Creative Leader - Brand Design

General Information

Posting Date

08-07-2026

Time Type

Full-Time

Job ID

8808

Areas of Expertise

Brand Design

Job Category

Brand, Graphics, Digital Media

Locations

Washington, DC, US

Description

Your Role

Gensler’s Brand Studio in Washington, D.C. is seeking a visionary Creative Leader with exceptional design leadership, a portfolio of innovative brand design, and a drive for inventing the cooler, the smarter, the more compelling.

As Creative Leader, you mix strategic and creative thinking to create great brand experiences across all forms of media. You lead client engagements and design teams, develop next-generation talent, bring new approaches to the design process, and help our clients reimagine their own possibilities.

The role is critical to the driving the future of the DC Brand Studio and asks you to challenge, inspire, rethink, and redirect to help us grow. You’ll collaborate with brand and other design professionals across the office, the region, and the firm to integrate brand experience strategies into diverse project types and across multiple practice areas to grow the Brand Design practices and opportunities.

Your leadership will extend to brand team members, an integrated multidisciplinary group of designers and strategists, where you will guide the design and delivery of brand strategies, identities, experiences, and places across the industry spectrum.

What You Will Do

• Lead creative direction for project engagements, leading multiple design teams on projects from the initial stages through completion.
• Develop and own overall design concepts, storytelling, and design presentation strategies.
• Be a fearless integrator and advocate for diverse points of view and expansive thinking leading the strategic direction of the practice area in the regional market.
• Develop new business through personal relationships and repeat clients; contribute to scope and process definition and staffing approaches at the proposal stage.
• Build and sustain client relationships, act as the primary design interface with clients, team members, and a wide range of consultants and collaborators, both internal and external.
• Creatively align solutions to budgets.
• Mentor and develop Gensler designers; provide creative direction to design teams.
• Identify talent and talent gaps within the team to mentor future leaders, retain existing staff, and recruit new talent.
• Interaction with clients while representing Gensler at meetings and presentations.
• Build relationships and new collaborations with other design leaders and directors in the office, region, and firm.

Your Qualifications

• 15-20 years of diverse design experience, including experience in a leadership role.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field: fine arts, graphic design, media, communications
• Track record of leadership in the creative direction of brands; recognized authority in the field.
• Entrepreneurial and result-oriented mindset, strong sense of urgency and ownership.
• Experience leading design teams through all phases of the design process.
• Proficiency in design software as a minimum, expertise welcomed in Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, animation platforms, other similar.

Join Gensler Washington, D.C. Brand Studio and be part of a team that is passionate about making a positive impact for our clients’ brands. If you are excited about pushing the boundaries of design, leading diverse projects, and contributing to a global brand, we encourage you to apply.

Application Process: Interested candidates are invited to submit a portfolio of their work, along with their resume and a cover letter highlighting their alignment with Gensler's values and their vision for the role.

**The estimated base salary range for this position is $100,000 - $131,000 plus eligibility for bonuses and a comprehensive benefits package, with final compensation contingent on relevant experience.

Life at Gensler

At Gensler, we are as committed to enjoying life as we are to delivering best-in-class design. From curated art exhibits to internal design competitions to “Well-being Awareness Week,” our offices reflect our people’s diverse interests.

We encourage every person at Gensler to lead a healthy and balanced life. Our comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, disability, wellness programs, flex spending, paid holidays, and paid time off. We also offer a 401k, profit sharing, employee stock ownership, and twice annual bonus opportunities. Our annual base salary range has been established based on local markets.

As part of the firm’s commitment to licensure and professional development, Gensler offers reimbursement for certain professional licenses and associated renewals and exam fees. In addition, we reimburse tuition for certain eligible programs or classes. We view our professional development programs as strategic investments in our future.

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NOTICE TO APPLICANTS

We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer of choice. All aspects of employment decisions will be based on merit, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of any status protected under federal, state and local law.

Individuals with disabilities and protected veterans are encouraged to apply. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with federal, state and local law.

See also Know your rights: Workplace discrimination is illegal , right to work and E-verify program , as required by law.

Gensler endeavors to make gensler.com/careers accessible to all applicants. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us .

Regarding Gensler’s approach to recruiting new talent, we will never ask an applicant for sensitive or personal financial information during the recruitment process. We advise all applicants seeking employment with Gensler to review available information on recruitment fraud . Anyone who suspects that they have been contacted by someone falsely representing Gensler should email

[email protected]

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