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Associate Design Director Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Stand Together

Associate Design Director

Arlington, VA

$125K - $160K/yr

We're looking for a highly skilled, detail-oriented Associate Design Director to elevate the quality, consistency, and impact of our creative work across the Stand Together brand and its network of ...

Stand Together

Associate Design Director

Arlington, VA · On-site

$125K - $160K/yr

We're looking for a highly skilled, detail-oriented Associate Design Director to elevate the quality, consistency, and impact of our creative work across the Stand Together brand and its network of ...

Stand Together

Associate Design Director

Arlington, VA · On-site

$125K - $160K/yr

We're looking for a highly skilled, detail-oriented Associate Design Director to elevate the quality, consistency, and impact of our creative work across the Stand Together brand and its network of ...

Capital One

Director, Product Design - Accelerator

Mclean, VA · On-site

$156K - $192K/yr

Director, Product Design - Accelerator At Capital One, we're building a leading information-based ... Our associates serve with humility and a deep respect for their responsibility in helping our ...

Marriott

Director, UX & Product Design

Bethesda, MD

$165K - $203K/yr

JOB SUMMARY The Director, Associate UX - Revenue Strategy plays a critical role in creating ... The Director provides design leadership across multiple interconnected products within the ...

Marriott

Director, UX & Product Design

Bethesda, MD

$165K - $203K/yr

JOB SUMMARY The Director, Associate UX - Revenue Strategy plays a critical role in creating ... The Director provides design leadership across multiple interconnected products within the ...

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All JobsAssociate Design JobsAssociate Design Director JobsAssociate Design Director Jobs in Washington

Associate Design Director information

See Washington salary details

$34.5K

$116.3K

$195.9K

How much do associate design director jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for associate design director in Washington is $116,349.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $79,300.00 and $159,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Associate Design Director, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Associate Design Director, you need a strong background in visual design, creative direction, and team leadership, usually supported by a degree in design or a related field. Proficiency with industry-standard design tools like Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, and experience with project management systems are typically required. Exceptional communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills help you inspire teams and manage client relationships effectively. These skills ensure the successful delivery of innovative design solutions that meet client objectives and drive business results.

What does an Associate Design Director do?

An Associate Design Director helps lead the creative direction and execution of design projects, often working under the guidance of a Design Director. They manage design teams, oversee project timelines, and ensure that creative work aligns with client goals and brand standards. Their responsibilities may include mentoring junior designers, collaborating with other departments, and presenting concepts to clients. The role requires strong leadership, creative vision, and the ability to balance multiple projects efficiently.

How does an Associate Design Director typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during a project?

An Associate Design Director often serves as a bridge between the design team and other departments such as product management, engineering, and marketing. They facilitate clear communication to ensure that design concepts align with business goals and technical constraints. Regularly attending cross-functional meetings, providing feedback, and aligning design strategies with overall project objectives are key aspects of the role. This collaborative approach helps deliver cohesive and user-centered products while fostering a supportive and innovative team environment.

Is VP of design higher than Design Director?

In most organizations, the Vice President (VP) of Design is a higher-level executive than a Design Director. The VP typically oversees multiple design teams and sets strategic direction, while the Design Director manages day-to-day design operations and team leadership. The hierarchy can vary depending on company size and structure, but generally, VP is a senior leadership role above Design Director.

Is an associate director a high position?

An Associate Design Director is a senior-level role responsible for overseeing design projects and guiding creative teams. While it is a high-ranking position within a design or creative department, it typically reports to a Director or Vice President, with opportunities for advancement to executive roles. The level of seniority can vary depending on the company's size and structure.

What is an associate Design Director?

An Associate Design Director is a senior-level role responsible for overseeing design projects, guiding creative teams, and ensuring design quality aligns with company goals. They often collaborate with other departments, use design tools like Adobe Creative Suite, and may have several years of experience in design or art direction.

What is the highest paid design job?

The highest paid design jobs are often executive roles such as Chief Design Officer or Creative Director, with salaries reaching into the high six or seven figures depending on the company and industry. These roles typically require extensive experience, leadership skills, and a strong portfolio, often supplemented by advanced degrees or certifications in design or related fields.
Associate Design Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Associate Design Director job openings in Washington as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 71% Full Time, 25% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $116,349 per year, or $55.9 per hour.

Associate Design Director

Stand Together

Arlington, VA

$125K - $160K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Retirement

Re-posted 8 days ago

Job description

Stand Together is a philanthropic community that helps America's boldest changemakers tackle the root causes of our country's biggest problems, from education to the economy, broken communities, and toxic division, among dozens of other pressing issues. We provide our partners with access to resources including funding, thought leadership, a network of peers, and a playbook for applying proven principles to transform lives and society. 

We're looking for a highly skilled, detail-oriented Associate Design Director to elevate the quality, consistency, and impact of our creative work across the Stand Together brand and its network of partners.

This role is ideal for a design leader who combines exceptional visual craft with a passion for mentoring others. You will play a critical role in shaping and refining creative work-bringing a sharp design eye, strong executional ability, and the ability to guide teams towards best-in-class outcomes.

Working closely with the Creative Director, you will focus on raising the bar of design across all touchpoints, ensuring that every piece of work is strategically sound, visually compelling, and executed at the highest level. This role offers a unique opportunity to make a culturally significant impact while strengthening the capabilities of our creative team. 
What You Will Do
  • Serve as the design lead across projects, partnering with the Creative Director to ensure work is visually exceptional, strategically aligned, and cohesive across channels.  
  • Act as the primary design authority, providing a critical, detail-oriented eye to refine and elevate creative work at every stage. 
  • Guide and mentor designers (junior through senior), offering hands-on feedback, direction, and coaching to strengthen craft, execution, and conceptual thinking.  
  • Spend dedicated time in the work, reviewing layouts, typography, systems, and visual storytelling to ensure the highest level of polish and consistency.  
  • Establish and uphold design standards, systems, and best practices across brand, campaigns, and partnerships.  
  • Collaborate closely with art directors, copywriters, strategists, and producers to bring integrated ideas to life across digital, social, video, print, and experiential.  
  • Translate strategic concepts into compelling visual systems and executions that resonate culturally and emotionally.  
  • Lead design critiques, foster a culture of constructive feedback, and create an environment where designers can grow and do their best work.  
  • Ensure design work scales effectively across platforms while maintaining integrity and quality.  
  • Support the Creative Director by owning the day-to-day design quality, enabling more focus on higher-level strategy and vision.  
What You Will Bring
  • 7+ years of experience in design, with a strong track record in brand, campaign, and multi-channel execution (agency or in-house). 
  • A portfolio that demonstrates exceptional design craft across digital, social, print, video, and brand systems.  
  • Experience managing, leading, mentoring, and developing designers, with a passion for elevating team performance.  
  • A refined design sensibility with a "laser eye" for detail, typography, layout, and visual systems.  
  • Strong understanding of how design supports storytelling, strategy, and audience engagement.  
  • Experience working within complex, multi-stakeholder environments while maintaining high creative standards.  
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions clearly and persuasively.  
  • A highly collaborative mindset with a commitment to continuous improvement-for both the work and the team.  
  • Enthusiasm to contribute to Stand Together's vision and principled approach to solving problems, and a commitment to stewarding our culture, which champions values including transformation and innovation, entrepreneurialism, humility, and respect.
Standout Candidates Will Bring
  • Experience building and scaling brand systems across multiple channels and partners.  
  • Experience mentoring and leveling up design teams in fast-paced environments.  
  • Background in culturally driven or behavior change campaigns.  
  • Ability to balance hands-on design involvement with leadership responsibilities. 
What We Offer
  • Competitive benefits: Enjoy a 6% 401(k) match with immediate vesting, flexible time off, comprehensive health and dental plans, plus wellness and mental health support through Peloton and Talkspace. 
  • A meaningful career: Join a passionate community of over 1,300 employees dedicated to improving lives and driving innovative solutions to complex social challenges. 
  • Commitment to growth: Thrive in a non-hierarchical environment that empowers employees to discover, develop and apply their unique talents. 
  • Competitive compensation: Our approach rewards the value you create through competitive salaries and bonus opportunities, allowing you to share in the success you help drive. 
$125,000 - $160,000 a year

For this role, the anticipated base salary range is $125,000-$160,000 per year. This role may also be eligible for additional bonus compensation designed to align total compensation with an employee's overall contribution to the organization. 

Our Principles-Based Management (PBM) compensation philosophy is grounded in an individualized approach that rewards the long-term value each person creates for the organization. Compensation decisions are informed by a variety of factors, including relevant experience, capabilities, demonstrated skills, role responsibilities, and expected contribution. Consistent with this approach, base salary may vary within or outside of the anticipated range based on these considerations. 

Our Values: Working for an organization within the Stand Together philanthropic community is different from many other places. The culture is deeply rooted in Principle Based Management (PBM), a framework guided by the principles that drive human progress, such as dignity, openness, and bottom-up empowerment. PBM empowers employees to be entrepreneurial, to innovate, and to continually drive transformation.   
 
We believe diversity fuels creativity, broadens knowledge, and helps drive success.  That is why we're proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and strive to treat all employees and applicants with honesty, dignity, and respect.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
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