Senior Visual Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Visual Designer

Company: Balsam Brands

Location: Redwood City, California, United States

Job Type: Full-time, Temporary

Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design

Date Posted: August 26, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level (3+ years)

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in-office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Responsible for conceptualizing and executing high-quality visual designs across digital and print mediums to elevate the GE brand identity.

• Manages multiple design projects simultaneously, ensuring brand consistency and alignment with project guidelines and business objectives.

• Collaborates with cross-functional partners and leadership to present design solutions and gather feedback.

• Contributes to team development by mentoring junior designers and sharing insights on current design trends.

• This role is a temporary opportunity with an expected end date of April 2027.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is identified as a temporary, full-time position, which is crucial for candidates to understand regarding career progression and long-term commitment. The hybrid nature requires a balance between independent work and in-office collaboration, typical for creative roles in established companies.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Deliver exceptional visual design solutions with a keen eye for detail, optimizing designs within established brand guidelines and project parameters.

• Independently manage multiple design priorities and projects under tight deadlines, demonstrating strong organizational and time management skills.

• Actively participate in brainstorming sessions, concept development, and the execution of designs for CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods), print, and production materials.

• Ensure visual assets and messaging are consistently accurate and aligned across all brand platforms and marketing channels.

• Support the professional development of the design team through active feedback, coaching, and sharing of design best practices.

• Understand and articulate the business impact of the design team's work, aligning creative output with broader company priorities.

• Stay current with emerging design trends, tools, and technologies, bringing fresh insights and innovative ideas to the team.

• Effectively present design solutions and rationale to internal stakeholders, including cross-functional teams and senior leadership.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of individual contribution and team collaboration, with a strong focus on brand stewardship and stakeholder communication. The mentorship aspect indicates a need for leadership potential beyond individual design execution.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Web/Graphic Design or equivalent practical work experience.

Experience: A minimum of 3 years of professional experience in a design-related field, with a focus on visual design for brands.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in industry-standard design software, including Figma, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), Sketch, and Zeplin.

• Proven ability to create organized and well-structured design files for seamless handoff and collaboration.

• Demonstrated experience in developing creative solutions for both digital and print brand assets.

• Strong understanding of design principles, typography, color theory, and layout composition.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate design concepts clearly to diverse audiences.

• Self-organization and the ability to prioritize tasks effectively, manage expectations, and consistently meet deadlines.

• A demonstrable passion for design and a keen eye for detail and consistency. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) branding and marketing materials.

• Familiarity with design for e-commerce and omnichannel retail environments.

• Experience in coaching or mentoring junior designers.

• Knowledge of current design trends and best practices in digital and print design.

• Ability to contribute to conceptualization and brainstorming sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required proficiency in specific design tools (Figma, Adobe Suite, Sketch, Zeplin) is a critical filter for applicants. The emphasis on organized file production highlights the importance of workflow efficiency and collaboration within the design team and with development partners.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive online portfolio showcasing a diverse range of visual design projects, demonstrating expertise in both digital and print mediums.

• Case studies that highlight the design process, from initial concept and ideation through to final execution and implementation.

• Examples of work that illustrate strong brand consistency, attention to detail, and creative problem-solving.

• Projects that demonstrate the ability to optimize designs within specific project guidelines and parameters.

• Evidence of collaboration with cross-functional teams and the ability to present design solutions to stakeholders. Process Documentation:

• Showcase examples of organized design file structures and efficient workflow processes.

• Demonstrate an understanding of the design-to-production pipeline, including handoff procedures for both digital and print assets.

• Include examples of how design decisions were informed by project objectives and business impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is paramount for this role, serving as the primary evaluation tool for design skills, process, and problem-solving abilities. The emphasis on organized files and process documentation suggests the company values efficient workflows and collaborative design practices.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $43.75 to $54.81 per hour.

Explanation: This hourly range is based on the provided base pay information for this temporary, full-time position. The specific rate within this range will depend on factors such as candidate qualifications, experience, relevant skills, and geographic location. Balsam Brands benchmarks its compensation against external data sources and conducts regular reviews to ensure competitive pay.

Benefits: (Note: Benefits are typically offered for permanent, full-time roles. For temporary positions, benefits may vary. The following are listed as provided in the job description for permanent roles and should be confirmed for this temporary position.)

• Competitive compensation, including a cash-based incentive plan.

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage.

• Up to $2,000 annual funding toward HSA accounts.

• Medical, transit, dependent care FSA.

• Infertility coverage offered on all medical plans.

• Generous parental leave program and flexible return options.

• Company-paid life and AD&D insurance.

• Company-paid short and long-term disability insurance.

• 401(k) with dollar-for-dollar company match up to $4,000 per calendar year.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and other mental health and wellness perks.

• Paid holidays, annual shutdown week, PTO, and volunteer time-off (VTO) packages.

• Paid 5-week sabbatical leave after 10 years of employment.

• Annual continuous learning benefit up to $1,000 per person, per fiscal year.

• Up to $300 flexible reimbursement to support setup of new team member's work-from-home environment.

• Generous team member merchandise discount.

• Valuable extras: identity theft protection, subsidized parking, monthly wellness, pet insurance, accident & critical illness insurance.

Working Hours: This is a full-time position, typically implying a standard 40-hour work week. The hybrid arrangement requires 3 days in the office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary is presented as an hourly rate, common for temporary roles. While a comprehensive benefits package is detailed, candidates should verify which benefits are applicable to this specific temporary position, as offerings can differ significantly from permanent roles.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Global, omnichannel retailer specializing in Christmas and seasonal décor. The company operates in the e-commerce and direct-to-consumer retail space.

Company Size: Balsam Brands has steadily growing teams across multiple international locations, indicating a mid-sized to large organization with a global footprint.

Founded: While the founding date is not explicitly stated, the company's mention of steady growth and established brands suggests a history of sustained development and market presence.

Team Structure:

• The Senior Visual Designer reports to the Senior Art Director, indicating a clear hierarchical structure within the Creative Brand Design team.

• This team likely collaborates closely with marketing, product development, and e-commerce teams to ensure cohesive brand representation across all touchpoints.

• The team structure supports mentorship and knowledge sharing, with senior designers expected to contribute to the development of others. Methodology:

• The company emphasizes a people-first approach, valuing relationship building, authenticity, and ethical practices ("doing the right thing").

• A commitment to creating joy together is central to their mission, influencing their internal culture and external product offerings.

• Data-driven insights are implied through the need for designers to understand business impact and align with company priorities.

• Continuous learning and professional development are encouraged, as evidenced by the annual learning benefit.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Balsam Brands' focus on seasonal décor and an omnichannel retail strategy provides context for the type of visual design challenges the Senior Visual Designer will face. The "people-first" culture and emphasis on creating joy suggest a supportive, collaborative, and mission-driven work environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior-level individual contributor role within the Creative Brand Design team. It requires a strong foundation in visual design principles and practical experience, with an expectation of independent work and mentorship capabilities.

Reporting Structure: The role reports directly to the Senior Art Director, placing it within a clear creative leadership structure. This offers opportunities for direct mentorship and exposure to strategic creative direction.

Operations Impact: The Senior Visual Designer's work directly impacts the company's brand perception, customer engagement, and ultimately, sales across various channels. Visual consistency and compelling design are critical for attracting and retaining customers in the competitive retail market, especially for seasonal products.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific design areas such as digital UI/UX, motion graphics, or advanced print production techniques.

• Leadership Development: Potential to move into Art Director or Creative Director roles within Balsam Brands or similar organizations, leveraging mentorship experience and strategic design thinking.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain broader business acumen by working closely with marketing, e-commerce, and product teams, understanding the end-to-end product lifecycle and customer journey.

• Continuous Learning: Utilize the annual continuous learning benefit for courses, workshops, or conferences to stay ahead of design trends and technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this is a temporary role, the title "Senior" and the mentorship responsibilities suggest opportunities for skill development and leadership practice that can be valuable for future career advancement in design. Candidates should inquire about potential for extension or conversion to a permanent role.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid, requiring 3 days per week in the Redwood City, CA office. This suggests a blend of focused individual work at home and collaborative, in-person interaction at the office.

Office Location(s): Redwood City, California, United States. This location is in the San Francisco Bay Area, offering access to a vibrant tech and creative community.

Workspace Context:

• The office environment likely fosters collaboration among the design team and with other departments, facilitating brainstorming and feedback sessions.

• Access to necessary design tools and technology within the office is expected, complementing home-based work setups.

• The hybrid model allows for flexibility while maintaining team cohesion and in-person communication essential for creative endeavors.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is implied for this full-time, temporary position. The hybrid schedule provides flexibility, balancing in-office presence with remote workdays.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work arrangement is a key aspect of this role. Candidates should be comfortable with a structured in-office presence balanced with remote work, and assess if the Redwood City location is feasible for their commute and lifestyle.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and design aesthetic.

• Portfolio Presentation: Candidates will likely be asked to present their portfolio, discussing specific projects, design process, challenges, and outcomes. This is a critical stage to demonstrate visual design skills and communication abilities.

• Skills Assessment: Potential for a design exercise or challenge to evaluate problem-solving skills, creativity, and proficiency with required tools (Figma, Adobe Suite).

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with the Senior Art Director, other designers, and potentially cross-functional partners to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, and ability to integrate into the team.

• Final Interview: May involve a discussion with higher-level management to confirm alignment with company values and strategic vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your visual design skills, brand consistency, and ability to work across digital and print. Highlight projects similar to CPG or e-commerce if possible.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process, your creative decisions, and the impact or results. Use visuals effectively to guide the narrative.

• Demonstrate Process: Show wireframes, mood boards, sketches, and iterations to illustrate your thinking and problem-solving approach.

• Highlight Tool Proficiency: Mention the specific tools used for each project and how you leveraged them to achieve the final outcome.

• Showcase Collaboration: If applicable, describe how you worked with others and incorporated feedback.

• Organized Files: Be prepared to discuss how you organize your design files for efficient collaboration.

Challenge Preparation:

• Familiarize yourself with Balsam Brands' aesthetic and current marketing materials to understand their visual language.

• Practice articulating your design rationale clearly and concisely, as you will need to justify your creative choices.

• Be prepared to discuss how you would approach a design brief for a CPG or seasonal product.

• Anticipate questions about managing multiple projects, meeting deadlines, and receiving constructive feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is the most critical component of the application. Candidates should meticulously select and prepare their work to highlight relevant skills, process, and impact. Be ready to articulate your design decisions and the "why" behind them.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for collaborative design, prototyping, and creating interactive mockups. Proficiency in creating well-organized design systems and components is key.

• Adobe Creative Suite: Including Photoshop for image manipulation and compositing, Illustrator for vector graphics and logos, and InDesign for print layout and typography.

• Sketch: Another popular UI design tool; familiarity is beneficial, especially for teams that may use it for certain workflows.

• Zeplin: Used for design handoff, enabling developers to inspect design elements, extract assets, and get style specifications efficiently.

Analytics & Reporting: While not explicitly listed as a primary tool for this role, understanding how visual design impacts key metrics (e.g., conversion rates, engagement, brand recall) is important. The designer should be able to interpret basic performance data related to their visual assets.

CRM & Automation: Not directly relevant to the core responsibilities of a Visual Designer, but awareness of how visual assets are deployed through marketing automation platforms or CRM systems could be a plus for understanding the broader GTM context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Mastery of Figma and the Adobe Suite is non-negotiable. The mention of Zeplin indicates a strong focus on efficient collaboration with development teams, highlighting the importance of design-to-development workflows.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Creating Joy Together: This core value suggests a positive, collaborative, and mission-oriented environment where team members are encouraged to contribute to a shared purpose.

• People-First: Emphasizes a culture of care, respect, and strong relationships among team members and with partners.

• Authenticity: Values genuine interactions and transparent communication.

• Doing the Right Thing: Highlights a commitment to ethical practices and integrity in all aspects of work.

• Excellence: A drive for high standards in all endeavors, from product quality to team collaboration.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are expected to work closely with various departments, requiring strong communication and the ability to translate creative ideas into business objectives.

• Feedback-Oriented: The culture likely embraces constructive feedback as a means of growth and improvement, both for individuals and the team's output.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encourages team members to share insights, best practices, and learnings, fostering a continuous learning environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's stated values—Creating Joy Together, People-First, Authenticity, Doing the Right Thing, and Excellence—should guide how candidates present themselves and interact during the interview process. Demonstrating alignment with these values will be key for cultural fit.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Brand Consistency with Innovation: Maintaining a cohesive brand identity across diverse digital and print channels while also introducing fresh, engaging visual concepts can be a delicate balance.

• Managing Multiple Project Demands: Juggling numerous projects with competing deadlines requires robust prioritization, time management, and effective communication to manage stakeholder expectations.

• Adapting to Evolving Design Trends: The fast-paced nature of design requires continuous learning and adaptation to new tools, platforms, and aesthetic preferences in the market.

• Temporary Role Nature: For candidates seeking long-term employment, the temporary status of this role presents a challenge that requires careful consideration and discussion about potential extension or conversion.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Mentorship: Opportunities to learn from and mentor other designers, enhancing leadership and communication skills.

• Continuous Learning Benefit: Access to up to $1,000 annually for courses, workshops, or conferences to expand design knowledge and technical skills.

• Exposure to Omnichannel Retail: Gain experience in visual design for a global, omnichannel retailer, understanding the complexities of different customer touchpoints.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Develop a broader understanding of business operations by working with marketing, product, and e-commerce teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should be aware of the temporary nature of the role and proactively discuss possibilities for extension or permanent conversion. The challenges highlight the need for strong organizational skills and adaptability.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance multiple design projects with competing deadlines. How did you prioritize and manage your workload?" (Assesses project management and prioritization skills.)

• "Walk us through your process for developing a new visual concept for a brand. What steps do you take from initial brief to final execution?" (Evaluates design methodology and creative thinking.)

• "How do you ensure brand consistency across different platforms (e.g., digital ads, print collateral, social media)?" (Tests understanding of brand stewardship and execution.)

• "Describe a challenging stakeholder interaction related to a design project. How did you handle it and what was the outcome?" (Assesses communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Balsam Brands and our mission to 'create joy together'?" (Gauges alignment with company values and mission.)

• "How do you stay updated on the latest design trends, and how do you incorporate them into your work while maintaining brand integrity?" (Assesses proactive learning and strategic application of trends.)

• "How do you approach mentorship or developing other designers?" (Evaluates leadership potential and team contribution.)

• "What does 'doing the right thing' mean to you in a professional context?" (Explores ethical considerations and cultural alignment.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with a brief overview of your career and design philosophy. Then, select 3-4 key projects that best represent your skills and experience relevant to this role. For each project:

  • State the objective/brief.
  • Describe your role and the team you worked with.
  • Detail your design process, including research, ideation, and iterations.
  • Showcase the final designs with high-quality visuals.
  • Explain the rationale behind your design choices.
  • Discuss any challenges faced and how you overcame them.
  • Present the results or impact of the design.

• Tools & Files: Be prepared to discuss your proficiency with Figma, Adobe Suite, Sketch, and Zeplin, and how you organize your files for efficient collaboration.

• Engagement: Be enthusiastic, articulate, and ready to answer questions about your work and design decisions. Invite interaction and questions throughout the presentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare specific examples that directly address the responsibilities and required skills outlined in the job description. For the portfolio, focus on quality over quantity, choosing projects that demonstrate strategic thinking, problem-solving, and a strong aesthetic.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Visual Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Greenhouse link on job-boards.greenhouse.io.

• Portfolio Preparation: Curate and finalize your online portfolio, ensuring it prominently features your strongest visual design work across digital and print. Include case studies that detail your process, problem-solving, and impact.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight 3+ years of relevant design experience, proficiency in Figma, Adobe Suite, Sketch, and Zeplin, and any experience with CPG or omnichannel retail. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Practice: Rehearse your portfolio presentation, focusing on clear storytelling, articulating design rationale, and demonstrating your understanding of brand consistency and collaboration. Prepare answers to common interview questions related to design process, project management, and team dynamics.

• Company Research: Thoroughly review Balsam Brands' website, flagship brands (like Balsam Hill), and company mission. Understand their aesthetic, values, and target market to better tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.