Sr Brand Design Manager

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Sr Brand Design Manager

Company: CookUnity

Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Brand Marketing / Creative Design Operations

Date Posted: 2026-05-06T18:27:15

Experience Level: 8+ Years (4+ Years Management)

Remote Status: Fully Remote (with potential for on-site collaboration in Buenos Aires)

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the evolution and operationalization of CookUnity's brand visual identity across all consumer touchpoints, driving cohesive and compelling brand storytelling.

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of talented designers, fostering a culture of creative excellence and continuous improvement.

• Champion the strategic integration of AI-powered design tools to enhance efficiency, accelerate production, and elevate creative output within the design function.

• Establish and refine end-to-end design processes, ensuring consistent on-time delivery of high-quality, pixel-perfect creative assets that align with brand strategy and business objectives.

• Collaborate closely with Brand Marketing and cross-functional teams to translate business needs into impactful visual narratives that resonate with target audiences and drive commercial growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior leadership opportunity within Brand Design, with a strong emphasis on operationalizing creative processes and leveraging emerging technologies like AI. The "Sr" title, coupled with the responsibility for team management and strategic vision, indicates a need for a candidate who can not only execute but also build and scale a design function. The remote-first nature, with a specific mention of Buenos Aires, suggests the company is open to global talent but may have a strong presence or preference for this region.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Creative Vision & Brand Stewardship:

  • Develop and champion an inspiring creative vision for the CookUnity brand, aligning with overall business objectives and market positioning.
  • Lead the Brand Design team in bringing the CookUnity essence to life through a distinct design system and compelling visual storytelling across digital (website, app, social media, CRM) and physical (packaging) touchpoints.
  • Own, refine, and evolve the CookUnity brand identity and visual system, ensuring it remains a dynamic resource that adapts to customer insights and company growth.
  • Uphold and elevate design craft standards, drawing from best-in-class consumer brand practices to ensure exceptional quality and executional consistency across all brand expressions.

• Design Process & Operational Excellence:

  • Architect and manage a robust, end-to-end creative process, encompassing intake, internal reviews, stakeholder feedback loops, and approval workflows to guarantee timely delivery of high-quality assets.
  • Conduct regular, constructive creative reviews, providing timely feedback and coaching to designers to ensure pixel-perfect execution and adherence to brand guidelines.
  • Oversee the routing, feedback, and approval process for critical brand design deliverables, engaging executive staff and founders for high-visibility initiatives.

• AI Integration & Design Innovation:

  • Proactively identify and champion high-impact opportunities for integrating AI-based tools into design workflows, focusing on automating repetitive tasks and accelerating production.
  • Serve as an internal expert on AI tooling, staying abreast of advancements and establishing best practices for responsible and effective application within brand design.
  • Foster a team culture that embraces experimentation with emerging technologies while maintaining rigorous quality standards and creative integrity.

• Team Leadership & Talent Development:

  • Mentor, motivate, and develop a team of talented designers, facilitating skill enhancement through structured feedback, coaching, and career development conversations.
  • Cultivate a team environment characterized by trust, open communication, accountability, and a shared commitment to design excellence.
  • Lead by example, maintaining hands-on proficiency with essential design tools (Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, Claude Design, AI design tools) and contributing directly to projects when necessary.

• Cross-Functional Partnership:

  • Collaborate effectively with Brand Marketing teammates, peers, and key stakeholders to proactively identify opportunities and challenges, driving tangible design solutions.

  • Partner closely with the brand copy team to define integrated visual storytelling approaches, maximizing efficiency and creative output.

  • Act as an internal advocate for category-defining creativity, building alignment and influence across the organization through a solution-oriented, entrepreneurial mindset.

  • Apply design thinking principles to achieve impactful results, often with resource constraints, demonstrating adaptability and strategic problem-solving.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly delineate a dual focus on creative leadership and operational management. The emphasis on "end-to-end creative process," "operational excellence," and "AI integration" highlights the need for a candidate with strong process-building skills, not just creative talent. The mention of partnering with "brand copy team" and "executive staff and Founder" underscores the importance of communication and stakeholder management.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in brand design, with a strong preference for candidates who have worked with leading consumer brands or in top-tier agency environments.

• Minimum of 4 years of direct experience managing and leading other designers, demonstrating a track record of talent development and team building.

Required Skills:

• Mastery of Design Craft: Demonstrated expertise across multiple design disciplines, evidenced by a strong portfolio showcasing exceptional quality and execution.

• Brand Identity & Systems: Deep understanding of developing and maintaining cohesive brand identities and scalable design systems.

• Team Leadership & Mentorship: Proven ability to lead, inspire, and develop creative teams, fostering a positive and productive work environment.

• Design Process Management: Expertise in designing, implementing, and optimizing end-to-end creative workflows, intake processes, and review cycles.

• Proficiency in Core Design Tools: Hands-on mastery of industry-standard software including Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects) and Figma.

• AI Tool Integration: Demonstrated understanding and practical experience with AI-based design tools (e.g., Claude Design, Midjourney, DALL-E, or similar) for enhancing creative workflows.

• Visual Storytelling: Ability to translate brand narratives and marketing objectives into compelling visual stories across various media.

• Data-Informed Creativity: Passion for leveraging insights and performance data to shape creative work and a commitment to a data-driven approach.

• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to partner effectively across diverse functions and communicate design rationale clearly to stakeholders at all levels.

• Project Management: Highly organized with a proven ability to manage multiple projects, work streams, and initiatives simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery.

• English Proficiency: Advanced level of English proficiency for effective communication in a global team environment.

Preferred Skills:

• Video Design & Production: Proficiency in video editing and motion graphics, with experience leveraging design principles within video formats.

• Packaging Design: Experience in developing and executing designs for consumer product packaging.

• CRM & Digital Marketing Design: Understanding of design principles for customer relationship management platforms and digital marketing campaigns.

• Design Thinking Facilitation: Experience facilitating design thinking workshops or applying its principles to problem-solving.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize both hard skills (design tools, AI) and soft skills (leadership, collaboration, data-driven approach). The specific mention of "Claude Design" alongside Adobe and Figma suggests this is a tool CookUnity actively uses or is exploring, making it a critical keyword for applicants. The preference for agency or top consumer brand experience is a strong indicator of the caliber of candidate they seek.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrated Design Craft: A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a high level of design execution, aesthetic quality, and attention to detail across various brand design disciplines (e.g., visual identity, digital assets, social media, packaging, advertising).

• Brand System Development: Examples of how you have developed, refined, or managed brand identity systems, demonstrating an understanding of consistency and scalability.

• Process Optimization Case Studies: Specific examples or case studies detailing how you have designed, implemented, or improved creative processes, intake systems, or review workflows to enhance efficiency and quality.

• AI Tool Application: Evidence of how AI tools have been integrated into your design workflow to achieve specific outcomes, such as accelerating production, generating concepts, or automating tasks, with measurable results where possible.

• Team Leadership Examples: If applicable, include examples of managing designers, fostering team growth, or leading creative initiatives that highlight your leadership capabilities.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase examples of process documentation you have created or utilized, such as creative briefs, workflow diagrams, style guides, or project management templates, demonstrating your ability to formalize and communicate processes.

• Highlight your approach to intake and brief management, demonstrating how you ensure clarity and alignment before design work begins.

• Present examples of how you facilitate creative reviews and manage stakeholder feedback to ensure efficient decision-making and iteration.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role focused on design operations and leadership, the portfolio is crucial. It needs to go beyond just showcasing aesthetic work to demonstrating a candidate's ability to build and manage systems. The emphasis on AI integration and process optimization requires specific examples of how these have been applied in practice.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for a Sr. Brand Design Manager with 8+ years of experience, managing a team, and working remotely in a leading consumer brand in a high-growth environment, the estimated annual salary range in USD would be approximately $120,000 - $160,000 USD. This range is subject to the candidate's specific experience, skill set, and negotiation.

Benefits:

• Paid in USD: Receive your salary and compensation in US Dollars, providing currency stability and international purchasing power.

• Fully Remote Work: Design your work-life balance with the flexibility to work from anywhere.

• Generous Paid Time Off:

  • 15 days of vacation per year, accrued from the start date.
  • 16 fully paid Argentinean holidays.
  • Compassionate Leave: 3-5 days granted as needed for personal circumstances.

• Comprehensive Family Leave:

  • 12 weeks fully paid for primary caregivers.
  • 6 weeks fully paid for secondary caregivers.

• Wellness & Lifestyle:

  • Gympass subscription: Access to a wide network of gyms, studios, and wellness activities.
  • Meal benefit: Support for daily dining expenses.

• Professional Development: Working Hours:

• Standard full-time work, typically around 40 hours per week. While remote, adherence to core team collaboration hours and responsiveness during business needs is expected. Flexibility can be accommodated, but alignment with global team timelines and project demands is key.

📝 Enhancement Note: The compensation estimate is based on typical Sr. Manager level roles in tech/consumer brands with significant management and operational responsibilities, adjusted for a remote, USD-paid position. The benefits package is extensive and aligns with typical offerings for remote, international employees, with specific nods to Argentinean holidays and local wellness options.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Food Technology / E-commerce / Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) - specializing in connecting consumers with chefs for fresh, ready-to-eat meals.

Company Size: While not explicitly stated, CookUnity's description and application volume suggest a growth-stage company, likely between 200-1000 employees, operating internationally. This implies a dynamic, fast-paced environment with opportunities for significant impact.

Founded: 2018, indicating a relatively young company that has achieved significant scale rapidly, suggesting innovation, agility, and a strong product-market fit.

Team Structure:

• Brand Marketing Team: This team is responsible for developing and executing marketing activations and experiences to drive brand awareness and loyalty. They set the brand vision and strategy, executing with strategic rigor, creative excellence, and cultural relevance.

• Design Team: The Sr. Brand Design Manager will lead a "small but mighty team of talented designers," implying a focused, high-impact group. This team likely works closely with Brand Marketing, Product, and potentially Engineering.

• Reporting Structure: The role reports directly to the VP of Brand Marketing, indicating a senior position within the marketing hierarchy with direct access to leadership.

Methodology:

• Data-Informed Brand Storytelling: The Brand Marketing team emphasizes using insights and data to inform brand storytelling and experiences.

• Creative Excellence & Cultural Relevance: A core tenet of the team's approach is to deliver world-class marketing through strong creative execution and understanding of current culture.

• Customer Obsession: The design function is expected to have customer obsession at its core, ensuring all creative output serves the needs and resonates with the customer.

• AI Integration: A forward-thinking approach to leveraging AI tools for efficiency and innovation is a key operational methodology being championed.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: CookUnity's mission to "empower Chefs to nourish the world" and their platform model suggest a company culture that values innovation, entrepreneurship, and a passion for food. The emphasis on "category-defining brand" and "loved by an entire generation of foodies" points to a brand-centric organization. The remote-first policy with a presence in Buenos Aires implies a global mindset with a strong operational base.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Management role within the Brand Design function. It signifies a move from individual contribution or junior management to leading a specialized team, defining operational processes, and contributing to strategic brand direction. The scope includes not just execution but also process building, team development, and technology adoption (AI).

Reporting Structure:

• Reports directly to the VP of Brand Marketing, providing a clear line of sight to senior leadership and strategic decision-making.

• Manages a team of designers, acting as their primary mentor, coach, and performance manager.

Operations Impact:

• The role's direct impact is on the visual communication and brand perception of CookUnity. By elevating design craft, modernizing operations, and differentiating the brand, it directly influences brand awareness, customer acquisition, and loyalty.

• Through effective brand storytelling and visual consistency, this role contributes significantly to commercial growth by making the brand more appealing and memorable to target consumers.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to grow into Director-level roles within Brand Design or broader Marketing leadership as the company scales.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in areas like AI in design, global brand systems, or specific creative channels (e.g., video, experiential).

• Cross-Functional Impact: Potential to influence broader marketing strategy and contribute to product development through design thinking and user-centric insights.

• Building a Function: A unique opportunity to build and scale a world-class design operation from the ground up within a rapidly growing company.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant growth potential for a design leader looking to have a substantial impact. The emphasis on building systems and integrating new technologies means a successful candidate will be well-positioned for future leadership roles in operations-heavy creative functions.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. The company emphasizes designing "the life that you want" and offers remote work as a primary benefit, indicating a commitment to a distributed workforce. While based in Buenos Aires, the role is remote.

Office Location(s):

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role demands strong cross-functional collaboration. While remote, this will likely be facilitated through digital tools (Slack, video conferencing, collaborative design platforms like Figma).

• Operations Tools & Technology: Access to a robust digital toolkit is essential, including Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, project management software, and AI design tools. The company will likely provide necessary software licenses.

• Team Interaction: Regular virtual team meetings, 1:1s with direct reports and the VP, and cross-functional project syncs will be key to staying connected and aligned.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time, approximately 40 hours per week. Given the remote, global nature, there will likely be an expectation of flexibility to accommodate different time zones for critical meetings or urgent tasks, though a primary set of working hours will be expected for team collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote nature of the role means candidates should be self-motivated and adept at digital collaboration. The mention of Buenos Aires could imply that while remote, there might be opportunities for in-person meetups or a strong community of employees in that region.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio by the recruiting team to assess basic qualifications and alignment with the role's core requirements.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the VP of Brand Marketing to delve deeper into your experience, creative vision, leadership style, and operational approach. This will likely include questions about your portfolio and how you've managed design processes and teams.

• Design Team & Peer Interviews: Meetings with other designers on the team and potentially peers from Brand Marketing or other departments. This assesses your technical skills, collaborative approach, and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Presentation/Case Study: A structured session where you present a selection of your work, focusing on specific case studies that demonstrate your brand stewardship, process management, AI integration, and leadership capabilities. Expect to discuss challenges, solutions, and outcomes.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior executive (e.g., CMO, Head of Marketing) for a final assessment of strategic alignment and leadership potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 projects that best showcase your experience in brand identity, design operations, team leadership, and AI integration. Tailor your selection to highlight projects relevant to DTC consumer brands and food.

• Focus on Process & Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the challenge, your role, the process you followed (especially any operational improvements or AI applications), the solutions you developed, and the measurable impact or results achieved. Quantify outcomes wherever possible (e.g., improved efficiency by X%, increased engagement by Y%).

• Highlight Leadership: If possible, include examples of how you mentored designers, influenced strategy, or managed creative workflows.

• Tell a Story: Frame your portfolio as a narrative of your career progression and your ability to build and lead high-performing design functions.

• Be Ready to Discuss AI: Prepare to discuss your experience with AI design tools, your perspective on their role in the future of design, and how you've applied them practically.

Challenge Preparation:

• Process Design Exercise: You might be asked to outline a proposed creative intake process for a new campaign or to critique and improve an existing workflow.

• Brand Vision Exercise: Prepare to discuss your vision for the CookUnity brand's visual future and how you would evolve its identity.

• AI Integration Scenario: Be ready to brainstorm how AI could be used to solve a specific design challenge for CookUnity (e.g., generating social media assets at scale, personalizing CRM visuals).

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to evaluate both creative talent and operational/leadership capabilities. The portfolio presentation is a critical component, so candidates should invest significant time in preparing it to showcase their strategic thinking and process management skills.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential for graphic design, photo editing, motion graphics, and video editing. This includes Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, and Premiere Pro.

• Figma: Critical for collaborative UI/UX design, prototyping, and design system management. Expected proficiency level is advanced.

• AI Design Tools: Specific tools mentioned or implied include Claude Design, and general categories like generative AI image tools (e.g., Midjourney, DALL-E, Stable Diffusion) and potentially AI-powered content generation or workflow automation tools.

• Project Management Software: Tools like Asana, Trello, Jira, or Monday.com are likely used for managing design projects and workflows.

• Collaboration & Communication Tools: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Analysis Platforms: While not directly used by design, understanding how to interpret data from platforms like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, or Amplitude will be crucial for data-informed decision-making.

• Reporting Tools: Ability to interpret reports generated from CRM or marketing automation platforms to inform design strategies.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: Familiarity with how design assets are utilized within CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce Marketing Cloud, HubSpot) will be beneficial.

• Marketing Automation Platforms: Understanding design needs for email campaigns and automated workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack emphasizes a blend of traditional creative software and emerging AI tools, highlighting CookUnity's commitment to modernizing its design operations. Proficiency in Figma and AI tools, alongside Adobe Creative Suite, is paramount.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Obsession: A core value that influences all creative decisions, ensuring the customer is at the center of brand expression.

• Creative Excellence: An unwavering commitment to high standards in design craft, quality, and executional consistency.

• Data-Driven Approach: Valuing insights and performance data as essential inputs for shaping creative work and measuring impact.

• Innovation & Experimentation: Embracing new technologies (like AI) and creative approaches, fostering a culture of learning and adaptation.

• Efficiency & Rigor: Implementing robust processes and operational discipline to ensure timely delivery and effective resource utilization.

• Collaboration & Accountability: A strong emphasis on working together across teams and taking ownership of outcomes.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Proactive partnerships with Brand Marketing, Copywriting, and other departments are essential. The goal is to build alignment and leverage diverse perspectives to achieve shared objectives.

• Open Feedback Culture: Encouraging constructive feedback loops for continuous improvement of both creative output and operational processes.

• Solution-Oriented Mindset: A collective approach to problem-solving, focusing on tangible design solutions and entrepreneurial execution, even with limited resources.

• Knowledge Sharing: A culture that supports sharing best practices, learnings from AI experimentation, and insights across teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's values suggest a performance-oriented culture that balances creativity with operational discipline and a strong customer focus. The emphasis on AI and innovation indicates a forward-thinking team.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scaling a Remote Design Function: Building and maintaining a cohesive, high-performing design team and robust processes in a fully remote, globally distributed environment.

• Balancing Creative Vision with Operational Rigor: Ensuring that the drive for operational efficiency and AI integration doesn't stifle creative exploration and brand differentiation.

• Rapid Pace of AI Evolution: Staying ahead of the curve with rapidly changing AI tools and techniques, and effectively integrating them into established workflows without compromising quality.

• Managing Stakeholder Expectations: Effectively aligning diverse stakeholder needs and feedback with the brand's strategic direction and design capabilities.

• Driving Brand Differentiation: Continually evolving the brand's visual identity to stand out in a competitive consumer market, particularly in the food tech space.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI in Design Specialization: Deepen expertise in cutting-edge AI tools and their application in brand design, becoming a thought leader within the company.

• Global Brand Strategy: Gain experience in developing and managing brand assets and systems for international markets.

• Marketing Leadership Skills: Develop strategic thinking and leadership capabilities through close collaboration with the VP of Brand Marketing and other senior leaders.

• Operational Process Improvement: Hone skills in designing, documenting, and optimizing complex creative workflows for maximum efficiency and impact.

• Mentorship & Team Building: Significant opportunities to develop coaching and leadership skills by shaping and guiding a talented design team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to a fast-growing, remote-first company leveraging new technologies. Successfully navigating these will provide significant growth and learning opportunities.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Brand Vision & Strategy: "How would you envision the evolution of CookUnity's brand visual identity over the next 2-3 years? What key trends would you consider, and how would you ensure it remains differentiated and resonates with our target audience?" (Prepare to discuss your understanding of CookUnity's mission and target market).

• Operationalizing Design: "Describe your approach to building and managing an end-to-end design process for a remote team. What are the key stages, review checkpoints, and metrics you'd focus on to ensure quality and on-time delivery?" (Be ready to share examples of processes you've implemented).

• AI Integration: "Imagine we want to scale our social media content creation. How would you leverage AI tools to increase output and efficiency for our design team while maintaining brand consistency and quality?" (Think about specific AI tools and workflows).

• Team Leadership & Development: "How do you approach mentoring designers, particularly in a remote setting? Describe a time you helped a team member overcome a creative or technical challenge." (Focus on your coaching philosophy and practical examples).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you most about CookUnity's mission and our approach to connecting chefs with consumers?" (Research the company's story, values, and recent news).

• "How do you foster a collaborative and accountable culture within a remote design team?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically, perhaps by project type or by showcasing your journey through different roles. For each key project, follow a STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) or similar framework.

• Focus on Process & AI: Dedicate a significant portion of your presentation to explaining your design process, any operational improvements you made, and how you integrated AI tools. Quantify results whenever possible.

• Showcase Leadership: If you have team management examples, integrate them into your project narratives or dedicate a separate section.

• CookUnity Relevance: Frame your discussions and examples to highlight how your skills and experience directly address CookUnity's needs and challenges.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Prioritize the most impactful projects and insights.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview questions are designed to assess strategic thinking, operational acumen, leadership potential, and a forward-looking perspective on design technology. Candidates should prepare specific examples and articulate their thought processes clearly.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Sr. Brand Design Manager position:

• Submit Your Application: Apply directly through the CookUnity careers page via the provided link: https://careers.cookunity.com/open-roles?gh_jid=7723959003.

• Craft Your Resume: Ensure your resume clearly highlights your 8+ years of brand design experience, 4+ years of management experience, proficiency in key tools (Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, AI design tools), and any experience with consumer brands or fast-paced environments. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate a strong portfolio that showcases your best work across various design disciplines. Emphasize projects demonstrating brand stewardship, design operations, team leadership, and AI integration. Be ready to present specific case studies detailing process, challenges, solutions, and measurable impact.

• Research CookUnity: Thoroughly understand CookUnity's mission, brand, target audience, and recent developments. This will be crucial for tailoring your application and preparing for interview questions.

• Practice Your Presentation: Rehearse your portfolio presentation, focusing on clearly articulating your process, strategic thinking, leadership approach, and how your skills align with CookUnity's needs, especially regarding remote operations and AI.

⚠️ 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.