Senior Design Manager

We are delighted to be partnering exclusively with ADLIB recruitment in our search for our Senior Design Manager. Please note all applications will be handled by ADLIB.

About Bath Rugby: Our purpose is to enrich lives through high-performance our teams, our people, our community, our sport. Bath Rugby is an iconic entertainment brand with a rich heritage and bold vision. This is an exciting time to join as we evolve our brand and grow our fanbase in new and innovative ways.

About the role: As a multi-disciplined designer, you’ll be at the heart of Bath Rugby’s creative output leading design across graphics, AV, and animation, from concept to execution. You’ll create standout assets for match days, social media, email campaigns, merchandise, and more, all while bringing our new brand identity, Gladiatorial Spirit, to life across every touchpoint, evolving it over time.

Working collaboratively across departments and with brand partners, you’ll own the end-to-end creative process, ensuring all content is impactful, high-quality, and elevates the club’s presence locally, nationally, and internationally.

The Team: You will be part of the Fan Growth & Content team, but you are the creative hub across the whole marketing team & wider business. You report into the Head of Fan Growth however you will be the most senior creative in the team working alongside a video/content creator and social media manager.

Your Mission: To create eye-catching content that sells matches & engages with new audiences. You will be sitting within the fan growth team as the future growth of the club is dependent on our ability to bring in new fans to sustain the future of the club. Brilliant creative that inspires this mission will be critical to our success.

You will be able to create both rugby focused content that engages our core fans to telling deeper stories of the club, players, fans and match day experiences that appeal to new demographics & audiences. You’ll collaborate with brand partners and build a trusted network of creators and freelancers to help amplify our reach and creativity.

Build trust with our rugby players & commercial partners: We are budget light but have an incredible resource in our key assets: our players, our iconic home at The Rec, Farleigh House and some fantastic brand & commercial partners. You will quickly need to build trust by creating great content, bringing fresh ideas to the table and showcasing how great we can make players & partners look while delivering on our strategic goals.

Create creative processes & workflows: With 15 home matches a season each of which is its own campaign, fan growth, partnership and rugby content there is a high volume of creative output across multiple stakeholders. You will need to lead an end-to-end workflow for creative development as well as understand how to template design work to deliver work at pace. You’ll have a trusted network of freelancers to fall back on and be great at prioritising & managing stakeholders when needed. You’ll create smart, flexible design templates that help the team deliver high-quality creative quickly and consistently. You’ll also advise on and shape approval processes for third-party content, including partner campaigns, kit development, and affiliated organisations like Bath Rugby Foundation.

What we’re looking for:

• Proven experience in a multi-disciplined graphic design role (in-house or agency).
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects).
• Strong portfolio showcasing creative design.
• Understanding of how creative & messaging works across different advertising touchpoints.
• Experience in creating motion graphics and animations.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong attention to detail and a passion for delivering exceptional creative work.
• A solid understanding of branding, typography, and layout design principles.
• Sees how great design can make a real difference to fans, the brand, and the business, bringing others on the journey.
• Thinks for the business, identifying opportunities for commercial growth.

Desired:

• Knowledge or passion for rugby, sport, or the entertainment industry.
• Photography and/or videography experience.
• Familiarity with UX/UI design principles and tools such as Figma or Sketch.
• Experience working on large-scale campaigns or events.

We’re looking for someone with creative drive, high standards, and a genuine care for the quality and impact of their work. You take pride in doing great work, supporting others, and driving projects forward with clarity and accountability. You balance ambition with commercial thinking, set clear goals, and always look for ways to improve. Positive and open to new ideas, you thrive in a high-performance culture where collaboration, growth, and continuous learning are key.

Suitable Experience:

• ~6-8 years of experience ideally working in a creative agency or in-house studio working across a portfolio of brands & sectors.
• Bachelor's degree in relevant creative field.
• Portfolio of creative work showcasing successful work for a range of brands.

What you’ll get in return:

• Beautiful offices at our Farleigh House High Performance Centre.
• Complimentary Bath Rugby Tickets.
• Ballot access for RFU International Matches.
• Complimentary Bath Rugby Kit.
• Local & Partner Discounts Inc. Homewood Spa & Longleat.
• Frequent Nutritious Staff Lunch.
• Regular Socials.
• High-Performance Gym Use.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Health Cash Plan.
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme.
• Life Assurance x4.
• Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Leave.
• 25 Days Holiday.

What’s next: Apply with an up-to-date CV and portfolio to be considered.