At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead creative design across campaigns, brand, digital, and social outputs.
- Company: A leading UK integrated communications agency with a focus on high-impact work.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, remote work flexibility, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a diverse team that values creativity and collaboration.
- Why this job: Shape the future of design while making a real impact in B2B and corporate sectors.
- Qualifications: Senior-level design experience, strong B2B background, and leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 43000 - 51000 £ per year.
Senior Designer / Design Director (12-month FTC)
£50,000–£60,000
Remote (with occasional London meetings)
A leading UK integrated communications agency is hiring a Senior Designer / Design Director for a 12-month FTC. This is a senior creative and leadership role suited to someone who combines hands-on design excellence with strategic creative direction, team leadership and commercial thinking.
The agency delivers high-impact work across B2B and corporate sectors, so experience in these environments is strongly preferred.
The Role
You’ll lead the design function and shape the creative output across integrated campaigns, brand, digital and content. Working closely with senior leadership, you’ll uphold creative standards, drive concept development, and ensure the Studio delivers high-quality work that elevates client brands.
You’ll also play a key role in the commercial success of the Studio—supporting resourcing, budgeting and new business, treating the Studio as a “business within a business”.
Key Responsibilities
Creative & Strategic Direction
- Lead creative across campaigns, brand, digital and social outputs
- Develop concepts and “big ideas” that drive impact across B2B and corporate audiences
- Guide the Studio team to deliver consistent, high-quality, on-brand creative
- Present work confidently to clients and senior stakeholders
Commercial & Operational Leadership
- Manage budgets, costs and resourcing to ensure profitable delivery
- Support new business through pitch input, proposal development and prospecting
- Identify opportunities to grow creative services and upsell to clients
Client & Team Leadership
- Act as a trusted senior creative partner to clients
- Mentor and develop designers at different levels
- Foster collaboration across integrated and senior leadership teams
What We’re Looking For
- Senior-level design experience, ideally within an agency
- Strong B2B and corporate design experience (essential/ideal)
- Conceptual thinker with the ability to elevate brand and campaign creative
- Experience leading designers and shaping studio culture
- Confident presenter with strong client-facing skills
- Commercial mindset – comfortable with budgets, forecasting and pitching
- Skilled across modern design tools with multi-channel creative experience
Pivotal is an equal opportunities employer and we encourage applications regardless of ethnic origin, race, religious beliefs, age, disability, gender or sexual orientation, and any other protected status as required by applicable law
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Design Director in Southampton
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the design world, especially those who work in B2B and corporate sectors. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your portfolio! Make sure it’s up-to-date and highlights your best work, especially projects that align with the role. When you get the chance to present, let your creativity shine and tell the story behind each piece.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the agency’s recent projects and clients. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you’re genuinely interested in their work and how you can contribute.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to connect with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Design Director in Southampton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Design Skills:Make sure your portfolio is up to date and highlights your best work. We want to see how you’ve tackled B2B and corporate projects, so include examples that demonstrate your hands-on design excellence and strategic thinking.
Tailor Your Application:Don’t just send a generic CV and cover letter. We’re looking for someone who understands our agency’s ethos and can lead creative across various outputs. Make it personal and relevant to the role of Design Director.
Highlight Leadership Experience:Since this is a senior role, we want to know about your experience in leading teams and shaping studio culture. Share specific examples of how you’ve mentored designers and fostered collaboration in your previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss any important updates from our team during the process.
How to prepare for a job interview at Pivotal London
✨Showcase Your Design Portfolio
Make sure to bring a well-curated portfolio that highlights your best work, especially projects related to B2B and corporate design. Be ready to discuss the thought process behind each piece and how it aligns with the strategic goals of the clients.
✨Prepare for Creative Direction Questions
Expect questions about your approach to leading creative teams and developing concepts. Think of specific examples where you’ve successfully guided a project from inception to completion, and be prepared to explain how you foster collaboration within your team.
✨Understand the Business Side
Since this role involves managing budgets and supporting new business, brush up on your commercial acumen. Be ready to discuss how you've previously handled budgets or contributed to pitches, showcasing your ability to treat the studio as a 'business within a business'.
✨Practice Your Presentation Skills
As a confident presenter, you’ll need to effectively communicate your ideas to clients and stakeholders. Practice presenting your portfolio and any relevant case studies, focusing on clarity and engagement to demonstrate your client-facing skills.
