Visual Designer - Social & Motion (m/w/d)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Visual Designer - Social & Motion (m/w/d)

Company: PREMATCH Sports GmbH

Location: Cologne, Germany; Berlin, Germany; London, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-time, Permanent

Category: Marketing & Brand / Creative & Media / Art & Design / Sports & Recreation

Date Posted: May 27, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-6 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in office, 1-2 days remote)

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is designed for a creative individual with a strong social-first portfolio to visually bring the PREMATCH brand to life across social media platforms.

• The position focuses on the end-to-end execution of social media content, from concept and design to editing and final publication.

• The Visual Designer will be instrumental in building and scaling a reusable brand system, ensuring consistency across channels and markets.

• Collaboration with growth and advertising teams to develop high-performing creative assets and drive continuous improvement through rapid testing loops is a key aspect.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a "Social Brand Designer" rather than a traditional Social Media Manager, emphasizing hands-on visual creation and brand stewardship. The target candidate is expected to be a self-starter who can develop ideas and execute them independently, with a keen understanding of amateur football culture, community dynamics, and current social trends.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design, edit, and produce daily social-first content, including Reels, TikToks, and static visuals, from ideation through to publication.

• Sharpen and consistently evolve the brand's visual identity, tone, and storytelling across all social touchpoints.

• Develop and maintain a scalable, reusable brand system encompassing guidelines, templates, and creative principles for cross-channel and cross-brand application.

• Establish recognizable content series with recurring formats that drive audience engagement and regular returns.

• Take ownership of the content calendar and publishing rhythm across key social media channels.

• Produce social media-first content (video, static images, short-form series) with a strong emphasis on engaging introductions, compelling captions, and effective editing.

• Collaborate closely with the growth/advertising team to produce high-performing creative assets and facilitate rapid iteration through A/B testing.

• Translate performance data into actionable creative decisions, identifying successful content strategies to amplify, underperforming content to discontinue, and new avenues for testing.

• Develop and execute cooperation concepts with creators, communities, and local partners to enhance brand reach and engagement.

• Create streamlined partner packages, including materials, briefs, and formats, to facilitate easy content creation and sharing.

• Identify scalable distribution levers to increase reach without diluting brand integrity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly delineate a hands-on creative role with strategic input. The emphasis on "Daily Business," "Brand Building," "Social Media (organic + paid)," and "Cooperations & Community" highlights a holistic approach to social brand design and execution. The expectation for translating data into creative action is a critical operational component of this marketing role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a background in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, Digital Media, or a related creative field is implied.

Experience: 2-6 years of experience in a creative role, with a proven track record in social-first content creation and brand building.

Required Skills:

• Brand Building: Demonstrated ability to build brands sustainably through content, not just individual campaigns.

• Visual Taste: Excellent aesthetic judgment in design and editing; basic motion design skills are a plus.

• Creative Strategy: Strong capabilities in positioning, format/series development, channel thinking, and a pronounced distribution mindset.

• Data Skills: Comfort with data analysis, understanding key social and paid creative performance metrics, and deriving smart learnings.

• Hands-on Mentality: Ability to work quickly, pragmatically in execution, while simultaneously raising the creative bar.

• Copywriting: Proficiency in crafting hooks, captions, and series framing.

• Editing: Expertise in short-form storytelling with a clear narrative flow.

• Production: Experience in creator briefing and direction for efficient content production.

• Culture Fit: Deep understanding of sports/football culture, tonality, and matchday dynamics.

• Design: Skill in social-first design and packaging, including format setup, thumbnails/title cards, and ensuring brand recognition.

• Language Proficiency: Fluent German and English.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in D2C or agency environments with clear outcome-driven results.

• Basic Motion Design / Animation skills (template-based, fast, and scalable).

• Experience with Paid Social Creatives, including performance creatives, ad variants, and hook testing.

• Experience in on-ground activation at events/matchdays, local partner activations, and on-site content creation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Was du brauchst" section effectively combines required skills and essential competencies. The preferred skills highlight areas for accelerated impact and potential growth within the role, such as motion design and paid creative experience, which are increasingly valuable in the social media landscape.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A strong portfolio demonstrating a clear social-first orientation and a history of successful content execution across platforms like Instagram Reels and TikTok.

• Evidence of brand building capabilities, showcasing how you've contributed to brand growth and visual identity development.

• Examples of developing and implementing reusable brand systems, templates, or creative guidelines.

• Case studies or examples of how you've translated data insights into creative improvements for social content.

Process Documentation:

• While formal process documentation is not explicitly mentioned, the role requires the ability to define and articulate creative processes for content production, brand system implementation, and performance analysis.

• Candidates should be prepared to discuss their workflow for developing social-first content, from ideation to publication and iteration.

• The ability to create and brief partner packages implies a structured approach to external collaborations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a "social-first portfolio" is paramount. Candidates should curate their submissions to highlight their most impactful social content, demonstrating creativity, technical skill in design and editing, and an understanding of social media trends and platform nuances. The portfolio should also reflect their ability to think strategically about brand consistency and data-driven iteration.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Competitive salary commensurate with experience, as indicated by the "Wettbewerbsfähiges Gehalt, das sich sehen lassen kann" statement.

• Estimated Range (Cologne/Berlin, Germany): €45,000 - €65,000 per year.

• Estimated Range (London, UK): £40,000 - £60,000 per year.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary ranges are estimates based on industry benchmarks for Visual Designers with 2-6 years of experience in Marketing/Brand roles in these respective cities. Factors like specific skill sets, portfolio strength, and negotiation will influence the final offer. The cost of living in London is generally higher than in Cologne or Berlin, reflected in the potential salary range.

Benefits:

• Competitive Salary

• Employee Stock Options (VSOP) - direct participation in company success.

• Modern IT Equipment - provision of essential tools and devices for productivity.

• 27 Days Vacation per year.

• Special Regulations for Parents - extra provisions for balancing family and work.

• Team Events - regular gatherings at office locations (Cologne, Berlin, London).

• Company Offsites - four-day team retreats for strategy development and team building.

• Flexible Remote Work Options - 1-3 days per week in office, with remote flexibility.

• Remote Work from Abroad - ability to work from different locations for short periods.

• Virtual Office and Modern Tools - to maintain team connectivity and collaboration.

Working Hours: Full-time, approximately 40 hours per week, with flexibility for remote work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The benefits package is robust, reflecting a startup environment that values employee well-being and long-term commitment. The VSOP is a significant incentive, aligning employee success with company growth. The flexible remote work policy, including the option to work from abroad, is a modern perk that caters to work-life balance.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Sports Technology / Digital Media / Fan Engagement (focused on non-professional football).

Company Size: Startup (founded in 2021, implying a growing but likely agile team structure of 50-150 employees, given the need for multiple offices and a remote tech team).

Founded: 2021 in Cologne, Germany.

Team Structure:

• The marketing and business team operates across Cologne, Berlin, and London.

• The tech and product team works remotely across Europe.

• This distributed structure necessitates strong communication and collaboration tools.

Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making, particularly in translating performance metrics into creative adjustments.

• Agile and iterative approach to content creation and campaign execution.

• Emphasis on community engagement and understanding the nuances of amateur football culture.

• Collaborative approach to brand building and content strategy.

Company Website: prematchapp.de

📝 Enhancement Note: PREMATCH Sports GmbH is positioned as an innovative platform aiming to bring professional-level experiences to amateur football. The company's rapid growth since 2021, backed by notable investors and partners, indicates a strong market potential and a dynamic operational environment. The blend of office-based and remote teams requires a sophisticated approach to internal communication and workflow management.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Mid-level role within the Marketing & Brand department, focusing on creative execution and social media strategy. This is a hands-on design position with significant brand responsibility.

Reporting Structure: The role likely reports to a Head of Marketing, Marketing Manager, or a Creative Director. Collaboration with growth and advertising teams is explicitly mentioned.

Operations Impact: The Visual Designer directly influences brand perception, audience engagement, and content performance on social media, which are critical drivers of user acquisition and retention for a platform like PREMATCH. Their work directly supports marketing objectives and contributes to community building.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in motion design, paid creative, or specific social media platform strategies.

• Creative Leadership: Potentially move into a Senior Visual Designer or Art Director role, leading creative projects and mentoring junior designers.

• Brand Strategy: Grow into a broader brand management or content strategy role, with more input on overall campaign planning.

• Cross-functional Moves: Opportunities to learn about performance marketing, community management, or product marketing within the company.

• Startup Growth: As the company scales, new roles and leadership opportunities are likely to emerge.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for creative professionals to grow within a fast-paced startup environment. The emphasis on hands-on execution combined with strategic input provides a solid foundation for career advancement in brand marketing and creative leadership. The company's stage suggests ample opportunity for individuals to make a significant impact and grow alongside the business.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company maintains "cool offices" in Cologne, Berlin, and London, described as having a "real startup vibe." These are likely open-plan, collaborative spaces designed for creativity and team interaction.

Office Location(s):

• Cologne: Brüsseler Str. Mittelhaus, 3rd floor 21, 50674 Köln, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.

• Berlin: Linienstr. 42, 10119 Berlin, Germany.

• London: Leadenhall Street 77, EC3A 3DE, United Kingdom.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model (3 days in office) and mention of team events/offsites suggest a strong emphasis on in-person collaboration and team building.

• Tools & Technology: Modern IT equipment is provided, and virtual office tools are used to maintain connectivity for remote team members. The specific design and editing software is not listed but would be standard industry tools.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for interaction with marketing, business, and potentially product teams, fostering a dynamic and cross-functional atmosphere.

Work Schedule: Full-time (approx. 40 hours/week), with a hybrid arrangement allowing 1-3 days in the office and the remainder flexible remote. This schedule supports focused individual work (remote) and collaborative sessions (in-office).

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work model is structured to balance the benefits of in-office collaboration and culture with the flexibility of remote work. The availability of multiple office locations offers potential for cross-office experiences. The company's investment in modern equipment and virtual tools indicates a commitment to enabling productive work regardless of location.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Application: Submit CV and relevant information via the application form.

• Portfolio Review: The primary focus will be on the candidate's social-first portfolio, assessing creative output, technical skills, and strategic thinking.

• Initial Screening/Interview: Likely with Lisa (hiring manager), focusing on cultural fit, motivation, and preliminary assessment of skills.

• Creative Challenge/Task: Candidates may be asked to complete a small design task or present a case study from their portfolio, demonstrating their approach to a specific problem relevant to PREMATCH.

• Team Interviews: Discussions with other marketing or creative team members to assess technical proficiency, collaboration style, and fit within the team dynamics.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader to discuss vision, long-term goals, and final fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Impact: Select 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant social-first projects. Prioritize work that demonstrates creativity, technical execution (design, editing), and understanding of social media trends.

• Showcase Process: For each project, briefly explain the brief, your role, your creative process, the tools used, and the outcomes or learnings. Highlight how you translated data or understood community dynamics.

• Demonstrate Versatility: Include examples of different formats (Reels, TikToks, static visuals) and styles if applicable. If you have motion basics or paid creative experience, showcase it.

• Highlight Brand Sensibility: Show how you've adapted to or built brand identities, demonstrating an understanding of visual consistency and tone.

• Be Ready to Discuss: Prepare to articulate your creative rationale, your approach to collaboration, and how you handle feedback and iteration.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand PREMATCH: Research the app, its target audience (amateur footballers/fans), competitors, and current social media presence.

• Analyze Social Trends: Be prepared to discuss current trends in short-form video (TikTok, Reels), social media design, and sports content.

• Think Strategically: Consider how you would approach building a brand system for PREMATCH, developing content series, or improving the performance of social ads.

• Articulate Data-Driven Decisions: Practice explaining how you use metrics to inform creative strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "easy" application and a direct approach ("starte gerne direkt mit dem 'Du'!") suggests a less formal, more direct interview process common in startups. The portfolio is the most critical element. Candidates should treat it as their primary application tool and be ready to deeply discuss its contents.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design Software: Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects) is highly probable. Figma or Sketch for UI/UX elements and collaboration.

• Video Editing Software: Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, or DaVinci Resolve for editing Reels and TikToks.

• Motion Design: Adobe After Effects for motion graphics and basic animations.

• Project Management: Tools like Asana, Trello, or Jira for task management and workflow tracking.

• Collaboration: Slack, Microsoft Teams for daily communication.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Native social media analytics platforms (Instagram Insights, TikTok Analytics).

• Potentially third-party social media management and analytics tools (e.g., Sprout Social, Hootsuite, Brandwatch).

• Google Analytics for website traffic driven from social.

• Ad platform analytics (e.g., Meta Ads Manager) for paid creative performance.

CRM & Automation: While not a direct CRM role, understanding how social content integrates with broader marketing funnels might involve familiarity with CRM concepts or marketing automation platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: While specific tools aren't listed, the role's requirements strongly imply proficiency in industry-standard design and video editing software. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with these tools and any related project management or analytics platforms they've used within a marketing context.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Creativity & Innovation: Encouraging new ideas and pushing creative boundaries in social content.

• Data-Driven Approach: Using performance metrics to inform and optimize creative output.

• Community Focus: Deep understanding and engagement with the amateur football community.

• Hands-on & Pragmatic: A bias for action and efficient execution.

• Collaboration & Team Spirit: Working effectively within a distributed and hybrid team.

• Growth Mindset: Embracing learning, adaptation, and continuous improvement.

Collaboration Style:

• Hybrid work model necessitates strong asynchronous communication skills and proactive engagement.

• Regular team events and offsites foster a strong sense of camaraderie and shared purpose.

• Cross-functional collaboration is expected, particularly with growth and advertising teams.

• Openness to feedback and iterative design processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to be a blend of typical startup dynamism (fast-paced, innovative, growth-oriented) with a strong emphasis on community and a passion for football. The "Du" culture suggests an informal, approachable, and direct communication style.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Maintaining Brand Consistency: Ensuring a cohesive brand identity across diverse social platforms and content formats, especially with rapid content production.

• Balancing Creativity with Performance: Developing engaging content that also meets specific performance metrics for growth and advertising.

• Adapting to Evolving Trends: Staying ahead of the curve on social media platform changes, user behavior, and content trends in the fast-paced digital landscape.

• Managing Distributed Teams: Effectively collaborating and maintaining creative synergy across different locations and work arrangements (hybrid/remote).

• Scaling Content Production: Developing efficient workflows and systems to meet daily content demands while maintaining high quality.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Creative Skills: Opportunities to hone skills in motion design, advanced video editing, and potentially 3D rendering or animation.

• Performance Marketing Insights: Gaining deeper knowledge of paid social strategies, A/B testing methodologies, and creative optimization for ad campaigns.

• Brand Strategy Development: Contributing to the evolution of the PREMATCH brand identity and narrative.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Learning from and collaborating with teams in growth, product, and business development.

• Industry Events: Potential for attending industry conferences or workshops related to digital marketing, design, and social media.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are common in dynamic digital marketing roles within growing companies. They offer significant opportunities for professional development and skill acquisition, particularly in areas like performance-driven creative and scalable content operations.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for creating a successful Reel or TikTok from concept to publication. How do you ensure it aligns with brand guidelines and resonates with the target audience?" (Focus on process, creativity, audience understanding)

• "How would you approach building a reusable brand system for PREMATCH? What elements would be crucial, and how would you ensure adoption across different teams and platforms?" (Focus on brand strategy, scalability, system thinking)

• "Imagine our engagement on Instagram drops by 15% next month. What steps would you take to diagnose the issue and propose creative solutions?" (Focus on data analysis, problem-solving, creative iteration)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about PREMATCH and its mission to transform amateur football?" (Assesses passion, alignment with company purpose)

• "How do you stay updated on the latest social media trends and platform changes?" (Assesses proactivity, industry awareness)

• "Describe your experience working in a startup environment or a hybrid team. How do you ensure effective collaboration and communication?" (Assesses adaptability, teamwork, communication skills)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly state the objective, your role, the challenge, your creative solution, and the outcome/learnings.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your work (e.g., engagement rates, view counts, reach, shares).

• Highlight Social-First Thinking: Emphasize how each piece was conceived and executed specifically for social media platforms, showcasing an understanding of their unique dynamics.

• Showcase Technical Skills: Be ready to briefly explain your technical approach, the software used, and any specific editing or design techniques employed.

• Be Enthusiastic and Authentic: Let your passion for design, social media, and sports shine through. Be prepared to answer questions about your creative choices and your vision for the role at PREMATCH.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating a blend of creative talent, strategic thinking, operational efficiency, and a genuine passion for the sports/football domain. The interview will likely assess not just skills but also cultural fit and potential for growth within a startup environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Visual Designer position:

• Submit your current CV through the provided application link on the PREMATCH Sports GmbH jobs portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate a digital portfolio that prominently features your strongest social-first design and motion work, with clear examples of Reels, TikToks, and other social content. Tailor the selection to highlight skills most relevant to PREMATCH's brand and audience.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your CV clearly outlines your 2-6 years of relevant creative experience, specifically mentioning social media content creation, brand building, and any experience with sports or community-focused brands. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your creative process, brand strategy approach, and data-driven decision-making. Prepare to present your portfolio and discuss specific projects in detail.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research PREMATCH Sports GmbH, its platform, target audience, competitors, and current social media presence. Understand their mission and values to demonstrate genuine interest and cultural fit.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.