Brand Design Director — Creative Leader & Mentor

Propelis; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 106,000 - 116,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care benefits

Dental plan

Vision plan

Life insurance

401(k) plan

Job summary

Propelis is seeking a Design Director who acts as both a creative leader and a practicing designer. You will guide teams, shape ideas, and elevate creative quality while staying deeply engaged in the work itself—from concept through execution across packaging, identity, retail, and marketing communications.

You will mentor designers, lead critiques, and champion collaboration to deliver strategically grounded, beautifully crafted, and commercially effective work.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Communication Design, Packaging Design, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience in brand, packaging, or integrated design.
• Proven experience mentoring designers and leading creative projects.
• A portfolio demonstrating excellence across branding, packaging, and omnichannel campaigns.
• Deep understanding of CPG brands, retail environments, consumer behavior, and design systems.
• Expert proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, Keynote, and PowerPoint.
• Exceptional presentation, storytelling, and client communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead through vision, conviction, and example in creative leadership roles.
• Mentor Designers and Senior Designers through feedback, direction, and coaching.
• Create environments fostering curiosity, experimentation, and learning.
• Lead critiques that elevate work quality and team confidence.
• Build trusted client relationships and articulate strategic rationale behind decisions.
• Design systems and brand identities that scale across packaging, retail, digital, and campaigns.

Skills

Brand design

Packaging design

Omnichannel campaigns

Mentoring designers

Adobe Creative Suite

Keynote

PowerPoint

Client communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design/related field

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Keynote

PowerPoint

Job description

Propelis is seeking a Design Director who acts as both a creative leader and a practicing designer. You will guide teams, shape ideas, and elevate creative quality while staying deeply engaged in the work itself—from concept through execution across packaging, identity, retail, and marketing communications.

You will mentor designers, lead critiques, and champion collaboration to deliver strategically grounded, beautifully crafted, and commercially effective work.