Design Lead

Description

What You Will Do:

• Lead the adaptation of global brand campaigns into the US, inclusive of hero franchises, brand initiatives, seasonal moments and always-on marketing. 
• Own design direction for local tentpole moments from initial idea through final delivery across design, photography, video, retouching and digital content. 
• Translate tentpole briefs, consumer insights, product claims and channel objectives into clear creative concepts, key visuals and scalable design systems. 
• Collaborate with Global Creative Team (based in London) to inform and execute global brand vision, supporting a test-and-learn culture across the Design ecosystem.  
• Deliver design output for priority work and establish the standard for how ideas are executed across touchpoints. 
• Coach and mentor your Designer, provide specific and actionable feedback, support their development. 
• Partner with Copy to build cohesive visual and verbal storytelling and ensure that every execution ladders to one clear campaign idea. 
• Collaborate with the Creative and Marketing Operations Manager on scoping, resourcing, scheduling, workflow and use of freelance or agency support. 
• Lead creative preparation and direction for GWP and promotional shoots; oversee selects, retouching, editing and final asset quality. 
• Adapt global creative for the US market and develop original local assets that are fit for purpose in the US market. 
• Present concepts and creative recommendations to senior and cross-functional stakeholders with a clear rationale grounded in strategy. 
• Maintain brand standards while evolving the work to remain culturally current, channel appropriate and distinctive within prestige skincare. 
• Apply performance insights, testing results and platform best practices to strengthen creative effectiveness over time. 
• Stay current on design, beauty, retail, digital, social, motion and emerging production tools, including responsible use of AI-enabled workflows. 

What We Are Looking For:

• Portfolio demonstrating integrated campaign designs across digital, e-commerce, social, CRM, paid media, retail and photography or video. 
• Strong command of typography, composition, color, image-making, motion principles and visual systems. 
• Expert on the tools: Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, After Effects and/or Premier; experience with Jira a plus. 
• Experience engaging with photographers, stylists, retouchers, editors, freelancers or agencies. 
• People leader who is comfortable to mentoring team members, building capability and supporting development. 
• Receptive of feedback and supports the decision making process by presenting creative choices and navigate stakeholder feedback. 
• Prioritises workload by managing multiple workstreams and balance creative ambition with timing, budget and channel constraints. 
• Luxury brand sensitivity, advocates for elevated brand experiences and promotes refinement in deliverables. 
• In-house creative team experience within an omnichannel organization. 
• Understanding of beauty claims, product storytelling and the balance between scientific credibility and emotional expression. 
• Use of performance data and creative testing across acquisition and retention channels. 

What We Offer You!

• This is a Hybrid role based three days per week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) in our NYC office, and two days (Monday and Friday) working from home
• Paid Time Off
• 401(K) with 100% match on the first 5%
• Company Holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• Generous ELEMIS product discount
• Supplemental & Basic Life Insurance
• Dental & Vision
• Commuter benefits
• …and more perks designed around wellbeing and balance