Design Manager

What is Cirkul?

Cirkul is a rapidly growing company on a mission to transform how beverages are developed, distributed, and enjoyed. It's a new way to hydrate-so much so that 96% of customers say they drink more water with Cirkul!
* With over 150 flavor options available without sugar or calories, Cirkul provides customers with a fully customizable, reusable water bottle and cartridge system. Since 2018, millions have dropped sugary soda and energy drinks, and turned up their plain boring water with Cirkul! A full range of products is available at , and Cirkul is also sold by Amazon, Costco, Walmart, Kroger, and grocery stores nationwide.

* Based on a survey conducted with 3,258 Cirkul Customers

What is this role?

Owns the Design function by leading people, process, and creative execution to deliver high-quality, consistent work s hands on role sets the creative quality bar, drives efficient workflows, and ensures the design team operates as a strong, collaborative partner to the business.

What Does an Average Day Look Like?

Driving Results

• Ensure consistency across brand, marketing, eCommerce, and product touchpoints
• Set and maintain a high creative quality bar across all design work.
• Step in with hands-on design support on priority projects when leadership-level execution is needed.

Taking Ownership

• Manage and develop designers on the Creative team through clear direction, feedback, and growth support.
• Own execution quality for assigned projects from concept through delivery.
• Manage freelance and outsourced creative resources to support business needs.
• Build, refine, and improve creative processes and workflows.

Making Decisions

• Lead design reviews and make final design decisions within established brand and business direction.
• Own design intake, prioritization, and resourcing.
• Assign work and ensure timelines are met in coordination with project managers.
• Balance speed, quality, and workload across the team.
• Provide input and recommendations related to hiring and team structure
• Support onboarding and team scaling as the business grows

Cultivating Relationships

• Partner closely with Marketing, eCommerce, Product, and Brand teams.
• Translate business needs into clear design direction and briefs.
• Push back when scope, timelines, or priorities are unclear or unrealistic.

Instilling Trust

• Create a healthy, collaborative team environment.
• Provide consistent, actionable feedback and clear expectations.
• Deliver reliable follow-through and strong communication.

Customer Focus

• Ensure design decisions consistently support brand clarity and customer experience.
• Drive consistency across all customer-facing touchpoints.

What Background Should You Have?

• 7+ years of design experience, including people leadership or ownership of major projects.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating brand systems and multi-channel creative work.
• Experience in consumer brands or fast-paced environments preferred.
• Strong Adobe Creative Suite skills;
  Figma and motion experience a plus.
• Clear communicator and confident cross-functional partner.
• Comfortable leading creatively while remaining hands-on.

What do we offer?

• Competitive salary based on experience and market
• Generous benefits, 401k match, and PTO (even insurance for your fur babies!)
• Employee discounts on Cirkul products
• New corporate office space with great amenities
• Opportunity to work with a best in class team, in a hyper growth company, taking over the hydration industry
• A culture that rewards results

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Please note:

At this time, we will not provide sponsorship for employment visas. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship.

Cirkul, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe in hiring a diverse workforce and are committed to sustaining an equitable and inclusive, people-first environment. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status. If you'd like more information about your EEO rights as an applicant under the law, please download the available EEO is the Law & EEO is the Law Supplement documents.