Design Director (fixed term contract)

We’re Coley Porter Bell, a global branding agency based in London and New York, and we’ve been helping world‑famous brands discover their Unordinary Idea for almost 50 years. Whether its multi‑national businesses or local heroes, we harness the power of Unordinary Ideas to accelerate growth for ambitious brands. A big agency engine with a smaller agency experience: we offer strategic rigour, global talent and cutting‑edge technology. You’ll access a senior yet nimble team for a highly personalised, collaborative experience.

What we’re looking for:

A Design Director leads our creative team, guiding the design process from start to finish. You will be responsible for coming up with fresh ideas, creating strong and appealing designs, offering expert advice, and inspiring your team. This key role focuses on a global leading FMCG client. We need someone with deep experience in creating brands and FMCG, from the first idea to the final packaging on the shelf. You should know how to manage product messages, organise information on packs, and help customers easily find what they’re looking for in a range of products. Today’s market needs packaging that does more than just hold a product. We’re looking for a creative leader who knows how to design packaging that stands out, clearly communicates the brand and product benefits, and looks great on the shelf.

What you’ll do:

• Lead our creative team to develop new and exciting design solutions that meet client goals.
• Guide the team in exploring many different design ideas to make sure we find the best ones.
• Develop and push for big, impactful ideas based on design plans and client briefs for packaging.
• Lead the creation of strong and unique design plans, especially for FMCG packaging.
• Work closely with our internal teams and clients, presenting your design ideas clearly and with enthusiasm for branding and packaging.
• Guide and motivate other designers, helping them grow and do their best work.

What you’ll need:

• Lots of experience leading design projects as a Design Director or similar senior role in a design agency, with a strong focus on FMCG packaging.
• Expert skills in Adobe Creative Suite, especially Photoshop and Illustrator, and able to teach others.
• An impressive portfolio showing recent work where you’ve led successful and smart FMCG packaging projects from start to finish.
• Excellent knowledge of current design trends and what’s coming next, applying this to effective packaging design.
• Great communication and presentation skills, able to explain design ideas clearly to clients and build strong relationships.

We believe the best work happens when we’re together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That’s why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process. Coley Porter Bell, a WPP company, is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all applicants without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics, committed to a culture of respect where everyone belongs and can progress in their careers.