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- 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 start-up mentality.
- Qualifications: Proven design leadership and experience managing remote teams.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities to shape the future of design.
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
- 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
- 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 Reading employer: 3Search
Contact Detail:
3Search Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Design in Reading
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the design world and let them know you're on the hunt for a Head of Design role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on opportunities or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your leadership skills! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, share examples of how you've successfully led remote teams and fostered collaboration. They want to see that you can galvanise a team, even from a distance.
✨Tip Number 3
Be ready to discuss your design process! Prepare to talk about how you balance strategic thinking with hands-on creativity. Employers will be keen to hear how you use tools like Adobe Creative Suite and Figma to drive high-impact projects.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’re all about making connections and helping you land that dream job. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of our creative transformation journey.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Design in Reading
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 built culture and cohesion while driving creative excellence.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your points are easy to understand and directly related to the job description. Avoid fluff and get straight to the point!
Demonstrate Your Design Expertise: Don’t shy away from showcasing your design skills! Mention your proficiency with tools like Adobe Creative Suite and Figma, and share examples of your work that reflect your ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on creativity.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, we love seeing applications come directly from our site!
How to prepare for a job interview at 3Search
✨Show Your Leadership Skills
This role is all about leadership, so be ready to showcase your experience in managing and inspiring teams. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led remote or geographically distributed teams, focusing on how you drove engagement and accountability.
✨Demonstrate Your Design Expertise
Brush up on your design skills, especially with Adobe Creative Suite and Figma. Be prepared to discuss specific projects where you balanced strategic thinking with hands-on design work, and how you can elevate creative standards across both digital and print.
✨Embrace Change and Ambiguity
This brand is undergoing a transformation, so highlight your ability to navigate change. Share experiences where you've thrived in ambiguous situations, bringing structure and clarity to your team while adapting to evolving priorities.
✨Collaborate Like a Pro
Collaboration is key in this role, so think of examples where you've worked closely with marketing, product, and strategy teams. Show how you’ve delivered insight-driven creative solutions that align with broader business goals, ensuring a cohesive experience across channels.