," and "performance measurement" directly aligns with the operational rigor expected in RevOps and Sales Ops. A candidate's portfolio should explicitly demonstrate their ability to manage processes, not just create designs.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $90,000 - $115,000 per year.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Paid time off (PTO), including vacation, sick leave, and holidays.

• 401(k) retirement savings plan with potential company match.

• Opportunities for professional development and continuing education.

• Employee discounts on Inaba Foods products.

• Potential for performance-based bonuses.

Working Hours: Typically 40 hours per week, with potential for extended hours during peak project periods or product launches. This is an on-site position with no remote work flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is a standard annual figure. For a role in Torrance, CA, this range is competitive for a Senior Design Manager with leadership experience, considering the cost of living in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Benefits are standard for a full-time role in the consumer goods industry.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Food & Beverage (Consumer Products) - Inaba Foods USA Inc. is a part of a well-established Japanese parent company with a growing presence in the U.S. market, specializing in pet food and related products.

Company Size: Mid-sized business with a growing U.S. operation, indicating a dynamic environment where individual contributions can have a significant impact.

Founded: The parent company has a long history, providing stability and established practices, while the U.S. subsidiary's growth suggests a forward-looking and expanding operational scope.

Team Structure:

• The Senior Design Manager reports to the Senior Marketing Manager, indicating a close alignment between creative strategy and overall marketing objectives.

• The role involves managing an in-house team of designers, suggesting a centralized creative function within the marketing department.

• Expect close collaboration with cross-functional teams including Marketing, Ecommerce, Sales, and Product Development, highlighting an integrated GTM approach. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Creative Strategy: While primarily a creative role, the emphasis on supporting business growth and retailer expansion implies a need for creative strategies informed by market data and performance metrics.

• Scalable Process Development: A key responsibility is establishing scalable creative processes, reflecting an operational focus on efficiency and consistency.

• Innovation & Trend Integration: The role requires staying abreast of design, ecommerce, and consumer trends, and leveraging emerging technologies like AI, indicating a proactive and adaptive operational mindset.

Company Website: https://www.inabafoods.com/ (Note: The provided ADP URL is for recruitment; the company's primary website is more relevant for understanding their brand and products.)

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding the company's industry (Food & Beverage, specifically pet products) is key to tailoring creative approaches. The "growing U.S. business" aspect suggests an environment ripe for process improvement and strategic implementation, making this role valuable for operations-minded candidates.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a senior-level management position within the creative function, bridging creative execution with strategic business objectives. It demands leadership, operational efficiency, and a deep understanding of how design impacts revenue and market presence.

Reporting Structure: Reporting to the Senior Marketing Manager places this role directly within the marketing hierarchy, with a clear line of sight to marketing strategy and campaign execution. The manager will also influence and collaborate with Sales, Ecommerce, and Product Development.

Operations Impact: The Senior Design Manager's influence extends directly to revenue generation through enhanced ecommerce conversion rates, improved retail presence, and more effective marketing campaigns. By ensuring brand consistency and high-quality visual storytelling, the role supports customer acquisition, retention, and overall brand equity, which are critical GTM and RevOps outcomes.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Expansion: Potential to grow the design team, expand creative capabilities, or take on broader marketing strategy responsibilities as the U.S. business continues to expand.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Opportunity to lead creative aspects of major product launches or market expansion initiatives, gaining broader GTM and strategic experience.

• Process & Technology Innovation: Chance to champion and implement new creative technologies (e.g., AI tools) and operational processes, establishing best practices for the company.

• Industry Expertise: Deepen knowledge within the pet food/consumer goods industry, contributing to strategic brand building and market penetration.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations professionals, this role offers a unique opportunity to blend creative oversight with strategic operational management. The growth potential lies in driving efficiency, implementing scalable systems, and directly impacting business outcomes through well-executed creative strategies.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is an on-site position based in Torrance, CA, requiring full-time presence in the office. This suggests a collaborative, in-person work environment typical for consumer product companies.

Office Location(s): Torrance, California, within the greater Los Angeles area, offering access to a vibrant business community.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role necessitates close interaction with marketing, sales, and product development teams, fostering a collaborative atmosphere where ideas are shared and projects are developed jointly.

• Tools & Technology: Expect access to standard design software and potentially emerging creative technologies, with opportunities to influence the adoption of new tools.

• Team Interaction: Regular team meetings, one-on-one sessions with direct reports, and cross-departmental project meetings will be integral to the daily routine.

Work Schedule: The standard 40-hour work week is expected, but flexibility might be limited due to the on-site requirement and the demands of managing creative projects with strict deadlines. Occasional travel (up to 25%) may be required for vendor meetings, photoshoots, or industry events.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is a key factor for candidates. The collaborative nature of the workspace, combined with the need for cross-functional interaction, is typical of GTM teams that rely on integrated efforts to drive business results.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, role understanding, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: In-depth discussion with the Senior Marketing Manager to evaluate leadership style, creative vision, operational approach, and strategic thinking.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: A critical stage where candidates will present their portfolio, showcasing key projects, design process, and problem-solving methodologies. Be prepared to discuss your role, the impact of your work, and how you managed workflows and teams.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from Marketing, Sales, and Ecommerce teams to assess collaboration skills and understanding of business needs.

• Final Round/Executive Interview: Potentially with higher leadership to discuss strategic alignment and long-term vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best represent your leadership, creative direction, and operational management skills. Prioritize those with clear business impact (e.g., increased sales, improved conversion rates, successful product launches).

• Tell the Story: For each project, detail the challenge, your strategic approach, your specific role and team management, the creative process, the tools used, and the measurable results. Quantify impact whenever possible.

• Highlight Process & Operations: Explicitly discuss how you managed workflows, mentored your team, collaborated cross-functionally, and ensured brand consistency. Showcase any process improvements you implemented.

• Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your leadership philosophy, how you handle creative feedback, your experience with AI tools, and how you measure creative ROI.

• Practice Presentation: Rehearse your portfolio presentation to ensure it flows logically, stays within time limits, and effectively communicates your value proposition.

Challenge Preparation:

• While not explicitly stated, be prepared for a potential design exercise or a case study related to a specific marketing challenge (e.g., launching a new product line, improving an ecommerce landing page). Focus on demonstrating your strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, and operational approach to creative execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is paramount. Operations-minded candidates should emphasize their ability to manage processes, drive efficiency, and demonstrate measurable business impact through their creative leadership, rather than solely focusing on aesthetic output.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Mandatory and expected at an advanced level (Illustrator, Photoshop, Premiere Pro).

• Design Management/Collaboration Tools: Familiarity with tools like Asana, Trello, Monday.com, or similar project management software for workflow tracking and team coordination.

• Digital Asset Management (DAM) Systems: Experience with systems for organizing, storing, and retrieving creative assets.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics Tools: Understanding of how design impacts metrics in tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or platform-specific analytics (e.g., Amazon Seller Central, Shopify).

• Reporting Dashboards: Experience using or collaborating on dashboards (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) to track creative campaign performance.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: While not a primary user role, understanding how design assets integrate with CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) for marketing campaigns is beneficial.

• Marketing Automation Platforms: Familiarity with platforms like HubSpot, Marketo, or Mailchimp for email marketing and campaign execution.

Emerging Technologies:

• AI-Powered Creative Tools: Experience or a strong interest in leveraging AI tools for tasks like content generation, image editing, or workflow automation.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations professionals, highlighting proficiency in project management and workflow tools is as important as creative software. Demonstrating an understanding of how design impacts analytics and performance metrics is crucial for aligning with GTM objectives.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: While a creative role, expect an emphasis on using data and insights to inform creative strategies and measure their impact on business objectives.

• Efficiency & Optimization: A core value will be streamlining processes, improving workflow efficiency, and finding better ways to deliver high-quality creative output consistently.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: A strong emphasis on working effectively across departments to achieve common goals, fostering a cohesive GTM strategy.

• Brand Integrity & Quality: Upholding the Inaba Foods brand standards and ensuring a high level of quality in all creative deliverables.

• Innovation & Adaptability: Embracing new technologies and trends to stay competitive and continuously improve creative output and operational processes.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Actively participating in team meetings and projects involving Marketing, Sales, Ecommerce, and Product Development to ensure creative strategies are aligned with overall business goals.

• Feedback Culture: Openness to constructive feedback from stakeholders and direct reports, using it to refine creative work and improve team processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, design trends, and operational insights within the design team and across departments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Efficiency & Optimization" and "Data-Driven Decision Making" strongly aligns with operations principles. Candidates should be prepared to discuss how they foster these values within a creative team.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creative Vision with Business Objectives: Effectively translating marketing and sales goals into compelling creative solutions while maintaining brand integrity.

• Managing Rapid Growth: Adapting creative processes and team resources to support the expanding U.S. business and increasing market demands.

• Integrating New Technologies: Staying ahead of the curve with emerging design tools and AI, and successfully integrating them into existing workflows for efficiency gains.

• Cross-functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent communication and alignment across various departments with potentially differing priorities.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Creative & Leadership Training: Opportunities to enhance skills in both creative direction and team management.

• Industry Conferences & Workshops: Potential to attend relevant design, marketing, or e-commerce industry events to stay current on trends and best practices.

• Mentorship Programs: Opportunities for leadership mentorship within the organization.

• Project-Based Learning: Gaining experience by leading creative initiatives for new product launches, market expansions, and significant campaign efforts.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges in this role often involve operational hurdles—scaling processes, integrating technology, and managing cross-functional dependencies—which are familiar territory for operations professionals. Growth opportunities lie in strategic leadership and process innovation.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach developing a scalable creative process for a growing CPG brand like Inaba Foods, focusing on efficiency and brand consistency?" (Focus on workflow mapping, template creation, and team structure.)

• "Describe a time you had to balance a strong creative vision with conflicting business requirements from Sales or Marketing. How did you resolve it?" (Highlight collaboration, negotiation, and data-driven rationale.)

• "Given our focus on ecommerce and retail, what are the key creative considerations you prioritize for driving conversion and sales?" (Discuss user experience, clear calls-to-action, and platform-specific optimizations.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do you foster a collaborative and high-performing culture within a creative team?" (Discuss team dynamics, feedback mechanisms, and professional development.)

• "What are your thoughts on leveraging AI in the creative process, and how would you integrate it at Inaba Foods?" (Show awareness of AI trends and a practical approach to implementation.)

• "How do you ensure brand consistency across diverse channels, from digital ads to in-store displays?" (Emphasize brand guidelines, style guides, and quality control processes.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Quantify Impact: For each project, clearly state the business objective and the measurable results achieved (e.g., "Increased click-through rate by X%," "Contributed to Y% sales growth for product Z").

• Showcase Process, Not Just Pixels: Detail your role in workflow management, team leadership, and cross-functional collaboration. Explain how you achieved the results.

• Demonstrate Operational Thinking: Highlight any process improvements you implemented, how you managed resources, and how you ensured efficiency and scalability.

• Tailor to Inaba: Research Inaba Foods' current marketing and branding. Be prepared to offer insights or initial ideas relevant to their specific business and products.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just creative talent, but also operational acumen. Candidates need to articulate how they manage processes, lead teams effectively, and drive measurable business outcomes through creative strategy.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Design Manager position:

• Submit your application through the provided ADP recruitment link.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features examples of brand development, multi-channel campaign execution, and e-commerce/retail asset creation. Highlight any instances of process improvement or team leadership within these projects.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize leadership experience (3+ years), operational responsibilities (workflow management, process development), and quantifiable achievements in driving business results through design. Integrate keywords like "Creative Direction," "Team Leadership," "Workflow Optimization," "Brand Strategy," and "Ecommerce."

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on articulating your operational approach, problem-solving methodologies, and the measurable impact of your creative work. Be ready to discuss your experience with AI tools and cross-functional collaboration.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Inaba Foods USA Inc., their products, current marketing efforts, and competitive landscape. Understand their brand values and identify potential areas where your creative and operational expertise can add significant value.

⚠️ 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.

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