Senior Graphic Designer in Preston

Overview of our Company

Pets Choice is an ever-evolving FMCG branded pet products manufacturer and supplier. As one of the fastest-growing producers in the pet-care industry, we’re committed to elevating our large, diverse portfolio of trusted brands, including Webbox, Bob Martin, Felight, Vets Kitchen, Hownd and Meatiful. Our products range from food, treats, toys, accessories, and healthcare, giving us a uniquely broad presence across the pet-care landscape. We manufacture and supply into a wide range of channels including Grocery, Discounter, Wholesale, eCommerce, Pet Specialist, and Export markets, ensuring our brands reach pet owners across the UK and beyond.

Overview of the Role

The Senior Designer will be responsible for leading the conceptual ideas, development, quality control and completion of all the creative team's work and taking project briefs from treatment through to final delivery. You will be a natural problem solver with the ability to mix creative flair with commercial awareness and be experienced in remaining composed with a high volume of work. You will have experience in guiding a high level of creative direction, managing design projects, mentoring a direct report, and ensuring projects align with brand strategy and business goals. The ideal candidate is committed to exceeding expectations, often working across multiple projects and channels at any one time and doing so in a calm and professional manner.

Responsibilities of the Role

• Creative guardian of all campaign collateral, driving consistency, pushing outputs and always creating enviable work the business is proud to produce.
• Creative champion and lead the way in sharing industry news and inspiration to develop the creative team and encourage junior members to think big and explore new ideas.
• Lead the conceptual and design development across digital and print assets to include: logos, brochures, packaging, website design, print and digital advertising, events, campaigns and shopper activations.
• Assess all creative briefs to determine gaps in requirements and create thorough critical paths for all briefs accepted.
• Lead, mentor and train a direct report, and potentially other junior members of the team as we grow.
• Inspire and motivate the creative team to push boundaries, think big and create enviable campaigns.
• Keep up to date with technologies used by creatives and ensure we are constantly reviewing and improving our processes to create an efficient and creative environment for the team to thrive.
• Tracking jobs from beginning to end by resource so productivity and profitability can be reviewed and developed.
• Work collaboratively with external agencies to plan and implement campaign communication plans, adding value and insight where appropriate to push agency thinking.
• Work with the Creative Controller to develop best in class processes for all creative productions.
• Build a network of creative contacts that can support the team when needed.
• Support the Creative Controller to implement creative processes that strive to improve creative outcomes (e.g. Walk the walls, knowledge sharing sessions, campaign wrap ups).
• Support the Graphic Designer with delivering best in class creative across multiple assets including events, photoshoots, digital, print and shopper campaigns.
• Attend and support at events/conferences in the UK.
• Provide cover for other team members when required.

Knowledge, Competence, Experience and Qualifications Required

Essential:

• 7 or more years’ experience working within the design industry, either within a creative agency or in-house, with at least 2 years working at a senior designer level.
• Skilled user of Adobe Creative Cloud Suite, Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign.
• Proficiency in video editing and motion graphics tools such as Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, or DaVinci Resolve.
• Experience and confidence in collaborating with external agencies and internal teams is a must.
• Extensive experience working on marketing and campaigns across channels including digital, social, packaging and print.
• Can translate complex ideas into clear, visually compelling designs.
• A self-starter who is an enthusiastic team player with excellent communication and interpersonal skills who can work collaboratively across teams.
• Experience of implementing, managing DAMs and asset management systems.
• Excellent organisation skills and can manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Resilient, able to deal with challenges confidently.
• Must be fluent in English.
• A pet lover.

Desirable:

• Experience in the pet food/pet care sector.
• Experience in fast-paced FMCG environment.
• AI interest and keen to experiment with AI tools.
• Full UK driving licence is preferred.

This role is based at our Blackburn Head Office working 3 days on site per week, with the option to work 2 days per week at home.