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- Tasks: Lead and inspire design teams to create impactful digital experiences.
- Company: Dynamic consultancy and design agency focused on meaningful collaboration.
- Benefits: Remote-first work, 25 holiday days, and opportunities for in-person collaboration.
- Why this job: Shape the future of design in a fast-paced, empowering environment.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in UX/UI and leadership experience in digital environments.
- Other info: Join a culture that values creativity, growth, and strategic impact.
The predicted salary is between 54000 - 84000 £ per year.
About Us
We’re part strategic consultancy, part design agency. We shape the strategy and create the work that consumers see and experience. We’re proud to be fiercely independent, working with brands we believe in and building our company around the things that energise us. That means meaningful collaboration, genuine empowerment, and the ability to move with pace and flexibility for our clients. We’re looking for people who want to make their mark. People who thrive in environments that aren’t overly neat or tightly prescribed. Those who embrace ownership, enjoy variety, and feel energised by the opportunity to shape both the work and the way we work.
Role/s Overview
As Design Director, you will provide strategic and creative leadership across complex, large-scale digital programmes within global organisations. This is a senior leadership role responsible for shaping the overall design vision and ensuring excellence across UX, UI, Service Design, and digital ecosystems. You will oversee multiple workstreams and design leads, ensuring cohesive thinking across product experiences, service models, and performance-driven touchpoints. You will operate at both strategic and operational levels, defining long-term design direction while ensuring delivery quality, governance, and measurable business impact. This role requires strong executive presence, deep experience in digital commerce and experience design, and the ability to guide complex, multi-disciplinary teams across regions.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership
- Define and articulate a clear design vision aligned with client business objectives.
- Shape multi-year experience strategies across digital product, service, and campaign ecosystems.
- Ensure alignment between UX, UI, service design, CRM, and performance marketing initiatives.
- Act as a senior strategic partner to client leadership teams.
- Creative & Design Excellence
- Champion high standards of craft, accessibility, usability, and innovation across all outputs.
- Oversee the evolution of scalable design systems and governance frameworks.
- Ensure work balances brand storytelling with conversion and performance goals.
- Maintain consistency across global and regional markets.
- Team Leadership & Mentorship
- Lead and mentor senior designers, service designers, strategists, and marketing designers.
- Foster a culture of structured feedback, growth, and continuous improvement.
- Establish clear workflows and quality standards across all design disciplines.
- Support recruitment and development of high-performing design talent.
- Client & Stakeholder Management
- Build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders across product, CX, CRM, and marketing functions.
- Lead executive presentations, workshops, and strategic planning sessions.
- Navigate complex, matrixed organisations with confidence and clarity.
- Represent FW.D as a senior voice in design leadership conversations.
- Operational Oversight
- Ensure design workstreams are aligned with delivery timelines and KPIs.
- Support governance frameworks that ensure scalable and repeatable excellence.
- Identify risks, inefficiencies, and opportunities for optimisation across workflows.
- Travel to client locations in Europe and the US as required.
What We’re Looking For
- Essential
- 10+ years’ experience in UX/UI, Service Design, or Digital Experience roles, with significant leadership experience.
- Proven experience leading multidisciplinary design teams within complex digital environments.
- Deep expertise in design systems, governance frameworks, and scalable experience architecture.
- Strong commercial understanding, able to connect design decisions to KPIs such as conversion, retention, and engagement.
- Experience operating at executive stakeholder level within large organisations.
- A portfolio demonstrating strategic impact, design leadership, and measurable business results.
- Preferred
- Experience working within global or multi-market digital ecosystems.
- Background in both product experience and performance-driven digital environments.
- Familiarity with CRM, lifecycle marketing, and customer journey optimisation.
- Experience shaping operating models and embedded team structures.
Benefits
Remote first, with regular opportunities to collaborate in-person as a team. 25 holiday days, in addition to
Design Director in Manchester employer: This Place
Contact Detail:
This Place Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Design Director in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the design world and let them know you're on the hunt for a Design Director role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on an opportunity that’s not 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 demonstrate your strategic impact and leadership. When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, use your portfolio as a conversation starter.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company’s design philosophy and recent projects. Tailor your responses to show how your experience aligns with their needs. We want to see that you’re genuinely interested in making your mark with us!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team and contributing to our exciting projects.
We think you need these skills to ace Design Director in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Creative Side: When you're putting together your application, don't hold back on showcasing your creativity. Use your portfolio to highlight projects that reflect your design vision and strategic thinking. We want to see how you can shape experiences that resonate with users!
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to tailor your application to align with our values and the role of Design Director. Highlight your experience in leading multidisciplinary teams and how you've driven measurable business impact through design. We love seeing candidates who understand our mission!
Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your written application. We appreciate authenticity and want to get a sense of who you are beyond your qualifications. Share your passion for design and how it energises you to create meaningful work.
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’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows us you’re keen to be part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at This Place
✨Know Your Design Vision
Before the interview, take some time to clearly define your design vision. Think about how it aligns with the company's objectives and be ready to articulate this during the conversation. This will show that you understand their strategic direction and can contribute meaningfully.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare examples of how you've led multidisciplinary teams in the past. Highlight your approach to mentorship and fostering a culture of feedback. This is crucial for a Design Director role, so make sure to convey your ability to inspire and guide others.
✨Demonstrate Your Strategic Impact
Bring along a portfolio that not only showcases your design work but also illustrates the strategic impact of your decisions. Be ready to discuss specific KPIs you've influenced, such as conversion rates or user engagement, to demonstrate your commercial understanding.
✨Engage with Stakeholder Scenarios
Think about potential scenarios involving senior stakeholders and how you would navigate them. Prepare to discuss your experience in building trusted relationships and leading executive presentations. This will highlight your confidence and clarity in complex environments.
