Associate Creative Director - Design

MERGE; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 88,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

401K

Lifestyle Spending Account

Flexible Time off

Job summary

MERGE is seeking an Associate Creative Director (Design) to shape digital and physical visual narratives for a fast-paced QSR account. You will lead design vision, implement design systems, and hands-on execute across digital touchpoints, retail environments, and integrated campaigns.

You will manage a team, collaborate with client teams and developers, and articulate the strategy behind design decisions to drive cohesive, premium experiences.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Digital Design, UI/UX, or equivalent practical experience.
• 8+ years of design experience in an ad agency, digital shop, or creative studio with a strong digital, responsive, and cross‑channel portfolio.
• Proficiency in Figma (auto-layout, components, prototyping) and deep mastery of the Adobe Creative Suite.
• Experience designing digital and physical experiences using component-based design systems across digital and print retail environments.
• Proven ability to lead, inspire, and direct a team of designers while managing multiple fast-paced projects.
• Prior experience with QSR, fast-casual, or high-volume retail brands is a major plus.

Responsibilities

• Craft visually compelling designs with a premium presence across channels.
• Produce assets for digital menus, packaging, signage, apps, and web with pixel-perfect accuracy.
• Apply design systems to ensure cohesive execution across touchpoints.
• Lead quick comps and develop design systems while delivering polished solutions.
• Collaborate with client teams and developers to deliver best-in-class UX/UI experiences.
• Explain the strategic rationale behind design projects to stakeholders.
• Guide and inspire other designers and ensure alignment with goals.
• Oversee end-to-end lifecycles from objectives to post-launch success.

Skills

Design leadership

UI/UX thinking

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design / Digital Design / UI/UX

Tools

Figma

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

At MERGE, we are Built Different. We are a marketing and technology agency purpose-built for the intersection of health and wellness—where human impact matters most. By weaving storytelling through technology, we move beyond traditional engagement to Whole Human Marketing. This approach recognizes that humans are multidimensional and complex, and uses AI to ensure every brand interaction feels natural, contextual, and relevant.

This commitment to human-first innovation is what brings us together and propels us forward. We are united by our North Star: to unite people and brands to empower healthier, happier lives.

Emerge to the Top of Your Career

At MERGE, we strive to create a superior work experience where talented and ambitious people grow. An experience that encourages people to think higher and feel deeper. An experience where people engage their minds and hearts to do the best work of their careers.

Associate Creative Director (Design)

As Associate Creative Director (Design), you will shape the digital and physical visual narrative for a fast-paced retail account [major Quick-Service Restaurant (QSR) account]. You are a digitally forward design lead—equally comfortable setting high-level creative vision, implementing and guiding design systems, and hands-on execution across dynamic digital touchpoints, retail environments, and integrated campaigns.

What You’ll Do

• As a core member of the team, you’ll craft visually compelling designs, ensuring a consistent and premium presence across diverse channels
• Produce high-quality assets across digital and animated menu boards, packaging, in-restaurant signage, mobile apps, and web, ensuring pixel-perfect accuracy and timely delivery within budget constraints.
• Strategically apply design systems across various touchpoints to ensure cohesive and unified execution.
• Engage in all facets of design, from quick comping and creating design systems to type treatments, consistently delivering polished design solutions
• Work seamlessly with client-side digital and development teams to create best-in-class UX/UI experiences
• Articulate the underlying strategy behind design projects, emphasizing the rationale ("why") over the deliverables ("what") to all team members
• Work seamlessly with the creative team, account managers, developers, studio designers, and most importantly, clients, fostering a collaborative and synergistic environment
• Guide and inspire other designers by providing valuable direction
• Has a strong understanding of copy direction and its emotional impact on design
• Design and/or direct design efforts across multiple mediums and touchpoints, ensuring consistency and alignment with strategic goals
• You are responsible for holistic project lifecycles—from interpreting high-level business objectives into pixel-perfect execution and measurable post-launch success

Qualifications

• 8+ years of design experience within an ad agency, digital shop, or creative studio, with a portfolio showcasing strong digital, responsive, and cross-channel work
• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Digital Design, UI/UX, or equivalent practical experience
• Proficiency in Figma (auto-layout, components, prototyping) alongside deep mastery of the Adobe Creative Suite
• Proven track record of designing digital and physical experiences using component-based design systems. Across both digital platforms and physical/print retail environments
• Demonstrated ability to manage, inspire, and direct a team of designers while managing multiple fast-paced projects simultaneously
• Prior experience with QSR, fast-casual, or high-volume retail brands is a major plus
• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Digital Design, UI/UX, or equivalent practical experience

#LI-

#LI-HYBRID

At MERGE, we’re committed to fostering an environment where our team members can thrive in both their careers and personal lives, ensuring they feel supported and empowered to succeed.

MERGE is proud to invest in benefits that includemeaningful Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, 401K, Lifestyle Spending Account, Employer Paid Life & Disability Insurance, Flexible Time off & Holidays plus many other benefits and rewards.

MERGE believes in transparency and equity. In accordance with state regulations, we’re proud to include salary ranges in our job postings to ensure fair compensation practices.

The salary range for this role is $88,450 - $129,750, based on the individual’s skills, experience, qualifications, location, and other relevant factors. The salary pay range is subject to change and may be modified at any time.

Applicants for employment in the US must have work authorization that does not now or in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the United States.

And here’s how we live our values at MERGE

• Ability. Mastering our craft
• Agility. Delivering with a growth mindset
• Humility. Collaborating for shared success

MERGE is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer

MERGE welcomes and celebrates diversity regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, veteran status or people with abilities. We believe that the more diverse we are, the more creative our work will be!

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