Design Director

Company And Culture

Complex is the definitive platform for global youth culture and music lifestyle, seamlessly integrating cutting-edge content, commerce and live experiences with unparalleled scale. Through innovative content, Complex tells stories of music, streetwear and style, sports, art and beyond. Its content engages in a dynamic conversation with the audience, reflecting and shaping the zeitgeist of convergence culture. A powerful media juggernaut paired with a curated marketplace, Complex is redefining the way fans interact with their favorite brands and artists and reshaping the future of digital culture and commerce.

• Minimum 7 years of professional creative experience at a design firm, agency, publication, or media company, with an emphasis on branding, digital media, and 360 content
• Minimum 3 years of professional experience leading multi-faceted creative projects from start to finish 
• A natural ability to function in a leadership and mentorship capacity while thriving under pressure
• Strong design background, including an intimate understanding of the entire design process and its various production processes and procedures
• A passion and deep knowledge of current and historic design references relevant to Complex brands
• Excellent written, verbal, and visual communication skills
• Ability to reconcile and communicate the relationship between aesthetic, strategic, and business objectives
• A natural ability to collaborate with others and thrive under pressure
• Mastery of Adobe Creative suite – Illustrator, Photoshop are a must
• Familiarity and interest in coding, UX/UI design
• Experience and knowledge of AI tools like Krea, Invoke, Kling etc. are a must
• Experience with After Effects, Premiere, Cinema 4D, Sketchup, and/or Sketch is a plus
• CORE COMPETENCIES: Builds Effective Teams, Communicates Effectively, Strategic Mindset, Action Oriented, Optimizes Work Processes, Manages Conflict, Organizational Savvy, Drives Results, Exhibit Relentless Curiosity

• Support creative leadership in all aspects of Complex brands, providing clear and decisive direction on matters of art direction, visual identity, taste, and tone
• Guide the creation of brand guidelines, including templates, and marketing materials for Complex’s audience-facing brands and IP
• Provide design direction and design for special projects across a variety of platforms and media
• Organize and present creative work for internal and external review, taking extra care to ensure creative alignment of all parties 
• Support the VP, Creative in the smooth running of the Design team, by providing clear feedback and direction to Art Director and designers.
• Help to lead creative efforts by working in close collaboration with leading brand and cross-functional partners
• Support CIO and VP, Creative lead initiatives across various media: Digital, Print, Experiential, Social, and Marketing
• Manage multiple projects, deliverables, timelines, and team objectives simultaneously
• Foster conceptual and professional development amongst team members, leading by example 
• Develop and nurture team skill sets and capabilities, maintaining a rigorous creative process necessary for a high-functioning team
• Inspire enthusiasm and camaraderie within the team, contributing to an inclusive and supportive team culture
• Monitor quality of creative output across project milestones and deliverables, assessing risk and communication issues, problem-solving any that may arise  
• Stay up-to-date with state of the art design trends, tools and techniques, and industry movements, disseminating  information and inspiration within the team, ensuring these approaches and technologies are being used and considered on every project
• Identify and engage creative collaborators for contract, full-time, and freelance engagements when called upon
• Lead conversations with excellent communication skills
• Ability to lead and course correct by example and put together mockups, directional comps, mood boards, etc

• Best in class health, dental, and vision insurance
• Healthcare FSA 
• Dependent Care FSA 
• Commuter Benefits FSA 
• Short-term/long-term disability and life insurance
• Paid Parental leave
• 401k with 4% match
• Pet Insurance
• Legal and Identity Theft Plans
• Vacation time and sick days

We're an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

The above statements cover what are generally believed to be principal and essential functions of the job. Specific circumstances may allow or require some incumbents assigned to the job to perform a different combination of duties.

Complex participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for visa sponsorship.

Salary : $120,000 - $130,000