Position Summary
The Senior Motion Designer is a hands-on, senior creative role. You’ll lead motion graphics and video work across campaigns, social media, client deliverables, and internal initiatives, bringing ideas to life with animation, video editing, colour correction, and sound. Your strength is in 2D After Effects animation, but you’ll also work with video editing (Adobe Premiere), basic audio mixing, and occasionally 3D or mixed media work. You’ll partner with Art Directors, Designers, ACDs, and strategic teams to ensure motion pieces are not just beautiful, but story-led, brand consistent, and technically excellent.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Lead concepting, storyboarding, and style-frame/mood board work with ACDs or CD to define the vision for motion pieces.
- Create high-quality 2D animations in After Effects – kinetic typography, transitions, motion infographics, etc.
- Edit video in Adobe Premiere Pro (or equivalent), including cutting footage, applying transitions, color correction / grading, and handling basic audio work (mixing, leveling, effects).
- Manage motion design across channels: social video ads, campaign videos, animated content, digital banners with motion, internal videos, etc.
- Integrate 3D assets or collaborate with 3D specialists when needed; composite or animate mixed media pieces that bring 3D work into the 2D motion pipeline.
- Ensure deliverables are optimized for platform specs (size, format, codecs), performance, load times, and visual fidelity.
- Maintain brand consistency (visual style, motion guidelines, timing, pacing) across motion assets.
- Collaborate with writers, strategists, designers, and project managers to ensure that motion work aligns with messaging, timing, and campaign strategy.
- Mentor and provide feedback to junior motion designers / video editors; help raise the standard of process, file organization, version control, and post/motion workflows.
- Stay current on motion design, animation, video, and platform trends (e.g. social video motion formats, performance video, etc.), software tools & plugins.
Qualifications
- Experience: 5-8 years of motion design/video production in agency or studio settings. A strong reel / portfolio with demonstrable 2D After Effects work, video editing, and motion graphics.
- Tools & Technical Skills:
- Expert level in After Effects.
- Proficient with Adobe Premiere Pro for video editing.
- Good working knowledge of color correction / color grading workflows.
- Basic audio work skills (mixing, leveling, syncing audio/video).
- Proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator.
- Comfort working with 3D assets or compositing 3D into motion when needed is a plus.
- Creative & Strategic Skills:
- Strong sense of pacing, narrative, timing, visual storytelling.
- Good typographic and design sensibilities (composition, layout, motion easing, etc.).
- Ability to pitch and present motion ideas/animations to internal creative leads and clients.
- Other:
- Able to juggle multiple projects, meet deadlines, work under pressure.
- Comfortable working collaboratively across disciplines.
- Bachelor’s degree in Motion Design, Animation, Film, or relevant field preferred (or equivalent experience).
Job Leveling Statement
This is a senior‐level creative position reporting to the ACD or CD. The Senior Motion Designer leads motion/video deliverables, owns the executional quality of motion across campaigns, and mentors others in motion/video craft. They may occasionally lead small motion-led projects end-to-end but primarily operate within larger campaign contexts.
Decision-Making Authority
- Authority to define motion styling, timing, animation approaches, and execution within assigned projects.
- Authority to decide on video editing / colour correction / basic sound design choices within project scopes.
- Responsible for technical quality and brand consistency of motion/video assets.
- Escalates storyboarding, creative direction, strategy deviation, or major resource decisions (like outsourcing or hiring freelancers) to ACD or CD.
Performance Expectations (Internal-Facing)
- Quality & consistency of motion output (animation fluidity, visual polish, coherence with brand & campaign).
- Timeliness of project deliverables (meeting deadlines, responsive revisions).
- Efficiency: how smoothly motion assets move through workflow (post-production, version control, final deliverables).
- Collaboration & communication: ability to clearly present motion/story ideas, interpret feedback, coordinate with video, audio, strategy teams.
- Innovation: introducing new motion techniques, tools, or processes that improve quality or speed.
Working Conditions & Physical Requirements
- Full-time, exempt position. ~40 hours/week, with flexibility for project deadlines.
- Hybrid work environment (office + remote) for collaboration.
- Frequent computer usage, video editing, rendering, monitoring colour on calibrated displays.
- Occasional travel (client presentations, shoots) may be required.
- Extended periods sitting, focused visual work; ability to manage screen fatigue.
Core Values Alignment
This role should strongly reflect our client’s values: Integrity First, Every Voice Counts, Anticipate the Need, and Innovate Over Invent. As a motion designer, you’ll be expected to push for excellence, help elevate the motion craft of the studio, and collaborate generously and clearly.
Diversity & Inclusion Statement
The client is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We believe creativity thrives with diverse perspectives, and we encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply.
Application Requirement
When applying, please include your updated resume, portfolio/reel, and your expected salary range for this position.