Creative Lead

Are you a senior creative looking for the opportunity to influence the direction of an ambitious independent agency, while remaining hands-on with the work you love?

We're recruiting on behalf of a well-established, growing creative agency that delivers branding, design, digital and integrated creative projects for an exciting portfolio of clients. This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Creative Lead, Design Director or Senior Designer ready to take ownership of creative quality, mentor a talented studio team and help shape the future of the agency.

This is far more than a traditional Senior Designer position. You'll be the creative driving force behind the studio, balancing strategic thinking with hands-on design, ensuring every piece of work leaving the agency is of the highest standard.

Working closely with the Managing Director and senior leadership team, you'll inspire the creative department, challenge briefs, develop outstanding concepts and help build a culture of creativity, collaboration and continual improvement.

• Lead the creative output across branding, print, digital and integrated campaigns.
• Develop compelling creative concepts that exceed client expectations.
• Mentor, coach and develop designers and art workers, helping them reach their full potential.
• Review and quality-check key creative projects before client delivery.
• Present creative ideas and rationale confidently to clients and stakeholders.
• Work collaboratively with client services and production teams to deliver exceptional work.
• Improve studio processes, workflows and ways of working, including the adoption of AI tools where appropriate.
• Support the recruitment, onboarding and development of future creative talent.
• Foster an innovative, collaborative and high-performing creative culture.

You'll be an experienced creative with a genuine passion for design excellence and developing people. You'll enjoy balancing leadership responsibilities with hands-on creative work and be excited by the opportunity to influence both the agency's output and its future direction.

You'll ideally have:

• A wealth of experience gained within a creative or branding agency, working up to a senior level
• Strong conceptual thinking and a keen eye for typography, layout and craft.
• Experience mentoring or leading designers within an agency environment.
• Confidence presenting creative work to clients and articulating design decisions.
• Commercial awareness and an understanding of how creativity delivers business results.
• Advanced Adobe Creative Suite skills.
• Experience with motion design and AI-enabled creative workflows would be advantageous.

• Salary of £50,000-£60,000 depending on experience.
• Hybrid working with 2-3 days per week in the office.
• Opportunity to shape the creative direction of an ambitious independent agency.
• A collaborative environment where your ideas and leadership will have genuine impact.
• The chance to mentor talented creatives and influence the agency's continued growth.