At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead creative vision for Tesco's General Merchandise, shaping customer experiences and product storytelling.
- Company: Join Tesco, a dynamic company blending retail, technology, and community impact.
- Benefits: Flexible working, competitive salary, and a supportive environment for personal growth.
- Other info: Embrace a culture of creativity, inclusion, and collaboration with excellent career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on beloved brands while leading a talented design team.
- Qualifications: Significant experience in creative leadership and a strong portfolio in brand and product design.
The predicted salary is between 59400 - 72600 £ per year.
As the Lead Design Manager, you’ll shape the creative future of Tesco’s General Merchandise business.
In this high-profile role, you’ll lead the vision and direction for some of our most loved and distinctive categories, including Seasonal Events, Paperchase, Go Cook and Papershop, creating inspiring customer experiences that stand out.
You’ll combine creativity with commercial insight to elevate brand identity, product storytelling and design excellence across every customer touchpoint.
- Define and lead the creative vision for General Merchandise, delivering distinctive, customer-led design that strengthens brand perception and drives commercial performance.
- Champion insight-led innovation by translating customer needs, market trends and cultural shifts into compelling product, category and seasonal propositions.
- Transform the execution of key seasonal events and trading moments, creating engaging customer experiences that increase theatre, emotional connection and impact.
- Own the creative direction across Seasonal Events, Paperchase, Go Cook, Papershop & Stationery and Practical Home, ensuring clear differentiation and a cohesive brand identity.
- Strengthen Tesco’s "famous for" categories through outstanding creative leadership, delivering market-leading products, ranges and customer propositions.
- Lead the development of category-defining products and hero ranges, balancing strategic thinking with hands-on creative direction.
- Inspire, lead and develop a high-performing design team, fostering a culture of creativity, inclusion, collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Provide coaching, direction and constructive feedback to enhance capability, elevate creative standards and support individual growth.
- Build strong partnerships with Category Directors, Category Managers and cross-functional stakeholders to align creative output with commercial and customer strategies.
- Collaborate effectively with Design, Marketing, Brand, Packaging, Store Experience and supplier partners to deliver integrated and consistent customer experiences.
- Influence and challenge stakeholders at all levels through credible creative expertise, strong communication and clear decision-making.
- Lead the end-to-end design process from concept to execution, ensuring the highest standards of visual identity, storytelling and brand expression.
- Drive innovation through effective supplier partnerships, identifying opportunities to enhance quality, differentiation and value.
- Manage resources, budgets and priorities effectively to deliver creative objectives on time and within agreed parameters.
- Ensure all creative outputs deliver measurable customer, brand and commercial outcomes while supporting broader business objectives.
- Significant experience in senior creative or design leadership roles
- Proven success delivering brand, product and category design strategies
- Experience leading large-scale campaigns and customer propositions
- Strong track record of building and developing high-performing creative teams
- Expertise in brand development, visual storytelling and customer experience design
- Strong understanding of consumer trends and insights
- Experience managing end-to-end design and product development
- Ability to influence senior stakeholders and work cross-functionally
- Experience managing agencies, suppliers and creative partners
- Strong project, budget and resource management skills
- Excellent communication, presentation and storytelling abilities
- A portfolio demonstrating excellence in brand, product and retail design
- Ability to combine strategic thinking with hands-on creative leadership in a fast-paced environment
You might know us as a supermarket, technology company or even for our award-winning mobile network.
Truth is, we’re all of those things, and much more.
Our colleagues work with one goal in mind, helping to make every day a little better for our customers, colleagues and communities all over the world.
No two customers are the same, neither are our colleagues.
At Tesco, we champion a balance that lets you thrive both in and out of work.
Spend 60% of your week collaborating with colleagues at our office locations or local sites and the rest remotely.
Whether you’re just kicking off your career, juggling passions, or navigating big life events, we’re here to support you.
We always welcome a conversation about flexible working, so talk to us throughout your application about how we can support.
We’re proud to be an accredited Disability Confident Leader, where everyone’s welcome.
That’s why we commit to providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process.
If you need support with your application, click here for more information.
And if you’re interested in joining our team but dont tick every box, don’t let that hold you back from applying.
When you join us in this role, you’ll be employed by Tesco Stores Limited, the Tesco legal entity responsible for your employment.
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Lead Design Manager - General Merchandise in Welwyn Garden City employer: Tesco UK
Tesco UK is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises customer care and teamwork. With flexible shifts and opportunities for personal growth, employees can enjoy a rewarding career while making a positive impact in their local communities across Exeter. The company values its staff, providing training and development to ensure everyone can thrive in their roles.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Design Manager - General Merchandise in Welwyn Garden City
✨Show Your Creative Side
In marketing communications, standing out is key. Get creative with your application! Consider designing a mini-campaign or pitch that highlights your skills and understanding of the brand. Tailor it for Tesco UK and show them what you can bring to the table.
✨Engage in Marketing Communities
Get involved in local or online marketing communications groups. Check out platforms like Meetup for events and workshops. Networking here can lead to hidden job openings and valuable insights into the industry trends—this is where we often discover what companies like Tesco UK are looking for.
✨Leverage Social Media
Use platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter to showcase your passion for marketing communications. Share insights, articles, and your own content that resonates with the industry. Tagging or interacting with Tesco UK on these platforms can catch the eye of recruiters and show you're genuinely interested in them.
✨Attend Industry Events
Keep an eye out for marketing conferences and workshops. These are great places to meet potential employers face-to-face and make connections that could land you a full-time role at Tesco UK. Bring your business cards and be prepared to chat about how you can contribute!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Design Manager - General Merchandise in Welwyn Garden City
Some tips for your application 🫡
Craft an Impactful Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Focus on your passion for marketing communications and how your previous experiences can benefit Tesco UK. Make sure to mention specific campaigns or projects you’ve worked on that showcase your creativity and strategic thinking.
Showcase Your Writing Skills:As you're diving into a marketing communications role, your writing ability is crucial. Include samples of your work, like blog posts, press releases, or social media campaigns in your application. This lets us see your style and how you engage with different audiences.
Tailor Your CV to Marketing:Your CV should highlight relevant marketing skills and experiences! Include specific tools or platforms you’ve used, like Google Analytics or social media management software. Mention any certifications or workshops related to marketing that you've completed – they can give you an edge!
Demonstrate Your Understanding of Tesco UK:Show us that you’ve done your homework! In your application, briefly mention what you admire about Tesco UK’s marketing approach or any recent campaigns that caught your attention. This can reveal your enthusiasm for the role and your genuine interest in joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Tesco UK
✨Showcase Your Creative Campaigns
Get ready to flaunt your portfolio! Include examples of previous marketing campaigns you've worked on, especially those that showcase your creativity and strategy. Recruiters at Tesco UK will be keen to see how you conceptualise and execute campaigns, so highlight any measurable outcomes to back up your claims.
✨Know Your Digital Tools Inside Out
If you’re heading into a marketing-communications role, make sure you're comfortable discussing key digital marketing tools like Google Analytics, HubSpot, or Hootsuite. Expect some technical questions about how you've used these tools in the past, as they'll want to gauge your hands-on experience and how you analyse data to drive marketing decisions.
✨Be Ready for Scenario-Based Questions
At Tesco UK, they may throw some scenario-based questions your way, aimed at testing your problem-solving skills in real-life marketing situations. Think through potential challenges you’ve faced, how you navigated them, and be prepared to discuss your thought process and outcome.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion for Marketing
As you’re applying for a full-time position, show that you're not just looking for a job, but a career in marketing. Talk about the latest trends in marketing communications, your favourite campaigns, and why they inspire you. Your enthusiasm can really make you stand out and demonstrate that you’re committed to growing within the field.
