Head of Design in Cambridge

Head of Design in Cambridge

Cambridge Full-Time 48000 - 72000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead and elevate a dynamic design team through a major creative transformation.
  • Company: Join a legacy sports brand reinventing itself for the digital age.
  • Benefits: Hybrid working, bonus potential, and 25 days holiday.
  • Why this job: Make a massive impact in a transformative role with a heritage brand.
  • Qualifications: Proven design leadership and experience managing remote teams.
  • Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for growth and innovation.

The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.

This is one of those rare opportunities to join a legacy business on the cusp of reinvention. A 100-year-old success story entering its next chapter, this brand is embarking on a major creative and digital transformation, scaling its in-house design capability and redefining what creativity looks like in a category ripe for disruption.

At its core, this hire is about leadership first. Yes, you’ll need strong design instincts across digital and print. But above all, we’re looking for someone who can lead, galvanise and elevate a growing design function, bringing people with you through change and building a high-performing, connected team across locations.

You’ll report into the Creative Director and lead a team of 6–8 direct reports, spanning digital and brand design. This includes managing geographically distributed designers, so experience leading remote or international teams is essential. If you’ve successfully built culture, cohesion and performance without everyone sitting in the same room we want to hear from you.

WHAT THEY NEED
  • A proven design leader with strong people management skills - someone who naturally puts leadership first
  • Experience managing remote or geographically distributed teams, driving engagement, accountability and creative excellence from a distance
  • A steady hand during transformation, comfortable navigating pace, ambiguity and evolving priorities
  • Someone who can bring structure, clarity and standards to a scaling in-house team
  • A collaborative partner to the Creative Director and senior stakeholders across marketing, product and brand
  • A multi-channel thinker - confident overseeing digital, ecommerce, brand, print and campaign output to ensure a cohesive experience
WHAT YOU'RE GREAT AT
  • Design leadership - guiding and growing a multidisciplinary design team across digital, brand, and campaign work
  • Balancing strategic thinking with enough craft knowledge to credibly guide and challenge your team - a master of Adobe Creative Suite and Figma, no stranger to hopping on the tools and delivering high-impact creative at pace
  • AI curiosity in a business context, incorporating emerging tools into your workflow to unlock smarter, faster creative development
  • Digital storytelling - designing for ecommerce, retail, and performance environments where creativity meets commercial impact
  • Collaboration - working closely with marketing, product, and strategy teams to deliver joined-up, insight-driven creative
  • Elevating creative standards across both print and digital
WHAT YOU'LL GET
  • Hybrid working ideally (2 days per week in the Wales HQ - travel/accommodation expenses for those not living locally) - open to dialogue around remote setup
  • The chance to make a massive impact at a moment of transformation - think "start up" mentality with the infrastructure and footprint of a heritage brand
  • Bonus potential
  • 25 days holiday

Head of Design in Cambridge employer: 3Search

Join a legacy sports brand that is on the brink of an exciting transformation, where your leadership will play a pivotal role in shaping a high-performing design team across digital and print. With a hybrid working model and a culture that values collaboration and innovation, you'll have the opportunity to make a significant impact while enjoying generous benefits like bonus potential and 25 days of holiday. This is not just a job; it's a chance to be part of a creative revolution within a storied company.
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Contact Detail:

3Search Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Head of Design in Cambridge

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the design world, especially those who might have insights into the company you're eyeing. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to a referral or insider info that gives you an edge.

✨Tip Number 2

Show off your portfolio! When you get the chance to meet with potential employers, bring your best work along. Make sure it highlights your leadership skills and ability to manage remote teams, as that's what they're really after.

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare for the interview by understanding their brand and current projects. Tailor your responses to show how your experience aligns with their transformation goals. We want to see that you’re not just a fit for the role, but also passionate about their mission.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to engage with us directly.

We think you need these skills to ace Head of Design in Cambridge

Design Leadership
People Management Skills
Experience Managing Remote Teams
Strategic Thinking
Adobe Creative Suite
Figma
Digital Storytelling
Collaboration
Creative Standards Elevation
Multi-channel Thinking
Ecommerce Design
Performance Environment Design
AI Curiosity in Business Context
Change Management
Cohesion Building

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Leadership Skills: Make sure to highlight your experience in leading design teams, especially if you've managed remote or geographically distributed teams. We want to see how you've galvanised and elevated your team through change!

Be a Multi-Channel Maestro: Demonstrate your ability to oversee various design outputs, from digital to print. Share examples of how you've created cohesive experiences across different channels – this is key for us!

Embrace the Transformation: Since we're on the cusp of a major creative transformation, let us know how you've navigated ambiguity and evolving priorities in past roles. We love candidates who can bring structure and clarity during times of change.

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we can't wait to hear from you!

How to prepare for a job interview at 3Search

✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills

Since this role is all about leadership, make sure to highlight your experience in managing teams, especially remote ones. Share specific examples of how you've built culture and cohesion in a distributed environment, as this will resonate with what they’re looking for.

✨Demonstrate Your Design Expertise

Be prepared to discuss your design instincts across various mediums. Bring along a portfolio that showcases not just your best work, but also your thought process behind each project. They want to see how you balance strategic thinking with hands-on craft knowledge.

✨Emphasise Collaboration

This role requires working closely with multiple teams, so be ready to talk about your collaborative experiences. Share stories where you’ve partnered with marketing, product, or strategy teams to deliver impactful creative solutions. Highlight how you ensure everyone is aligned and engaged.

✨Prepare for Transformation Discussions

Given the brand's current transformation, it’s crucial to show that you can navigate change effectively. Discuss your comfort with ambiguity and evolving priorities, and provide examples of how you've successfully led teams through similar transitions in the past.

Head of Design in Cambridge
3Search
Location: Cambridge

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