Design Director

Design Director

At PepsiCo design, we have a saying: "We're crazy enough to think we can inspire the future." This is what drives us, in everything we imagine, develop, and execute.

Design is a strategic global function for PepsiCo that drives business value by leading innovation, creating experiences, and brand engagements. We are one of the first major food & beverage companies to integrate multiple design disciplinesbrand design, design thinking, industrial design, design strategy, front-end innovationinto a single group.

Our goal is clear: to connect PepsiCo's food & beverage portfolios, with today's hyper-connected, networked users and consumers hungry for meaningful, authentic, and relevant brand experiences across multiple touchpoints and regions of the world.

Please note that we currently have two open positions as Design Director: one based in Plano, Texas, and one based in Chicago, Illinois.

Responsibilities

• Leadership of Creative & Division Design Responsible for inspiring, developing, and leading Senior Design Managers in each of the 4 Divisions in the US, thru primarily virtual means. Supervising all work completed by the Division design teams and agencies. Monitor results of team efforts and propose actions for the future capability growth and development.
• Brand & Retail Design Development: Takes ownership of the visual identity for specific brands in the portfolio, working in collaboration with the design leaders - cutting across brand, product, packaging, marketing equipment, and advertising. Generates creative design proposals (visions, scenarios, concepts) in order to visualize the desired output and share it with internal and external team members. Participates in research activities and effectively translates customer needs into actionable design concepts, strategic requirements. Execute those requirements into design solutions. Responsible for driving to final design recommendations, decisions and design approval to enable artwork execution / production phases. Ensure thorough consideration of all project variables and that the final solution will perform as planned.
• Strategy, Design, and Innovation: Creates holistic elevated experiences that create brand love and loyalty. Identifies and promotes self-initiated design programs that generate critical business value for one or more divisions. Conceive and implement concepts, guidelines and strategies in various creative projects and oversee them to completion. Particularly around brand strategy, retail marketing, social media, and brand experiences. Energizes and leads both the internal team and external design resources from idea phase to commercialization, creating breakthrough design concepts that support our Customer agenda. Collaborate with our Marketing, operations, and sales teams to obtain knowledge of the Customer/Brand Partner requirements. The Design Director should have a strong understanding of AI and actively incorporate AI tools into their workflow to enhance creativity, efficiency, and innovation across design processes.
• Design Project Management: The Design Director will play a pivotal role in bridging creative vision with operational execution. This role requires close partnership with Operations to ensure design strategies align with logistical realities, resource planning, and delivery timelines. Additionally, the Design Director will collaborate with Project Management to scope initiatives, define milestones, and maintain accountability across cross-functional teams. Success in this role depends on the ability to translate design intent into actionable plans that meet business objectives while maintaining creative integrity.
• Supporting the PepsiCo Design Organization in US Divisions: Partners regularly with the PBNA Design, R&D, and marketing teams. Facilitates and leads an innovative and creative design culture in the US Divisions, through talent development, creative leadership, inspiring/motivating creative direction, and forward-thinking solution-based approach to the work.
• External Design Network: Supports the PepsiCo Design Organization in building and cultivating a strong external design network.

Compensation & Benefits:

• The expected compensation range for this position is between $125,900 - $249,900.
• Location, confirmed job-related skills, experience, and education will be considered in setting actual starting salary. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range during the hiring process.
• Bonus based on performance and eligibility target payout is 25% of annual salary paid out annually and an additional target payout of 10% of annual salary is paid out over 3 years following the end of the performance period.
• Long term incentive equity may be awarded based on eligibility and performance. Paid time off subject to eligibility, including paid parental leave, vacation, sick, and bereavement.
• In addition to salary, PepsiCo offers a comprehensive benefits package to support our employees and their families, subject to elections and eligibility: Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Health, and Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Insurance (Accident, Group Legal, Life), Defined Contribution Retirement Plan.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of deep brand design experience
• Agency and Brand Experience
• Deep understand of how to build holistic and futureproof brands
• Proven experience of Creative Leadership and People Management
• Extraordinary design taste
• Excellent Typographic Skills
• Extraordinary ability in using the Adobe Creative Suite software's including Firefly and other AI tools
• Ability to work in ambiguous and dynamic work environment; is comfortable with risk and uncertainty
• Can effectively influence senior levels in the organization across regions and functions
• Can get things done through formal and informal channels
• Effectively communicates (verbally and written) with internal and external stakeholders across all levels
• Works well with others to deliver results; keeps others informed to avoid unnecessary surprises
• Has strong sense of style, culture, art, design, fashion, innovation, and technology
• Must be willing and able to travel 10% of the time