Design Director - Maternity Cover 12 Month Contract in Purley

We are looking for a design director to join our team for 12 months on a maternity cover from November 2026 - November 2027.

The Company: Tjarks and Tjarks has 30 years of experience in designing and producing brands that win at the retail shelf. Our clients trust us time and again, over decades, to lead them through the changing dynamics of the shopper world and to design packaging that ensures their brands are picked first. We deliver our 360 design to artwork philosophy efficiently, faithfully, and accurately, across the globe. We create and produce as one seamless, joined-up team of experts, all under one roof.

Overall Responsibility:

• Design responsibilities:
• Design direction of your team on a daily basis to ensure all creative work is hitting the brief and executed to a top level.
• Ensure your team and projects are scheduled, driven commercially, and are delivered to the Head of Creative for sign-off.
• Take complete ownership of all assigned design projects from initial briefing through to final presentation to Head of Creative, overseeing the development and creative excellence throughout the design process.
• Provide thought leadership on all brands thinking beyond the brief and asking questions to challenge account managers and designers.
• Thorough understanding of the required brand guidelines to ensure consistency across all SKUs.
• Elevate current processes and suggest new workflows.
• Guiding the design team in the right strategic direction for the brands and presentations.
• Work collaboratively with both the artwork and creative team to create, shape and evolve brands ensuring the design is accurately represented in the final artwork.
• Check designs to ensure a high level of precision and accuracy.
• Work with style guides and brand guidelines to ensure brand compliance.
• Ability to work on conceptual briefs offering creative, innovative solutions to help drive the business forward.
• Attend all briefings and have necessary research beforehand.
• Be available to assist account management and artwork with questions and queries regarding design jobs and ensure full understanding of the client’s brief.
• Present designs to Head of Creative on a daily basis ready for approval.
• Take on-board feedback and delegate to the team accordingly to get the best results.
• Present designs on brief, on time, in budget, in line with the company’s values and to client satisfaction in a fast-paced environment.
• Ensure all deadlines are met within project budgets.
• Champion the company’s high standards.
• Management responsibilities:
• To manage your team of designer(s) and be responsible for onboarding, training, and developing, inspiring and motivating team members.
• Organise 1-2-1 meetings and be responsible for general day-to-day line management, ensuring there is adequate cover during absences.
• Responsible to make sure all team members conduct their work profitably and efficiently.
• Ensure your team are scheduled correctly and prepare tasks for when jobs drop out of the schedule or finish early.
• Train and oversee members of the design team to make sure that designs are presented on brief, on time and in line with the company’s values.
• Ensure designers are aware of their jobs and deadlines and assist department heads with wider workflow.
• Ensure the Head of Creative is aware when team members are not delivering offering strategic solutions of how to best shape the team.
• General responsibilities:
• To deputise for the Head of Creative and/or Design Director as required.
• Aid the Head of Creative when required in new business presentations and pitches.
• Be onsite and available to support the Head of Creative with daily tasks.

Job Skills and Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience in FMCG/retail packaging (food/alcohol) design.
• An outstanding portfolio of commercial food packaging design.
• Experience in managing/mentoring/developing a team.
• Ability to establish, strengthen and nurture the design team to constantly improve.
• Ability to take ownership and responsibility to take design projects from initial brief through to final presentation.
• Running large rollouts with on and off-site design teams.
• Understanding of working to tight deadlines and know how to choose the best process and tools to deliver on time and in budget.
• A creative thinker, concept generator, and communicator with excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to cope with shifting priorities and understanding how to prioritise tasks and resource accordingly.
• Expert Knowledge in Adobe Creative Suite/CC (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign).
• Print/Colour knowledge.

Attributes:

• Highly organised, deadline and results driven.
• Conscientious, reliable, good attendance and timekeeping standards.
• Excellent attention to detail and works with precision.
• Effective project manager, able to manage workload.
• Honest, trustworthy, and able to work unsupervised.
• Demonstrates initiative, is creative and contributes ideas.
• Pragmatic approach to problem solving without cutting corners.
• Friendly, approachable, respectful and a positive team player.
• Flexible, adaptable, calm whilst working under pressure.
• Professional with excellent communication skills.
• Proactive, takes ownership of daily tasks with a can-do attitude.
• Ability to adapt and learn quickly.
• Must be able to work flexibly to meet the needs of the business.