Design & Brand Program Manager

General Function

Responsible for managing design process, intake, and strategic design initiatives, including development, coordination and implementation in coordination with the Design Director.

• Serve as a project manager/coordinator for the Design and Brand Team, overseeing the intake, management and reporting on design team workload, tracking and driving deliverables as needed, while prioritizing the work that most effectively advances brand impact and customer experience.
• Manage ideation & production process, acting as regular liaison to all internal and external partners, ensuring alignment to enterprise brand standards across all environments and touchpoints.
• Work alongside the Design Director to ideate and execute on strategic vision for the Design and Brand Team and its work.
• Lead strategic and high‑visibility design project work, working alongside the Design Lead to align with on‑brand aesthetic and function.
• Work with Design and Brand Team agency partners to manage strategic business reviews; responsible for general vendor management, including establishing vendor SLAs and gathering VOC feedback on vendor partners.
• Develop and maintain vendor partner relationships to inspire discretionary effort and drive exceptional outcomes.
• Act as the first point of escalation for needs others have from the Design and Brand team.
• Occasionally step in to handle design requests on a limited basis as a stop‑gap measure to ensure the Design and Brand Team can stay on mission.
• Track budget, forecasting and spend in collaboration with finance counterparts.
• Work with design team members and others to proactively identify challenges and create solutions.
• Serve as a back‑up to Brand Director, executing on design strategy and driving deliverables, with accountability for maintaining brand cohesion across all active initiatives.
• Regularly review and revise processes to achieve continuous improvement as it relates to the design team’s operational efficiency.

• Provide employees timely, candid and constructive performance feedback; develop employees to their fullest potential and provide challenging opportunities that enhance employee career growth.
• Develop the appropriate talent pool to ensure adequate bench strength and succession planning; recognize and reward employees for accomplishments.
• Act as the primary back‑up to Design Director.
• Lead and provide direction and guidance to Design Lead as it pertains to process and project execution.

• Design background (BS or BA) or equivalent experience required (preferably in architectural or interior design);
  Graphic design minor preferred.
• Minimum 8 to 10 years’ experience.
• Strong technical skills (AutoCAD, Sketch Up, Adobe Creative Suite – InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator).
• Strong design sensibilities, and an understanding of how design communicates and reinforces brand.
• Human‑centered/people‑first approach to design challenges and professional relationships.
• Proactive ability to create order from ambiguity.
• Strong peer leadership, with the ability to influence toward brand‑aligned decisions across stakeholders.
• Ability to clearly communicate ideas and strategy, verbally and visually.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Self‑starter with excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Detail oriented.
• Exceptional professional acumen.

Normal office environment with little exposure to dust, noise, temperature and the like. Extended time at desk and/or viewing computer screen.

Base Salary Range: $82,100.00 – $ USD Annual. Eligible to participate in an incentive compensation plan, with any such payment based upon company, line of business and/or individual performance. Extensive benefits programs support the individual needs of employees and their families, encompassing physical, financial, emotional and social well‑being.

Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

Fifth Third Bank, National Association is proud to have an engaged and inclusive culture and to promote and ensure equal employment opportunity in all employment decisions regardless of race, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, veteran status or any other legally protected status.