Senior Creative and Design Manager in London

Senior Creative and Design Manager in London

London Full-Time 56700 - 69300 £ / year (est.) Hybrid
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead creative direction and inspire a talented design team at British Airways.
  • Company: Join British Airways, a globally recognised airline shaping the future of travel.
  • Benefits: Enjoy staff travel perks, competitive salary, and opportunities for personal growth.
  • Other info: Embrace diversity and creativity while working on innovative projects.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on customer experiences and brand identity in a dynamic environment.
  • Qualifications: Proven leadership in design, strong portfolio, and ability to influence stakeholders.

The predicted salary is between 56700 - 69300 £ per year.

British Airways is entering an exciting new chapter, with design and creativity playing a defining role in shaping the future of our brand and customer experience.

From the aircraft cabins and lounges that our customers experience to the stories we tell and the identity that connects it all, our ambition is to create distinctive, beautifully considered experiences at every touchpoint.

At the heart of this is our in‑house Creative Studio, bringing together talented creatives, designers and content specialists to champion creative excellence across the business.

About the role

We’re looking for a Senior Creative & Design Manager to help shape that future, providing creative and design direction across brand identity, product experience and content.

You’ll lead and inspire our creative talent, develop our in‑house capabilities and champion exceptional craft and design excellence, shaping how British Airways looks, feels and comes to life for millions of customers around the world.

What you’ll do

As a senior creative leader, you’ll help set the creative and design direction across brand, product, content and physical customer experiences, leading a multidisciplinary team to deliver distinctive, relevant and beautifully executed work.

You’ll combine strategic creative leadership with a hands‑on approach to design and art direction, shaping concepts, developing ideas and working closely with the team to elevate creative execution across every discipline.

You’ll be an influential voice for design across British Airways, partnering with senior stakeholders and leading relationships with external creative agencies, design partners and specialist suppliers.

You’ll set the ambition, challenge thinking and ensure the work reflects the quality and creativity expected of one of the world’s most recognisable airline brands.

  • Key duties
  • Provide creative and design leadership across brand, product, content and physical customer experiences.
  • Lead, develop and inspire a multidisciplinary design team, building capability for the future.
  • Evolve and protect the British Airways brand identity while ensuring it continues to feel distinctive and relevant.
  • Champion and help evolve the British Airways Design Blueprint, establishing a coherent set of design principles that shape how our brand looks, feels and is experienced across every customer touchpoint.
  • Lead relationships with external agencies, design partners and specialist suppliers, ensuring exceptional standards of creative thinking and execution.
  • Lead creative concept development and art direction across design, photography, film, CGI and immersive content, championing exceptional craft, storytelling and innovation.
  • Champion the responsible adoption of Generative AI and emerging creative technologies, exploring opportunities to enhance creativity, innovation and production capabilities.
  • Influence senior stakeholders and driving strong design decision‑making across complex programme.

About you

You’ll be an established leader with the confidence to set a vision, inspire talented people and influence at senior level.

You’ll bring a strong background in design and content, with an understanding of product and experience design, and the ability to connect strategic creative thinking with exceptional execution.

You’ll have outstanding creative judgement, strong conceptual design and art direction skills and a passion for delivering beautifully crafted work.

You’ll understand that great design isn’t just about how something looks, but how it works, feels and is experienced by the customer.

You’ll recognise both the responsibility and opportunity of shaping a globally recognised brand, where creative decisions can influence the experiences and perceptions of millions of customers across the world.

You’ll bring

  • Significant experience in a senior creative or design leadership role.
  • A strong track record of leading, inspiring and developing multidisciplinary teams.
  • Experience managing influential relationships with creative agencies, design consultancies and specialist suppliers.
  • The confidence to set creative direction, challenge thinking and maintain exceptionally high standards.
  • A strong understanding of product, industrial or environmental design, with experience connecting brand and creative thinking to physical customer experiences such as interiors, automotive, transport or retail.
  • The ability to connect brand strategy, storytelling, product design and customer experience.
  • Strong stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills.
  • Experience operating across complex programmes with multiple stakeholders and delivery considerations.
  • A strong creative portfolio demonstrating both conceptual thinking and high‑quality delivered work.
  • What you can expect

We believe that all the people who work with us should feel valued for the part they play. It’s one of the reasons our rewards go far beyond a competitive salary.

From the day you join us, you’ll get access to brilliant staff travel benefits including unlimited basic and premium standby tickets on British Airways flights.

You’ll also receive up to 30 discounted ‘Hotline’ airfares per year for yourself, friends, and family.

At British Airways you’ll have the chance to take on new challenges and move forward in a way that feels right for you.

We encourage all those who work for us to consider opportunities right across our business to help you develop and progress.

We never stand still, and we don’t expect our people to either.

Inclusion & Diversity

At British Airways we all have a part to play in creating an inclusive place to work.

Diverse representation among our people is really important to us and we recognise that all our colleagues are uniquely different and bring their own originality, creativity and identity to work.

Inclusion and diversity is a key driver of innovation and we’re committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they can be themselves.

We’re looking for people from all backgrounds and cultures to join us and be a part of our journey to become a Better BA as we continue to connect Britain with the world and the world with Britain.

Senior Creative and Design Manager in London employer: Inside Out Awards Ltd

Wagamama is an exceptional employer that champions creativity and collaboration in a vibrant, inclusive environment. With a strong focus on employee well-being, we offer hybrid working, competitive salaries, and generous benefits including a £200 monthly food allowance and private healthcare. Join us at our London Bridge location to lead a passionate creative team, where your ideas will shape the future of our brand and every day is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

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Contact Details:

Inside Out Awards Ltd Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Creative and Design Manager in London

✨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 Inside Out Awards Ltd.

✨Tailor Your Applications

When you’re applying for a full-time role at a creative company like Inside Out Awards Ltd, 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 Senior Creative and Design Manager in London

Creative Leadership
Design Direction
Brand Identity Management
Multidisciplinary Team Development
Art Direction
Concept Development
Stakeholder Management

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 Inside Out Awards Ltd 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 Inside Out Awards Ltd.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:In your cover letter, share your design philosophy and what excites you about working at Inside Out Awards Ltd. 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 Inside Out Awards Ltd.

How to prepare for a job interview at Inside Out Awards Ltd

✨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 Inside Out Awards Ltd. They want to see not just a skilled designer, but someone who'll bring passion and fresh ideas to the team.