Brand Design Program Manager

Company: Plaid
Location: San Francisco
Posted on: February 18, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description We believe that the way people interact with their finances will drastically improve in the next few years. We’re dedicated to empowering this transformation by building the tools and experiences that thousands of developers use to create their own products. Plaid powers the tools millions of people rely on to live a healthier financial life. We work with thousands of companies like Venmo, SoFi, several of the Fortune 500, and many of the largest banks to make it easy for people to connect their financial accounts to the apps and services they want to use. Plaid’s network covers 12,000 financial institutions across the US, Canada, UK and Europe. Founded in 2013, the company is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in New York, Washington D.C., London and Amsterdam. We’re looking for a brand design program manager who thrives in fast-moving, ambiguous environments and knows how to bring clarity, structure, and momentum to creative work. This role partners closely with brand, marketing, and our design team to help campaigns and productions run smoothly end to end, from intake and planning through delivery. You’ll play a key role in shaping how creative work gets done, not just managing tasks, but designing and evolving the systems that support great creative outcomes. You will build and optimize the systems, tools, and processes that enable the Design and Brand teams to operate efficiently and scale effectively, while leading cross-functional planning and execution for integrated creative initiatives to ensure alignment, visibility, and timely delivery. In this role, you will oversee the operations, resourcing, and workflows of Plaid’s in-house video studio to deliver high-quality brand and product storytelling, and foster a connected, thriving Design organization through programs, rituals, and initiatives that strengthen team culture and support long-term growth. The ideal candidate is curious, adaptable, and highly organized, with a strong growth mindset and a collaborative approach. You’re comfortable navigating shifting priorities, asking the right questions when things are unclear, and communicating clearly with a wide range of stakeholders. You don’t need to be a creative, but you understand creative workflows well enough to support teams, remove friction, and help connect work across channels like video, social, and marketing campaigns. This role will report to the Design Operations Manager. Responsibilities Partner with the marketing and creative teams to manage creative campaigns and production workflows end to end, from intake through delivery, ensuring high-quality work is delivered on time and within budget Build and manage project plans, timelines, and resourcing, coordinating across internal teams, vendors, and freelancers to keep work moving smoothly Design, own, and continuously improve processes for creative intake, prioritization, execution, and reporting across multiple workstreams Establish scalable workflows, documentation, and tools that improve visibility, feedback cycles, and asset management across teams Oversee day-to-day operations of the in-house video studio, including scheduling, budgeting, resourcing, and production calendars Partner with producers, editors, and creative leads to support pre-production, production, and post-production delivery, maintaining quality standards at scale Communicate project status, risks, and changes clearly to cross-functional partners and leadership, adapting plans as priorities shift in ambiguous environments Qualifications At least 5 years experience as a Design/Creative Program Manager, Design Operations Manager, or UX Program Manager for an in-house, centralized Design organization Experience in design tools like Figma and project management tools like Linear Strategic foresight and the ability to anticipate problems, prioritize ambiguous problem areas, drive alignment, and build consensus across multiple stakeholders An eye for continual improvement, and passion for efficiency and operational excellence at scale Excellent interpersonal, presentation, and communication skills Comfort with a fast-changing environment Clear, confident communicator and collaborative partner across creative, marketing, and cross-functional teams Curious, adaptable, and growth-oriented, with comfort navigating ambiguity and change The target base salary for this position ranges from $160,800/year to $240,000/year in Zone 1. The target base salary will vary based on the job's location. Our geographic zones are as follows: Zone 1 - New York City and San Francisco Bay Area Zone 2 - Los Angeles, Seattle, Washington D.C. Zone 3 - Austin, Boston, Denver, Houston, Portland, Sacramento, San Diego Zone 4 - Raleigh-Durham and all other US cities Additional compensation in the form(s) of equity and/or commission are dependent on the position offered. Plaid provides a comprehensive benefit plan, including medical, dental, vision, and 401(k). Pay is based on factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience and skillset, and location. Pay and benefits are subject to change at any time, consistent with the terms of any applicable compensation or benefit plans. Our mission at Plaid is to unlock financial freedom for everyone. To support that mission, we seek to build a diverse team of driven individuals who care deeply about making the financial ecosystem more equitable. We recognize that strong qualifications can come from both prior work experiences and lived experiences. We encourage you to apply to a role even if your experience doesn't fully match the job description. We are always looking for team members that will bring something unique to Plaid! Plaid is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and values diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion or religious belief, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, military or veteran status, disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Plaid is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. If you need any assistance with your application or interviews due to a disability, please let us know at accommodations@plaid.com. Please review our Candidate Privacy Notice here.

Keywords: Plaid, San Francisco , Brand Design Program Manager, Design, Graphic Design & CAD , San Francisco, California