Senior Digital Design Manager – Paid Media (All Genders)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Digital Design Manager – Paid Media

Company: zooplus SE

Location: Madrid, Spain

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Creative Operations / Paid Media Design

Date Posted: 2026-06-09T12:48:04.633

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the conceptual development and execution of high-performance creative assets for paid media channels, including Meta and Google Ads, ensuring brand consistency and performance optimization.

• Drive creative automation strategies and workflows, leveraging platforms like Smartly.io to enhance efficiency, scalability, and creative quality.

• Own end-to-end creative delivery for critical paid media campaigns, from ideation and design execution to A/B testing and iterative optimization based on performance data.

• Reduce complexity in creative workflows through the development and implementation of simple, scalable processes, frameworks, and modular design templates.

• Foster innovation by proactively identifying opportunities for new tools, AI integration, and continuous process improvement within the creative operations function.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned at a senior individual contributor level, focusing on expert-level execution and strategic oversight within creative operations for paid media. The emphasis on ownership, automation (specifically Smartly.io), and performance-driven creative indicates a need for a candidate who can not only design but also manage and optimize the entire creative production lifecycle for maximum marketing impact.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the conceptual development and strategic direction for all paid media creative campaigns, translating brand and channel objectives into impactful, scalable creative concepts.

• Proactively define creative frameworks, solutions, and directional strategies that align with both brand identity and performance marketing goals across various platforms and audiences.

• Ensure end-to-end creative delivery for META, Google Ads, Affiliate, and App campaigns, maintaining consistently high quality in both conceptualization and final execution.

• Drive a rigorous A/B testing and iterative optimization process for creative assets, leveraging performance data and insights to continuously improve engagement and conversion rates.

• Develop and maintain modular Figma templates that are meticulously aligned with automation logic, enabling efficient and scalable creative production.

• Manage and evolve the creative automation setup within Smartly.io, including the configuration of feeds, conditional rules, and automation logic to enhance efficiency and creative quality.

• Plan, prioritize, and structure creative projects effectively, ensuring clear communication of deliverables and a consistent, outcome-focused approach to project management.

• Proactively identify and explore opportunities for innovation, including the integration of AI tools and other emerging technologies to enhance creative processes and outcomes.

• Collaborate closely with Paid Media, Brand, and other cross-functional stakeholders, providing clear direction, structured feedback, and confident communication to ensure alignment and project success.

• Act as a key creative decision-maker, confidently guiding stakeholders through complex creative challenges and ensuring forward momentum on key initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus on creative excellence and operational rigor. The candidate is expected to be a hands-on designer and strategist, capable of managing complex automation tools and driving performance through data-informed creative iteration, while also streamlining operational workflows for greater efficiency.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Media Design, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in digital design, paid media creative, or creative operations, with a strong emphasis on performance marketing channels.

Required Skills:

• Proven strong experience in developing creative assets specifically for performance marketing channels, demonstrating a deep understanding of what drives engagement and conversion.

• Advanced proficiency in Figma for collaborative design, templating, and asset creation, with the ability to build modular, automation-ready design systems.

• Expert-level skills in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects) for sophisticated graphic design, image manipulation, and motion graphics production.

• Hands-on, practical experience with Smartly.io or similar creative automation platforms for managing campaigns, optimizing assets, and driving efficiency at scale.

• Demonstrated ability in conceptual thinking and creative execution, evidenced by a strong portfolio showcasing impactful campaigns and design solutions.

• Familiarity with HTML5 ads and performance-driven digital formats, understanding their technical requirements and creative potential.

• Excellent planning, prioritization, and structuring skills, with a proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.

• Strong ownership mindset and proactive decision-making capabilities, with a comfort level in addressing challenges directly and confidently.

• Ability to simplify complex processes and communicate clearly and effectively to diverse stakeholders. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with AI tools and technologies relevant to creative generation, optimization, or workflow automation.

• Familiarity with Google Sheets or similar tools for managing feeds and automation logic in conjunction with Smartly.io.

• Understanding of e-commerce retail environments and their specific creative demands.

• Experience in collaborating with international teams and adapting creative for diverse markets.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications emphasize a blend of creative talent, technical proficiency in design and automation tools, and strong operational/strategic thinking. The requirement for a strong portfolio is paramount, serving as tangible proof of conceptual ability and execution quality in performance marketing contexts.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 distinct paid media campaigns with a clear focus on performance marketing objectives. Each case study should detail the challenge, your strategic approach, creative execution, and quantifiable results.

• Include examples of creative assets designed for A/B testing, demonstrating your understanding of iteration and optimization based on performance data.

• Present examples of modular design systems or templates created in Figma, specifically highlighting their adaptability for automation and scalability across different campaign needs.

• Provide evidence of experience with creative automation platforms, ideally including screenshots or descriptions of workflows managed via Smartly.io or similar tools.

• Demonstrate conceptual thinking by including examples of how you translated brand goals and insights into creative briefs or campaign directions. Process Documentation:

• Examples of workflow diagrams or process maps for creative production pipelines, particularly those involving paid media and automation.

• Documentation of how you have structured creative projects, managed prioritization, and ensured clear, outcome-focused deliverables.

• Case studies detailing how you have simplified complex creative processes or implemented scalable frameworks to improve efficiency and quality.

• Evidence of how you have used data and performance insights to inform creative decisions and drive iterative improvements in campaign assets.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are designed to assess not only creative output but also process orientation, strategic thinking, and the ability to leverage automation for measurable impact. Candidates should prepare to articulate their decision-making process and demonstrate quantifiable results.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: EUR 40,800 - EUR 61,200 yearly.

Benefits:

• Hybrid Working: Approximately 60% in-office and 40% remote, offering a balance between collaboration and flexibility.

• Work From Abroad: Option to work remotely from approved countries for up to 20 days per year, enabling global flexibility.

• Career Development Opportunities: Access to programs and pathways designed to help shape and advance your career within the organization.

• Training and Support: Comprehensive training and ongoing support to foster skill development and professional growth.

• Wellbeing Offers: Various initiatives and programs focused on supporting employee health and overall well-being.

• Subsidised Transport: Assistance with transportation costs, making commuting more affordable.

• Bike Leasing: A program that allows employees to lease bicycles, promoting sustainable commuting.

• Product Discount: A generous 20% discount on all zooplus products, benefiting employees directly.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with a hybrid work arrangement offering flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is within a typical band for a Senior Digital Design Manager role in a European e-commerce company, especially considering the emphasis on specialized skills like Smartly.io and performance creative. The benefits package highlights a strong commitment to employee well-being, flexibility, and professional growth, which are attractive aspects for operations and creative professionals. The hybrid model is clearly defined, with a specific expectation for office presence.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: E-commerce (Pet Products). zooplus SE is a leading online retailer in the pet supplies market, operating across multiple European countries. This context implies a fast-paced, data-driven environment focused on customer acquisition and retention through effective digital marketing.

Company Size: Over 25 years of experience, with a significant customer base of over 12 million customers, indicating a well-established and scaled e-commerce operation. The company likely employs a substantial number of individuals across various departments, suggesting a robust organizational structure and opportunities for cross-functional collaboration.

Founded: Over 25 years ago, zooplus SE has grown into a major player in the pet e-commerce industry, demonstrating a history of adaptation, innovation, and sustained growth. This longevity suggests a stable yet dynamic company culture that embraces change and continuous improvement.

Team Structure:

• The role reports into a Paid Media or Marketing function, likely with close collaboration with Brand, Performance Marketing, and potentially Product teams.

• The Senior Digital Design Manager is an expert individual contributor, expected to lead creative output and operational excellence within their domain.

• Cross-functional collaboration is key, involving close partnerships with performance marketers who will utilize the creative assets and provide performance feedback. Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is expected, with a strong emphasis on performance insights and A/B testing to optimize creative effectiveness.

• Process optimization and workflow simplification are core to the role, aiming to improve speed, quality, and scalability of creative production.

• Automation is a critical methodology, particularly through the use of Smartly.io, to streamline repetitive tasks and enable more strategic creative work.

Company Website: https://www.zooplus.com/ (Note: The provided URL "careers.zooplus.com/blogs/zooplus-blog/search" points to blog posts, not the main company site, so the primary domain is used here for general context.)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on e-commerce and its established presence suggest a professional environment where data, efficiency, and customer-centricity are paramount. The "power of plus" slogan implies a culture of added value and continuous growth, which the Senior Digital Design Manager is expected to embody through their work.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as an "Individual Contributor (Expert)" at Job Level 07. This signifies a senior position where deep specialization and the ability to drive significant impact independently are valued. The focus is on mastery of paid media design, creative operations, and automation technologies, rather than direct people management.

Reporting Structure: The role is within the "Sales & Marketing" department. While not explicitly stated, it's likely the Senior Digital Design Manager reports to a Head of Paid Media, Creative Director, or Marketing Operations Manager, who oversees broader marketing strategies and team performance.

Operations Impact: The Senior Digital Design Manager's impact is directly tied to the performance of paid media campaigns. By optimizing creative assets and automating workflows, this role directly influences key marketing KPIs such as click-through rates (CTR), conversion rates, cost per acquisition (CPA), and ultimately, revenue generated from paid channels. Their strategic input on creative direction and operational efficiency contributes to the overall marketing team's success and the company's bottom line.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization Advancement: Deepen expertise in advanced creative automation techniques, AI-driven design, and performance creative strategy, becoming a go-to expert within the company and industry.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Transition into roles that involve leading projects or initiatives that span multiple marketing disciplines, or mentoring junior designers and operations specialists.

• Process Innovation Leadership: Lead the development and implementation of new creative operations processes, tools, and best practices across the broader marketing or digital teams.

• Potential for Team Lead/Managerial Roles: While currently an individual contributor, exceptional performance and demonstrated leadership in driving team efficiency and creative excellence could open doors to future management opportunities within the design or marketing operations functions.

📝 Enhancement Note: As a senior individual contributor, the growth path emphasizes deepening expertise and influencing strategy through execution rather than direct management. The role offers a strong foundation for becoming a highly sought-after specialist in performance creative operations within the e-commerce sector.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid working model, with a requirement to spend approximately 60% of time in the office and 40% remotely. This suggests a professional office environment designed for collaboration, team meetings, and focused work, complemented by the flexibility of remote work.

Office Location(s): The primary office location mentioned is Madrid, Spain, at Génova 17, 5plta, 28004. This central location in Madrid likely offers good accessibility and a vibrant working environment. The company also has offices in Munich, Krakow, Wroclaw, and London, indicating a multinational operational footprint.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The office setting is designed to foster interaction, brainstorming, and team synergy, crucial for creative roles that benefit from shared ideation and feedback.

• Operations Tools & Technology: Employees will have access to the necessary software and hardware to perform their roles, including advanced design tools like Adobe Creative Suite and Figma, as well as automation platforms like Smartly.io. The company likely provides a robust IT infrastructure to support these tools.

• Team Interaction: The hybrid model ensures regular opportunities for face-to-face interaction with colleagues, managers, and cross-functional stakeholders, facilitating clear communication and stronger working relationships.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is 40 hours per week. The hybrid nature of the role provides flexibility in how and where those hours are structured, balancing in-office collaboration with remote workdays.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key feature, balancing the need for collaborative office presence with the desire for remote flexibility. Candidates should be comfortable managing their time effectively across both settings to maximize productivity and team integration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your CV and portfolio to assess alignment with the role's requirements, particularly experience in paid media design, creative operations, and automation tools.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion with the hiring manager to delve into your experience, approach to creative strategy, operational processes, and understanding of performance marketing. Portfolio walkthrough and discussion of specific case studies will be key here.

• Skills Assessment/Case Study: You may be asked to complete a practical design exercise or a case study focused on solving a paid media creative challenge, potentially involving Smartly.io or Figma. This assesses your problem-solving abilities, creative thinking, and technical skills under timed conditions.

• Cross-Functional Stakeholder Interview: Meeting with key stakeholders from Paid Media, Brand, or other relevant teams to evaluate your collaboration style, communication skills, and ability to integrate with different functions.

• Final Interview: Potentially a final discussion with a senior leader to assess cultural fit, strategic alignment, and overall suitability for the role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects that directly address the requirements of this Senior Digital Design Manager role. Focus on paid media, performance marketing, and creative operations.

• Quantify Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your solution, your specific role, and most importantly, the measurable results achieved (e.g., increased CTR, reduced CPA, improved conversion rates). Use data and metrics prominently.

• Showcase Process: Be prepared to walk through your creative process, from brief interpretation and conceptualization to execution and optimization. Highlight how you used tools like Figma and Smartly.io.

• Highlight Automation: Specifically showcase any experience with creative automation platforms, demonstrating how you've built scalable solutions, managed feeds, or leveraged automation logic.

• Tell a Story: Frame each project as a narrative – the challenge, your strategic approach, the execution, and the outcome. Make it engaging and easy to follow.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Tools: Be comfortable demonstrating your proficiency with Figma and Adobe Creative Suite. If a Smartly.io exercise is given, focus on the logic and structure of automation rather than just the interface.

• Think Performance-First: Approach any design challenge with a performance marketing mindset. How will this creative drive results? What metrics will you track? How will you optimize?

• Structure Your Response: For case studies or problem-solving exercises, use a structured approach: understand the brief, identify key objectives, propose solutions, outline implementation, and define success metrics.

• Communicate Clearly: Practice articulating your thought process and design decisions concisely and confidently, as if explaining them to a performance marketing manager.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process and portfolio review are heavily weighted towards practical application, strategic thinking, and demonstrable results in paid media and creative operations. Candidates should prepare to actively demonstrate their skills and thought processes related to performance, automation, and project management.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for collaborative design, creating modular templates, and building scalable design systems aligned with automation logic. Expect to demonstrate advanced proficiency in creating reusable components and managing design files for team collaboration.

• Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects): Core tools for advanced graphic design, image editing, illustration, and motion graphics production required for high-quality creative assets.

• Smartly.io: A critical automation platform. Proficiency in setting up, managing, and optimizing creative campaigns, including feed management, conditional rules, and automation logic, is highly valued.

• HTML5 Ad Creation Tools: Familiarity with tools or workflows for creating interactive HTML5 advertisements, ensuring compatibility and performance across various ad platforms.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Performance Marketing Dashboards: Experience interpreting data from platforms like Meta Ads Manager, Google Ads, or internal analytics tools to inform creative optimization.

• A/B Testing Platforms: Understanding how to set up, run, and analyze A/B tests for creative elements to drive iterative improvements.

• Data Visualization Tools (e.g., Tableau, Google Data Studio): While not explicitly mentioned, familiarity with visualizing performance data to communicate insights effectively can be beneficial.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot): General awareness of CRM systems is helpful for understanding customer data flow, though direct management may not be required.

• Marketing Automation Platforms (General): Understanding of how creative assets integrate with broader marketing automation workflows.

• Integration Tools: Awareness of how design assets and automation workflows connect with other marketing technology (MarTech) stack components.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack emphasizes design tools, a specific automation platform (Smartly.io), and performance marketing analytics. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their practical experience and strategic application of these tools in driving paid media effectiveness.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Ownership & Proactivity: A strong emphasis on taking initiative, driving projects forward, and proactively identifying and solving problems without constant supervision. This means owning the creative output and its performance.

• Structure & Clarity: A preference for organized workflows, clear communication, and the ability to simplify complex processes. This value ensures efficiency and reduces ambiguity in a fast-paced environment.

• Performance-Driven: A commitment to achieving measurable results. Decisions and creative outputs are guided by data, A/B testing, and the ultimate goal of improving marketing KPIs.

• Growth & Innovation: A culture that encourages continuous learning, experimentation with new tools and technologies (like AI), and a proactive approach to process improvement.

• Collaboration: While an individual contributor, strong collaboration with Paid Media, Brand, and other teams is essential. This involves clear communication, constructive feedback, and a shared commitment to marketing goals.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Expect to work closely with performance marketing managers who will be the primary users of your creative assets. This requires understanding their needs and providing assets that meet specific campaign objectives.

• Feedback Exchange: A culture of open, constructive feedback is likely encouraged, where ideas are shared, challenged respectfully, and refined to achieve the best outcomes.

• Knowledge Sharing: As an expert, you'll contribute to the team's knowledge base, potentially by sharing best practices, insights from automation, or learnings from A/B tests.

• Efficiency Experimentation: A willingness to experiment with new tools and processes to find more efficient ways of working, contributing to the overall operational maturity of the marketing team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture values individuals who are self-starters, highly organized, data-oriented, and adept at collaborating to achieve performance goals. The emphasis on "ownership" and "simplifying complexity" suggests a desire for proactive problem-solvers who can bring structure to creative workflows.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creative Excellence with Performance Demands: The primary challenge will be to consistently produce high-quality, conceptually strong creative assets that also meet rigorous performance marketing objectives and tight deadlines.

• Mastering and Evolving Automation: Continuously learning, optimizing, and expanding the use of Smartly.io and other automation tools to unlock new efficiencies and creative possibilities, while keeping pace with platform updates.

• Managing Stakeholder Expectations: Effectively communicating creative direction, managing feedback loops, and ensuring alignment across various stakeholders with potentially differing priorities.

• Adapting to Evolving Digital Landscape: Staying ahead of trends in digital advertising, creative formats, platform algorithms, and AI technologies to ensure creative strategies remain effective and innovative.

• Streamlining Complex Workflows: Developing and implementing scalable processes that can handle a high volume of creative requests efficiently, especially across multiple markets or campaign types.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Automation Mastery: Deepen expertise in Smartly.io and explore other automation tools to become a recognized expert in efficient creative production.

• AI in Creative: Explore and experiment with AI-powered creative tools for ideation, asset generation, and optimization, integrating them into workflows where beneficial.

• Performance Creative Strategy: Develop a deeper understanding of performance marketing analytics and data interpretation to drive more impactful creative decisions.

• Cross-Functional Project Leadership: Gain experience leading initiatives that involve multiple teams, honing project management and stakeholder management skills.

• Industry Best Practices: Access to training, webinars, and potentially conferences focused on digital design, paid media, and marketing operations to stay current with industry trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to a senior role at the intersection of creative, operations, and performance marketing. The growth opportunities are geared towards deepening technical expertise, strategic impact, and leadership within the operations and creative domains.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance a strong brand vision with aggressive performance marketing goals. How did you approach the creative execution and what were the results?" (Focus on your ability to integrate brand strategy with campaign performance, showcasing specific creative examples and data.)

• "Walk me through your process for managing creative requests for a high-volume paid media campaign. How do you prioritize, ensure quality, and leverage automation?" (Highlight your structured approach, use of tools like Figma and Smartly.io, and how you manage workflows.)

• "How would you develop a scalable creative strategy for a new product launch across Meta and Google Ads, considering both brand impact and conversion efficiency?" (Demonstrate your strategic thinking, understanding of channel nuances, and ability to plan for scale and optimization.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about zooplus SE and our position in the pet e-commerce market?" (Research the company's mission, values, and recent performance. Connect your passion for pets or e-commerce to the role.)

• "How do you approach collaboration with performance marketing teams? What makes for a successful working relationship in your experience?" (Emphasize your understanding of their goals and how creative supports them, highlighting communication and feedback strategies.)

• "Describe a situation where you had to simplify a complex process or workflow. What was the challenge, and how did you achieve greater efficiency?" (Showcase your operational thinking and ability to create scalable solutions.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Start with Impact: Begin your portfolio walkthrough with your strongest, most relevant projects that best showcase your paid media design and creative operations skills.

• Quantify Everything: For each project, clearly state the objective, your specific contribution, the tools used, and critically, the measurable results achieved. Use percentages, numbers, and ROI where possible.

• Explain Your 'Why': Articulate the strategic thinking behind your design choices. Why did you choose this concept? How did it align with the campaign goals? How did you use data to inform your decisions?

• Highlight Automation & Process: If showcasing automation work, explain the setup, the logic, and the efficiency gains. For process-oriented projects, detail the problem, your solution, and the implemented framework.

• Be Concise and Engaging: Practice presenting your work to be clear, concise, and engaging. Be prepared for detailed questions about your process, decisions, and results.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a deep understanding of paid media, creative operations, and automation, supported by concrete examples and data. The ability to articulate strategic thinking and operational efficiency will be key differentiators.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Digital Design Manager – Paid Media position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on SmartRecruiters.

• Optimize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords and responsibilities relevant to paid media design, creative operations, Smartly.io, Figma, performance marketing, and A/B testing. Quantify your achievements with specific metrics wherever possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your most impactful projects that showcase your expertise in paid media creative, conceptual thinking, and creative operations. Ensure each case study clearly outlines the challenge, your strategic approach, execution details, and quantifiable results.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio with a focus on storytelling, highlighting your strategic decision-making, operational processes, and the measurable impact of your work, especially any automation or efficiency improvements.

• Research zooplus SE: Understand the company's mission, values, products, and market position. Consider how your skills and experience can contribute to their success in the pet e-commerce industry.

⚠️ 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.