At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead creative projects, inspire teams, and push boundaries in branding and packaging.
- Company: Join JDO, an award-winning design agency known for creativity and collaboration.
- Benefits: Flexible working, supportive culture, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with a focus on diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on iconic brands while developing your creative leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in branding and packaging, with a standout portfolio.
The predicted salary is between 56700 - 69300 £ per year.
We're growing our Design team and we're looking for an exceptional Associate Creative Director with branding and packaging experience, ideally within the Personal Care category but also spanning alcohol and beauty.
WHO YOU ARE
We're looking for a branding and packaging creative genius. You’re a calm, strategic presence, trusted to lead major creative work with vision, maturity and clarity. You hold the line on quality, inspire belief in bold ideas and bring others with you. You know how to push creative boundaries while protecting the integrity of the process. You see complexity as opportunity, guide teams with generosity, and create space for both challenge and growth. Clients and creatives alike trust your voice, because it comes from experience, insight and care.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Creative thinking & crafting excellence: You direct creative output across teams, helping shape big ideas and ensuring they’re brought to life with clarity, beauty and boldness. You push for work that provokes emotion, drives connection and delivers distinction, helping teams reach higher without losing focus. You champion intelligent use of AI, helping teams work smarter, push creative boundaries and stay future-fit.
- Strategic & brand alignment: You connect dots across the brand landscape, helping ensure that creative thinking stays rooted in insight and aligned with long-term brand ambition. You challenge creatively, constructively and always with the goal of getting to stronger, sharper work.
- Studio process & project delivery: You oversee creative quality and operational flow across multiple workstreams. You work with CDs, Client Partnership and Studio Management to plan the right resourcing and shape teams to succeed. You see around corners, anticipate pinch points and make calm, clear decisions that protect the work and the people behind it.
- Team collaboration & contribution: You foster a culture of inclusion, high standards and mutual support. You collaborate generously, model resilience and help set the emotional tone for teams under pressure. You share knowledge, nurture energy and help teams thrive.
- Leadership & mentoring: You coach and support team leads and emerging talent, creating space for others to step up while offering consistent guidance. You model what grounded leadership looks like: clear, curious, generous and accountable. You’re someone others want to follow.
- Commercial acumen: You hold the commercial health of your creative projects, understanding timelines, resourcing and value creation across phases. You mentor others in time management, budget awareness and protecting scope. You help balance ambition with sustainability, knowing both are needed for creative excellence to endure.
EXPERIENCE
You’re likely operating at Associate Creative Director level, with a standout portfolio of branding and packaging work. You’ve led projects end to end, set creative direction and earned trust from both clients and teams. Regrettably we cannot consider candidates who aren't able to demonstrate significant packaging experience.
LOCATION AND FLEXIBILITY
Full-time (40 hours per week), with 3 days per week in the office, ideally in our Tunbridge Wells studio but this role could also be based out of our London studio.
About us
JDO is an award-winning design agency, expertly helping brands deliver on their promises by creating experiences people can see, feel, and believe. With boundless creativity and craftsmanship, we craft identities and brand worlds that drive success. Partnering with visionaries and disruptors alike, we turn brand promises into powerful belief. Our promise to every member of our team is a career that matters. One where your talent is recognised, your growth is supported, and your individuality is celebrated. We believe creativity thrives on diversity – of background, identity, experience and thought. We’re committed to building a workplace where everyone feels safe, seen and supported to grow.
Associate Creative Director – UK in London employer: JDO Ltd
At JDO, we pride ourselves on fostering a supportive and dynamic work environment in our London studio, where every team member plays a vital role in our creative journey. As an Office & HR Admin Assistant, you'll benefit from a range of perks including 'Fri-yays', a day off for your birthday, and a workplace nursery scheme, all designed to enhance your wellbeing and work-life balance. We are committed to your professional growth, offering opportunities to learn and develop within the creative industry while being part of a collaborative and positive team culture.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Associate Creative Director – UK 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 JDO Ltd.
✨Tailor Your Applications
When you’re applying for a full-time role at a creative company like JDO 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 Associate Creative Director – UK in London
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 JDO 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 JDO Ltd.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:In your cover letter, share your design philosophy and what excites you about working at JDO 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 JDO Ltd.
How to prepare for a job interview at JDO 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 JDO Ltd. They want to see not just a skilled designer, but someone who'll bring passion and fresh ideas to the team.
