Lead Brand Designer
Cleo · United States
- Hybrid
- Full-time
- $160,000 / year
- United States
Job highlights
- Lead brand design to elevate Cleo's identity.
- Develop and maintain comprehensive brand guidelines.
- Collaborate with art directors and creative partners.
- Shape brand across digital, physical, and product experiences.
- Work remotely in a fast-growing fintech unicorn.
About the role
About Cleo
At Cleo, we're not just building another fintech app. We're embarking on a mission to fundamentally change humanity's relationship with money. Imagine a world where everyone, regardless of background or income, has access to a hyper-intelligent financial advisor in their pocket. That's the future we're creating.
Cleo is a rare success story: a profitable, fast-growing unicorn with over $300 million in ARR and growing over 2x year-over-year. This isn't just a job; it's a chance to join a team of brilliant, driven individuals who are passionate about making a real difference. We have an exceptionally high bar for talent, seeking individuals who are not only at the top of their field but also embody our culture of collaboration and positive impact.
If you’re driven by complex challenges that push your expertise, the chance to shape something truly transformative, and the potential to share in Cleo’s success as we scale, while growing alongside a company that’s scaling fast, this might be your perfect fit.
Follow us on LinkedIn to keep up to date with new product features and insights from the team.
About The Role
We’re seeking a Lead Brand Designer to elevate our brand across every touchpoint ✨ In this role, you’ll be responsible for refining and expanding our brand guidelines while ensuring their seamless implementation across 360° experiences. You have a deep understanding of design systems and cohesive branding, but what sets you apart is your passion for creative storytelling - we want a craftsperson obsessed with the “Why” ✨ Collaboration is at the heart of this role as you will work closely with Art Directors and other creative partners, contributing your expertise, and helping shape a brand that resonates consistently and meaningfully.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain comprehensive brand guidelines to ensure consistency across all touchpoints.
- Define and evolve the brand identity, ensuring it reflects our vision and values.
- Lead graphic design initiatives across digital and physical channels.
- Oversee type design, ensuring typography supports the brand’s voice and storytelling.
- Collaborate with motion designers on motion graphics and animation.
- Conceptualize and execute campaign design that engages and inspires audiences.
- Build immersive brand worlds that elevate the overall experience.
- Shape the UX vision to align with brand principles across products.
- Support product launches with cohesive design systems and assets.
- Drive web design projects, ensuring visually compelling and functional experiences.
- Lead digital editorial design, including content layouts and visual storytelling.
What We're Looking For
- Studio experience from renowned agencies such as Collins, Uncommon, JKR, Pentagram, or hands-on experience at small, high-impact studios.
- Proven track record of building and maintaining trend-leading brands.
- A growth mindset with a curiosity to learn, iterate, and improve continuously.
- Comfort with a DIY, roll-up-your-sleeves culture while maintaining high design standards.
- User-obsessed approach, ensuring design decisions are informed by audience needs.
- Ability to lead by example, elevating the design output of the entire team.
- Fluent in the language of product design, bridging brand and product experiences seamlessly.
What do you get for all your hard work?
- A competitive compensation package (base + equity) with bi-annual reviews, aligned to our quarterly OKR planning cycles.
- Work at one of the fastest-growing tech startups, backed by top VC firms, Balderton & EQT Ventures.
- A clear progression plan. We want you to keep growing. That means trying new things, leading others, challenging the status quo and owning your impact. Always with our complete support.
- Flexibility. We can’t fight for the world’s financial health if we’re not healthy ourselves. We work with everyone to make sure they have the balance they need to do their best work.
- Work where you work best. We’re a globally distributed team. Our US team works fully remotely, but we host virtual socials and an annual company offsite in Europe with all expenses paid.
Other Benefits
- Company-wide performance reviews every 6 months
- Generous pay increases for high-performing team members
- Equity top-ups for team members getting promoted
- 6% employer-matched pension in the UK / 401k matching in the US
- Medical Insurance, Dental and Vision care
- Generous Parental Leave
- 1 month paid sabbatical after 4 years at Cleo
- Regular socials and activities, online and in-person
- We'll pay for your OpenAI subscription
- Online mental health support via Spill
- And many more!
Welcoming Everyone!
We strongly encourage applications from people of colour, the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, neurodivergent people, parents, carers, and people from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
If there’s anything we can do to accommodate your specific situation, please let us know.
Download Our Testflight
App access for people in the UK & Europe: If you are an iOS user, please use this link to sign up to our TestFlight version of the app, so you can have a play around with the functionality and features: https://testflight.apple.com/join/fDG9hWng
Key skills/competency
- Brand Identity Development
- Graphic Design
- Design Systems
- Creative Storytelling
- Typography
- Campaign Design
- UX/UI Design Principles
- Product Design
- Digital Design
- Brand Guidelines
Skills & topics
- Lead Brand Designer
- Brand Identity
- Graphic Design
- Design Systems
- Creative Storytelling
- Typography
- Campaign Design
- UX Design
- Product Design
- Fintech
- Remote
- Unicorn
- Startup
- Agency Experience
- Brand Guidelines
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight agency or high-impact studio experience, and showcase your track record in building trend-leading brands.
- Showcase your portfolio: Emphasize your craft, creative storytelling, and ability to bridge brand and product design.
- Demonstrate your mindset: Articulate your growth mindset, user-obsessed approach, and comfort in a DIY culture.
- Prepare for collaboration: Be ready to discuss how you'll work with Art Directors and elevate team output.
- Research Cleo's mission: Understand their goal to change financial relationships and articulate your passion for this impact.
Technical preparation
Behavioral questions
Frequently asked questions
- What is the compensation for the Lead Brand Designer role at Cleo?
- For the Lead Brand Designer position in the United States, Cleo offers a competitive annual gross salary ranging from $130,000 to $160,000, plus equity. Compensation for other locations will be discussed during the interview process and is determined by qualifications and experience.
- Is the Lead Brand Designer role at Cleo remote or hybrid?
- Cleo operates as a globally distributed team. The US-based team works fully remotely. Cleo also hosts virtual socials and an annual company offsite in Europe for its distributed team members.
- What kind of agency experience is Cleo looking for in a Lead Brand Designer?
- Cleo values studio experience from renowned agencies like Collins, Uncommon, JKR, or Pentagram. Alternatively, significant hands-on experience at small, high-impact studios is also highly regarded for the Lead Brand Designer role.
- What are the key responsibilities for a Lead Brand Designer at Cleo?
- Key responsibilities include refining and expanding brand guidelines, defining and evolving brand identity, leading graphic design across channels, overseeing typography, collaborating on motion graphics, conceptualizing campaigns, building brand worlds, shaping UX vision, supporting product launches, driving web design, and leading digital editorial design.
- How does Cleo support career growth for its Lead Brand Designer?
- Cleo provides a clear progression plan, encouraging team members to try new things, lead others, challenge the status quo, and own their impact, all with company support. Bi-annual reviews and equity top-ups for promotions are part of this growth framework.
- What is Cleo's approach to work-life balance for its employees?
- Cleo emphasizes flexibility and employee well-being, recognizing that personal health is crucial for professional success. They strive to ensure team members have the balance needed to perform their best work.
- Does Cleo offer benefits beyond salary and equity for the Lead Brand Designer?
- Yes, Cleo offers a comprehensive benefits package including bi-annual reviews, 401k matching in the US (or pension matching in the UK), medical, dental, and vision insurance, generous parental leave, a paid sabbatical after 4 years, OpenAI subscription, and online mental health support.