Gift Design Manager

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Gift Design Manager

Company: Lush

Location: Poole, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: Part-Time, Temporary (Fixed Term - 15 months)

Category: Creative Operations & Design Management

Date Posted: September 14, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years implied)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and develop the Gifts Design Team, fostering a high-performing, collaborative, and creatively ambitious environment.

• Oversee creative operations, including workflow planning, resource allocation, and ensuring design briefs are prioritized and delivered efficiently.

• Manage administrative creative processes, budgets, design proofing, and copyright/licensing approvals for gift collections.

• Build and maintain relationships with local Poole artists and creative communities to source talent and integrate community insights into product development.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Gift Design Manager," the responsibilities lean heavily into Creative Operations and team leadership within a design context. The role requires a blend of people management, project execution, and strategic creative oversight. The "Temporary" and "Part-Time" nature suggests a specific project or seasonal focus, requiring strong organizational skills to maximize output within limited hours.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Team Leadership & People Management:

  • Line manage, coach, and develop the Gifts Design Team, setting clear objectives and supporting structured career development.
  • Lead recruitment, onboarding, and absence management processes for the team, in conjunction with the Category Lead.
  • Foster an inclusive and collaborative team culture that emphasizes continuous learning and creative ambition.

• Creative Operations & Workflow Management:

  • Oversee workflow planning and resource allocation for an 18-24 hour part-time team, in partnership with Creative Operations and the Lead Designer, to proactively resolve project blockers.
  • Ensure design briefs are clearly defined, prioritized, and executed from concept to final approval.
  • Manage administrative creative processes, including budgets up to £1,500, design proofing, and copyright/licensing approvals for various projects (e.g., cultural holidays, internal talent pool assignments).

• Poole Community & External Artist Outreach:

  • Cultivate and sustain relationships with local Poole artists and creative communities to identify and recruit new talent aligned with Lush's brand values.
  • Drive collaborative local projects by developing briefs, engaging with community groups, and incorporating community insights into collection developments.
  • Manage the process for external artist submissions and identify local and global internship opportunities.

• Creative Direction & Quality Governance:

  • Maintain and uphold design excellence and brand consistency across all gift outputs, providing creative direction in the absence of the Creative Lead.

  • Support design workshops, internal events, and inspiration trips, contributing hands-on design work to collections as capacity permits.

  • Collaborate with Creative Operations to manage event logistics where Gifts team representation is required.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus on team enablement and operational efficiency. The "Creative Operations & Workflow Management" section is particularly crucial, as it details the need to manage a part-time team's output effectively. Budget management is specified at £1,500, indicating a need for strong financial oversight on smaller-scale projects within the team's remit.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Not explicitly stated, but a degree in Design, Fine Art, Marketing, or a related field would be beneficial.

Experience: Implied 5-10 years of experience in design management, creative operations, or a similar leadership role within a creative or retail environment.

Required Skills:

• Leadership & People Development: Proven experience in line management, coaching creative teams, and nurturing talent in a dynamic design setting.

• Creative Operations & Project Management: Exceptional organizational abilities, with experience managing design schedules, balancing part-time team capacity, and collaborating effectively with operational leads.

• Design Excellence & Direction: A strong aesthetic sensibility for visual design and collection development, with the confidence to provide constructive feedback, uphold brand standards, and guide creative output.

• Community Engagement & Sourcing: Demonstrated passion for local arts outreach, with experience in networking, commissioning local talent, and managing creative partnerships and licensing agreements.

• Commercial & Operational Acumen: Competence in managing small project budgets (up to £1,500), handling basic HR administration, and navigating copyright and licensing frameworks.

• Adaptability & Communication: Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to represent the Gifts team effectively at internal events, workshops, and global open calls.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience within the beauty, cosmetics, or gift retail sector.

• Familiarity with Lush's brand ethos and commitment to ethical practices.

• Experience in international collaboration and sourcing.

• Proficiency in relevant design software for review and feedback purposes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The skills are detailed and specific, emphasizing practical experience over formal qualifications. The emphasis on "fast-paced design environment" and "balancing design schedules" points to a need for candidates adept at managing multiple priorities and tight deadlines. The requirement to represent the team at "global open calls" suggests a need for strong presentation and communication skills.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies in Team Development: Examples demonstrating how you have coached, developed, and managed a creative team to achieve specific design or operational goals.

• Workflow Optimization Examples: Demonstrations of how you have improved design processes, managed creative workflows, and ensured efficient project delivery, particularly with part-time or distributed teams.

• Creative Project Execution: Showcase of gift collections or product lines you have managed from brief to completion, highlighting your role in creative direction and quality governance.

• Community/Artist Collaboration: Evidence of successful partnerships with external artists or creative communities, including how you sourced talent and integrated their contributions.

Process Documentation:

• Candidates should be prepared to discuss their methodologies for:
  • Workflow Design and Optimization: How they structure and improve creative processes for efficiency and effectiveness.
  • Team Capacity Planning: Strategies for managing and maximizing output from part-time and creative teams.
  • Brief Management: Processes for receiving, clarifying, prioritizing, and executing design briefs.
  • Budget and Licensing Oversight: How they manage small budgets and navigate creative rights and permissions.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role like this, a portfolio is crucial. It should not only showcase visual design but also demonstrate leadership, operational management, and community engagement. The emphasis on "process" within the portfolio requirements indicates a need for candidates who can articulate their methodologies and show quantifiable improvements or successful outcomes.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £48,000 - £58,000 annually, pro-rata for part-time hours.

Benefits:

• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays (pro-rata)

• 6 months of full pay for parental leave (primary caregiver)

• Enhanced paternity leave

• Bonus scheme

• Day off for weekday birthdays

• Holiday purchase scheme

• 50% discount on Lush products and spa treatments

• Cycle to work scheme

• Discounted rail and bus season tickets

• Employee assistance programme

• Wellbeing & mindfulness sessions

• Access to employee-led Community Networks (Disability and Chronic Illness, Family Support, Global Majority, LGBTQIA+, Menopause, Neurodiversity)

• Tailored gender affirming care

• 10% Employee Ownership: All colleagues share in the company's success and contribute to its ethics and future.

• Flexible Working: Actively encouraged, with conversations welcomed about how working flexibly can be implemented for this role.

Working Hours: 18 - 24 hours per week, with flexibility on days.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary is pro-rated for the part-time hours, meaning the actual take-home pay will be between approximately £23,000 and £27,700 annually, depending on the exact hours worked. The benefits are extensive and reflect Lush's commitment to employee well-being and ethical practices, including unique offerings like employee ownership and community networks.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Cosmetics, Retail, Ethical Consumer Goods.

Company Size: Large, global presence with a significant workforce.

Founded: 1995. Lush is known for its pioneering approach to cosmetics, ethical sourcing, and strong stance against animal testing. The company operates as a family-run business with a significant employee ownership component, emphasizing a commitment to social and environmental responsibility.

Team Structure:

• The Gifts Design Team is part of a larger creative department.

• This role reports to a Category Lead and works closely with Creative Operations.

• The team comprises designers and is supported by operational functions.

• Collaboration is key, involving cross-functional work with marketing, product development, and potentially supply chain teams. Methodology:

• Lush emphasizes a data-informed approach to product development and marketing, balanced with strong ethical principles and creative innovation.

• Processes are designed to be efficient and sustainable, reflecting the company's core values.

• Emphasis on collaboration, feedback, and continuous improvement across all departments.

Company Website: https://www.lush.com/uk/en

📝 Enhancement Note: Lush's culture is a significant differentiator. Candidates should research and understand the company's strong ethical stance, commitment to sustainability, and unique employee ownership model. This role is within a creative department, suggesting an environment that values innovation, collaboration, and a hands-on approach.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role sits at a mid-to-senior level, focusing on management and operational oversight within a specialized creative function. It's a leadership position responsible for a team's output and development.

Reporting Structure: Reports to a Category Lead, indicating a hierarchy within the creative or product development structure. Direct line management of the Gifts Design Team.

Operations Impact: The role directly impacts the appeal and marketability of Lush's gift products, contributing to revenue through effective design and timely delivery. It also influences brand perception through community engagement and ethical sourcing initiatives.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Potential to deepen expertise in creative operations, ethical sourcing within design, or specific product categories within Lush.

• Leadership Progression: Advancement to a Category Lead or similar senior management roles within the creative department or broader product development teams.

• Cross-Functional Movement: Opportunities to move into roles focused on broader product strategy, brand management, or international creative initiatives.

• Skill Development: Hands-on experience in managing part-time teams, budget oversight, and community-based creative sourcing offers valuable transferable skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this is a temporary, part-time role, Lush is known for internal growth. The "10% Employee Owned" aspect suggests that successful temporary employees may have opportunities for permanent positions or to contribute to future projects. The role offers a chance to gain experience in a highly values-driven organization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site at Poole - Unit 1. This suggests a physical studio or office space where the Gifts Design Team operates.

Office Location(s): Poole, Dorset, United Kingdom.

Workspace Context:

• Likely a collaborative studio environment where designers work together.

• Access to necessary design tools and potentially product samples for inspiration and reference.

• Opportunities for interaction with other departments within the Poole facility.

• The role requires active engagement with the local Poole community, potentially involving external visits.

Work Schedule: Part-time (18-24 hours per week) with flexibility on days. This allows for a balance between professional responsibilities and personal commitments, but requires strong time management to ensure all responsibilities are met within the allocated hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "flexible on days" aspect is a key differentiator for a part-time role. Candidates should consider how they would structure their 18-24 hours to maximize collaboration with the team and ensure they can engage with the Poole community effectively.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of CV and portfolio links to assess relevant experience and creative output.

• First Interview: Likely with the hiring manager (Category Lead) to discuss experience, leadership style, and understanding of Lush's values. May include behavioral questions.

• Second Interview/Workshop: Potential for a practical exercise or case study, focusing on workflow management, creative problem-solving, or presenting a design concept. This stage may also involve meeting key team members.

• Final Interview: Discussion with senior leadership to assess cultural fit and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Leadership: Include examples of how you've mentored or managed designers, demonstrating your ability to foster talent and improve team performance.

• Highlight Operational Efficiency: Present case studies on how you've optimized design workflows, managed tight deadlines, or improved resource allocation, especially for part-time teams. Quantify improvements where possible.

• Demonstrate Creative Acumen: Include examples of gift collections or product designs you've overseen, explaining your creative direction and how it aligned with brand strategy.

• Community Engagement Examples: If applicable, showcase projects where you've collaborated with external artists or communities, detailing the process and outcomes.

• Brand Alignment: Ensure your portfolio and presentation reflect an understanding of Lush's ethical values and brand aesthetic.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for questions about managing part-time teams and maximizing their productivity.

• Anticipate scenario-based questions regarding handling design conflicts, prioritizing briefs, or managing budgets.

• Practice articulating how you would build and maintain relationships with local artists and communities.

• Research Lush's current gift offerings and identify potential areas for creative enhancement or operational improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is key. It needs to go beyond just visual design to demonstrate management capability, operational efficiency, and community engagement. The "temporary" nature might mean the interview process is slightly more condensed but still thorough.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design Software: Proficiency in industry-standard design software such as Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) for reviewing and providing feedback on design assets.

• Project Management Tools: Experience with project management software (e.g., Asana, Trello, Monday.com) to manage workflows, track progress, and allocate tasks.

• Collaboration Platforms: Familiarity with tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or similar for team communication and coordination.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly stated for this role, an understanding of how design impacts sales and customer engagement might require familiarity with basic retail analytics or reporting dashboards. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this creative management role, but an awareness of how design assets are integrated into marketing or e-commerce platforms would be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary tools will be design-related for review and project management tools for workflow oversight. The emphasis is on managing the process and people, rather than being a hands-on designer with advanced technical tools.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Ethical Practices: A deep commitment to Lush's ethical sourcing, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability principles.

• Creative Ambition: Fostering an environment where innovation, artistic excellence, and pushing creative boundaries are encouraged.

• Collaboration & Inclusivity: Building a team where diverse perspectives are valued, and everyone feels empowered to contribute.

• Efficiency & Pragmatism: Delivering high-quality work effectively, especially within the constraints of part-time hours and project budgets.

• Community Focus: Valuing local connections and integrating external community insights into creative output.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Working closely with Creative Operations, Category Leads, and potentially other departments to ensure seamless project execution.

• Feedback Culture: Open to giving and receiving constructive feedback to drive continuous improvement in design and processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging team members to share best practices, insights, and creative inspiration.

• Employee Ownership Mindset: Contributing to the overall success and ethical direction of Lush, acting as a steward of the company's values.

📝 Enhancement Note: Lush's company values are paramount. Candidates must demonstrate alignment with these, particularly regarding ethics, sustainability, and community. The "10% Employee Owned" aspect implies a culture where all employees are invested in the company's success and ethical standing.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Maximizing Part-Time Output: Effectively leading and motivating a part-time team to achieve significant results within limited hours requires exceptional planning and delegation skills.

• Balancing Creative Vision with Operational Constraints: Ensuring design excellence while managing budgets, timelines, and administrative processes.

• Sourcing and Integrating Local Talent: Building and maintaining a network of local artists and effectively integrating their contributions into cohesive collections.

• Adapting to Temporary Contract: Working within a fixed 15-month term requires immediate impact and efficient knowledge transfer.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Leadership in a Values-Driven Company: Gaining experience managing a team within Lush's unique ethical framework.

• Creative Operations Expertise: Deepening skills in managing creative workflows, budgets, and artist relationships for a globally recognized brand.

• Community Engagement Strategies: Developing best practices for sourcing and collaborating with local creative communities.

• Exposure to Ethical Business Practices: Understanding how Lush integrates its ethical mission into product development and business operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The main challenge is likely the compressed timeframe and part-time nature of the role, requiring immediate impact and efficient management. The growth opportunities are significant for someone looking to develop leadership skills in a unique, values-driven environment.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your approach to line managing and developing a creative team, especially one that is part-time."

• "How would you prioritize design briefs when multiple urgent requests come in simultaneously?"

• "Walk us through your process for managing a small project budget and ensuring compliance with licensing/copyright."

• "What strategies would you employ to build and nurture relationships with local artists in the Poole area?"

• "How do you ensure creative quality and brand consistency while delegating tasks to a team?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you most about Lush's ethical commitments and how do you see them reflected in the gift design process?"

• "How would you contribute to fostering an inclusive and collaborative environment within the Gifts Design Team?"

• "Describe a time you had to adapt to a new role or project with a limited timeframe."

• "How do you approach integrating community insights into product development?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio by key competencies: Team Leadership, Creative Operations, Design Direction, Community Engagement.

• Storytelling: For each case study, clearly outline the challenge, your strategy/approach, the execution, and the quantifiable results or impact.

• Metrics: Be ready to discuss metrics related to team performance, project delivery timelines, budget adherence, or successful artist collaborations.

• Brand Alignment: Explicitly connect your work and approach to Lush's brand values and aesthetic.

• Conciseness: Given the part-time nature, be prepared to present your most impactful achievements efficiently.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for a candidate who can demonstrate strong leadership, operational acumen, and a genuine understanding of and alignment with Lush's core values. The ability to articulate a clear process for managing creative output under constraints is critical.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Gift Design Manager position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Lush's Pinpoint portal.

• Tailor your CV: Highlight experience in team leadership, creative operations, project management, and any relevant design or retail experience. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate your Portfolio: Select 3-5 strong case studies that best demonstrate your skills in team management, workflow optimization, creative direction, and community engagement. Ensure it's easily accessible (e.g., via a link to a website or cloud storage).

• Prepare your Personal Summary: Clearly articulate your suitability for the role, emphasizing your leadership approach, operational efficiency, and passion for Lush's mission. Include your portfolio link here.

• Research Lush: Familiarize yourself with Lush's gift products, ethical stance, and company culture to articulate why you are a good fit during interviews.

⚠️ 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.