📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Head of Brand Studio
🔹 Company: Gusto, Inc.
🔹 Location: Denver, CO; San Francisco, CA; New York, NY; Seattle, WA; Toronto, Ontario, CAN (Remote)
🔹 Job Type: Full-time, Hybrid (2-3 days per week in the office)
🔹 Category: Branding, Creative Direction
🔹 Date Posted: June 11, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: Hybrid (Remote work available for approved locations)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Leading and growing a creative team to produce high-impact brand design across various marketing deliverables.
- Setting the creative vision and maintaining a cohesive brand identity that aligns with Gusto's brand and company strategy.
- Collaborating with marketing, product, and founders to elevate Gusto's brand and drive engagement.
- Measuring creative impact and ensuring that all work is both visually stunning and strategically effective.
- Fostering a culture of creative excellence and empowering team members to produce bold, distinctive, and unmistakably Gusto work.
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of creativity, leadership, and strategic thinking. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in brand design, advertising, or creative direction, with a strong portfolio showcasing exceptional taste, craft, and leadership skills.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Set the creative vision for Gusto's brand, defining and evolving its visual identity, voice, and storytelling across all platforms, with a focus on owned web properties like Gusto.com and marketing channels.
✅ Lead, mentor, and empower a team of designers, writers, and creatives, fostering a culture of collaboration, feedback, and innovation.
✅ Oversee creative execution across website, digital, TV, social, product marketing, and events, ensuring every touchpoint is cohesive and impactful.
✅ Be hands-on, rolling up sleeves when needed to concept, review work, or refine campaigns.
✅ Work closely with marketing, product, and Gusto senior leadership to align creative strategy with business objectives and internal client needs.
✅ Ensure high-quality creative is delivered on time, at a high velocity, aligned with stakeholder expectations and briefs.
✅ Provide clear, high-quality creative direction and sign off on final deliverables to maintain brand integrity.
✅ Define and track KPIs for brand and creative success, ensuring measurable results.
✅ Stay ahead of design, storytelling, and brand trends, pushing creative boundaries while maintaining brand integrity.
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong understanding of brand strategy, storytelling, and user experience, as well as the ability to balance creativity with business impact.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, Fine Arts, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
Experience: 15+ years of experience in brand design, advertising, or creative direction, preferably in startups, tech, or consumer brands.
Required Skills:
- Expert-level design and brand craft, with exceptional taste and the ability to articulate what makes great creative work great.
- Proven track record of leading and growing creative teams, with strong management and mentorship skills.
- Experience working across multiple mediums (digital, video, print, social, experiential, etc.).
- Deep understanding of brand strategy, storytelling, and user experience.
- Ability to balance creativity with business impact, aligning creative work with company objectives.
- Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to advocate for great creative while bringing people along.
- Resilient, adaptable, and excited to thrive in a fast-paced, get-stuff-done startup environment.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience with TV advertising, commercial production, or high-impact brand campaigns.
- Background in design systems and product marketing creative.
- Knowledge of growth marketing and performance-driven creative, and familiarity with AI and emerging creative technologies.
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with a strong portfolio showcasing their creative vision, leadership, and brand craft will be prioritized.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $180,000 - $250,000 per year (Based on 15+ years of experience in brand design, advertising, or creative direction)
Benefits:
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) with company match
- Generous PTO and company holidays
- Flexible work arrangements
- Employee assistance program
- Gusto's suite of HR products and services
Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week), with a hybrid work arrangement (2-3 days per week in the office)
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for similar roles, experience levels, and locations. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as skills, qualifications, and market conditions.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Gusto operates in the software development industry, focusing on providing modern HR tools, payroll, and benefits to small businesses.
Company Size: Gusto has 1,001-5,000 employees, making it a mid-sized to large company. This size offers opportunities for career growth and collaboration with diverse teams.
Founded: Gusto was founded in 2011 and has since grown to serve more than 400,000 businesses nationwide.
Company Description:
- Gusto serves as a comprehensive platform for small businesses, offering payroll, benefits, and HR solutions.
- The company aims to automate and simplify these processes, providing expert support and helping businesses create incredible workplaces.
- Gusto takes security and protection of personal information very seriously, as outlined in their privacy policies.
Company Specialties:
- Compliance
- Payroll
- Human resources
- Benefits
Company Website: Gusto.com
ASSUMPTION: Gusto's focus on small businesses and comprehensive HR solutions makes it an attractive option for job seekers interested in the HR tech industry.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is at the senior leadership level, offering the opportunity to lead a team and make a significant impact on Gusto's brand.
Reporting Structure: The Head of Brand Studio reports directly to Gusto's Chief Design Officer, Amy Thibodeau.
Work Arrangement: This role follows a hybrid work arrangement, with employees expected to work from the office 2-3 days per week (or more depending on role).
Growth Opportunities:
- As Gusto continues to grow, there may be opportunities for the Head of Brand Studio to expand their team or take on additional responsibilities.
- With a strong performance, the Head of Brand Studio may have the opportunity to advance to a more senior role within the company.
- Gusto's focus on employee development and growth provides ample opportunities for professional growth and skill-building.
ASSUMPTION: The Head of Brand Studio role offers a unique opportunity for a creative powerhouse to make a significant impact on Gusto's brand and grow their career within a dynamic, fast-moving company.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Gusto has physical office spaces in Denver, San Francisco, and New York City, with employees expected to work from the office 2-3 days per week (or more depending on role).
Office Location(s): 525 20th St, San Francisco, California 94107, US; 1201 16th St, Denver, CO 80202, US; 450 Park Avenue S, New York, NY 10016, US; 14350 N 87th St, 310, Scottsdale, AZ 85260, US
Geographic Context:
- Denver, CO: Known for its vibrant arts and culture scene, outdoor recreation opportunities, and a thriving tech industry.
- San Francisco, CA: A major tech hub with a diverse population, a rich cultural scene, and a high cost of living.
- New York, NY: A global financial and cultural center with a fast-paced, competitive job market and a high cost of living.
- Seattle, WA: Known for its coffee culture, tech industry, and outdoor recreation opportunities, with a moderate cost of living compared to other major tech hubs.
- Toronto, Ontario, CAN: A multicultural city with a strong tech industry, a vibrant arts and culture scene, and a lower cost of living compared to other major North American cities.
Work Schedule: Full-time (40 hours per week), with a hybrid work arrangement (2-3 days per week in the office)
ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement offers employees the flexibility to balance work and personal responsibilities while maintaining a strong connection to the office culture.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application and resume screening
- Phone or video screening with the HR team
- Portfolio review and creative challenge
- On-site or virtual interview with the hiring manager and team members
- Final interviews with senior leadership
- Background check and onboarding
Key Assessment Areas:
- Creative vision and brand craft
- Leadership and management skills
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving
- Collaboration and communication skills
- Adaptability and resilience in a fast-paced environment
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role.
- Prepare a portfolio showcasing your creative vision, brand craft, and leadership skills.
- Be ready to discuss your approach to brand strategy, storytelling, and user experience.
- Research Gusto's brand and company culture to demonstrate your understanding and enthusiasm for the role.
- Follow up with the hiring manager after your interview to reiterate your interest in the position and address any remaining questions.
ATS Keywords: Brand Design, Creative Direction, Brand Strategy, Storytelling, User Experience, Stakeholder Management, Digital Marketing, Advertising, Mentorship, Design Systems, Performance Marketing, Innovation, Visual Identity, Campaign Management
ASSUMPTION: The interview process for this role will focus on assessing the candidate's creative vision, leadership skills, and strategic thinking, as well as their cultural fit with Gusto's values and work environment.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects)
- Sketch or Figma
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
- Google Workspace (Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, Sheets, Slides)
- Project management tools (Asana, Jira, Trello)
- Brand management tools (Frontify, Brandfolder)
ASSUMPTION: The Head of Brand Studio should be proficient in industry-standard design tools and comfortable learning new tools as needed to streamline workflows and improve collaboration.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Put People First
- Act with Integrity
- Take Ownership
- Embrace Diversity
- Be Customer Obsessed
Work Style:
- Collaborative and inclusive
- Fast-paced and adaptable
- Data-driven and results-oriented
- Focused on continuous learning and improvement
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you align with Gusto's company values, particularly "Put People First" and "Embrace Diversity"?
- How comfortable are you working in a fast-paced, hybrid work environment, balancing office and remote work?
- How do you approach giving and receiving feedback, and how do you use it to improve your work and the work of your team?
ASSUMPTION: Candidates who demonstrate a strong alignment with Gusto's values, a collaborative work style, and a commitment to continuous learning and improvement will be well-suited to this role.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing a team in a hybrid work environment, balancing remote and in-office collaboration.
- Balancing creative vision and business impact, ensuring that all work is both visually stunning and strategically effective.
- Keeping up with industry trends and emerging creative technologies while maintaining brand integrity.
- Navigating a fast-paced, startup-like environment with a high level of autonomy and responsibility.
- Managing stakeholder expectations and ensuring that all work aligns with Gusto's brand and company strategy.
ASSUMPTION: The Head of Brand Studio role presents unique challenges that require a strong leader with exceptional taste, craft, and leadership skills to succeed.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Unlike traditional advertising or creative agency roles, this role focuses on building and maintaining a cohesive brand identity for a single company, rather than working on multiple client campaigns.
- Compared to in-house creative roles at larger corporations, this role offers a higher level of autonomy and responsibility, with the opportunity to make a significant impact on Gusto's brand.
- Career paths for this role may include advancing to a more senior role within Gusto, such as Chief Marketing Officer or Chief Brand Officer, or transitioning to a similar role at another company.
ASSUMPTION: The unique aspects of this role require a candidate with a strong understanding of brand strategy, storytelling, and user experience, as well as the ability to balance creativity with business impact.
📝 Sample Projects
- Redesigning Gusto's website to better reflect the company's brand and improve user experience.
- Developing a comprehensive brand style guide and design system to ensure consistency across all marketing channels and product experiences.
- Creating a high-impact brand advertising campaign that drives engagement and brand affinity, while maintaining a consistent visual identity and messaging framework.
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects demonstrate the range of responsibilities and creative challenges the Head of Brand Studio may face, requiring a strong leader with exceptional taste, craft, and leadership skills.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does the Head of Brand Studio collaborate with the Chief Design Officer and other senior leaders to align creative strategy with business objectives?
- What are the key priorities for the Head of Brand Studio in the first 90 days, and how can I contribute to their success?
- How does Gusto support the professional growth and development of its employees, particularly those in creative and leadership roles?
- What are the most significant challenges facing the brand team, and how can I help address them?
- How does Gusto measure the impact of its brand and creative work, and how can I contribute to improving these metrics?
ASSUMPTION: Asking thoughtful, insightful questions demonstrates your interest in the role and commitment to understanding Gusto's brand and company culture.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through Gusto's careers page
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role.
- Prepare a portfolio showcasing your creative vision, brand craft, and leadership skills.
- Be ready to discuss your approach to brand strategy, storytelling, and user experience during your interviews.
- Follow up with the hiring manager after your interview to reiterate your interest in the position and address any remaining questions.
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
