Creative Director, Promo and Pictures

Location: Leeds / Manchester

4creative is the multi-awarded, highly respected, in-house creative agency of Channel 4 Television. The department is responsible for developing and delivering all advertising campaigns, editorial imagery and channel branding for C4 in every media, playing a key role in projecting a coherent sense of the 4-brand. 4creative’s vision is to make risky, culturally potent, innovative work across the C4 portfolio.

Job Purpose: To bring creative leadership, and unifying oversight to our Promo and Pictures output. Ensuring consistent excellence, bold ideas and a strong brand voice across all platforms and uses. The Creative Director will also provide cultural leadership and direction across Channel 4’s Leeds and Manchester offices, ensuring that regional teams are creatively empowered, aligned and working to the highest standards.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strong brand guardianship of the Channel 4 Masterbrand and sub-brands.
• Provide clear creative leadership across both Promo and Pictures teams, ensuring a unified creative vision for promos, photography, design, imagery, and campaigns.
• Confidently present creative direction to senior leadership teams, commissioners, marketing stakeholders and external partners.
• Lead the creative process on promos, branding work and digital/social campaigns.
• Oversee the team in commissioning, development and delivery of high-quality photography and imagery for Channel 4 programming ensuring its fit for purpose across digital, streaming, print, press and third-party platforms.
• Provide creative direction for key art, talent-led shoots and editorial photography for both studio and location shoots.
• Write and present high-quality treatments that clearly express the creative vision.
• Provide creative direction and mentorship across the Leeds and Manchester 4creative offices.
• Help shape and nurture regional creative culture, ensuring that teams feel connected to the wider strategic vision.
• Encourage and support the development of locally originated creative ideas, projects and initiatives.
• Build strong collaborative relationships across regional teams and departments.
• Maintain an overview of the evolving image and promotional needs of the business and the changing media landscape, including trends in photography, video, design and emerging technologies/AI.
• Proactively explore new creative techniques, platforms and formats to keep Channel 4 at the forefront of innovation.
• Support and provide cover for the Deputy ECD as required.

Essential Experience & Skills:

• Minimum 5 years’ experience overseeing high-profile, high-quality creative output to tight deadlines.
• Strong conceptual creative.
• Proven experience generating and producing strong campaign ideas.
• Proven track record in directing and/or creating outstanding promos, photography, campaigns or high-impact visual work.
• Complete understanding of the end-to-end promo and stills creation process, from concept through to delivery.
• Strong idea generation, scripting and treatment-writing skills.
• Strong knowledge of visual design, art direction, photography, motion graphics and digital formats.
• Ability to communicate and present creative ideas clearly and persuasively.
• Experience managing and developing creative teams, including cross-location.
• Skilled at building relationships and collaborating with multiple internal departments and senior stakeholders.
• Deep understanding of Channel 4’s brand values, creative ambition and cultural mission.
• A positive, proactive mindset and commitment to inclusivity and representing diverse voices.

Benefits:

• Private medical insurance
• Free Virtual GP access for employees
• Free Female Health hormone test each year
• Free Tastecard membership
• Financial guidance 1-2-1’s available each quarter
• Discounted Gym memberships
• Pension
• Life Assurance
• Income Protection
• Holiday Purchase
• Hybrid working: From September 2023, C4 has operated a 60/40 working pattern, equating to three office days per week.

Equal Opportunities: Channel 4’s purpose is to create change through entertainment; by representing unheard voices, challenging with purpose and delivering content which reflects the diversity of different communities across the UK. We encourage applications from candidates from all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on disability, age, gender reassignment, gender expression, criminal history, length of time spent unemployed, marriage or civil partnership status, national origin, pregnancy and maternity status, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.