ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Creative Design Manager Jobs in Washington, DC (NOW HIRING)

[solidcore]

Manager, Creative & Design

Arlington, VA · On-site

We are looking for a Manager, Creative & Design to drive creative execution and shape the visual direction of [solidcore] across all channels. You are both a creative leader and a strategic operator.

[solidcore]

Manager, Creative & Design

Arlington, VA · On-site

We are looking for a Manager, Creative & Design to drive creative execution and shape the visual direction of [solidcore] across all channels. You are both a creative leader and a strategic operator.

[solidcore]

Coordinator, Creative & Design

Arlington, VA

$59K - $61K/yr

You will work directly under the Manager, Creative & Design and will be responsible for producing high-quality creative assets, supporting the content planning process, and owning the trafficking and ...

[solidcore]

Coordinator, Creative & Design

Arlington, VA

$59K - $61K/yr

You will work directly under the Manager, Creative & Design and will be responsible for producing high-quality creative assets, supporting the content planning process, and owning the trafficking and ...

[solidcore]

Coordinator, Creative & Design

Arlington, VA · On-site

$59K - $61K/yr

You will work directly under the Manager, Creative & Design and will be responsible for producing high-quality creative assets, supporting the content planning process, and owning the trafficking and ...

McGuireWoods LLP

Design Manager

Washington, DC · Hybrid

The Design Manager will translate brand strategy into impactful visuals for all firm marketing and ... Lead a team of designers (senior, junior, and freelancers) to deliver high-quality creative work ...

McGuireWoods LLP

Design Manager

Washington, DC · Hybrid

The Design Manager will translate brand strategy into impactful visuals for all firm marketing and ... Lead a team of designers (senior, junior, and freelancers) to deliver high-quality creative work ...

McGuireWoods LLP

Design Manager

Washington, DC · On-site

$95K - $142K/yr

The Design Manager will translate brand strategy into impactful visuals for all firm marketing and ... Lead a team of designers (senior, junior, and freelancers) to deliver high-quality creative work ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsCreative Design JobsCreative Design Manager JobsCreative Design Manager Jobs in Washington, DC

Creative Design Manager information

See Washington, DC salary details

$47.6K

$129.6K

$228.1K

How much do creative design manager jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for creative design manager in Washington, DC is $129,624.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $94,500.00 and $163,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a creative design manager do?

A creative design manager oversees the development and execution of visual concepts for projects such as branding, advertising, and product design. They lead a team of designers, coordinate with clients or other departments, and ensure that creative work aligns with brand standards and project goals, often using tools like Adobe Creative Suite. Strong leadership, communication, and project management skills are essential in this role.

Is a creative design manager a stressful job?

A creative design manager often faces stress related to tight deadlines, managing multiple projects, and balancing client or stakeholder expectations. The role requires strong organizational skills, leadership, and the ability to handle high-pressure situations, which can contribute to job stress.

What skills and qualifications are needed to be a creative design manager?

To thrive as a Creative Design Manager, you need strong visual design expertise, leadership experience, and a relevant degree in design or a related field. Familiarity with industry-standard design software such as Adobe Creative Suite and project management tools is typically required. Excellent communication, team collaboration, and creative problem-solving are standout soft skills for this role. These skills ensure the delivery of innovative, high-quality design solutions while effectively leading and motivating creative teams.

What is the difference between Creative Design Manager vs Graphic Designer?

AspectCreative Design ManagerGraphic Designer
ResponsibilitiesOversees creative projects, manages design teams, develops concepts, and ensures brand consistency.Creates visual content, designs layouts, and produces graphics based on project briefs.
Required SkillsLeadership, project management, advanced design skills, and strategic thinking.Proficiency in design software, creativity, and technical skills.
Work EnvironmentCollaborative teams, client meetings, and project planning.Design studios, freelance work, or in-house departments.
Common CertificationsDesign degrees, Adobe certifications, leadership training.

The main difference is that a Creative Design Manager leads and oversees creative projects and teams, focusing on strategy and management, while a Graphic Designer primarily executes visual designs and creates graphics. Both roles require strong design skills, but the manager role involves more leadership and project coordination.

How does a creative design manager balance creative vision with client or stakeholder requirements?

As a Creative Design Manager, you'll often navigate the challenge of aligning your team's innovative ideas with client or stakeholder expectations. This involves active listening, clear communication, and presenting creative solutions that address both aesthetic goals and practical needs. You'll facilitate brainstorming sessions, provide constructive feedback, and ensure that the design output meets brand guidelines, project timelines, and business objectives. Strong collaboration with marketing, product, and leadership teams is key to achieving successful outcomes while maintaining creative integrity.

What is a creative design manager?

Creative Design Managers are professionals responsible for leading and overseeing creative projects within organizations, such as advertising campaigns, branding, and visual content creation. They manage teams of designers, ensuring creative output aligns with company goals and brand identity. Their role involves project management, creative direction, collaboration with other departments, and maintaining high standards of design quality. Creative Design Managers also stay up-to-date with design trends and often mentor junior staff.
What are popular job titles related to Creative Design Manager jobs in Washington, DC? For Creative Design Manager jobs in Washington, DC, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Creative Design Manager jobs in Washington, DC look for? The top searched job categories for Creative Design Manager jobs in Washington, DC are:
Creative Design Manager jobs near you
Infographic showing various Creative Design Manager job openings in Washington, DC as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $129,624 per year, or $62.3 per hour.

Manager, Creative & Design

[solidcore]

Arlington, VA

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 24 days ago

Job description

We are looking for a Manager, Creative & Design to drive creative execution and shape the visual direction of [solidcore] across all channels. You are both a creative leader and a strategic operator. You will help drive the creative content strategy and roadmap, own the brand's visual identity, build the systems that enable speed and consistency, and ensure every asset produced is rooted in a clear content plan that advances the brand. You will partner closely with Content and Brand Marketing team leads to keep creative and content aligned - from brief through delivery.

This role reports to the Director of Content and directly manages the Coordinator, Creative & Design.


 
Key Responsibilities:

Creative Leadership & Execution

  • Lead design execution from brief through final delivery across all formats and channels: including social, email, digital ads, print and in-studio signage, website, activation materials, and presentation decks

  • Own and evolve the [solidcore] visual identity, serving as the internal authority on brand standards, creative guidelines, and design systems following the "Stronger for it" brand platform launch

  • Execute design work, maintaining brand consistency and quality across all materials

  • In partnership with the Coordinator, drive and execute the creative vision for campaigns, programs and key brand moments 

  • Develop and maintain a scalable design process and system that enables speed and brand consistency across all channels and teams

Content Strategy & Planning

  • In partnership with the Director, support the creative content strategy and roadmap across the [solidcore] brand ecosystem: ensuring design and visual assets fuel a cohesive, omnichannel client experience across paid, owned and earned channels

  • Support in development of integrated content matrices in partnership with the Director and channel leads, identifying all content creation needs and translating brand strategy into clear design direction

  • Act as a thought leader within the Content team, sharing learnings and optimizations and conducting competitive landscape research to identify emerging content formats, consumer behaviors, and visual trends, communicating findings 

  • Establish and socialize best practices for creative content production, including briefing standards, approval workflows, and output requirements by channel

  • Audit creative output against content objectives and channel performance; iterate and optimize the production process accordingly

Creative Process & Ops Systems

  • Build and manage briefing, intake, and project management systems that create clarity and prioritization across the team and organization

  • Lead the management of creative requests from across the business - tracking, prioritizing, setting deadlines, and communicating proactively with cross-functional partners

  • Serve as the embedded design partner for cross-functional teams

  • In partnership with Brand Marketing, lead creative reviews with senior stakeholders, presenting work confidently and incorporating feedback constructively

Team Leadership

  • Directly manage and mentor the Coordinator, Creative & Design - providing creative direction, ongoing feedback, and a growth structure built to scale as creative needs expand

  • In partnership with the Director, proactively identify and explore new technology solutions, including AI tools, to accelerate design and creative output and keep the team at the leading edge

  • Champion a culture of craft, speed, and continuous improvement within the creative function

Qualifications:

Required

  • 6-9 years of design experience, with at least 2 years in a senior or lead role on an in-house brand or content team

  • Demonstrated experience owning brand identity and creative direction across multiple channels simultaneously

  • Proven ability to operate at the intersection of creative and content strategy - not just executing against a brief, but helping define what needs to exist and why

  • Expert-level proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, After Effects) and Figma

  • Strong motion design and video editing skills - able to independently produce short-form social and paid media content

  • Experience managing creative operations: briefing systems, content calendars, project intake, asset management, and cross-functional workflows

  • Proven ability to manage up and influence without authority - comfortable presenting to senior leaders and navigating stakeholder feedback

  • Data-aware mindset: comfortable using performance insights to inform and evolve creative strategy

Preferred

  • BFA or equivalent in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, or related field

  • Experience in a consumer brand, retail, fitness, or lifestyle company

  • Experience managing or mentoring junior talent

  • Familiarity with Canva for template creation and field team enablement

  • Experience working with or exploring AI tools for design and content acceleration

Compensation and Benefits:
  • Competitive salary of $85,522 to $97,282, based on experience
  • Bonus eligibility based on performance
  • Monthly cell phone stipend
  • 401(k) with employer match
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • Paid parental leave and parental pay benefits
  • Free telehealth services
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Pre-tax commuter benefits
  • Flexible PTO
  • Free drop-in classes at [solidcore]
  • And more!
[solidcore] is a national boutique fitness company with 100+ studios across the country. Our signature workout is 50 minutes of low-impact, high-intensity strength training: the lights are low and the music is loud. The coach guides the class through a series of slow & controlled movements that are sequenced to work muscles to failure. This class is accessible for all fitness levels and can be amplified or modified to accommodate individual goals. Class is as intense as our reviews suggest, but our instructors go above and beyond to provide a welcoming, supportive, empowering, and challenging experience for all. Please visit our website here to read more about our mission.

[solidcore] is firmly committed to social justice and promoting a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. You can click here to find out more about the actions we are taking to promote a more diverse and inclusive space for both our clients and our internal team.

[solidcore] is an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. [solidcore] makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.
apply for this job

Apply