Lead Designer - Sounders FC

TITLE: Lead Designer DEPARTMENT: Marketing REPORTS TO: Executive Creative Director TYPE: Full-Time Regular FLSA: Exempt ROLE TYPE: Individual Contributor

OUR CLUBS

When you join Seattle Sounders FC, you join a soccer-loving, socially progressive, ambitious club rooted in the best soccer city in America. We have one of the most passionate sports fanbases in North America who are invested in the Sounders as much for our commitment to making a positive impact in our communities as they are for winning the 2019 MLS Cup, 2022 CONCACAF Champions League and 2025 Leagues Cup on home soil. We exist to create special moments like these, where we enrich lives and unify our fans and city through soccer.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Lead Designer plays a critical role in shaping and advancing the visual identity of Seattle Sounders FC—operating as both a hands‑on designer and a creative leader responsible for driving design direction and elevating team outcomes. This role goes beyond execution, serving as a key driver of creative concepts, visual strategy, and direction across multiple projects and platforms. The Lead Designer is accountable not only for their own work, but for the quality, consistency, and impact of design across the team and product ecosystem. Working closely with the Executive Creative Director, the Lead Designer defines creative approaches, sets visual direction, and ensures alignment across stakeholders. This individual is expected to think beyond the brief, contribute bold and culturally relevant ideas, and guide how ideas scale across campaigns, content, and brand initiatives. The Lead Designer owns key bodies of work end‑to‑end while also leading other designers—providing direction, feedback, and coaching to ensure cohesive and high‑quality outcomes. They play a central role in shaping team standards, strengthening creative processes, and ensuring that design decisions support both brand and business goals. This role is ideal for a designer who is ready to take on broader ownership—someone who combines strong design craft with strategic thinking, can lead work and influence others, and is motivated by shaping the look, feel, and storytelling of a globally recognized club.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Brand Creative Development: Lead the development and execution of brand‑defining creative across all channels—digital, social, print, environmental, and merchandise. Generate original concepts that elevate the Sounders FC brand and ensure cohesive storytelling across every touchpoint. Creative Concept Ownership: Set the visual direction for key projects from initial idea through final delivery. Translate briefs into clear, compelling concepts and guide work to ensure it meets a high standard of creativity, craft, and cultural relevance. Creative Leadership & Influence: Act as a creative leader within the team—providing direction, feedback, and mentorship to designers while influencing the overall quality and direction of work. Champion strong ideas and help raise the bar across all outputs. Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with marketing, digital, partnerships, and matchday teams to shape and deliver integrated campaigns. Align on creative direction, provide clarity on visual approach, and ensure work reflects both brand standards and business goals. Creative Ownership of Key Workstreams: Lead major projects and campaigns from a creative standpoint—ensuring the integrity of the concept is maintained throughout execution and that final outputs meet a high creative standard. Process Contribution: Contribute to how work gets done by helping clarify briefs, improving collaboration, and identifying opportunities to streamline creative workflows—ensuring the team can produce high‑quality work efficiently. Trend & Culture Leadership: Stay deeply connected to trends in design, sport, and culture, bringing forward new ideas and approaches that keep the Sounders brand fresh, relevant, and leading‑edge. Matchday & Event Creative: Support and help lead the development of matchday and live‑event creative—delivering high‑impact, real‑time content that reflects the energy of the club and enhances the fan experience. Quality & Consistency: Uphold and elevate the standard of creative output across all deliverables. Ensure accuracy, consistency, and attention to detail while pushing for best‑in‑class execution.

QUALIFICATIONS

Extensive experience in a creative or design role with a strong portfolio demonstrating versatility and leadership in visual storytelling. Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign). Familiarity with motion graphics tools (After Effects, Premiere Pro) preferred. Experience with design systems, creative operations, and asset management tools. Strong experience leading design projects, managing feedback, and collaborating across teams. A portfolio that highlights exceptional design craft, concept development, and brand execution. Strong time management and attention to detail; able to handle multiple concurrent projects. Thrives in fast‑paced environments with evolving needs and priorities. Demonstrated commitment to inclusive design, team culture, and storytelling. Committed to principles of diversity, equity and inclusion, and to living organizational values and the to the organizational mission: Create Moments, Enrich Lives and Unify & Uplift Through Soccer, in all interactions with colleagues, partners, vendors, and fans.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This is a hybrid position working from home and from our Headquarters & Training Facility in Renton WA and matches at Lumen Field and events and meetings in market as needed. Must be able to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed. Must reside within Washington state upon date of hire. Must be able to facilitate own local travel. Must be eligible to work in the US without sponsorship.

COMPENSATION, BENEFITS AND PERKS

We offer competitive compensation and an engaging, supportive environment that prioritizes the health and well‑being of our people. The annual salary range for this position is $90,000 - $110,000. Base salary at time of offer is based on job‑related knowledge, skills, experience, internal equity, and current market conditions. In addition to financial compensation, we provide a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your overall well‑being and professional growth, including: Comprehensive Healthcare Coverage: We offer 100% employer‑sponsored medical, dental, and vision premiums for you and your dependents. For employees enrolled in our HSA healthcare plan, annual employer contributions to a Health Savings Account (HSA) — $1,000 for employee‑only coverage and $2,000 for spouse or family coverage. Generous Paid Time Off & Leave: We offer unlimited paid vacation, paid company holidays, and paid sick leave in compliance with Seattle’s Paid Sick and Safe Time ordinance. We also provide paid bereavement leave and paid jury duty leave to support you during life’s critical moments. Retirement Planning Support: 401(k) retirement plan matching, helping you secure your financial future with ease. Inclusive Parental Leave: Our gender‑neutral parental leave program provides 12–16 weeks of paid leave, inclusive of Washington Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML), giving new parents the time and support they need during this important life stage. Peace of Mind Coverage: Employer‑paid long‑term disability coverage, as well as basic life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) coverage, providing financial protection and peace of mind for you and your family. Exclusive Perks: Enjoy complimentary tickets to matches and employer‑funded ORCA cards for transit, making it easier for you to experience the excitement firsthand. Continuous Growth Opportunities: We invest in your learning and development through various programs and resources. Community Engagement: We provide a variety of volunteer opportunities that align with our social impact goals and RAVE Foundation initiatives, empowering you to make a meaningful difference in the Seattle community.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where every employee is respected, valued and supported. We celebrate our diverse work environment and welcome team members of all backgrounds and perspectives. To that end, if you do not meet every job requirement listed, we still encourage you to apply. We believe your relevant experience and expertise will help us become a high‑performing best‑in‑class workplace for all. Women, gender‑nonbinary, people of color, LGBTQIA+ people and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The physical demands reflected in the duties and work environment herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. If you’d like to request an accommodation in the application or interview process, please do so by emailing the People & Culture Team. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

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