Lead Designer (Brand & Creative) - Engine by Starling
Lead Designer (Brand & Creative) - Engine by Starling

Lead Designer (Brand & Creative) - Engine by Starling

Full-Time 60000 - 80000 ÂŁ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Starling Bank Limited

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead design projects, shape brand identity, and create high-quality marketing assets.
  • Company: Join Engine by Starling, a dynamic SaaS company revolutionising banking.
  • Benefits: Enjoy 33 days holiday, private medical insurance, and flexible working options.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in a creative role that drives global brand awareness.
  • Qualifications: Experience in strategic design, brand development, and collaborative leadership.
  • Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to innovation and problem-solving.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 ÂŁ per year.

At Engine by Starling, we are on a mission to find and work with leading banks all around the world who have the ambition to build rapid growth businesses on our technology. Engine is Starling’s software-as-a-service (SaaS) business - the technology that was built to power Starling Bank is now available to financial institutions globally. Our designers are at the very heart of Engine. We operate a flat structure to empower you to make decisions, ensuring innovation and collaboration are at the core of everything you do. To thrive at Engine, you must be a self-driven individual who takes full ownership—from shaping brand strategy to delivering the high-fidelity assets that empower our sales teams and delight our clients.

Hybrid Working

We have a Hybrid approach to working here at Engine - our preference is that you’re located within a commutable distance of one of our offices so that we’re able to interact and collaborate in person.

About the role

We are looking for a hands-on Lead Designer who sits at the intersection of design, creative and brand. You will be the architect of Engine’s visual identity and the strategist who ensures our value is communicated clearly to the global market. You will be expected to deliver consistent, high-quality assets across slidewear, social, digital and printed materials. You will lead multiple related workstreams, establishing design processes that scale and seeking new opportunities for design to widen its remit. You are a mature problem solver who can align multiple teams around common goals and advocate for the power of design at the highest levels of the business.

What you’ll get to do

  • Deliver: This is a hands-on role where you will be expected to deliver consistent, high-quality assets including slidewear, social, digital and printed materials.
  • Shape Engine’s Brand: Lead the delivery of our brand proposal by identifying and refining our ‘purpose, position, personality, perception and promotion.’
  • Drive Marketing Excellence: Define and deliver a suite of assets across all marketing touchpoints to drive quality leads and global brand awareness.
  • Empower Business Development: Deliver high-impact sales materials, including brochures, slide decks, demos, prototypes and visualizations that enable our teams to win world-class clients.
  • Influence Strategy: Collaborate with owners and technical leads to plan discovery across multiple areas, considering the second and third-order effects of every design decision.
  • Scale Design Operations: Own and evolve the design system, establishing standards and governance that bridge the gap between design and the company’s needs.
  • Mentor and Advocate: Look forward to developing the next generation of design skills within the team while advocating for design expertise both internally and to external stakeholders.

We are looking for a strategic designer who is as comfortable defining a brand’s “personality” as they are diving into the governance of a complex design system.

Qualifications & Profile

You’ll be a great fit if you have:

  • Strategic Depth: Experience shaping design and strategy across multiple areas in a fast-paced or SaaS environment.
  • Brand Ownership: A proven track record of developing brand identities from the ground up and translating them into tangible marketing toolkits.
  • Sales & Growth Mindset: Experience supporting business development through the creation of high-fidelity demos, workshops and sales collateral.
  • Collaborative Leadership: The ability to build relationships at the highest levels of a business and align cross-functional teams around a unified vision.
  • Design Ops Expertise: Deep knowledge of design systems and the ability to maintain and develop systems.
  • Self-Drive: A natural inclination to “Own It”—taking early initiatives from a blank page to an established area.

Benefits

  • 33 days holiday (including public holidays, which you can take when it works best for you)
  • An extra day’s holiday for your birthday
  • Annual leave is increased with length of service, and you can choose to buy or sell up to five extra days off
  • 16 hours paid volunteering time a year
  • Salary sacrifice, company enhanced pension scheme
  • Life insurance at 4x your salary & group income protection
  • Private Medical Insurance with VitalityHealth including mental health support and cancer care
  • Partner benefits include discounts with Waitrose, Mr&Mrs Smith and Peloton
  • Generous family-friendly policies
  • Incentives refer a friend scheme
  • Perkbox membership giving access to retail discounts, a wellness platform for physical and mental health, and weekly free and boosted perks
  • Access to initiatives like Cycle to Work, Salary Sacrificed Gym partnerships and Electric Vehicle (EV) leasing

You may be put off applying for a role because you don't tick every box. Forget that! While we can’t accommodate every flexible working request, we’re always open to discussion. So, if you’re excited about working with us, but aren’t sure if you’re 100% there yet, get in touch anyway. We’re on a mission to radically reshape banking – and that starts with our brilliant team. Whatever came before, we’re proud to bring together people of all backgrounds and experiences who love working together to solve problems. Starling is an equal opportunity employer, and we’re proud of our ongoing efforts to foster diversity & inclusion in the workplace.

Lead Designer (Brand & Creative) - Engine by Starling employer: Starling Bank Limited

At Engine by Starling, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic and inclusive work culture that empowers our employees to take ownership of their projects and drive innovation. With a strong focus on personal and professional growth, we offer extensive benefits including generous holiday allowances, private medical insurance, and opportunities for volunteering, all within a collaborative environment that values diverse perspectives. Located in a vibrant area, our hybrid working model ensures flexibility while maintaining the essential in-person interactions that enhance teamwork and creativity.
Starling Bank Limited

Contact Detail:

Starling Bank Limited Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Lead Designer (Brand & Creative) - Engine by Starling

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend design meetups, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.

✨Tip Number 2

Show off your portfolio! Make sure it’s up-to-date and highlights your best work. When you get the chance to chat with hiring managers, be ready to discuss your projects and the impact they had. This is your time to shine!

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its design philosophy. Think about how your skills align with their needs and be ready to share specific examples of how you've tackled challenges in the past. Confidence is key!

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t hesitate to apply through our website! Even if you don’t tick every box, we value passion and potential. If you’re excited about the role, go for it! We’re all about finding the right fit for our team.

We think you need these skills to ace Lead Designer (Brand & Creative) - Engine by Starling

Brand Strategy
Visual Identity Design
High-Fidelity Asset Creation
Marketing Collateral Development
Design System Governance
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Problem Solving
SaaS Environment Experience
Sales Enablement
Mentorship
Strategic Design Thinking
Relationship Building
Self-Driven Initiative
Creative Leadership

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Off Your Brand Strategy Skills: When you’re crafting your application, make sure to highlight your experience in shaping brand identities. We want to see how you've developed a brand's personality and how that translates into tangible marketing assets.

Be Hands-On with Your Portfolio: Include a portfolio that showcases your best work, especially high-fidelity assets like slide decks and digital materials. We love seeing the quality of your designs and how they’ve empowered sales teams or delighted clients.

Demonstrate Collaborative Leadership: In your application, share examples of how you've built relationships across teams and aligned them around a common vision. We value collaborative leaders who can influence strategy and drive design excellence.

Own Your Application Process: Don’t hesitate to take initiative! If you’re excited about this role, apply through our website and let us know why you’re the perfect fit. Remember, we’re looking for self-driven individuals who are ready to own their journey with us.

How to prepare for a job interview at Starling Bank Limited

✨Know Your Brand Inside Out

Before the interview, dive deep into Engine by Starling's brand identity. Understand their mission, values, and how they position themselves in the market. Be ready to discuss how your design philosophy aligns with their vision and how you can contribute to shaping their brand strategy.

✨Showcase Your Design Process

Prepare a portfolio that not only highlights your best work but also illustrates your design process. Be ready to explain how you approach projects from concept to execution, especially in creating high-fidelity assets. This will demonstrate your hands-on experience and strategic thinking.

✨Emphasise Collaboration Skills

Engine values collaboration, so be prepared to share examples of how you've successfully worked with cross-functional teams. Discuss specific instances where you aligned multiple stakeholders around a common goal, showcasing your ability to advocate for design while considering business needs.

✨Ask Insightful Questions

At the end of the interview, ask thoughtful questions about their design processes and future projects. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you understand how you can make an impact. Questions about their design system or how they measure success in branding can spark engaging discussions.

Lead Designer (Brand & Creative) - Engine by Starling
Starling Bank Limited

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