Graphic Designer - 6 Month FTC

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer - 6 Month FTC

Company: Sephora

Location: London, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: Contract / Temporary

Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Operations

Date Posted: June 03, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is central to executing visually compelling marketing campaigns that drive engagement and commercial success within the UK beauty retail sector.

• It requires a blend of creative design skills and a strategic understanding of omni-channel marketing, focusing on delivering high-impact assets across digital, social, and in-store platforms.

• The position emphasizes the adaptation of global brand creative for local market nuances, ensuring brand consistency while maximizing channel-specific optimization.

• Success in this role hinges on strong collaboration, meticulous attention to detail, and the ability to translate marketing briefs into captivating visual narratives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is a 6-month Fixed-Term Contract (FTC), indicating a project-based need for specialized design expertise. The emphasis on "performance go hand in hand" with creativity suggests a data-informed approach to design, where visual output is measured against commercial objectives. This is a key differentiator for operations-focused creative roles.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and execute visually engaging content for a variety of marketing touchpoints, including digital platforms, social media, email campaigns, print collateral, and Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising.

• Develop and adapt 360° omni-channel campaign assets, ensuring a cohesive and consistent brand experience across all customer journeys and platforms.

• Create dynamic motion graphics, animations, and video content tailored for digital and social media channels to enhance audience engagement and campaign reach.

• Translate global creative directives into localized assets for the UK market, maintaining brand integrity while resonating with local consumer preferences and market trends.

• Collaborate closely with marketing, brand, and retail teams to interpret creative briefs, present design concepts, and iteratively refine visual solutions based on feedback and strategic objectives.

• Optimize creative assets for specific channels, understanding the technical requirements and best practices for platforms such as websites, mobile apps, email, social media, and physical retail spaces.

• Support the timely delivery of key seasonal campaigns, product launches, and cultural moments throughout the marketing calendar, managing multiple project streams concurrently.

• Continuously research and integrate emerging design trends, digital innovations, and best practices in visual communication to elevate the creative output and maintain a competitive edge.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility to "ensure all creative is optimised for its intended channel" highlights a crucial operational aspect of creative roles. This involves not just aesthetic design but also understanding and applying technical specifications and platform best practices for maximum effectiveness, a core tenet of marketing operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Arts, Marketing Communications, or a related field is typically expected for roles of this nature. Equivalent professional experience will also be considered.

Experience: Proven experience in graphic design, with a strong preference for candidates who have worked within e-commerce, the beauty, or fashion retail sectors. This experience should demonstrate an ability to create impactful visual content within fast-paced, brand-driven environments.

Required Skills:

• Graphic Design Proficiency: Demonstrated expertise in creating compelling visual assets across various media.

• Typography & Layout: Strong understanding of design principles, including effective use of typography, color theory, and layout composition.

• Motion Graphics & Animation: Experience in creating dynamic animations and motion graphics for digital and social platforms.

• Software Proficiency: Expert-level command of Figma and the Adobe Creative Suite, specifically Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, and After Effects.

• Video Editing: Competent in video editing techniques for creating engaging video content.

• Omni-channel Campaign Design: Ability to conceptualize and execute integrated campaigns that span multiple customer touchpoints.

• Content Optimization: Understanding of how to tailor content for different digital channels (web, app, social, email) to maximize performance.

• Communication & Collaboration: Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively communicate design concepts and work collaboratively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.

• Time Management & Organization: Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

• Proactive & Feedback-Oriented: A self-starter mentality, receptive to constructive feedback, and committed to continuous learning and innovation.

Preferred Skills:

• E-commerce/Retail Design Experience: Prior experience designing for online retail environments, with an understanding of conversion-focused design principles.

• Beauty/Fashion Industry Knowledge: Familiarity with the aesthetic trends and consumer expectations within the beauty and fashion sectors.

• CRM & Digital Marketing Understanding: Basic knowledge of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems and broader digital marketing principles to inform design choices.

• Print & OOH Design: Experience in designing for physical media, including print publications and outdoor advertising.

• 3D Design Software: Familiarity with 3D design tools can be advantageous for advanced visual concepts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specific software requirements (Figma and full Adobe Creative Suite including Premiere/After Effects) are critical for operations roles that require end-to-end creative production. The emphasis on "content optimisation" and "omni-channel campaign design" points towards a need for strategic thinking beyond pure aesthetics, aligning with marketing operations objectives.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrated Design Skill: Your portfolio must showcase a strong foundation in graphic design principles, including typography, layout, color theory, and visual hierarchy.

• Motion Graphics & Animation Examples: Include specific projects that highlight your capabilities in motion design, animation, and video editing, demonstrating an understanding of dynamic visual storytelling.

• Omni-channel Campaign Integration: Showcase examples of integrated campaigns where you have designed assets for multiple channels (digital, social, print, in-store), illustrating your ability to maintain brand consistency and adapt creative across touchpoints.

• Software Proficiency Evidence: Visual evidence or case studies demonstrating your advanced proficiency in Figma and Adobe Creative Suite tools (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere, After Effects).

• Problem-Solving & Optimization: Projects that illustrate how you have used design to solve a specific marketing challenge or optimize content for a particular channel's performance.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Be prepared to discuss your design process, from brief interpretation and concept development to final asset delivery, highlighting how you ensure efficiency and quality.

• Implementation & Automation: Describe your experience with implementing design assets across various platforms and any familiarity you have with tools or workflows that aid in automation or streamlined asset production.

• Measurement & Performance Analysis: While not directly designing the metrics, be ready to discuss how your designs contribute to campaign objectives and how you consider performance data when iterating on creative.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a creative operations role, the portfolio is not just about showcasing final output but also demonstrating a structured, efficient, and effective design process. Candidates should be ready to articulate their workflow, how they collaborate, and how they ensure their creative output aligns with business and marketing objectives, similar to how a process improvement specialist would present their work.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Graphic Designer with 2-5 years of experience in London, a competitive salary range for a 6-month FTC would typically fall between £30,000 - £45,000 per annum, pro-rated for the contract duration. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for creative roles in London, considering the specific software proficiencies and responsibilities outlined.

Benefits:

• Private Healthcare: Comprehensive private medical insurance coverage from day one.

• Life Assurance: Financial protection for your beneficiaries.

• Private Pension: Access to a private pension scheme to support long-term financial planning.

• Competitive Pay: A competitive salary that is reviewed annually, with potential for growth within the contract scope or future opportunities.

• Generous Employee Discount: Significant discounts on Sephora's extensive range of beauty products.

• Paid Day Off On Birthday: A special day off to celebrate your birthday.

• Wellbeing and Perks Platform: Access to a platform offering various wellness resources and employee perks.

• LVMH Heart Fund Support: Access to support through the LVMH group's employee assistance program.

• Generous Holiday Allowance: A substantial amount of paid holiday time, with the option to purchase additional days.

Working Hours: The role is based on a standard 40-hour work week, typical for full-time positions in the UK. While the role is on-site, there may be some flexibility to discuss specific working patterns, though core working hours will be expected for collaboration and team integration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on current market data for similar contract roles in London. The benefits package is comprehensive, reflecting Sephora's commitment to employee well-being and financial security, even for contract positions. This level of detail is important for operations professionals who often evaluate total compensation.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Retail (Beauty & Cosmetics). Sephora operates at the forefront of the prestige beauty market, known for its curated selection of brands and innovative retail experiences. This industry context demands a strong sense of aesthetic, trend awareness, and a focus on customer experience.

Company Size: Sephora is a large, global organization, part of the LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton group, one of the world's largest luxury conglomerates. The UK operations, while potentially smaller than global entities, benefit from the resources and brand power of a major international retailer.

Founded: Sephora was founded in France in 1969. Its expansion into the UK marks a significant strategic move, aiming to replicate its global success in a competitive and dynamic retail landscape.

Team Structure:

• The role will likely sit within the Marketing or Creative department, reporting to a Marketing Manager or Head of Creative. The team structure will emphasize collaboration between design, content creation, campaign management, and digital marketing specialists.

• Reporting lines will be clear, with a direct manager overseeing daily tasks, project allocation, and performance feedback.

• Cross-functional collaboration is a key element, requiring close partnerships with E-commerce, Social Media, CRM, Merchandising, and potentially Retail Operations teams to ensure integrated campaign execution. Methodology:

• Sephora's approach to marketing and creative operations is likely data-driven, with a strong emphasis on analyzing campaign performance and customer engagement metrics to inform future strategies.

• Workflow planning and optimization are essential, particularly in a fast-paced retail environment with frequent campaigns and product launches. Agile methodologies or similar project management frameworks may be employed.

• Automation practices are increasingly important in marketing operations to streamline processes, from asset deployment to reporting.

Company Website: https://www.sephora.co.uk/

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding Sephora's position within LVMH provides context for the brand's commitment to quality, innovation, and luxury. For operations roles, this implies adherence to high standards, sophisticated systems, and a focus on premium customer experiences.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Level Graphic Designer, suitable for professionals with 2-5 years of dedicated experience. It’s a specialized role within the broader marketing operations or creative function, focusing on the execution of visual content. The "FTC" nature suggests it's project-driven, offering intensive experience in a specific area.

Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer will report to a direct manager, likely a Marketing Manager, Senior Designer, or Head of Creative. This manager will provide guidance, feedback, and project assignments. Collaboration will extend across various marketing functions, requiring the designer to effectively communicate with peers and stakeholders in different departments.

Operations Impact: The Graphic Designer's work directly impacts Sephora's brand perception, customer engagement, and ultimately, commercial performance. By creating visually appealing and strategically optimized assets, the role contributes to driving traffic, conversion rates, and brand loyalty across all marketing channels. This role is critical for translating brand strategy into tangible customer touchpoints.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in motion graphics, video editing, or specific design software through hands-on project work and potential training opportunities.

• Campaign Experience: Gain extensive experience managing creative execution for large-scale, omni-channel campaigns within a leading beauty retailer, enhancing portfolio value.

• Industry Exposure: Develop a strong understanding of the beauty and luxury retail market, building valuable industry-specific knowledge.

• Potential for Future Roles: Successful performance in this FTC role could open doors to permanent positions or future contract opportunities within Sephora or the broader LVMH group, particularly in areas like marketing, creative services, or brand management.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this is a contract role, it's vital for operations-minded candidates to see it as a platform for skill development and career advancement. Highlighting the potential for specialization and gaining experience in a high-profile retail environment is key to attracting ambitious operations professionals.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This role is designated as "On-site" in London, implying a traditional office-based work environment. This setting is designed to foster collaboration, spontaneous idea-sharing, and direct interaction with team members and stakeholders.

Office Location(s): The position is based in London, a major global hub for retail, fashion, and marketing. Specific office location details would be provided upon further inquiry or during the interview process. Proximity to public transport is generally expected in London-based offices.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is expected to be collaborative, encouraging interaction with fellow designers, marketers, and project managers. This environment is conducive to team brainstorming and rapid feedback loops, essential for agile creative operations.

• Access to necessary design tools, software licenses (Adobe Creative Suite, Figma), and potentially high-performance workstations will be provided.

• Opportunities for team meetings, creative reviews, and cross-functional project discussions will be integrated into the daily routine, facilitating seamless communication and alignment.

Work Schedule: The role adheres to a standard 40-hour work week. While on-site, the environment is likely professional and dynamic, with a focus on meeting campaign deadlines. Some flexibility might be available, but core hours will be essential for team collaboration and project synchronization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is significant for operations roles where in-person collaboration and access to specific hardware/software can be crucial. It also suggests a culture that values direct team interaction.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or HR representative will likely conduct an initial phone screen to assess basic qualifications, interest, and alignment with the contract duration.

• Portfolio Review & Technical Interview: Candidates will be asked to present their portfolio, discussing key projects, design process, and proficiency in required software (Figma, Adobe Creative Suite). Expect questions related to motion graphics, omni-channel strategies, and adapting creative for different channels.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A more in-depth discussion with the hiring manager to assess creative thinking, problem-solving skills, cultural fit, and understanding of brand aesthetics and market dynamics.

• Potential Practical Exercise: A short, timed design challenge or case study related to adapting a campaign or creating an asset for a specific Sephora UK initiative might be administered to evaluate on-the-spot creative problem-solving and execution speed.

• Final Interview/Offer: Potentially a final conversation with a senior stakeholder before an offer is extended.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate the skills required for this role: graphic design, motion graphics, video editing, Figma, and Adobe Suite proficiency. Prioritize projects relevant to e-commerce, beauty, or fashion if possible.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your role, the challenges faced, your design process, the solutions implemented, and the impact or results achieved (even if qualitative).

• Highlight Omni-channel Integration: If possible, showcase projects where you've designed for multiple platforms to demonstrate your understanding of cohesive campaign execution.

• Demonstrate Software Proficiency: Be ready to speak to your workflow within Figma and Adobe Creative Suite, and how you leverage specific features.

• Prepare for Motion/Video: Have examples ready to showcase your animation and video editing skills, explaining the creative intent and technical execution.

• UK Market Adaptation: If you have examples of adapting global creative for local markets, be sure to include them.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Sephora UK: Research current Sephora UK campaigns, their social media presence, website, and overall brand aesthetic. Identify key messaging and visual styles.

• Practice Brief Interpretation: Be prepared to quickly understand a design brief and outline a strategic approach, considering the target audience, channel, and objectives.

• Time Management: If a timed exercise is given, focus on delivering a clear, well-executed concept rather than striving for absolute perfection. Prioritize communication of your ideas.

• Articulate Your Process: Be ready to explain your design decisions and workflow concisely and effectively, as you would in a professional operations review.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on portfolio review and potential practical exercises underscores the operational nature of this role. Candidates should prepare to demonstrate not just creativity but also a structured, efficient, and results-oriented approach to design execution.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for collaborative design, prototyping, and creating UI/UX elements. Proficiency in Figma is a core requirement for modern design workflows.

• Adobe Creative Suite:

  • Photoshop: For image editing, manipulation, and digital asset creation.
  • Illustrator: For vector graphics, logos, and complex illustrations.
  • InDesign: For layout design, brochures, and print collateral.
  • Premiere Pro: For video editing and post-production.
  • After Effects: For motion graphics, animation, and visual effects.

• Adobe Acrobat: For PDF creation, editing, and review.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly responsible for analytics, familiarity with how design impacts performance metrics is key. Understanding basic principles of web analytics (e.g., Google Analytics) and social media metrics can inform design choices.

• Experience with A/B testing concepts for creative assets is a plus. CRM & Automation:

• A foundational understanding of CRM principles and how visual assets are deployed through marketing automation platforms (e.g., email marketing tools) would be beneficial for ensuring design compatibility and effectiveness across customer journeys.

• Familiarity with digital asset management (DAM) systems could also be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma and the full Adobe Creative Suite highlights the technical demands of this role. For operations professionals, understanding this stack is crucial for assessing workflow compatibility and identifying potential bottlenecks or integration points.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Creativity & Innovation: A strong emphasis on pushing creative boundaries while staying true to brand guidelines and commercial objectives.

• Collaboration & Inclusivity: A culture that celebrates diversity and fosters an inclusive environment where all team members feel valued and respected, as reflected in Sephora's stated values.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: While creative, decisions are increasingly informed by performance data and customer insights to ensure maximum impact.

• Efficiency & Agility: The ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment, adapt to changing priorities, and deliver high-quality work under pressure.

• Passion for Beauty: A genuine enthusiasm for the beauty industry, its trends, and its ability to empower self-expression.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Open communication and active partnership with marketing, e-commerce, social media, and retail teams to ensure cohesive campaign execution and brand messaging.

• Feedback Culture: A constructive approach to feedback, where critique is seen as an opportunity for growth and improvement, leading to better creative outcomes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of design trends, best practices, and project learnings across the team to foster collective growth and innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: Emphasizing Sephora's commitment to inclusivity and diversity is important. For operations roles, understanding how company values translate into daily work practices, team interactions, and decision-making processes is key to assessing cultural fit.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Pace of Retail: The fast-paced nature of the beauty retail calendar means constant deadlines and the need to juggle multiple campaigns simultaneously. Adapting to rapid changes in campaign priorities will be essential.

• Balancing Creativity and Commerciality: Effectively translating brand vision into visually appealing designs that also drive measurable business results (e.g., conversions, engagement).

• Adapting Global to Local: Successfully localizing global creative assets while maintaining brand consistency and ensuring relevance to the UK market can be a nuanced challenge.

• Keeping Up with Trends: The beauty industry and digital design landscape evolve rapidly; staying abreast of the latest trends in both design and beauty marketing requires continuous learning.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Software Skills: Opportunities to hone expertise in specific Adobe Creative Suite applications or Figma through practical application on diverse projects.

• Omni-channel Strategy: Gaining deep experience in executing integrated campaigns across a wide array of digital and physical touchpoints.

• Industry Expertise: Developing a nuanced understanding of the beauty and luxury retail sector, building a valuable niche skill set.

• Portfolio Enhancement: The diverse projects undertaken during the contract will significantly bolster the candidate's professional portfolio, showcasing experience with a leading global brand.

📝 Enhancement Note: Identifying potential challenges and framing them as opportunities for skill development is crucial for attracting proactive operations professionals. This shows foresight and a commitment to candidate growth.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for adapting a global campaign creative for a specific local market. What key considerations do you make?" (Focus on your systematic approach, research, and adaptation strategies.)

• "Walk us through a project where you had to balance strong creative vision with specific commercial objectives or channel optimization requirements. How did you achieve this?" (Prepare a case study that highlights your problem-solving skills and results-orientation.)

• "How do you approach collaborating with stakeholders who may have different creative visions or objectives? Give an example of a challenging stakeholder interaction and how you navigated it." (Demonstrate your communication, negotiation, and team-player skills.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Sephora UK and the beauty industry specifically? How do you see your design skills contributing to our brand?" (Showcase your research and genuine interest.)

• "How do you stay updated on design trends and industry best practices, particularly within the beauty and retail sectors?" (Highlight your proactive learning habits.)

• "How do you approach receiving and incorporating feedback on your designs, especially when it comes from non-designers?" (Emphasize your receptiveness to feedback and collaborative spirit.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each portfolio piece, clearly define: The Challenge (brief/objective), Your Role, The Solution (your design process, tools used), and The Outcome (impact, results, lessons learned).

• Highlight Technical Skills: Be prepared to verbally walk through your workflow in Figma and Adobe Creative Suite, explaining why you chose certain tools or features.

• Showcase Motion/Video: Demonstrate your animation and video editing capabilities with clear examples. Explain the creative intent and technical execution.

• Emphasize Omni-channel Thinking: If applicable, show how your designs work across different platforms and how you ensure brand consistency.

• Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, your challenges, and how you would approach specific Sephora UK scenarios.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparing for these types of questions requires candidates to think strategically about their design process and its impact, aligning with the operational mindset valued in RevOps/SalesOps roles.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations-aligned creative position:

• Submit your application through the Sephora careers portal via the provided link.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight experience with Figma, Adobe Creative Suite (specifically Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere, After Effects), motion graphics, video editing, and omni-channel campaign execution. Quantify achievements where possible (e.g., "Designed assets for campaigns that increased engagement by X%").

• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio prominently features your strongest graphic design, typography, and motion graphics work. Prioritize examples relevant to e-commerce, beauty, or fashion. Be ready to discuss your process and results for 3-5 key projects.

• Prepare for the Interview: Research Sephora UK's brand aesthetic, current campaigns, and target audience. Practice articulating your design process, your approach to collaboration, and how you handle feedback. Be ready to discuss your experience with adapting global creative for local markets.

• Understand the Role's Impact: Be prepared to discuss how your design work contributes to marketing objectives, brand consistency, and commercial success within a retail environment.

⚠️ 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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