Graphic Design Lead in Manchester

Graphic Design Lead in Manchester

Manchester Full-Time 35000 - 45000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead a creative team and produce high-quality marketing designs across digital and print.
  • Company: Established B2B software business focused on improving workplace management.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible start times, and 25+ days annual leave.
  • Other info: Join a vibrant team in Manchester city centre with great career growth opportunities.
  • Why this job: Take ownership of creative output and make a real impact in a dynamic environment.
  • Qualifications: Senior design experience with leadership skills; B2B and SaaS experience preferred.

The predicted salary is between 35000 - 45000 £ per year.

Graphic Design Lead

Salary

Location

  • Manchester City Centre
  • Working Pattern: 5 days on-site, 37.5 hours per week

Experience

Senior-level design experience, with leadership/management experience preferred

Domain

  • B2B, ideally Saa S
  • About the Business

Our client is a well-established B2B software business helping organisations simplify and improve the way they manage their people, HR and workplace responsibilities.

With a growing UK marketing function, the business is continuing to develop its brand and creative output across multiple channels.

The Role

This is a hands-on Design Lead position combining creative leadership with the delivery of high-quality marketing design.

You'll sit within a wider UK marketing team of 16 and lead a small creative team, including two videographers.

The role is less about a traditional job title and more about taking ownership of the creative output, setting direction, managing priorities and ensuring work consistently meets a high standard.

You'll work across both digital and print, producing creative for paid social, email, web, internal communications, whitepapers, thought leadership and wider marketing campaigns.

The ideal candidate will bring strong B2B experience, with Saa S experience particularly beneficial, alongside the confidence to manage and lead a creative team.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead and manage the creative team, including two videographers.
  • Set creative direction and maintain a consistently high standard of output.
  • Manage and prioritise briefs across the wider marketing function.
  • Remain hands-on, creating high-quality digital and print assets.
  • Develop creative concepts for campaigns and marketing activity.
  • Design paid social and other paid marketing assets.
  • Create visual assets for email and web.
  • Produce whitepapers, thought leadership content and internal communications.
  • Maintain and evolve brand consistency across all creative output.
  • Review creative work and provide clear, constructive feedback.
  • Work closely with marketing and senior stakeholders to understand briefs and deliver effective creative solutions.
  • Present creative ideas and confidently explain design decisions.
  • Balance planned campaigns with reactive requirements and changing priorities.

What We're Looking For

  • Strong experience working at Senior Designer, Design Lead, Creative Lead or similar level.
  • Previous experience leading, mentoring or managing other creatives.
  • Strong hands-on design skills across both digital and print.
  • B2B marketing experience is highly desirable.
  • Saa S experience would be particularly beneficial.
  • A strong portfolio demonstrating commercial marketing design.
  • Experience creating paid social, email and web assets.
  • Experience producing longer-form content such as whitepapers and thought leadership materials.
  • Strong understanding of branding, typography, layout and visual communication.
  • Confident communicating with senior stakeholders and challenging briefs where appropriate.
  • Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
  • Excellent Adobe Creative Suite skills.
  • Figma experience.

This role does not require UX/UI or motion design experience.

  • Working Pattern & Benefits
  • 37.5-hour working week.
  • 5 days on-site
  • Flexible start times.
  • 25+ days' annual leave, increasing to 27 days after two years.
  • Manchester city-centre office.
  • Easily accessible by public transport.
  • Discounted parking available at the nearby car park.
  • #J-18808-Ljbffr

Graphic Design Lead in Manchester employer: Forwardrole

As a Data Platform Architect with us, you'll be part of a dynamic and innovative team dedicated to shaping the future of our data architecture. We offer a collaborative work culture that values your expertise and encourages knowledge-sharing, ensuring you have ample opportunities for professional growth. Located in the South West, our hybrid working model provides flexibility while allowing you to engage directly with a live project, making your contributions impactful and rewarding.

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Contact Details:

Forwardrole Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Graphic Design Lead in Manchester

Show Off Your Skills with a Killer Portfolio

As a graphic designer, your portfolio is your secret weapon! Make sure it's not just a collection of your work but showcases your creative process too. Use platforms like Behance or Dribbble to share your designs and gain visibility within the design community.

Get Involved in Design Meetups

Networking is key in the design world! Check out local design meetups or workshops where you can connect with other creatives and potential employers. This is a goldmine for finding unadvertised job openings at companies like Forwardrole.

Tailor Your Applications

When you’re applying for a full-time role at a creative company like Forwardrole, don’t go for a one-size-fits-all approach. Ensure your application highlights specific projects or styles that align with their brand image, showing that you’re a perfect fit for their team.

Leverage Social Media

Don't underestimate the power of social media in landing your dream design job! Share your work on platforms like Instagram or Pinterest, and engage with accounts from your desired companies—this could put you on their radar before they start hiring.

We think you need these skills to ace Graphic Design Lead in Manchester

Creative Leadership
B2B Marketing Experience
SaaS Experience
Digital Design Skills
Print Design Skills
Adobe Creative Suite
Figma

Some tips for your application 🫡

Showcase Your Portfolio:Your portfolio is your visual CV! Make sure to include a link to your best design projects that showcase your creativity and versatility. Tailor it to include works that relate to the kind of design work Forwardrole does, so they can see you in action.

Tailor Your CV for Design:When crafting your CV, highlight your design skills and software proficiencies, like Adobe Creative Suite or Sketch. Mention any relevant experience you have with branding, UI/UX design, or typography, as we want to see how you fit in with the creative team at Forwardrole.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:In your cover letter, share your design philosophy and what excites you about working at Forwardrole. Let us know how you approach your design projects and any specific campaigns or themes that resonate with you, showing we’re not just a good fit but a perfect match!

Highlight Collaboration Skills:As a graphic designer, you often work with various teams and stakeholders. In your application, mention experiences where you've collaborated with others to bring a project to life, whether it's with clients, writers, or developers. This shows you can thrive in a team environment, which is key at Forwardrole.

How to prepare for a job interview at Forwardrole

Get Your Portfolio Ready

Your portfolio is your secret weapon in graphic design interviews! Make sure it's showing off your best work, with a variety of styles and projects that highlight different skills — from branding to digital illustration. Be prepared to talk through each piece, focusing on your creative process and the tools you used.

Know Your Design Tools Inside Out

Familiarity with software like Adobe Creative Suite is a must! Brush up on your skills with Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, as interviewers might dive into specific technical questions or ask for your workflow. If you’ve worked with any innovative tools or techniques, don't hesitate to showcase that expertise!

Prepare for Design Challenges

Some companies may throw a design challenge your way during the interview! This might involve sketching out ideas or solving a branding issue on the spot. Practising these quick thinking exercises beforehand can help us show off our creativity and adaptability.

Passion Counts

For a full-time position, showing genuine enthusiasm for design is key! Talk about your inspirations, the projects you're excited about, and why you're drawn to Forwardrole. They want to see not just a skilled designer, but someone who'll bring passion and fresh ideas to the team.