At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape and govern brand identity across all consumer touchpoints with a focus on design quality.
- Company: Join Boots, a leading name in beauty and retail with a commitment to innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous discounts, flexible benefits, and 24/7 support.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for professional growth and development.
- Why this job: Elevate brands and make a real impact in the beauty industry while leading a dynamic team.
- Qualifications: Experience in brand visual identity and design management, preferably in beauty or fashion.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
As Global Design Manager, Design and Iconicity team, you help shape and govern how our brands show up across every consumer touchpoint. Working closely with the Global Head of Design & Iconicity, you will embed strong brand foundations and ensure consistently high standards of execution across packaging, retail, digital and communications. It requires a strong understanding of brand building, visual identity systems and design quality, with the experience to understand how strategy and guidance inform both internal and external teams and partners. You will be a key connector across brand, product, packaging, VM and agency partners, ensuring alignment, clarity and consistency. You will also support and guide junior team members, helping build capability within the Design & Iconicity team. Success in this role comes from combining brand understanding, structured thinking and attention to detail, with a passion for elevating how brands are expressed in the real world.
Responsibilities
- Brand Governance & Visual Identity – Support the development, evolution and guidance of Global Brand Visual Identities (BVI), ensuring they are clear, practical and can be consistently applied across all touchpoints.
- Brand Governance & Visual Identity – Identify gaps in existing brand guidance and lead the creation of new frameworks and playbooks (e.g. retail, VM, digital) to support best‑in‑class execution.
- Design Quality & Execution – Champion high standards of design and execution across packaging, retail, and communications, working with internal teams and external partners. Review and provide constructive feedback on creative output, ensuring alignment to brand intent and quality expectations. Support the delivery of elevated, cohesive brand experiences across all consumer touchpoints.
- Cross‑Functional Leadership & Collaboration – Act as a key partner to Brand, Product Development, Packaging, and VM teams, ensuring design intent is clearly understood and implemented. Build strong relationships across global markets and functions to drive alignment and consistency. Manage and guide Assistant Design Managers, supporting their development and day‑to‑day delivery.
- Benchmarking & Continuous Improvement – Lead competitor and market reviews across UK, US and global markets, identifying opportunities to elevate brand expression. Stay close to industry trends, innovation, and best practice in design, retail and brand experience. Translate insight into actionable recommendations that improve brand impact and execution.
- Tools, Training & Capability Building – Support the development of training materials, frameworks and tools that enable teams to deliver consistently high‑quality work. Contribute to internal capability building through initiatives such as the Beauty Brand Academy. Help embed new ways of working that improve clarity, efficiency and creative standards.
- Delivery & Operations – Oversee the coordination of design‑related projects, ensuring timelines, stakeholders and outputs are aligned. Manage relationships with external agencies and suppliers where required. Ensure accuracy and attention to detail across all outputs, including presentations, mock‑ups and proofing.
Qualifications
- Experience working with brand visual identity systems and design governance.
- Background in design management, brand or agency environments.
- Previous experience in Beauty, Skincare or Fashion categories.
- Strong understanding of how brands are expressed across packaging, retail and digital.
- Ability to translate strategy into clear, actionable guidance.
- Confident working in a matrix environment with multiple stakeholders.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.
Benefits
- Discretionary annual bonus
- Generous employee discounts
- Enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption leave pay and gift card for anyone expecting or adopting a child
- Flexible benefits scheme including option to buy additional holiday, discounted gym membership, life assurance, activity passes and much more.
- Access to free, 24/7 counselling and support through TELUS Health, our Employee Assistance Programme.
At Boots, we are an equal opportunity employer.
Global Design Manager in London employer: Boots UK
At Boots, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters creativity and collaboration. As a Global Design Manager, you will not only lead innovative design initiatives but also have the opportunity to mentor junior team members, enhancing your professional growth in a supportive environment. With generous benefits including flexible working options, employee discounts, and comprehensive support programmes, Boots is committed to ensuring that our employees thrive both personally and professionally.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Global Design Manager in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, especially those who work at companies you're interested in. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insider info that could help you stand out.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your portfolio! Make sure it’s up-to-date and highlights your best work. When you get the chance to meet potential employers, bring it along or share it digitally to showcase your design skills and brand understanding.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company’s brand identity and recent projects. This way, you can discuss how your experience aligns with their vision and demonstrate your passion for elevating brand expression.
✨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 are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Global Design Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Brand Passion:When you're writing your application, let your passion for brand building shine through! Share specific examples of how you've shaped visual identities in the past and how you can bring that experience to our team.
Be Clear and Concise:We love a well-structured application! Make sure to keep your points clear and concise. Highlight your relevant experience and skills without waffling – we want to see what makes you the perfect fit for the Global Design Manager role.
Tailor Your Application:Don’t just send a generic application! Tailor it to reflect the specific requirements of the job description. Mention how your background in design management aligns with our needs and how you can contribute to our brand governance.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining the StudySmarter family!
How to prepare for a job interview at Boots UK
✨Know Your Brand Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the company's brand identity and visual systems. Understand their current positioning in the market, especially in the beauty, skincare, or fashion categories. This knowledge will help you articulate how your experience aligns with their brand governance and design quality expectations.
✨Showcase Your Design Management Skills
Prepare to discuss specific examples from your past roles where you've successfully managed design projects or teams. Highlight your ability to provide constructive feedback and ensure high standards of execution across various touchpoints, such as packaging and digital platforms.
✨Demonstrate Cross-Functional Collaboration
Be ready to share experiences where you've worked closely with different teams, like product development or marketing. Emphasise your skills in building strong relationships and ensuring alignment across stakeholders, which is crucial for a Global Design Manager role.
✨Stay Ahead of Industry Trends
Research current trends in design and brand expression, particularly within the beauty and fashion sectors. Bring insights to the interview about how these trends can be leveraged to elevate the brand's presence. This shows your proactive approach and passion for continuous improvement.
