Design Director

Madeo is an award winning brand and web design & development agency with a focus on social impact. We partner with foundations and nonprofits tackling today’s challenging issues. Some of our clients include Innocence Project, the Equal Justice Initiative, Echoing Green, Creative Capital for Artists, and Robin Hood Foundation. We are an inclusive and diverse team of designers, strategists, writers, project managers, and web developers. We value mission-driven work that relies on empathy, analytical thinking, and collaboration.

About the Role

We’re looking for a Design Director who believes that great design has the power to clarify complex ideas, strengthen mission-driven work, and create meaningful change. As a key creative leader at Madeo, you’ll guide our design practice across branding and web projects, lead and nurture our design team, and partner closely with clients and colleagues to produce work we’re all proud of.

This is a role for someone who loves both the craft of design and the practice of leadership—someone equally energized by diving into a challenging design problem and coaching a designer through their own creative process.

What You’ll Do

Lead design on mission-driven projects
You’ll be the creative lead on brand identity and website redesign projects for organizations and institutions working to make a positive impact. Some projects you’ll design directly, collaborating with branding, motion, and UX/UI designers. Others you’ll guide from a strategic level, coaching designers as they lead the work. You’ll coordinate multiple projects simultaneously, keeping teams aligned and work moving forward thoughtfully.

Grow and support our design team
As a people manager, you’ll mentor designers at different stages of their careers, helping them develop their skills, find their creative voice, and advance professionally. You’ll be comfortable giving thoughtful feedback and critique that challenges and encourages growth. You’ll foster a collaborative, welcoming culture that values each person’s contributions and supports everyone’s development.

Partner as a leader across disciplines
You’ll work hand-in-hand with strategists, engineers, project managers, and operations team members to ensure our work is thoughtful, cohesive, and delivered with care. You’ll bring a proactive, hands-on approach to collaboration that helps the whole team navigate challenges and find solutions together. Your organizational skills and good judgment will help coordinate complex projects across disciplines.

Build meaningful client relationships
You’ll be a confident, trusted partner to clients—from project kickoff through long-term engagements. You’ll guide conversations about design direction, present work with clarity and conviction, and help clients see new possibilities for their brand and digital presence.

Minimum Qualifications

Candidates need to meet the below requirements to be considered for the role:

• Strong design management experience for more than 4 years as a people manager to other designers, with demonstrated ability to give constructive feedback and develop designers across various career stages
• At least 10 years of professional design experience, with majority of that in an agency setting, with a portfolio showcasing expertise in branding and web design, ideally with some experience with design for organizations or institutions
• Strong examples of editorial design, mission or issue-based communication work
• Demonstrated expertise in projects where digital-first branding and website redesigns are deeply connected
• Experience leading design projects with multiple designers in a team setting, with strong organizational and coordination skills
• Confidence in working directly with clients as a creative partner on both individual projects and long-term relationships
• Genuine interest in social impact and working with progressive nonprofit organizations
• A curious, strategic approach to design challenges and team development

Remote/Hybrid

This is a hybrid position based in New York, with one day per week in person for team meetings and collaboration. The rest of the week you’ll work from home, with flexibility to connect virtually with coworkers and clients.

We also organize frequent get togethers, dinners, events, and invite team members across the country on two retreats a year.

You’ll join a close-knit team that values both…