Principal Designer

People; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

People Inc. seeks a Principal Designer to steer high-visibility branding, events, and investor-facing design. You will collaborate with the CCO and CDO, frame problems, set creative direction, and lead designers and external partners while staying hands-on.

The role requires senior leadership, a strong portfolio, and the ability to work across corporate, brand, and experiential design in a hybrid office. EEO and extensive benefits are offered.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred in design, graphic design, visual communication, or related field.
• 10+ years of professional design experience with a strong portfolio.
• Proven ability to translate loosely defined problems into creative direction.
• Experience presenting to senior executives and public-facing leaders.
• Ability to lead complex projects and direct designers and partners.
• Broad expertise across brand, corporate communications, print, digital, presentation and experiential design.

Responsibilities

• Lead high-visibility work from problem definition through final execution.
• Define creative direction and present work to senior leadership and stakeholders.
• Direct designers, agencies, and partners; mentor designers and rising leaders.
• Introduce AI tools and new approaches to improve quality and efficiency.
• Ensure high craft quality while maintaining a hands-on leadership role.

Skills

Creative direction

Mentorship

Design leadership

Problem framing

Senior stakeholder communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Portfolio demonstration

Independent leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Design education consideration

Tools

Adobe Creative Cloud

Figma

Claude AI

Codex

Google AI Studio

Job description

Principal Designer## Principal DesignerApply: New York, NY - 225 Liberty Street: Full time: Posted 4 Days Ago: JR15717**Job Title**Principal Designer**Job Description** **About The Position:** People Inc. is looking for a Principal Designer to take on some of the company’s most varied, visible, and important work. You’ll work directly with the Chief Communications Officer and Chief Design Officer on the work that most visibly represents People Inc.: our events, our brand identity, our sites, what we put in front of investors, and the spaces we work in. Much of it has no precedent, so not every project starts with a defined brief. You’ll frame the problem, set the creative direction, and decide what the work should become. From there, you’ll lead designers and outside partners project by project while staying hands-on. This is a role for someone highly experienced and influential who still loves making the work. **In-office Expectations:** This position is hybrid in-office, with the ability to work remotely for up to 2 days per week.**About The Team:***\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_* The Design Group at People Inc. brings together multiple teams supporting Revenue Design, Brand & Editorial Design, Product & UX Design, Design Systems, Creative Operations, Transactional Creative, and Events. This role will work across corporate, brand, communications, and experiential design, partnering closely with senior leadership and designers across the organization.**About The Positions Contributions:** **Weight** *%***Accountabilities, Actions and Expected Measurable Results****Corporate, Brand & Communications Design** **›› 70%*** Lead high-visibility work from problem definition through final execution, including: + People Inc. Villa at Cannes, People Talks, Dinner with People, and Brand Showcases + People Inc. and People Incorporated sites, corporate and brand identity, and presentation systems + Investor Relations materials, including earnings decks, campaigns, and employee communications + Office and experiential design, video walls, sizzle reels, and other motion-led experiences* Work directly with senior leadership and cross-functional partners to establish creative direction, present work, make decisions, and maintain a high standard of craft.**Creative Direction, Mentorship & Design Development** **›› 30%*** Define loosely defined problems and develop clear creative approaches before execution.* Direct designers, agencies, and creative partners project by project; provide feedback, run creative reviews, and mentor designers and emerging leaders.* Introduce new tools and approaches, including AI, when they improve the quality or efficiency of the work.* Remain accountable for the quality of the result without requiring an ongoing people-management structure.**The Role’s Minimum Qualifications and Job Requirements:****Education:**Bachelor's degree preferred in design, graphic design, visual communication, or related field, and/or equivalent experience. **Experience:*** 10+ years of professional design experience* A strong portfolio demonstrating refined taste and sound creative judgment across multiple disciplines and formats* A track record of turning loosely defined problems into clear creative direction and finished work* A history of delivering high-impact design work to a high creative standard* Experience working directly with senior executives and public-facing leaders, with the confidence to present, explain, and evolve work with them* The ability to lead complex projects and direct designers, agencies, and creative partners* Broad expertise across brand, corporate communications, print, digital, presentation, experiential, environmental, and campaign design **Specific Knowledge, Skills, Certifications and Abilities:** * A clear point of view about design and the ability to argue for it* The ability to move fluidly between concept, direction, and hands-on design* Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud and Figma* Experience using AI and emerging design tools, including Claude, Codex, Google AI Studio, and others, in ways that improve the quality or speed of the work and workflow* Working knowledge of motion and video workflows, and the ability to help direct it.* The ability to work independently and bring the right people into the work* A collaborative, direct, and low-ego approach, with the confidence to challenge an idea when there's a better one It is the policy of People Inc. to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, the Company will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. Accommodation requests can be made by emailing [e-mail] Company participates in the federal E-Verify program to confirm the identity and employment authorization of all newly hired employees. For further information about the E-Verify program, please click here: https://www.e-verify.gov/employees**Pay Range**Salary: New York: $130,000 - $150,000The pay range above represents the anticipated low and high end of the pay range for this position and may change in the future. Actual pay may vary and may be above or below the range based on various factors including but not limited to work location, experience, and performance. The range listed is just one component of People Inc's total compensation package for employees. Other compensation may include annual bonuses, and short- and long-term incentives. In addition, People Inc. provides to employees (and their eligible family members) a variety of benefits, including medical, dental, vision, prescription drug coverage, unlimited paid time off (PTO), adoption or surrogate assistance, donation matching, tuition reimbursement, basic life insurance, basic accidental death & dismemberment, supplemental life insurance, supplemental accident insurance, commuter benefits, short term and long term disability, health savings and flexible spending accounts, family care benefits, a generous 401K savings plan with a company match program, 10-12 paid holidays annually, and generous paid parental leave (birthing and non-birthing parents), all of which may vary depending on the specific nature of your employment with People Inc. and your work location. We also offer voluntary benefits such as pet insurance, accident, critical and hospital indemnity health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance.