Design Director

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Director

Company: OLIVER Agency

Location: London, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Creative & Design / Marketing Operations

Date Posted: September 01, 2026

Experience Level: Senior Level (10+ years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the creative vision and output for a key client, acting as the primary brand guardian across all visual communications.

• Drive sophisticated design solutions for B2B, corporate, or professional services environments, translating complex briefs into compelling visual narratives.

• Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing in-house creative team, fostering a culture of continuous learning and craft excellence.

• Serve as a strategic creative partner to senior client stakeholders, confidently presenting creative strategy and executions at an executive level.

• Oversee studio production budgets and manage supplier relationships, ensuring financial performance aligns with client and agency expectations.

• Champion the responsible integration of AI tools within creative workflows, establishing quality standards and governance to enhance efficiency while preserving craft.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Director-level opportunity within a specialized agency model focused on building in-house creative capabilities for brands. The emphasis on AI integration and a "bespoke in-house agency" model suggests a forward-thinking environment that values both strategic creative leadership and operational efficiency. The target audience is experienced design leaders comfortable with client-facing responsibilities and team management in a B2B context.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Brand Stewardship: Serve as the ultimate brand guardian for the client, ensuring unwavering consistency, quality, and strategic alignment across all visual touchpoints including print, digital, social media, and events.

• Creative Vision & Strategy: Define and articulate the creative vision for the client's studio, translating complex marketing and business objectives into sophisticated, impactful design solutions that resonate with professional services audiences.

• Team Leadership & Development: Build, mentor, coach, and develop the in-house creative team, providing clear direction, constructive feedback, and opportunities for skill enhancement to elevate individual and collective performance.

• Client Partnership: Act as the primary creative liaison and strategic partner to senior client stakeholders (e.g., marketing leadership, firm partners), presenting creative strategies, concepts, and final executions with confidence and persuasive clarity.

• Production Oversight: Manage the end-to-end production of high-quality communications, from thought leadership campaigns and pitches to event materials and digital content, ensuring adherence to brand guidelines and project timelines.

• Brand System Evolution: Proactively champion and evolve the client's brand system, ensuring it remains contemporary, distinctive, and appropriate for a regulated sector environment, balancing innovation with compliance.

• Project & Portfolio Management: Effectively manage multiple concurrent projects across the client's portfolio, balancing hands-on creative contribution with leadership duties and proactive problem-solving to ensure successful delivery.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with OLIVER's broader creative and account leadership to identify and pursue opportunities for studio growth, deepening the client relationship, and expanding service offerings.

• Budgetary Control: Oversee studio-level production budgets, including cost estimation, negotiation with suppliers, and meticulous spend reporting, ensuring financial performance meets client and OLIVER expectations.

• AI Integration & Governance: Drive the responsible and strategic integration of AI tools across studio workflows, establishing clear quality standards and governance frameworks to enhance efficiency and creative output while maintaining rigorous human oversight and craft excellence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus on creative leadership and operational management. The expectation to "manage multiple concurrent projects" and "oversee studio-level production budgets" indicates a need for strong organizational and financial acumen alongside creative expertise. The emphasis on AI integration and governance is a critical differentiator for this role, requiring a candidate who can strategically leverage new technologies.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong educational foundation in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, Brand Management, or a related creative field is highly beneficial.

Experience: A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in design, with a significant portion dedicated to leadership roles within agency or in-house creative environments, specifically within B2B, corporate, or professional services sectors.

Required Skills:

• Portfolio Excellence: A robust and compelling portfolio showcasing sophisticated brand development, campaign execution, and visual communication work, with a demonstrable depth in B2B, corporate, or professional services environments.

• Brand System Mastery: Expert-level understanding and practical application of building, maintaining, and evolving comprehensive brand systems, particularly within complex and regulated industry contexts.

• Team Leadership & Coaching: Proven track record of successfully leading, mentoring, and developing creative teams, employing a coaching approach that fosters individual growth and collective excellence.

• Executive Presentation Skills: Demonstrated ability to present creative work and strategies confidently and persuasively to executive-level and partner audiences, articulating ideas with conviction and clarity.

• Deep Craft Knowledge: Profound expertise in core design disciplines including typography, layout, art direction, and visual storytelling, with the capacity for hands-on creative contribution when required.

• Technical Proficiency: Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and familiarity with contemporary design tools such as Figma.

• Budget Management: Experience in managing studio or project-level production budgets, including cost estimation, supplier negotiation, and financial oversight.

• AI Strategic Integration: Experience in strategically integrating AI tools into creative workflows and studio operations, with the ability to set quality standards and governance for responsible and effective use.

• Agentic Problem-Solving: An agentic approach to tackling complex creative and business challenges, characterized by systematic thinking, adaptability, and a strong focus on achieving measurable outcomes.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working within or for regulated sectors (e.g., finance, legal, healthcare).

• Familiarity with project management methodologies and tools relevant to creative production.

• Understanding of digital marketing principles and their intersection with visual design.

• Experience in managing client relationships at senior levels.

• Knowledge of AI ethics and best practices in creative applications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Required Skills" section heavily emphasizes practical experience and a strong portfolio, particularly within specific industry verticals (B2B, professional services). The inclusion of "AI Strategic Integration" and "Agentic Problem-Solving" points towards a need for candidates who are not only creative leaders but also proactive, adaptable, and forward-thinking in their approach to technology and challenges.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies in B2B/Professional Services: Showcase detailed case studies that highlight your strategic approach to brand development, campaign execution, and visual communication within B2B, corporate, or professional services contexts.

• Brand System Evolution Examples: Demonstrate your expertise in building, maintaining, and evolving brand systems, providing examples of how you've ensured consistency and relevance in complex environments.

• Team Leadership & Mentorship Evidence: Include examples or descriptions of how you have led, mentored, and developed creative teams, focusing on outcomes such as skill improvement or enhanced team performance.

• Executive Presentation Artifacts: If possible, include anonymized examples of presentation decks or summaries that illustrate your ability to articulate creative strategy and concepts to senior stakeholders.

• AI Integration Case Studies: Provide examples of how you have strategically integrated AI tools into creative projects or studio workflows, detailing the process, outcomes, and any governance established.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Be prepared to discuss your methodologies for designing and optimizing creative workflows, from brief intake to final delivery, emphasizing efficiency and quality control.

• Team Coaching Frameworks: Articulate your approach to team coaching and talent development, including methods for providing constructive feedback, skill assessment, and career progression support.

• AI Governance & Quality Standards: Detail your approach to establishing quality standards and governance frameworks for AI tool integration, ensuring ethical use, brand consistency, and high-quality creative output.

• Budget Management Processes: Outline your processes for managing production budgets, including estimation, supplier negotiation, cost tracking, and reporting.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are highly specific, demanding evidence of strategic thinking, leadership, and hands-on experience in relevant industries. The emphasis on AI integration within the portfolio and process documentation is a critical requirement, suggesting that candidates must be able to demonstrate practical application and strategic foresight in this area.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Design Director role in London with 10+ years of experience, leading creative teams for major clients in a specialized agency setting, the estimated salary range is £75,000 - £100,000 per annum. This estimate considers the seniority of the role, the client's profile (implied significant), and the agency's model.

Benefits:

• Inclusive Working Environment: A commitment to creating an inclusive and anti-racist community where all employees are encouraged to reach their full potential and individual differences are valued.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for continuous learning and growth, including potential for industry conferences, workshops, and advanced training.

• Mentorship Programs: Access to mentorship from senior leaders within OLIVER and The Brandtech Group, supporting career progression and skill development.

• AI Tool Access & Training: Opportunities to work with and be trained on cutting-edge AI technologies that are revolutionizing creative and marketing processes.

• Sustainability Focus: Involvement with a company that has ambitious environmental goals and embeds sustainability into its operations and project lifecycle.

• Hybrid Working Model: Flexibility combining in-office collaboration and team synergy with remote work.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are 40 hours per week. While a hybrid model is in place, the demanding nature of a director-level client-facing role may require flexibility and occasional work outside of standard hours to meet project deadlines and client needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on typical compensation for senior design leadership roles in London. The benefits listed are derived from the company's values and stated commitments, with a specific focus on professional growth and the unique AI-driven aspect of the agency. The working hours are standard, but the role's seniority implies a need for flexibility.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Marketing & Advertising Services, specifically focused on building bespoke in-house agencies and marketing ecosystems for brands. The company operates within The Brandtech Group, emphasizing AI-driven solutions.

Company Size: OLIVER Agency is a significant global player, partnering with over 300 clients in 40+ countries. While specific employee numbers for OLIVER aren't provided, The Brandtech Group's broader ecosystem suggests a large, dynamic, and innovative organization. This size implies opportunities for cross-functional collaboration and exposure to diverse projects.

Founded: Established in 2004, OLIVER has a long-standing history as a pioneer in its specialized agency model. This longevity suggests stability and a proven track record, while its integration into The Brandtech Group indicates a modern, forward-looking approach driven by technology.

Team Structure:

• Client-Specific Studio: The Design Director will lead a dedicated in-house creative studio for a specific client, functioning as an extension of the client's marketing team.

• Creative Leadership Hierarchy: The role reports into OLIVER's broader creative leadership and works closely with account management and other operational functions within the agency.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Close collaboration is expected with client-side senior stakeholders (marketing leadership, partners), as well as internal OLIVER teams, including account directors, strategists, and other creative disciplines.

Methodology:

• Bespoke Agency Model: OLIVER's core methodology involves designing, building, and running tailored in-house agencies for clients, driving creativity and efficiency.

• AI-Powered Innovation: A key operational methodology involves leveraging cutting-edge AI technology to enhance efficiency, spark creativity, and inform decision-making across all aspects of work.

• Data-Driven Insights: The agency likely employs data analysis to inform creative strategies and measure campaign effectiveness, aligning with the "Results-focused" company value.

Company Website: OLIVER Agency Website

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context emphasizes OLIVER's unique "in-house agency" model and its integration with The Brandtech Group's AI focus. This suggests a dynamic environment where creativity is blended with technological innovation and operational efficiency. The team structure highlights a client-centric approach with strong internal agency support.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Director-level position, signifying a senior leadership role with significant strategic responsibility, team management, and client-facing duties. It sits at the pinnacle of the creative hierarchy within the client's dedicated studio.

Reporting Structure: The Design Director will report to OLIVER's creative leadership and will also have a strong, direct reporting relationship with senior client stakeholders. The role involves managing a team of creative professionals within the client's studio.

Operations Impact: The Design Director has a direct and substantial impact on the client's brand perception, marketing effectiveness, and overall business objectives through the quality and strategic alignment of visual communications. They are instrumental in shaping the client's brand narrative and driving successful campaign outcomes.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Expansion: Potential to expand leadership responsibilities, overseeing multiple client studios or taking on broader creative director roles within OLIVER.

• Strategic Influence: Deeper involvement in strategic planning for clients and contributing to the development of OLIVER's AI-driven creative solutions and methodologies.

• Cross-Disciplinary Skill Development: Opportunities to collaborate with and learn from diverse teams across The Brandtech Group, gaining exposure to marketing technology, data science, and other emerging fields.

• Mentorship & Advocacy: Opportunity to mentor junior talent and become an advocate for innovative creative practices and AI integration within the agency and client organizations.

• Specialization in AI & Creative Tech: Develop deep expertise in the application of AI within creative disciplines, positioning oneself as a thought leader in this rapidly evolving space.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth trajectory for this role is clearly defined, moving beyond purely creative output to encompass broader strategic influence, leadership expansion, and specialization in emerging technologies like AI. The emphasis is on developing a holistic leader who can drive both creative excellence and business impact.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in London with a hybrid work arrangement. This implies a blend of in-office collaboration and remote work. The office environment is likely designed to foster creativity, collaboration, and client engagement.

Office Location(s): Primary location is London, with occasional travel to Birmingham. This suggests a need for flexibility and willingness to travel within the UK to support client needs.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The London office likely serves as a hub for creative brainstorming, team meetings, client presentations, and fostering a strong agency culture.

• Technology-Enabled: Expect access to modern design tools, AI platforms, and collaborative software essential for efficient creative production and team communication.

• Client-Centric Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with client teams, fostering strong working relationships and a deep understanding of their business needs.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is 40 hours per week, with a hybrid model allowing for a mix of office-based and remote work. However, given the Director level and client-facing nature of the role, flexibility will be required to meet project demands and client expectations, potentially involving work outside of standard hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model and occasional travel are key environmental factors. The workspace context emphasizes collaboration and technology, crucial for a creative leadership role involving AI tools and client interaction.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your CV and portfolio to assess alignment with the role's requirements, particularly experience in B2B/professional services and leadership capabilities.

• Creative/Portfolio Review: A dedicated session to walk through your portfolio, discussing your approach to brand strategy, creative execution, team leadership, and AI integration. Be prepared to articulate the strategic rationale behind your work.

• Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with OLIVER's creative leadership and potentially senior client stakeholders to assess strategic thinking, communication skills, cultural fit, and ability to influence at executive levels.

• Team Interaction: Potential for an informal meeting or discussion with members of the creative team to gauge leadership style and collaborative approach.

• Final Interview: A concluding discussion, likely with senior leadership, to confirm fit and discuss the role's strategic importance and potential impact.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Relevance: Select work that specifically demonstrates your expertise in B2B, corporate, or professional services branding and campaign development.

• Showcase Strategic Thinking: For each piece, articulate the client's brief, your strategic approach, the challenges faced, your creative solutions, and the measurable impact or outcomes achieved.

• Highlight Leadership & AI: Include examples or discuss your experience in leading creative teams and specifically how you've integrated AI tools into your process and workflow, detailing the benefits and any governance implemented.

• Prepare for Executive-Level Discussion: Be ready to discuss your work from a business perspective, focusing on how design contributes to client objectives, ROI, and brand growth.

• Demonstrate Craftsmanship: Ensure high-quality presentation of your work, showcasing attention to detail in typography, layout, and visual execution.

Challenge Preparation:

• AI Integration Scenario: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach integrating a new AI tool into a creative studio's workflow, considering quality, efficiency, team adoption, and ethical implications.

• Brand System Revitalization: You may be asked to outline a strategy for evolving or revitalizing an existing brand system within a regulated industry context.

• Team Development Plan: Discuss your approach to identifying talent gaps within a creative team and developing a plan to upskill or mentor team members.

• Creative Pitch Strategy: Prepare to outline how you would develop and present a creative concept for a challenging B2B campaign.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes a deep dive into the candidate's portfolio, strategic thinking, and leadership capabilities, with a strong focus on AI integration. Preparation tips are tailored to showcase these specific requirements, including the ability to articulate business impact and manage AI implementation.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign for all core design tasks.

• Figma: Familiarity and likely proficiency for collaborative design, prototyping, and UI/UX work.

• AI Design Tools: Expect to utilize and potentially lead the integration of various AI-powered tools for tasks such as content generation, image enhancement, concept exploration, and workflow automation. Specific tools will depend on OLIVER's and the client's stack.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly stated as a direct responsibility for the Design Director, understanding how design impacts performance metrics is crucial. Familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, social media analytics) and reporting dashboards used by marketing teams would be beneficial for demonstrating design's ROI. CRM & Automation:

• The Design Director's primary focus is creative output, but an understanding of how design assets integrate into marketing automation platforms or CRM systems (e.g., for email campaigns, digital advertising) would be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack highlights core design software alongside a significant emphasis on AI tools. This indicates a forward-thinking agency that expects its leaders to be adept at leveraging new technologies to enhance creative processes and outcomes.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Ambitious to Succeed: A drive for excellence and a proactive approach to achieving ambitious goals for clients and the agency.

• Imaginative: A commitment to pushing creative boundaries and exploring innovative solutions, particularly through the integration of technology like AI.

• Inspirational: The ability to inspire and motivate the creative team and client partners through groundbreaking work and a positive, forward-thinking attitude.

• Always Learning and Listening: A dedication to continuous learning, staying abreast of industry trends, new technologies (especially AI), and understanding client needs deeply.

• Results-Focused: A strong emphasis on delivering measurable outcomes and exceeding expectations, connecting creative work directly to business objectives.

• Actively Pro-Inclusive and Anti-Racist: A fundamental commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for all employees and in all creations.

Collaboration Style:

• Client-Centric Partnership: A collaborative approach focused on building strong, trust-based relationships with senior client stakeholders, acting as a strategic extension of their team.

• Cross-Functional Integration: Seamless collaboration with internal OLIVER teams (account management, strategy, other creative disciplines) to deliver integrated solutions.

• Feedback & Iteration Culture: An open environment for constructive feedback and iterative design processes, encouraging continuous improvement and shared learning.

• Knowledge Sharing: A culture that promotes sharing best practices, insights, and learnings, particularly around new technologies like AI and innovative creative methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values are strongly articulated, emphasizing ambition, innovation (especially AI), results, inclusivity, and continuous learning. The collaboration style is geared towards strong client partnerships and internal agency teamwork, essential for the bespoke in-house agency model.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Brand Consistency with Innovation: Maintaining a highly consistent and appropriate brand identity for a client in a regulated sector while simultaneously driving creative innovation and integrating new technologies like AI.

• Managing Executive Stakeholder Expectations: Effectively navigating and influencing senior client stakeholders who may have diverse opinions or varying levels of understanding regarding creative strategy and AI implementation.

• Leading and Upskilling a Creative Team: Developing and retaining talent, while also upskilling the team to effectively and responsibly leverage AI tools in their daily creative practice.

• Proving ROI of Design and AI: Quantifying the impact and return on investment for design initiatives and the adoption of AI tools within creative workflows.

• Navigating AI's Evolving Landscape: Staying current with rapid advancements in AI technology and determining its most effective and ethical applications within creative production.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced AI in Creative Tech: Deepen expertise in cutting-edge AI tools and platforms specifically for creative applications, becoming a subject matter expert.

• Strategic Brand Leadership: Enhance strategic planning capabilities, focusing on how to leverage design and AI to achieve broader business and marketing objectives for clients.

• Cross-Agency/Group Collaboration: Opportunities to work on diverse projects across The Brandtech Group, gaining exposure to different agency models and technological innovations.

• Mentorship and Executive Coaching: Access to senior leadership mentorship to refine leadership skills, strategic thinking, and executive presence.

• Industry Trends and Thought Leadership: Opportunities to contribute to industry discussions, potentially through speaking engagements or published content, on the future of design, AI, and in-house agency models.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are nuanced, requiring strategic thinking, adaptability, and strong leadership skills. The growth opportunities are designed to leverage these challenges, positioning the role as a stepping stone for significant career advancement in the evolving landscape of creative technology and agency models.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for translating a complex client brief into a compelling visual strategy, particularly for a B2B or professional services context." (Preparation: Prepare a concise framework outlining your approach, emphasizing research, stakeholder alignment, and creative ideation.)

• "How would you advocate for a creative concept that pushes the boundaries of a client's established brand system, especially in a regulated environment?" (Preparation: Use a past example or hypothetical scenario to illustrate your persuasive communication and strategic rationale.)

• "Discuss your approach to managing and developing a creative team. How do you foster growth, provide feedback, and ensure consistent quality?" (Preparation: Detail your leadership philosophy, coaching techniques, and methods for performance management.)

• "Outline your strategy for integrating AI tools into a creative studio's workflow. What are the key considerations for quality, efficiency, and team adoption?" (Preparation: Be ready to discuss specific AI applications, potential challenges, governance strategies, and how to balance AI with human craft.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What attracts you to OLIVER's unique in-house agency model and The Brandtech Group's focus on AI?" (Preparation: Research OLIVER's website and recent news to articulate a genuine interest in their methodology and technological vision.)

• "How do you embody OLIVER's values of being 'Ambitious,' 'Imaginative,' and 'Results-Focused' in your work?" (Preparation: Prepare specific examples that demonstrate your alignment with these core values.)

• "Describe your experience working in or with regulated industries. What are the unique challenges and considerations for design in these sectors?" (Preparation: Highlight any relevant experience and demonstrate awareness of compliance and ethical considerations.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Arc: Structure your portfolio presentation around a clear narrative for each project: the challenge, your strategic solution, the execution, and the measurable impact.

• Focus on Leadership & AI: Explicitly call out instances where you led teams and integrated AI tools. Explain the "why" and "how" behind these decisions and their outcomes.

• Executive-Level Language: Frame your explanations in terms of business objectives, ROI, and strategic value, rather than purely aesthetic considerations.

• Interactive Discussion: Be prepared for a dynamic conversation, inviting questions and engaging with the interviewers to demonstrate your ability to think on your feet and collaborate.

• Conciseness: Respect the allocated time; focus on your most impactful and relevant projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation strategy is designed to ensure candidates are ready to discuss not only their creative skills but also their leadership, strategic thinking, and forward-looking approach to AI integration, directly aligning with the core requirements of the role and the company's ethos.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Design Director position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on Greenhouse.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to specifically highlight your experience in B2B/professional services, brand system management, and team leadership. Ensure any relevant AI integration examples are clearly showcased.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to emphasize achievements related to creative direction, strategic brand guardianship, team development, budget oversight, and AI implementation. Use keywords relevant to the job description.

• Interview Practice: Rehearse answers to potential strategy, leadership, and AI-focused questions. Practice presenting your portfolio concisely and effectively, focusing on business impact and strategic rationale.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research OLIVER Agency, The Brandtech Group, and their approach to in-house agencies and AI. Understand their values and tailor your communication to demonstrate cultural fit and enthusiasm for their model.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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