Organic Lead Designer - Fixed term contract in Newcastle upon Tyne

We are looking for a Lead Designer on a Fixed-term basis! This role will initially be on a 9 month fixed-term basis with possible extension. This is a highly creative role leading a team of designers and videographers to create effective, functional designs specifically for Organic Digital marketing campaigns. You will ensure the creative output is innovative and efficient, directly contributing to the success of Visualsoft's Customer Engagement, SEO, CRO and Marketplace clients. You are accountable for reviewing and approving all assets to ensure they meet best practices for these specific high-performance channels.

Channel Specific Strategy

• Act as the creative lead for Organic Digital projects, focusing on high-performing designs for Customer Engagement, SEO, CRO and Marketplaces.
• Develop the service offering to maintain best-in-class standards and constantly raise the quality bar.
• Management of direct client communication.

Quality Control & Approvals

• Ensure design briefs are up-to-date for each department as well as quality checking submitted briefs.
• Review and approve all output to ensure consistency, quality, and adherence to brand guidelines across all organic channels.

Team Management

• Line management of Senior Designers and Designers, including 1:1s, team development, and performance monitoring via KPIs.

Department Growth

• Responsible for shaping the commercial growth of the department's offering, including identifying new creative sales opportunities within Customer Engagement, SEO, CRO, and Marketplaces.
• Identify and execute internal training where required.
• Support on Research & Development for the department - identify new software/technology that could boost design efficiency or possibilities, quote internal marketing jobs, lead on brand creatives.

Cross Department Collaboration

• The main point of contact between the design team and other departments, translating business needs into actionable design plans and ensuring seamless collaboration.

Requirements

• Proven experience in a Design or Digital Marketing role.
• Creative Suite Mastery: Expert knowledge of Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator.
• Video & Motion Production: Expert knowledge of After Effects and video editing with Adobe Premiere or Final Cut Pro, specifically for high-performance organic creatives.
• User Experience: Knowledge of UX Principles and implementation.
• Creative Vision: Creative flair, originality, and a strong visual sense.
• Digital Leadership: Experience in mentoring, leading, and coaching teams in a digital environment.
• Web Content Management: Experience in building web pages using a content management system.

Desirable

• Organic Channel Expertise: Strong understanding of performance marketing channels including Customer Engagement, SEO, CRO and Marketplaces.
• Development Appreciation: Experience or appreciation of website development.

Core Competences, Skills And Personal Attributes

Essential

• Proactive Mindset: Self-motivated with an ability to demonstrate a can-do approach.
• Time Management: Working to tight deadlines as a team and as an individual.
• Strategic Planning: A preemptive thinker with acute forward planning.
• Industry Passion: Passionate about Design, eCommerce, and digital marketing.
• Commercial Awareness: Figures and forecast orientated, target and performance-minded to align with department targets.
• Detail Orientation: Organised with good attention to detail.
• Leadership Style: Strong initiative and leadership style.
• Technical Agility: Able to pick up new technologies, systems, and processes quickly.
• Analytical Thinking: Technically minded and interested in how things work.
• Communication Skills: Excellent communication skills for client and internal collaboration.
• Professional Integrity: Professionalism, integrity, and a strong work ethic.
• Collaborative Spirit: A team player with a flexible approach to working.
• Organisational Skills: Good planning and organisation skills with the ability to manage your own time effectively.
• Growth Mindset: A continuous willingness to learn.

Desirable

• Innovation Interest: An interest in new technologies and other online marketing channels.

Benefits

• Competitive basic salary with great progression options.
• Unlimited paid holidays.
• Hybrid working.
• Medicash Cash Plan – covering everything from medical support, massages, optical, dental, discounts platform, and extras like SkinVision and digital physiotherapy. Cash back up to £995 per year, completely paid for by us!
• Employee Assistance Programme – access to Vivup for mental health support, financial guidance, and wellbeing resources.
• Great working environments; our Stockton on Tees and Manchester workspaces are also dog-friendly.
• A high-performance MacBook.
• VS Perks – a monthly treat on us; from Amazon vouchers, PlayStation credits, ASOS, H & M to Just Eat, there’s something for everyone!
• Free breakfast, fruit, hot and cold drinks and protein shakes.
• Friday afternoon drinks to wind down for the weekend.
• Pension scheme to help you save for the future.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Discounts across our brands.
• Regular team social events.
• Training & development.

So if you think you’ve got what it takes to join one of the UK’s leading eCommerce agencies, we’d love to hear from you.

A little formality... by applying, you implicitly consent to us processing your personal data for review for this vacancy only. Visualsoft is an equal opportunities employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment where employees are valued for their skills, experiences, and unique perspective. We believe passionately that a diverse workforce is central to our success so we welcome applications from all sections of the community.