Lead Graphic Designer - Materiality

Our OEM Client based in Gaydon, is searching for a Lead Graphic Designer – Materiality to join their team, Inside IR35. This is a contract position until 31st March 2026. Umbrella Pay Rate: £50.70 per hour. General Duties: Weekly design reviews for project progress assessments with creative teams, line manager, senior manager and / or director(s). Weekly 1:1s with manager to run through task list and assess tasks completed. High contribution to meetings through suggestions, problem solving and design representation. Excellent creative and presentation skills (including but not limited to Photoshop, Illustrator and Vred) to support visual design communication internal (C&M strategies) and external (launch, retails, customer facing). Design creation of Product Family Graphic Strategies to successfully deliver into production vehicles. High degree of competitors awareness and understanding of product and automotive design combined with good aesthetic judgement. Ability to do trend research and find adequate imagery for individual projects. Ability to visually communicate complex strategies in digestible and aesthetic presentation. Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities: Client Designs and Editions: Create highly creative and unique personalisation artworks to a brief or theme in 2D, to be interpreted in vehicle in 2D and 3D. Engage and communicate with clients to understand client briefs in full, for graphic interpretation and creation. Interpret already defined client designs for feasible manufacture in various technologies e.g. Embroidery. Understand and interpret a vehicle project or other graphic design project, from conception, to develop a vehicle theme for graphic creation. Create artwork templates to define release files to Suppliers for part manufacture. Liaise closely with SV Bespoke Materiality Designers to execute project design releases timely and in line with project render packs and sampling. Engage with Personalisation Engineers, Design Quality Team and Suppliers to sample and improve 2D artworks where necessary, to better physical execution of personalisation items in 3D/ physical. Multiple releases are sometimes required, for improvements, due to development process. Work with the Creative Digital Team to visualise artworks in vehicle, in digital/ virtual 3D. Organise and archive artworks in line with GDPR. Program graphic design and strategy. Lead and become a key contributor to the SV Bespoke Materiality Graphic Strategy. From individual vehicles to strategic graphical strategies, this includes graphic creation for perforation, embroidery, speaker details, finishers and materiality led branding – from exterior to seat labels. Create or further develop a graphic style/ language for SV Bespoke Materiality Presentation Material. Templates to be created for both digital and physical presentations. Creation of visual assets that communicate strategies, from icons to info graphics. Support high profile launch planning projects that require senior level visual communication presentations. Graphic development plays a big part in creating the best possible relationship between materials and form. Prepare supplier direction and briefs, support team members to do so. Visual communication. Be a key point of contact for collaborators outside of the materiality organisation, for example brand design and digital design. Continue to grow these cross-discipline relationships. Be the benchmark for briefing material. Collaborate on creating a visual language for spaces – when required. Communication tools – take away\’s and handouts. Develop a library of reference for the team – for digital and physical use. Develop and simplify key materiality messages, creating exciting and impactful visual communication. General: Share best practice with the team and offer direction as appropriate, delegating for the Manager as and when required. Act as a source of expertise to others and contribute to discussions in own area. Mentor and coach others in graphic design process and methods. Undertake any other work as directed by their Line Manager in connection with their job as may be requested. Essential Skills, Experience and Qualifications: Advanced skill in adobe illustrator. High level of creativity and flair. Excellent communication skills and the ability to relate to and communicate at all levels. Capable of working autonomously to meet objectives. Passion for graphic design as evidenced by up to date in program/ skill set, innovations and trends. Proven ability to plan and undertake projects to a strict deadline. Ability to move between projects swiftly with a productive mindset. In order to be considered for this position it is advantageous to hold: A formal qualification such as degree qualified or equivalent experience preferred. Proven creative and presentation skills, including advanced use of adobe package software: illustrator, photoshop, InDesign software and ability to use internet resources appropriately for research purposes. A good understanding of product /interior/ exterior design, the design industry in general and automotive design combined with good aesthetic judgement. Desirable Skills, Experience and Qualifications: Proven ability to adjust to changing strategies and reflect in the relevant communication media. Additional software skills like Vred. Additional video editing software skills such as Final Cut Pro or Adobe After Effects. Motion graphics experience would be very relevant to build on in this role. Design product knowledge, in automotive or another creative field. Essential Personal Profile: An individual with a customer first mindset who is easy to do business with and makes people feel special, driven to deliver experiences that are personalised, transparent and dependable. An individual, who works independently, is results driven, demonstrating tenacity, drive and perseverance with the ability to deliver operational plans in a complex, highly demanding environment. An individual with the capability to combine a short-term, pragmatic focus with medium-term planning. A resilient and enthusiastic person who responds constructively to new ideas and inputs. A good communicator with the ability to communicate complex ideas. An effective and reliable team player, actively develops and supports team members. Desirable Personal Profile: An individual with the ability to challenge existing thinking in a positive way whilst building credibility and trust through experience and personal style