Brand Design Manager

Interested in working on cutting-edge blockchain technology and creating equitable access to the global financial system? Since 2014, the mission-driven team at the Stellar Development Foundation (SDF) has helped fuel the tremendous growth of the Stellar blockchain network, an open-source platform that operates at high-scale today. Developers and companies around the world build on it, and the SDF team is expanding to support the rapidly growing and changing Stellar ecosystem.

The Experiential Marketing team manifests the invisible power of the Stellar network through industry-defining creative and immersive environments, turning abstract technical potential into a tangible reality. As our Brand Design Manager
, you will balance strategic ownership and hands‑on design deliverables. You will own creative vision and execution across all touchpoints, leading brand and design output across digital, campaigns, brand activations, and events, establishing and evolving Stellar’s visual identity as the blockchain for financial services.

This role offers a unique opportunity to shape how one of the most innovative blockchain foundations shows up in the world. You will span environmental design, event identity systems, digital campaigns, and branded content. Leading a high‑performing design team and managing external agency relationships, you will be the driving creative force, ensuring a unified, world‑class brand across every channel. We are looking for someone energized by the intersection of bold vision and rigorous execution within our fast-moving, mission-driven environment.

• Take ownership of creative vision and execution across all channels — digital, social, brand campaigns, activations, and events — ensuring every touchpoint reflects the quality, consistency, and visual ambition of the Stellar brand.
• Establish and evolve SDF's visual identity and design system, developing brand guidelines and toolkits that enable consistent, on-brand execution across the entire marketing organization.
• Lead creative output for flagship programs including Meridian 2026 and the Stellar House series, spanning environmental design, event identity, collateral, signage, swag, and digital assets.
• Direct the design and production of integrated marketing creative — including paid digital, organic social, email, web, and campaign assets — ensuring cohesive brand storytelling across all formats.
• Manage and mentor a high-performing design team, providing clear creative direction, actionable feedback, and ongoing development support to elevate both their craft and their impact.
• Own external agency and production vendor relationships end-to-end: briefing, directing, and quality-controlling output across brand, creative, and production partners with minimal supervision.
• Partner with the Sr. Director of Experiential Marketing and cross-functional stakeholders — including communications, developer relations, partnerships, and product marketing — to deliver integrated creative strategies that serve the full funnel.
• Pitch and present creative concepts to leadership with clarity and conviction; translate business objectives into compelling, executable creative strategies.
• Proactively identify and resolve creative bottlenecks; continuously improve team workflows, briefing processes, and production timelines to increase output quality and velocity.
• Bring a broad view of creative excellence — across media, beyond blockchain and fintech — introducing new visual ideas that keep Stellar's brand fresh and ahead of the curve.
• Roll up your sleeves and produce polished, on-brand design work yourself — from concept through final deliverable — across digital, campaign, and experiential contexts. This is a making role as much as a leading one.

• 7+ years of design experience, including at least 2 years leading or managing a design team or multi-disciplinary creative function.
• A hands‑on design practice you are proud of — you are still producing high-quality work yourself, not only directing and managing others. Your portfolio reflects both your craft and your leadership.
• A portfolio demonstrating excellence across brand…