Design Director

We strongly encourage people of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and non-binary people, veterans, parents, and individuals with disabilities to apply. As an equal-opportunity employer, Walker Sands is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and welcomes everyone to our team.

In your application, please feel free to note which pronouns you use (For example – she/her/hers, he/him/his, they/them/theirs, etc). If you need reasonable accommodation at any point in the application or interview process, please let us know.

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

The Design Director at Walker Sands is the senior design leader within the creative department. This is both a hands-on design and team leadership role, setting and raising the agency’s visual standards across brand systems, integrated campaigns and multi-channel work.

In this role, you establish the overarching design vision for our clients and new business prospects, ensuring work is strategically grounded, visually distinctive and built to scale within complex B2B environments. You bring a systems-driven mindset and a relentless commitment to craft, shaping creative that not only stands out but delivers impact across channels.

You will mentor and guide the design team in developing bold, strategic solutions for world-leading technology companies and other ambitious B2B brands. From identity development to campaign and content ecosystems, you’ll help brands show up with clarity, consistency and creative strength at every stage of the buyer journey.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Creative & Craft Leadership

• Define and uphold Walker Sands’ design standards, ensuring exceptional craft and consistency across all client engagements.
• Set the visual direction for client brand identity systems, rebrands and large-scale integrated campaigns.
• Set and elevate standards for design craft across typography, composition, digital experiences, motion and visual systems.
• Provide senior-level creative oversight, delivering thoughtful feedback and final approval on key design work.
• Translate strategic insights and positioning into distinctive, ownable visual frameworks that drive impact.

Brand & Systems Ownership

• Lead the development of scalable brand systems, visual frameworks and modular toolkits that enable integrated execution.
• Ensure design solutions translate seamlessly across all channels and disciplines, including PR, social, web, demand generation, content and experiential.
• Create cohesive visual ecosystems that balance consistency with adaptability across complex B2B marketing environments.
• Steward the long-term evolution of client brands, proactively identifying opportunities to strengthen and modernize their visual presence.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with the strategy group to translate brand positioning and audience insights into compelling visual expression.
• Collaborate seamlessly with art directors and across PR, media, content and other departments to ensure design strengthens and unifies integrated activations.
• Work alongside account leadership to align creative excellence with measurable business outcomes.
• Present work to senior client stakeholders with clarity, conviction and a strong strategic point of view.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor and develop designers across experience levels, building a high-performing and engaged team.
• Deliver clear, craft-driven feedback and thoughtful career guidance that supports individual growth.
• Partner with creative and HR leadership on hiring, performance management and design team planning.
• Cultivate a culture of curiosity, accountability and continuous improvement that raises the bar for creative excellence.

New Business & Agency Growth

• Play a key role in new business efforts, contributing strategic and visually compelling work to pitches and growth opportunities.
• Help define and elevate Walker Sands’ creative reputation within the global B2B marketplace.
• Contribute to thought leadership that showcases our perspective on brand building, design systems and creative effectiveness.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience:

• 10+ years of experience in agency design, preferably within B2B or complex industries.
• 3–5+ years leading and mentoring designers.
• Proven success building brand systems and integrated campaign toolkits.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating deep conceptual design thinking,the highest craft standards and award-winning work.

Skills & Expertise:

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Figma.
• High level of proficiency in AI platforms (i.e. Weavy, Nano Banana, Midjourney, etc.)
• Exceptional presentation and storytelling skills.

Leadership Traits:

• High standards without ego.
• Strategic thinker with business acumen.
• Collaborative, empathetic and decisive.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, integrated agency environment.
• Passionate about elevating B2B creative.

OTHER DETAILS:

• Full-time: 40 hours per week minimum
• Hybrid: 1-2 days per week in our Chicago, Seattle or Boston offices (open to remote applicants, but prefer hybrid)
• Final Interview Step: All finalists must complete a skills test as part of the selection process.

WHY WALKER SANDS:

Compensation & Benefits:

• We strive for salary range transparency in our hiring process. This is a major step towards not only complying with regulations where required, but also to make sure pay equity and DEI are top of mind during the hiring process. Base salary is only a part of the total rewards package – this role will also be eligible for a bonus based on company performance, as well as benefits. Below is the starting salary for this role:
  • Starting Salary: 100,000 – 114,500 a year
  • Placement on the salary scale will be determined by various factors, such as, but not limited to, relevant qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, education, business or organizational requirements and internal equity.
  • Starting salaries are not inclusive of a full range of compensation for this role and are instead meant to reflect the expected beginning salary for a new hire. Merit-based increases can be earned after time in role.

Total Rewards Package:

• 🩺 Health Coverage: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, plus mental health resources, pet insurance, fertility benefits, and more.
• 💰 Retirement Savings: Employer-matched 401(k) and access to financial planning services.
• 🌴 Flexible PTO: Take time as needed for vacations, mental health, or personal days. Includes 8 paid holidays, half-day summer Fridays, and a week off between Christmas and New Year.
• 🏡 Hybrid Work: Mix of in-office and remote work, with tools to stay connected across teams.
• 🎉 Milestone Sabbatical: Celebrate five years with a two-week sabbatical and a $2,000 gift.
• 👶 Family Support: Generous paid leave for new parents and caregivers, plus policies for pregnancy loss, adoption challenges, and more.
• 📚 Growth Opportunities: Clear career paths, mentorship programs, and learning events to help you grow professionally.
• 🌟 Culture: Our agency values our supportive, collaborative culture where we work hard to achieve the best outcomes for clients. Read more on our website here!

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