Associate Director of Creative

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Associate Director of Creative

🔹 Company: Darkroom

🔹 Location: Remote (EST Time Zone)

🔹 Job Type: Full-Time

🔹 Category: Creative & Design

🔹 Date Posted: May 5, 2025

🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years

🔹 Remote Status: Fully Remote (Open to candidates in Brazil, Mexico, Portugal, and Spain)

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Managing a team of designers to ensure high-quality work output and skill development
• Leading 1-2 UI/UX design projects focusing on branded e-commerce websites
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to develop project plans and address client issues
• Refining internal processes for client work and providing training and feedback to enhance design team skills
• Presenting design work to clients and explaining design choices based on effective reasoning and UX principles

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong balance between management and individual contributor responsibilities. The ideal candidate will have experience in both UI/UX design and brand design, with a proven track record in people management.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Manage a team of designers, starting with 2-4 direct reports and expanding as the team grows. Provide support in strategy, project management, design feedback, performance evaluation, and handling escalations.

✅ Conduct weekly 1:1s with direct reports to assess client health, offer feedback, and oversee career development.

✅ Ensure high-quality work output from direct reports, focusing on visual craft, UX expertise, and meeting deadlines.

✅ Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including marketers, strategists, developers, and clients, to develop project plans, understand business objectives, and address client issues.

✅ Refine internal processes for client work in coordination with the Director of Creative. Provide training and feedback to enhance the skills of the design team.

✅ Lead 1-2 UI/UX engagements as needed, focusing on creating branded e-commerce websites.

✅ Emphasize branded UI, conversion-focused UX, and clarity in design approaches.

✅ Present design work to clients, explaining design choices based on effective reasoning and UX principles.

✅ Manage design projects independently from discovery to hand-off, adhering to timelines and collaborating with developers to ensure feasibility.

✅ Develop component systems and maintain design guidelines for consistency.

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a mix of management and individual contributor responsibilities. The key responsibilities listed above are a blend of both aspects, with a heavier focus on people management.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, Graphic Design, or a related field (or equivalent experience)

Experience: 3-6+ years of senior-level design experience, with at least 1 year of people management experience preferred. Must have experience in responsive web design.

Required Skills:

• Proficient in Figma, including features like Auto Layout, Components, and Variants
• Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator)
• Strong digital portfolio showcasing web design and branding skills, including color theory, hierarchy, composition, and typography
• Self-motivated, proactive, and detail-oriented with a strong sense of ownership
• Experience collaborating with developers and documenting designs for development hand-off
• Comfortable with client-facing responsibilities in English, including leading discovery calls and resolving client feedback
• Capable of providing constructive internal feedback and guiding direct reports to improve their work
• Ability to tackle ambiguous problems, understand business challenges, design solutions, and execute them effectively

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in e-commerce or hospitality website design
• Familiarity with HTML/CSS or frameworks like Tailwind

ASSUMPTION: The required and preferred skills listed above are essential for success in this role. Candidates should have a strong background in both UI/UX design and brand design, with a proven track record in people management.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $120,000 - $160,000 USD (Based on industry standards for a Senior Designer role with management responsibilities)

Benefits:

• Unlimited Vacation Policy and 10 holidays throughout the year
• Remote-first culture with Hubs in various locations
• Flexible parental leave benefits
• Equity incentives and profit-sharing opportunity
• Endless opportunities for growth and cross-functional collaboration

Working Hours: Full-Time (40 hours per week, EST Time Zone)

ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for a Senior Designer role with management responsibilities. The benefits listed above are based on the information provided in the job description.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Retail & E-commerce

Company Size: 2-10 employees (Small, agile team with a strong focus on growth and innovation)

Founded: 2023 (Relatively new, fast-growing agency)

Company Description:

• Progressive omnichannel growth marketing agency focused on retail, e-commerce, and consumer businesses
• Recognized as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America by Inc. 5000 (2023)
• Top 1% digital advertiser by Varos (2023)
• Founders named Forbes 30 Under 30 recipients for Marketing and Advertising North America (2024)

Company Specialties:

• Omnichannel growth marketing
• Retail and e-commerce marketing
• Consumer business marketing

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

ASSUMPTION: Darkroom is a fast-growing, innovative agency with a strong focus on retail, e-commerce, and consumer businesses. They offer competitive salaries and benefits, as well as opportunities for growth and development.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: Senior Individual Contributor with Management Responsibilities

Reporting Structure: Reports to the Director of Creative

Work Arrangement: Fully Remote (Open to candidates in Brazil, Mexico, Portugal, and Spain)

Growth Opportunities:

• As the team grows, there will be opportunities for the Associate Director of Creative to take on more management responsibilities and potentially mentor other managers
• With experience and proven success, the Associate Director of Creative may have the opportunity to move into a Director or VP role
• Darkroom offers endless opportunities for growth and cross-functional collaboration, allowing employees to expand their skills and interests beyond their niche

ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth opportunities, both in terms of management responsibilities and career progression. Darkroom's remote-first culture and focus on cross-functional collaboration also provide ample opportunities for employees to expand their skills and knowledge.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Remote (No physical office)

Office Location(s): N/A (Fully remote)

Geographic Context:

• Darkroom is a remote-first company, with employees located in various time zones around the world
• The ideal candidate for this role should be comfortable working in a fully remote environment and be able to overlap with the EST Time Zone
• Darkroom has Hubs in the Bay Area, New York, Philly, Lisbon, Sao Paulo, and Barcelona, providing opportunities for in-person collaboration and networking

Work Schedule: Full-Time (40 hours per week, EST Time Zone)

ASSUMPTION: Darkroom's remote-first culture allows for a high degree of flexibility and work-life balance. However, the ideal candidate for this role should be comfortable working in a fully remote environment and be able to overlap with the EST Time Zone.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application review
• Phone or video screen with the Hiring Manager
• Design challenge or case study
• Final interview with the Director of Creative and/or other team members
• Background check and offer extension

Key Assessment Areas:

• Design skills and portfolio
• Management and leadership skills
• Client-facing skills and communication
• Problem-solving and critical thinking
• Cultural fit and alignment with Darkroom's values

Application Tips:

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant design and management experience
• Include a link to your digital portfolio showcasing your web design and branding skills
• Prepare for the design challenge or case study by brushing up on your UI/UX design skills and familiarizing yourself with Darkroom's design philosophy
• Research Darkroom's company culture and values to ensure a strong cultural fit

ATS Keywords: UI/UX Design, Brand Design, People Management, Responsive Web Design, Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Client-Facing Skills, Project Management, Design Feedback, E-Commerce Design, Collaboration, Problem Solving, Visual Craft, Performance Evaluation, Training, Component Systems

ASSUMPTION: Darkroom's application process is designed to assess both the candidate's technical skills and cultural fit. The typical process and key assessment areas listed above are based on industry standards and best practices for hiring in the creative and design field.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Figma
• Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator)
• HTML/CSS or frameworks like Tailwind (Bonus)

ASSUMPTION: The tools and technologies listed above are essential for success in this role. Candidates should have a strong proficiency in Figma and Adobe Creative Suite, with a bonus for experience in HTML/CSS or frameworks like Tailwind.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Progressive and innovative
• Collaborative and inclusive
• Data-driven and results-focused

Work Style:

• Remote-first and flexible
• Focused on results and outcomes, rather than hours worked
• Open and transparent communication

Self-Assessment Questions:

• Do you thrive in a remote, flexible work environment?
• Are you comfortable working with a diverse, global team and embracing different perspectives?
• Do you have a strong sense of ownership and a proactive approach to problem-solving?
• Are you able to balance management responsibilities with individual contributor work?

ASSUMPTION: Darkroom's remote-first culture and focus on collaboration and innovation require candidates who are comfortable working in a flexible, global environment and embracing different perspectives. The self-assessment questions listed above are designed to help candidates evaluate their fit with Darkroom's company values and work style.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Managing a team remotely, with employees located in various time zones around the world
• Balancing management responsibilities with individual contributor work
• Working in a fast-paced, growing agency with evolving priorities and deadlines
• Adapting to a remote-first culture and embracing a results-focused work style

ASSUMPTION: The potential challenges listed above are common to remote, fast-growing agencies. Candidates should be comfortable working in a flexible, dynamic environment and be able to adapt to change and evolving priorities.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• This role is unique in its blend of management and individual contributor responsibilities, with a focus on UI/UX design and brand design
• Similar roles in the industry may include Senior Designer, Design Manager, or UI/UX Design Lead, but this role offers a unique opportunity to balance both management and individual contributor work
• Career progression in this role may include moving into a Director or VP role, with the opportunity to mentor other managers and take on more strategic responsibilities

ASSUMPTION: This role is unique in its blend of management and individual contributor responsibilities, offering a rare opportunity to balance both aspects of the job. Candidates should be comfortable with this blend and be able to adapt to the evolving needs of the role.

📝 Sample Projects

• Leading a UI/UX design project for a branded e-commerce website, from discovery to hand-off
• Developing a component system and design guidelines for a retail client, ensuring consistency across multiple touchpoints
• Managing a team of designers to deliver high-quality work output for a marketing campaign, including paid ads, emails, and landing pages

ASSUMPTION: The sample projects listed above are designed to showcase the blend of management and individual contributor responsibilities in this role. Candidates should be able to demonstrate their experience and skills in both areas.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• How does Darkroom support the growth and development of its employees?
• What are the key priorities for this role in the first 30, 60, and 90 days?
• How does Darkroom measure the success of its Associate Director of Creative?
• What are the biggest challenges facing the design team at Darkroom, and how can this role help address them?
• How does Darkroom foster a culture of collaboration and innovation in a remote-first environment?

ASSUMPTION: The key questions to ask during the interview are designed to help candidates evaluate their fit with Darkroom's company culture and values, as well as the specific needs and priorities of the role. Candidates should be prepared to ask thoughtful, insightful questions that demonstrate their interest in and understanding of the position.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant design and management experience
• Include a link to your digital portfolio showcasing your web design and branding skills
• Prepare for the design challenge or case study by brushing up on your UI/UX design skills and familiarizing yourself with Darkroom's design philosophy
• Research Darkroom's company culture and values to ensure a strong cultural fit
• Follow up with the Hiring Manager one week after submitting your application to inquire about the status of your application

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.