Design Director - Remote-Ready Strategic Craft Leader

Scalis LLC; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) Matching

Paid Holidays

Premium Reimbursement

Safe Harbor 3% Contribution

Life Insurance

Annual Culture Budget

FSA

HSA HDHP

One Medical

Kindbody Membership

Talkspace Membership

New Business Referral Program

Employee Referral Program

Job summary

SYLVAIN in New York City is seeking a Design Director who blends strategic rigor with craft obsession. You will translate business aims into moodboards, concepts, and final work, guiding teams from ideation to execution while maintaining a high bar for quality and viability.

You’ll lead client presentations, mentor senior designers, and shape the creative direction across disciplines, fostering growth and opportunity within SYLVAIN.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of brand design experience in a studio, agency, or in-house environment.
• 2+ years mentoring design teams within the context of a project.
• A portfolio that reflects a diverse array of brand identity projects elevated craft.
• Deep knowledge of typography and design systems.
• Mastery of Figma and Adobe Creative Suite.
• Experience presenting to and leading senior clients.
• Bonus for familiarity with motion, digital, and AI tools.

Responsibilities

• Sets a craft standard that is aesthetically compelling and rigorously executed with systems that hold up across every aspect of design: brand, colors, typography, imagery, words.
• Generates conceptual and visionary ideas, pushes others’ ideas to their sharpest articulation, and builds shared clarity around the concept internally and with clients.
• Leads and mentors the creative team, aligns with a bold vision, and guides work to completion.
• Manages client expectations, builds lasting relationships, and challenges constructively when needed.
• Translates research and business objectives into a distinct creative POV and visual language.
• Presents work with clarity and conviction to clients and internal teams.
• Directs a diverse set of collaborators and integrates emerging tools and AI into practice.
• Supports and mentors junior team members with feedback and critique.
• Coordinates across leadership to ensure project alignment and delivery.

Skills

Obsessive craftsperson

Empathetic leader

Strategic multi-tasker

Relationship builder

Education

7+ years of brand design experience in studio/agency/in-house

Tools

Figma

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

SYLVAIN in New York City is seeking a Design Director who blends strategic rigor with craft obsession. You will translate business aims into moodboards, concepts, and final work, guiding teams from ideation to execution while maintaining a high bar for quality and viability.

You’ll lead client presentations, mentor senior designers, and shape the creative direction across disciplines, fostering growth and opportunity within SYLVAIN.