Digital Design Lead

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

We are seeking a talented and versatile Digital Marketing and Communications Specialist to join our dynamic team.

The Digital Design Lead (DDL) is a versatile leader who will play a pivotal role in the success of our digital communications and design services. The DDL’s expertise in digital design and marketing will be instrumental in creating engaging and effective campaigns that contribute to the positive impact of our clients' work. The DDL will be responsible for driving content production teams in translating data and insights into impactful digital assets, developing effective communication strategies and content that align with our clients' goals, and ensuring quality digital and design work. The DDL will also contribute to promoting our company mission, vision, values, and culture by managing our internal and external communications, including our presence on digital platforms.

ROLE DESCRIPTION

The Digital Design Lead has key responsibilities in the following areas:

Digital Design and Marketing Leadership

• Ensure quality of work by managing and coaching creative teams in producing high-impact, multi-platform digital content across multiple projects and from conception to completion. Check and edit copy and design drafts at identified check points prior to Editorial, ADM, and client submission. Join and effectively facilitate brainstorming as needed.
• Ensure a data-led approach to digital design and marketing, focusing on user experience and measurable outcomes. Leverage research and analytics to inform strategic decision-making and optimize campaign performance. Enforce tracking and analysis of digital marketing performance metrics to measure ROI and identify areas for improvement.
• Provide guidance and mentorship in visual storytelling and designing clickable content, compelling concepts, end-to-end user journeys, and interactive digital experiences that are aligned with client goals.
• Serve as the digital brand guardian of Smarter Good across web, mobile, and app through various initiatives, leading development and refinement of design and content and also ensuring consistent brand execution across all channels.
• Lead or collaborate on special projects as assigned by management.
• Drive innovation through the use of new digital content tools and technologies.

Communications Design and Delivery

• Lead design and delivery from initial brief to execution, including responsive, interactive designs for digital platforms and the UX process. Consult the creative and project management teams on developing project briefs and/or Job Orders (JOs) as the starting point of creative direction. Check and flag gaps.
• Integrate with other departments to gather relevant client/user/audience and organizational information to inform effective digital design solutions.
• Seek out creative, design-led solutions to challenging problems by staying up-to-date with design trends, emerging technologies, and suggesting ways to incorporate them when relevant.
• Initiate, incorporate, and implement user research and usability testing to gather valuable insights and feedback, improving the user experience based on data-driven decisions.
• Collaborate closely with project managers to develop effective digital marketing strategies, campaigns, and content that reaches and resonates with the target audience, increases brand awareness, drives traffic and traction through SEO and other tactics, and generates leads.
• Support the creative team by designing as needed for clients or SG communications.

Team and Project Management

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to ensure project success through results-focused execution. Consult project managers on initiating, planning, developing, and implementing user-centered and engaging communications products and services.
• Lead creative teams in executing assigned projects, owning accountability for internal submission and revision processes, work plans, and timelines. Set and manage work deliverables with team members.
• Drive execution towards client satisfaction through the seamless, timely, and cost-efficient delivery of agreed-upon deliverables and through proactive team and client coordination as needed.
• Continuously solicit client feedback to improve service delivery.

Capability and Capacity Development Support

• Lead internal initiatives to enhance the team's digital design and marketing skills, knowledge, and ways of working. Facilitate knowledge sharing of best practices in communications and digital marketing and design.
• Train and influence teams to learn to manage major digital productions and deliver rich, engaging media with a strong user or audience focus.
• Identify and recommend innovative approaches to building AI into the creative workflow.
• Stay informed on industry standards, design trends, competitive design landscape, relevant AI software and other emerging technologies, UX/UI design solutions, and other best practices. Share updates, trends, insights, and best practices with the team.
• Mentor designers and manage freelancers towards optimizing outcomes for clients.
• Collaborate with the different leads to lead digital marketing knowledge and processes, maintaining consistency across different units.
• Participate in recruitment and onboarding of communications team members.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Communications, Fine Arts, Marketing, Advertising, or any related field
• At least 4 years of experience in digital marketing and design teams
• Demonstrable experience leading and managing SEO/SEM, marketing database, email, social media, and/or display advertising campaigns
• Demonstrable expertise in UX/UI design principles and patterns, including knowledge of conversion optimization techniques.
• Strong understanding of data analytics and its application to inform digital marketing strategies. Knowledge of A/B testing, user testing, and data analysis to inform design decisions
• Working knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript development and constraints
• Advanced knowledge and skills in modern design tools like Adobe Suite, Canva, and Figma
• People and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deliver quality outcomes
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills in English, with the propensity to successfully foster new and maintain long-standing relationships, internally and externally
• Experience with professional services/client services businesses is desirable
• The capability to think and work with minimal supervision, combined with the ability to work well in teams and to be open to peer-sharing and brainstorming