Head of Design
- Salary: c.£60k + discretionary bonus
- Location: Central London - 4 days a week in office
The Role:
This is a senior leadership role for a highly experienced design professional who will set and uphold the visual standard across the agency’s entire output.
You’ll own design craft, art direction and visual systems across all clients, campaigns and formats. Working closely with the Creative Director, strategists, production and client teams, you’ll lead on high-impact projects, elevate the quality of work across the board, and build the systems needed to scale exceptional design in a fast-paced environment.
You’ll also play a key role in developing the design team—providing clear direction, raising standards, and ensuring the agency consistently delivers best-in-class creative.
Key Responsibilities:
Design Leadership & Craft
- Own and define the visual standard across all outputs—from paid media and digital experiences to brand identities and campaign assets
- Lead design on complex, high-value projects including brand systems, campaign art direction and digital experiences
- Review and critique work across the team, elevating quality across typography, composition, hierarchy and detail
- Make confident, timely design decisions to maintain momentum and clarity across projects
Design Systems & Scalability
- Build and implement scalable design systems to support high-volume creative output
- Develop templates and frameworks for performance-led work without compromising on quality
- Create and maintain brand guidelines, libraries and design systems for key clients
- Lead the evolution of the agency’s own visual identity and external creative presence
Art Direction & Campaign Development
- Provide art direction across campaigns, content production and shoots
- Define visual direction including tone, palette, typography and motion principles
- Support concept development and pitching, ensuring ideas are brought to life at the highest standard
Team Leadership & Development
- Manage and develop a team of designers and art directors
- Lead structured design reviews and critiques to consistently raise output quality
- Support hiring and talent development, defining what “great” looks like
- Mentor junior and mid-level creatives across the agency
Client & Commercial Partnership
- Present design work to senior stakeholders with clarity and confidence
- Play a key role in new business pitches and creative responses
- Partner with client services and project teams to ensure work is well-scoped, resourced and delivered to a high standard
About You:
- 8+ years’ experience in design or art direction within integrated, digital or creative agencies
- Strong portfolio demonstrating craft, conceptual thinking and range across brand, digital and campaign work
- Deep expertise in typography, layout, colour, hierarchy and visual systems
- Comfortable working across both brand-led and performance-driven design
- Experience leading shoots and translating creative concepts into execution
- Proven leadership experience with the ability to develop and elevate a team
- Strong working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, Figma and modern design tools
- Confident presenting to senior clients and stakeholders
- Curious and forward-thinking, with an interest in emerging tools, formats and trends
Bonus Experience:
- Experience working on performance-led creative at scale
- Motion design capability or strong understanding of motion direction
- Experience building brand identities and design systems from the ground up
- Clear perspective on the role of AI in design and creative workflows
Benefits:
- Competitive salary
- Private medical insurance
- Hybrid working
- Access to gym and wellness facilities
- Latest tools and technology, including AI platforms
- High-spec office environment
- Learning and development budget
- Exposure to senior leadership and high-growth environments
- Clear progression opportunities