Senior Brand Designer

23andMe Research Institute; Palo Alto (Schuylkill County); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

23andMe Research Institute is looking for a Brand Designer in Palo Alto to create integrated campaigns, digital storytelling, and visual identities for events. The role requires a minimum of 6 years in brand design and at least 2 years in a leadership position.

You will collaborate with scientific and creative teams and mentor junior designers while working at least three days a week in-office. The salary range is $150,000–$190,000, based on experience and location.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of brand or marketing design experience.
• At least 2 years as a senior IC or design lead.
• Demonstrated ability to lead creative projects.

Responsibilities

• Design integrated campaigns for the Institute’s mission.
• Create digital brand expressions that engage audiences.
• Manage and mentor junior designers as the team grows.

Skills

Brand or marketing design experience

Graphic design fundamentals

Creative direction

Storytelling instinct

Technical mastery in Figma and Adobe Suite

Strong writing and presentation skills

Project management skills

Tools

Figma

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe InDesign

Jira

Job description

What You’ll Do

• Integrated Brand Campaigns: Concept and design integrated campaigns that bring the Institute’s mission to life across digital, web, social, print, video, etc. – from launch moments to ongoing always-on storytelling.
• Digital Brand Storytelling: Design the digital expressions of the brand: web pages, microsites, social content, editorial features, and data visualization that translates complex science into something people want to engage with.
• Event Activations: Create the visual identity for key Institute events, conferences, and donor moments with environmental graphics, stage design direction, slides, attendee materials, swag and photo/video assets that create emotion and impact.
• Philanthropy & Donor Materials: Design the support materials that move the philanthropy program forward: donor decks, case‑for‑support documents, annual impact reports, and stewardship pieces that feel as considered as the science they represent.
• Partnership Pitches & Integrations: Design and art‑direct partnership pitch decks, co-branded campaign assets, and integration materials for brand collaborations.
• Creative Direction & Agency Management: When needed, brief, hire, and steer external design and video agencies and freelancers. Set the creative bar, guide work through rounds, and protect the Institute's voice and look. Confident giving notes that move work forward.
• Visual Identity & System: Evolve and extend the Institute’s identity – typography, color, image direction, motion principles, and the systems, templates, and guardrails that let the brand scale consistently across teams.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with scientists, writers, communications, philanthropy, and partnership leads to shape the story before you design the assets. Translate strategy into creative briefs and creative briefs into strong work.
• Craft Leadership: Set the bar. Give and receive direct, generous feedback. Mentor more junior designers as the team grows.
• Hybrid Availability: Able to work in our Palo Alto office three days per week, in person with the Brand Team.

What You’ll Bring

• Experience: 6+ years of brand or marketing design experience, with at least 2 years operating as a senior IC, design lead, or associate creative director at a top in‑house brand team, agency, or nonprofit.
• Outstanding Graphic Design: A portfolio that demonstrates exceptional graphic design fundamentals (typography, layout, color, image direction, and editorial sensibility) across identity, campaign, and digital work.
• Creative Direction: Demonstrated ability to lead creative beyond your own work: writing briefs, directing photographers, illustrators, motion designers, and external agencies.
• Storytelling Instinct: Comfortable turning abstract or technical ideas into images, systems, and narratives that land with different audiences.
• Strong writing and presentation instincts to back up your visual point of view.
• Range: Comfortable moving between brand identity, integrated campaigns, digital storytelling, event design, and presentation design.
• Technical Mastery: Fluency in Figma and the Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign). Strong aptitude with AI‑assisted design tools. Comfortable directing video editors and integrating graphics onto picture.
• Collaboration & Influence: Strong point of view paired with a collaborative spirit. Comfortable presenting to executives, and working with XFN colleagues and external partners. Takes feedback well.
• Organization and Independence: Strong project management skills with experience using Jira. Comfortable managing many projects at once and working independently.

Pay Transparency

SanFranciscoBayArea Base Pay Range: $150,000–$190,000 (salary determined by job‑related skills, experience, qualifications, work location, and market conditions).

Equity & Inclusivity

All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to an individual’s race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws. If you are unable to submit your application because of incompatible assistive technology or a disability, please contact us at [e-mail]. 23andMe will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities to the extent required by applicable law.