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Senior Art Director

syndigo

Chicago, Illinois, United States
IT Governance Audiovisual Branding Graphic Designer Advertising

Job Score

100 pts
On-site model (+70) IT Governance (+10) Audiovisual (+10) Branding (+10)

Syndigo powers the continual flow of data and content throughout the entire commerce ecosystem— accelerating delivery of accurate and compelling information that increases sales on every shelf. We are the recognized leader in software and services for the management of master data, product information, digital assets, and content syndication and analytics across industries including grocery, foodservice, hardlines, home improvement, oil & gas, pet, health and beauty, automotive, apparel, and healthcare products.

Syndigo serves the industry’s largest two-sided network, connecting more than 50,000 global users across 12,000+ global brands with more than 1,750 global retailers.

Basically, we're the people that deliver the rich, accurate product content that helps consumers shop online with confidence, and helps brands and retailers operate efficient product supply chains. We cannot do all of this without our amazing employees who make the magic happen here at Syndigo. As we continue to grow, we’re always looking to identify talented individuals to join our team.

**This is a hybrid position that requires 2 days per week in office at our Chicago location**

The Senior Art Director is a highly skilled creative professional responsible for developing and executing visually compelling, strategically driven marketing and brand experiences across digital, web, campaigns, events, product marketing, and multimedia channels. This candidate thinks like an editor and designs like an art director. You're able to turn a data set, a customer story, or a market thesis into a visual narrative that makes people stop and pay attention 

This is a senior individual contributor role focused on elevating the quality, sophistication, and effectiveness of Syndigo's visual communications. The Senior Art Director combines exceptional design craft, conceptual thinking, motion design expertise, and a deep understanding of modern marketing principles to create work that advances business goals and strengthens brand perception. 

The ideal candidate possesses an outstanding portfolio demonstrating world-class marketing campaigns, motion graphics, digital experiences, marketing assets and brand systems. They are highly proficient in Figma, component-based design systems, and modern creative workflows, with the ability to independently lead projects from concept through execution.  

HOW WE’LL BE WINNING TOGETHER DAY TO DAY

Creativity & Design Skills: 

  • Transform complex data, research findings, and market insights into clear, compelling visual narratives, including report design, ebooks, data visualization, and editorial layouts that feel like a point of view, not a data dump.
  • Lead concept development, visual storytelling, art direction, and execution for integrated campaigns.
  • Elevate creative quality and consistency across all creative touchpoints, setting high standards for typography, composition, motion, imagery, and user experience.
  • Create and maintain scalable creative systems, templates, component libraries, and brand identity standards that balance consistency with flexibility.
  • Stay current with industry trends, emerging technologies, AI-assisted creative workflows, and best-in-class design standards. 

Motion Graphics & Multimedia:

  • Design and produce high-quality motion graphics, animations, product videos, event content, social media assets, and multimedia experiences.
  • Develop storyboards, visual narratives, and creative concepts that bring campaigns, product stories, and brand messaging to life through motion.
  • Translate written briefs and strategic objectives into compelling motion concepts and animation frameworks.
  • Produce animated assets that support product launches, campaigns, thought leadership initiatives, customer stories, and event experiences.
  • Partner with stakeholders to present storyboard concepts and creative approaches before production.
  • Ensure motion design aligns with brand standards and enhances audience engagement and user experience.

Design Systems & Figma Excellence:

  • Demonstrate expert-level proficiency in Figma and component-based design methodologies.
  • Create, evolve, and manage scalable design systems, component libraries, templates, and workflows.
  • Partner with cross-functional teams to drive adoption of design standards and reusable assets.
  • Continuously improve efficiency through reusable frameworks, templates, and automation opportunities. 

Organization & Collaboration:

  • Manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining exceptional quality and attention to detail.
  • Partner closely with Brand, Demand Generation, Product Marketing, Sales, Events, and Product teams to understand business goals and develop effective creative solutions.
  • Present concepts and creative rationale clearly to stakeholders and leadership, incorporating feedback while maintaining design integrity.
  • Collaborate with external agencies, freelancers, photographers, illustrators, and production vendors as needed.
  • Work independently while effectively balancing priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment. 

Business & Market Insight:

  • Ensure creative solutions align with brand positioning, messaging, and business priorities.
  • Balance strategic objectives, audience needs, and creative excellence when making design decisions. 
  • Understand marketing funnel performance and customer journeys to create effective visual communications.
  • Identify opportunities to strengthen brand consistency and improve the effectiveness of creative assets across channels.
  • Proactively recommend innovative creative approaches that support business growth and market differentiation.
  • Contribute to campaign strategy and content planning by identifying creative opportunities that amplify reach, strengthen the brand narrative, and support the content ecosystem across channels. 

WE SHOULD TALK IF THIS SOUNDS LIKE YOU 

  • Bachelor's degree in graphic design, Visual Communication, Fine Arts, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience. 
  • 5+ years of experience in art direction, visual design, brand design, marketing design, or creative execution. 
  • Exceptional visual design, art direction, conceptual thinking, and creative problem-solving skills across digital, web, campaign, event, advertising, and brand experiences. 
  • Demonstrated ability to work within and help define a strong brand voice, translating written messaging and positioning into visual decisions that reinforce the brand's point of view. 
  • Mastery of Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, component libraries, design systems, and modern collaborative workflows. 
  • Demonstrated experience creating and managing scalable design systems, component libraries, templates, and creative frameworks. 
  • Advanced motion graphics, animation, multimedia, storyboarding, and visual storytelling capabilities, supported by a strong portfolio from concept through final delivery. 
  • Expert understanding of typography, color, layout, composition, visual hierarchy, and storytelling. 
  • Experience leveraging AI-powered creative tools and workflows. 
  • Excellent presentation, communication, collaboration, attention to detail, and commitment to design excellence. 
  • Experience in B2B SaaS, technology, ecommerce, retail, or product marketing environments, a plus.  
  • Exceptional portfolio demonstrating:
    • Integrated marketing campaigns
    • Brand identity systems
    • Motion graphics and animation
    • Storyboarding and visual storytelling
    • Digital experiences and web design
    • Design systems and component libraries
    • Event and experiential marketing

For full-time U.S. based-employees, we offer competitive health insurance benefits, PTO and volunteer time off, employer-paid short- and long-term disability, parental and adoption leave, 401(k), and tuition reimbursement.

Your individual compensation within the budgeted salary range is determined based on your skills, education, experience, and internal equity. This position is Bonus Eligible.

Budgeted Salary Range:
$104,000$130,000 USD

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

To achieve the best version of our organization, we know it takes new ideas, new approaches, new perspectives and new ways of thinking. A purpose we are 100% committed to cultivating.

Diversity is woven into our fabric at Syndigo and it’s how we stay an industry leader, innovating technology solutions that equip our customers with everything they need to be successful! 

All are welcome here and we invite you to join our team if you are ready to help us continue that growth! 

GDPR/CCPA

Syndigo, to process applications, holds onto data for a "reasonable time" after applications are submitted. This data is stored for Syndigo's internal use by HR/Recruiting Staff only. Verified requests for data deletion and exports will be completed upon request.

Syndigo Job Applicant Privacy Notice

At Syndigo, we care about your privacy. As you go through our recruitment process, we are committed to being transparent about how we process your personal data. To learn more about how Syndigo processes your personal data, go to our Job Applicant Privacy Notice.

About IT Governance

IT Governance is the area responsible for ensuring that information technology resources are used strategically, efficiently, and in compliance with standards and regulations. IT governance professionals ensure that technology supports business objectives in a secure and reliable manner.

Key skills include IT service management (ITIL), IT audit and compliance, risk management, business continuity, disaster recovery, metrics and indicators (SLAs, KPIs), and strategic alignment between IT and business. Frameworks like COBIT, ITIL, ISO 27001, and compliance standards are essential.

IT Governance professionals in technology companies are highly valued, especially those who master ITSM, IT audit, and risk management. The field offers opportunities from governance analyst to CIO/CTO, with a focus on efficiency, compliance, security, and business value.

About Audiovisual

The Audiovisual area is responsible for producing, editing, and creating video and audio content for various platforms. With the exponential growth of digital content, audiovisual professionals are fundamental for brands that want to communicate visually and impactfully.

Key skills include video production and editing (Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut), motion graphics (After Effects), animation (Blender, Cinema 4D), sound design, podcast production, live streaming (OBS Studio), and photography. Knowledge of visual storytelling, rhythm, and art direction is a differentiator.

Audiovisual professionals in technology companies are highly valued, especially those who master motion graphics, social media videos, and content for digital platforms. The field offers opportunities from videomaker to head of audiovisual, with a focus on creativity, technical quality, and storytelling.

About Branding

Branding is the area responsible for building, managing, and strengthening a brand's identity and market value. Branding professionals create strategies that define how the brand is perceived by the public, from the logo to the complete customer experience.

Key skills include brand strategy, visual identity, brand guidelines, positioning, naming, brand voice, market research, brand equity, and brand management. Knowledge of graphic design (Figma, Illustrator, Photoshop), storytelling, and brand experience is a differentiator.

Branding professionals in technology companies are highly valued, especially those who master employer branding, digital branding, and can build strong, memorable brands in competitive markets. The field offers opportunities from brand designer to head of brand, with a focus on identity, differentiation, and perceived value.

About Graphic Designer

The Graphic Designer is the professional responsible for creating visual pieces for print and digital communication, from visual identity and logos to marketing materials and packaging. They combine creativity with technique to convey messages visually and impactfully.

Key skills include Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, CorelDRAW, visual identity design, typography, color theory, packaging design, and motion graphics. Knowledge of vector illustration, offset/digital printing, and print production is a differentiator.

Graphic Designers in technology companies are highly valued, especially those who master social media design, infographics, and can create materials that strengthen brand visual identity. The field offers opportunities from junior graphic designer to art director and design director.

About Advertising

The Advertising area is aimed at the planning, creation, and delivery of communication campaigns to promote brands, products, ideas, or services. Professionals in the sector work in advertising agencies or in-house marketing departments in creative fields (art direction, copywriting), strategic planning, account management, and media buying.

Discover Other Areas

Understand the scope of work, key skills, and tools used in different career areas.

About Automation Analyst

The Automation Analyst is the professional responsible for identifying process optimization opportunities and developing automated workflows (RPA, scripts, or integrations). They map manual and repetitive tasks across various company areas and build automation solutions using low-code/no-code platforms (such as Zapier, Make, Power Automate, n8n) or RPA tools (such as UiPath), driving operational efficiency and error reduction.

About Product Management

Product Management is one of the most strategically relevant areas in technology organizations. The Product Manager is responsible for defining product vision, prioritizing features, and coordinating multidisciplinary teams to deliver value to users.

Essential skills include strategic thinking, data analysis, communication, leadership, and technical knowledge. Tools like Jira, Confluence, Miro, and analytics platforms are fundamental in daily work.

Salaries for PMs range from entry-level to senior positions at major tech companies, with growing opportunities for international remote work.

About Web Master

The Web Master is the professional responsible for maintaining, securing, and ensuring the technical performance of websites and web applications. They manage servers, hosting infrastructure, uptime monitoring, and ensure everything runs fast and reliably.

Key skills include server management (Apache, Nginx), hosting (AWS, Google Cloud, Azure), CDN (Cloudflare), SSL, DNS, web security (WAF, firewall), performance (Core Web Vitals, cache, compression), and versioning (Git, CI/CD). Knowledge of Docker, WordPress, cPanel, and monitoring (Sentry, New Relic) is a differentiator.

Web Masters in technology companies are highly valued, especially those who master DevOps, SRE, and can guarantee uptime and performance at scale. The field offers opportunities from junior webmaster to SRE and infrastructure engineer, with a focus on reliability, security, and speed.

About Project Manager

The Project Manager is the professional responsible for planning, executing, and controlling projects end-to-end, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget, and with the expected quality. With the growing complexity of businesses, project management professionals are fundamental to organizational success.

Key skills include planning and scheduling, scope, cost, risk, quality, and resource management, stakeholder communication, cross-functional team leadership, and use of agile and traditional methodologies. Certifications like PMP, PRINCE2, and Six Sigma are important differentiators.

Project Managers in technology companies are highly valued, especially those who master agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban), tools like Jira and MS Project, and can deliver complex projects efficiently. The field offers opportunities from project analyst to head of PMO, with a focus on execution, governance, and business value.

About Automation Engineer

The Automation Engineer is the professional responsible for designing, developing, and implementing solutions that automate manual and repetitive processes in IT, infrastructure, testing, and operations. They combine programming knowledge with DevOps and SRE vision to eliminate manual tasks and increase operational efficiency.

Key skills include Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Ansible, Pulumi), CI/CD (Jenkins, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI), test automation (Selenium, Cypress, Playwright), network automation (Netconf, SDN), RPA (UiPath, Power Automate), and scripting (Python, Bash, PowerShell). Knowledge of Kubernetes, GitOps (ArgoCD, Flux), and automation platforms is a differentiator.

Automation Engineers in technology companies are highly valued, especially those who can create automated deployment pipelines, self-healing infrastructure, and internal developer platforms (IDP). The field offers opportunities from junior automation engineer to automation architect and head of automation.

Career Guides

Technology Career Guide

Planning, skills, interviews, and professional growth in IT, Data Science, DevOps, and Product.

Read full guide →

Design Career Guide

UX/UI, Graphic Design, Product Design. Portfolio, tools, interviews, and growth in the Design field.

Read full guide →

Marketing Career Guide

SEO, Paid Media, Growth, Content Marketing. Certifications, tools, and strategies to grow in Digital Marketing.

Read full guide →

Finance Career Guide

Financial market, investments, corporate finance, certifications, and strategies to grow in the financial field.

Read full guide →

Communication Career Guide

Journalism, PR, Corporate Communication, Content Marketing, and Multimedia Production.

Read full guide →

Administration Career Guide

Business Management, HR, Logistics, Consulting, Project Management, and Entrepreneurship.

Read full guide →

Data Career Guide

Data Science, Data Engineering, BI, Machine Learning, and AI. From training to the job market.

Read full guide →

Product Career Guide

Product Management, Product Ownership, Agile, Scrum, and OKRs. From strategy to execution.

Read full guide →

Tech & Remote Glossary

Stop getting lost in interviews and job descriptions

The job market, especially within tech and global companies, has developed its own dialect. Not understanding these acronyms can make you lose valuable opportunities or poorly negotiate your contract. To end this problem, we created the Definitive Glossary for the Remote Professional.

🏢 Work Models & Routine

Async (Asynchronous Work)
A communication model where responses don't need to be immediate. Instead of back-to-back meetings, the team relies on well-structured documents, threads, and messages. It's the gold standard for global companies spanning multiple time zones.
Sync (Synchronous Work)
The opposite of Async. It requires the team to be online and available at the same time for meetings, live chats, and real-time collaboration.
Daily / Stand-up
A quick daily meeting (usually 15 minutes) common in Agile (Scrum) methodologies. The team answers three questions: What did I do yesterday? What will I do today? Are there any blockers?
All-Hands / Town Hall
A company-wide meeting involving all employees. Usually led by the founders (C-Levels) to present results, new goals, and answer team questions.
1:1 (One-on-One)
A recurring individual meeting between a professional and their direct manager. It is used for career alignment, feedback, and problem-solving, not just for project status updates.

💰 Contracts, Benefits & Compensation

PTO (Paid Time Off)
Instead of strict, categorized leave policies, modern US companies usually offer a flexible pool of days (e.g., 20 days of PTO, or even "Unlimited PTO") that you can use for vacations, sick days, or personal matters, while receiving your regular compensation.
Equity / Stock Options
Company ownership. The startup offers you the right to buy shares at a heavily discounted strike price in the future. If the company grows, goes public, or is acquired, these shares can be highly lucrative.
Vesting (Vesting Schedule)
The rule that controls your Equity. It usually lasts 4 years. You don't get all the shares on day one; you "earn" them gradually as you stay with the company. A "1-year Cliff" means you must stay for at least one year to receive your first batch of shares.
RSUs (Restricted Stock Units)
Unlike Stock Options (where you have the right to buy the stock), RSUs are actual shares the company grants you as a bonus or part of your compensation package, following a strict Vesting schedule.
Independent Contractor (1099 / B2B)
The most common international hiring model for global talent working for US companies. You act as a service provider (business-to-business), receiving the gross salary (often six-figure compensation) without standard local payroll tax deductions at the source.

🤖 Recruitment & Hiring Process

ATS (Applicant Tracking System)
The "robot" that reads your resume. Software like Greenhouse, Ashby, and Workday are used to filter candidates by keywords before a human even looks at the document. (Pro tip: this is why your resume must be clean, semantic, and have the right keywords).
JD (Job Description)
The document that lists the responsibilities, technical requirements, and benefits of the open position.
Cultural Fit
The interview stage that evaluates if your core values, communication style, and worldview align with the company's culture. This is the ultimate test of your Soft Skills.
Onboarding
The integration process. It's the period of your first few weeks at the company, where you get your access credentials, learn about the culture, study the internal documentation, and understand how the product works.

🚀 How to use this to your advantage?

The secret isn't just knowing what these acronyms mean, but using them actively. If during an interview for a premium tech role you ask, "How does your PTO policy and Vesting schedule work?", the recruiter will immediately perceive you as a high-level professional, familiar with the global market standards.

The remote job market requires preparation. And having the right vocabulary is the first big step to securing six-figure proposals and standing out among thousands of applicants.

Expert Tip

Agile and Project Management in Today's Market

1. Move Beyond "Doing Agile": Deliver Real Value

One of the biggest mistakes candidates make in interviews for Agile roles is focusing too much on ceremonies (Dailies, Plannings, Retrospectives) and forgetting their actual purpose. Recruiters from global tech companies want to know how you eliminated bottlenecks and boosted team efficiency.

"True Agile success isn't measured by how many practices you implement, but by how much value you deliver to the customer and how quickly you do it."

Instead of writing "facilitated Scrum ceremonies" on your resume, use a results-driven approach: "Reduced team Cycle Time by 20% by identifying and removing bottlenecks in the value stream."

2. Certifications That Actually Bypass the ATS

While practical experience is the ultimate deciding factor, Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) used by top US companies (like Greenhouse, Ashby, and Workday) filter resumes strictly through keywords. Holding the right certifications ensures you pass this first robotic barrier and get your profile in front of a human recruiter.

  • Professional Scrum Master (PSM I, II) by Scrum.org: Highly respected because it doesn't require renewal and features a rigorous, Scrum Guide-based exam.
  • Project Management Professional (PMP) by PMI: The gold standard for traditional, predictive, and hybrid Project Management.
  • PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP): Excellent for demonstrating broad knowledge across multiple Agile frameworks (Scrum, Kanban, Lean).
  • SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework): Absolutely essential if you are targeting Enterprise-level corporations that have scaled Agile across thousands of employees.

3. Mastering Flow Metrics and Tools (Hard Skills)

The modern Agile professional must be data-driven. Companies offering six-figure compensation expect you to extract actionable insights from tools like Jira, Confluence, or Azure DevOps.

During technical interviews, be prepared to discuss how you utilize flow metrics, such as:

  • Lead Time and Cycle Time: To measure efficiency and the actual time it takes to deliver requests.
  • Throughput: The number of work items completed in a given timeframe.
  • Cumulative Flow Diagram (CFD): To visually identify bottlenecks in the workflow.
  • OKRs (Objectives and Key Results): To align the development team's daily work with the company's high-level strategic goals.

4. Soft Skills and Conflict Resolution in Async Teams

In global, remote-first, and asynchronous environments, communication is the biggest challenge. A top-tier Project Manager or Scrum Master acts as a shield for the tech team and a bridge for stakeholders.

Demonstrate emotional intelligence, empathy, and negotiation skills. You will often face situational questions like: "How would you handle a Product Owner who constantly changes the Sprint scope mid-cycle?" Your answer should highlight peaceful, data-driven negotiation focused on business impact and team predictability.

Conclusion: Your Competitive Edge

To land premium Project Management and Agile roles, you must position yourself as a strategic business partner, not just a process enforcer. Understand the product, master the metrics, and know how to guide people towards continuous improvement.

References & Useful Links