At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a global design team, driving creativity and operational excellence across multiple projects.
- Company: Award-winning creative team focused on innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Flexible working, professional development, and opportunities for international travel.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for growth in a fast-paced environment.
- Why this job: Shape the future of design while making a real impact on global projects.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in creative environments and strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 53100 - 64900 £ per year.
We’re a global, award‑winning in‑house creative and digital team of over 80 specialists across UX/UI, graphic design, animation, visualisation, motion, real‑time development and web. We work collaboratively to deliver innovative, meaningful communications that help our clients engage, inspire and connect with their audiences. Our work spans community engagement campaigns, immersive digital experiences, global internal communications, brand development and more. We value creativity, innovation, wellbeing, and flexible working, and we support each other to grow within a fast‑paced but rewarding environment.
We are seeking an experienced Global Design Manager to lead and support our teams across the UK and globally. Reporting into the Creative Design leadership team, you will play a critical role in driving creative excellence, operational efficiency, and strategic alignment across our global function. You’ll oversee quality of output, strengthen stakeholder relationships, and ensure consistency in delivery across regions. This is a high-impact role, offering the opportunity to shape how we work globally, enhance collaboration, and expand the value we bring to a diverse portfolio of international clients.
We’re looking for a proactive and inspiring leader who can bring teams together, navigate complexity, and ensure seamless, high‑quality delivery across multiple locations. This role can be based in Bristol or Birmingham, with travel to London, Epsom, Manchester, Glasgow throughout the year as well as occasional international travel as required.
- Lead, mentor, and support a high‑performing global design team.
- Work in close partnership with Principal Creatives to maintain high standards of delivery, whilst driving team development, performance, and wellbeing across the function.
- Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high‑quality creative culture.
- Support team growth, development, and capability building across regions.
- Oversee and ensure consistently high standards of creative output.
- Drive alignment with global design principles, processes, and expectations.
- Enable seamless delivery across teams, ensuring consistency and efficiency.
- Contribute to and help deliver the global Creative Design strategy.
- Balance creativity with strong operational and commercial awareness.
- Identify opportunities to improve processes, workflows, and ways of working.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders and project teams.
- Confidently scope and oversee delivery across multiple complex, global projects.
- Act as a key connector across teams, ensuring clear communication and alignment.
- Contribute to the evolution of Creative Design’s offering.
- Identify opportunities to enhance client value through innovation and technology.
- Drive continuous improvement across creative output and team performance.
About you:
- Experience working in a creative environment, with broad understanding of creative disciplines and effective collaboration with specialist teams.
- Proven leadership experience in a creative or design environment within a multi‑disciplinary team, working with a close sub‑leadership team.
- Strong understanding of design principles, creative processes, and delivery.
- Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with the confidence and previous experience of pitching to clients both face to face and virtually.
- Exposure to working with global or cross‑cultural teams.
- Strong commercial acumen, with previous experience in project planning, scheduling, and budgeting.
- You will understand commercial impact and growth, making decisions with this in mind.
- Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
- A proactive, positive, and collaborative approach.
- Excellent attention to detail and a willingness to learn from others.
- Comfortable working in a fast‑paced environment with shifting priorities.
- Strategic mindset with the ability to drive improvements and outcomes.
- Experience managing operational aspects of a creative function.
- High attention to detail and commitment to quality.
Global Design Manager employer: SNC-Lavalin
Snc-Lavalin is an exceptional employer that prioritises employee growth and development, offering extensive training opportunities and a competitive salary. With a dynamic work culture in Birmingham, you will be part of a collaborative team that drives transformational change across major UK infrastructure programmes, ensuring your contributions are both meaningful and impactful.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Global Design Manager
✨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 SNC-Lavalin.
✨Tailor Your Applications
When you’re applying for a full-time role at a creative company like SNC-Lavalin, 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 Global Design Manager
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 SNC-Lavalin 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 SNC-Lavalin.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:In your cover letter, share your design philosophy and what excites you about working at SNC-Lavalin. 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 SNC-Lavalin.
How to prepare for a job interview at SNC-Lavalin
✨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 SNC-Lavalin. They want to see not just a skilled designer, but someone who'll bring passion and fresh ideas to the team.