Head of Design

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Head of Design

Company: Entain

Location: London, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Creative & Design Operations / Marketing Operations

Date Posted: August 06, 2026

Experience Level: 10+ years

Remote Status: Hybrid (2 days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and inspire a multi-disciplinary design team to drive creative vision, standards, and innovation across global brands, focusing on integrated campaigns and brand guardianship.

• Champion the adoption of AI tools within the design function to enhance creative speed, insight, and overall quality of output, aligning with Entain's ambition for technological advancement.

• Strategically partner with cross-functional stakeholders to elevate creative output and ensure measurable business impact through data-driven design decisions.

• Implement and refine best practice design processes to effectively scale design delivery and maintain creative integrity across a diverse portfolio of brands.

• Act as a brand guardian, ensuring consistent and impactful brand representation across all global design outputs, from static visuals to motion graphics.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is "Head of Design," its responsibilities heavily lean into operations by requiring the implementation of scalable processes, stakeholder management for business impact, and the strategic integration of AI for efficiency. This suggests a need for strong operational acumen within a creative leadership context, positioning it within the broader scope of Marketing Operations or Creative Operations.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and communicate the overarching creative vision and strategic direction for design across Entain's global portfolio.

• Manage, mentor, and inspire a team of design leaders and creatives, fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement.

• Oversee the development and execution of high-impact integrated campaigns across multiple UK-based brands, ensuring strategic alignment and creative integrity.

• Drive the adoption and effective utilization of AI and emerging technologies within the design workflow to enhance efficiency, creativity, and data-driven insights.

• Collaborate closely with marketing, product, and other business unit leaders to translate strategic objectives into compelling design solutions that deliver measurable business outcomes.

• Establish, document, and optimize design processes and workflows to ensure scalable, efficient, and consistent delivery of creative assets across diverse brand needs.

• Serve as the primary brand guardian, ensuring all design outputs adhere to brand guidelines, maintain high aesthetic standards, and effectively communicate brand messaging.

• Translate complex business requirements and customer insights into strategically grounded design concepts, from initial ideation through to final execution.

• Continuously evaluate industry trends, competitor activities, and emerging design technologies to inform creative strategy and maintain a competitive edge.

• Foster a collaborative environment that encourages cross-functional partnerships and promotes a shared understanding of design's role in achieving business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize operational aspects like "implement best practice processes to scale design delivery" and "partner with stakeholders to elevate creative output and drive measurable business impact." This indicates the role requires not only creative leadership but also a strong understanding of operational efficiency, workflow management, and ROI demonstration, which are core to Revenue and Marketing Operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, Marketing, or a related field is typically expected. A Master's degree or equivalent professional experience may be beneficial. Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in design, with at least 5 years in a leadership role managing large, multi-location, multi-disciplinary design teams.

• Proven track record of successfully leading design functions within a fast-paced, agency-like environment or for multiple brands.

• Extensive experience in developing and executing integrated creative campaigns that have driven measurable business results. Required Skills:

• Creative Leadership & Vision: Ability to set a clear creative direction and inspire teams to achieve ambitious goals.

• Design Management: Expertise in managing design teams, projects, and workflows at scale, across static and motion design disciplines.

• AI Adoption & Integration: Demonstrable curiosity and practical understanding of AI tools and their application to enhance creative speed, insight, and quality in design.

• Brand Guardianship: Deep understanding of brand strategy and the ability to maintain brand consistency and integrity across diverse touchpoints.

• Integrated Campaign Development: Proven experience in conceptualizing and executing multi-channel marketing campaigns.

• Stakeholder Management: Strong ability to build relationships, communicate effectively, and influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization.

• Process Optimization: Experience in defining, implementing, and refining design processes to improve efficiency and scalability.

• Typography & Motion Design: Expert knowledge of core design principles, including advanced typography and contemporary motion graphics.

• Digital Execution: Comprehensive understanding of digital design best practices for various platforms and user experiences.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience within the betting, gaming, or interactive entertainment industry.

• Familiarity with A/B testing and data-driven design optimization techniques.

• Experience managing external creative agencies in a complementary capacity.

• Knowledge of UX/UI principles and their integration with broader brand design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on AI adoption, process implementation for scaling, and driving measurable business impact strongly suggests that candidates with a background in operations-focused roles or those who can articulate their experience through an operational lens will be highly valued. The "10+" years of experience indicates a senior-level role where strategic operational thinking is paramount.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Impactful Integrated Campaigns: Showcase 2-3 comprehensive campaigns that demonstrate strategic thinking, creative execution across multiple channels (digital, static, motion), and measurable business outcomes (e.g., engagement, conversion, brand uplift).

• AI-Driven Creative Examples: Include specific examples where AI tools were leveraged to enhance the design process, speed up execution, or generate novel creative concepts. Clearly articulate the problem, the AI solution, and the resulting improvement.

• Brand Guardianship Examples: Demonstrate instances where you've successfully maintained or elevated brand consistency and integrity across a portfolio of brands or through complex brand evolution projects.

• Team Leadership & Process Improvement: While difficult to showcase directly, the portfolio should imply leadership through the scope and quality of work. Supporting documentation or a brief overview of how you’ve structured design teams and implemented process improvements to scale delivery is highly beneficial.

Process Documentation:

• Candidates are expected to articulate their experience in:
  • Workflow Design & Optimization: How they have designed, documented, and optimized creative workflows for efficiency, speed, and quality, particularly in scaling across multiple brands or locations.
  • AI Integration Methodologies: Their approach to integrating AI tools into existing design processes, including training, adoption strategies, and performance monitoring.
  • Performance Measurement: How they track and measure the effectiveness of design initiatives and team performance, linking creative output to business KPIs.
  • Cross-functional Collaboration Frameworks: Processes for effective collaboration with marketing, product, and other departments to ensure alignment and drive impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a "Head of Design" role with strong operational undertones, a portfolio that highlights the how behind the what is crucial. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their process methodologies, the operational frameworks they've implemented, and how they've leveraged technology (especially AI) to achieve efficiency and impact. This goes beyond simply showing pretty pictures to demonstrating strategic, operational leadership in design.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for a "Head of Design" role in London with 10+ years of experience, leading large teams and managing global brands, the estimated salary range is £90,000 - £130,000 per annum. This range accounts for the seniority, leadership responsibilities, and strategic impact of the role within a major entertainment group. Benefits:

• Generous Group Bonus Scheme: Performance-based bonus opportunities reflecting company and individual achievements.

• Hybrid Working: Flexibility with 2 days per week required in the London office, promoting work-life balance and in-person collaboration.

• Private Medical Insurance: Comprehensive health coverage for employees and potentially dependents.

• Pension Scheme: Matched contributions up to 6%, providing long-term financial security.

• "It's Your Game" Day Off: An additional paid day off around Christmas or New Year for personal respite.

• Entain & Enhance Days: Two paid days annually dedicated to professional development or personal growth.

• Share Save Scheme: Opportunity to invest in company shares, aligning personal success with company growth.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours (estimated 40 hours per week). The hybrid model offers some flexibility, but the demanding nature of a Head of Design role may require additional hours during peak periods or for critical project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on research from UK salary aggregators (e.g., Glassdoor, LinkedIn Salary, Reed) for senior design leadership roles in London, considering the company's industry (entertainment/betting) and the hybrid work model. The benefits are directly extracted from the job description and are highly attractive for senior professionals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Entertainment, Betting, Gaming, and Interactive Entertainment. Entain is a major player in a dynamic and rapidly evolving global market, characterized by innovation, strong brand portfolios, and a focus on responsible gaming and entertainment experiences.

Company Size: 29,000+ employees globally. This indicates a large, established organization with complex structures, significant resources, and a wide reach. For operations professionals, this means opportunities for impactful process improvements, a need for robust systems, and potential for collaboration across numerous departments and geographies.

Founded: Entain (formerly GVC Holdings) has a history dating back to the early 2000s, with significant growth through acquisitions and organic expansion. This long-standing presence suggests a stable yet forward-thinking company culture.

Team Structure:

• In-house Creative Agency: The role leads a significant function within an in-house agency, implying a structure that mirrors external agency operations but with closer integration to business units.

• Multi-disciplinary Team: The Head of Design will lead a team encompassing various design specializations (static, motion, potentially digital execution, etc.), requiring strong leadership to manage diverse skill sets.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: The role explicitly mentions partnering with stakeholders across the business, including marketing, product, and potentially brand management, indicating a highly collaborative environment where design's impact is measured against business objectives.

• Global Reach: While the role focuses on UK-based brands, the company operates globally, suggesting a need for design strategies that can be adapted or scaled internationally.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: The emphasis on "measurable business impact" and "driving performance" suggests a culture that values data analytics and performance metrics in evaluating creative success.

• Innovation & Technology Adoption: With a specific call for "championing AI adoption," Entain clearly prioritizes embracing new technologies to enhance operations and creative output.

• Agile & Pace-Oriented: The mention of operating "at pace" indicates an environment that values speed, efficiency, and adaptability in delivering creative solutions.

• Responsibility & Sustainability: Entain's stated ambition includes delivering experiences "responsibly and sustainably," suggesting that ethical considerations and long-term impact are integrated into their operational and creative strategies.

Company Website: https://entaingroup.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Entain's scale and industry position suggest that operational efficiency, robust process management, and data-driven decision-making are critical for success. The Head of Design's role is not just about aesthetics but about operationalizing creative excellence for business growth.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at a senior leadership level, equivalent to a Director or VP within a large organization. It represents a significant step for individuals looking to lead a substantial creative function and influence brand strategy on a global scale. The focus on operationalizing design for business impact means this role is a strategic partner to the business, not just a creative executor.

Reporting Structure:

• The Head of Design will likely report to a senior executive within the marketing, brand, or creative division (e.g., Chief Marketing Officer, Chief Creative Officer, or VP of Brand).

• They will directly manage a team of design leaders, who in turn manage their respective specialized teams. This creates a clear hierarchy with opportunities for leadership development at multiple levels within the design function. Operations Impact:

• The role is explicitly tasked with driving "measurable business impact." This means the Head of Design's success will be evaluated on how their team's creative output contributes to key business objectives such as customer acquisition, engagement, retention, brand perception, and ultimately, revenue growth.

• By championing AI and optimizing design processes, the role directly influences operational efficiency, cost-effectiveness of creative production, and the speed-to-market for campaigns. Growth Opportunities:

• Strategic Leadership Expansion: Potential to expand leadership scope to oversee broader marketing operations, digital strategy, or even customer experience design functions as the company grows.

• Industry Specialization: Deepen expertise within the high-growth entertainment, betting, and gaming sectors, becoming a recognized leader in creative operations for this industry.

• Global Creative Strategy: Opportunity to shape and influence global brand strategies, potentially leading to roles with broader international responsibilities.

• Mentorship & Team Development: Develop and mentor future design leaders, building a high-performing team that can support Entain's ambitious growth objectives.

• Innovation Leadership: Become a champion for technological innovation within creative functions, influencing the adoption of new tools and methodologies across Entain.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "operations" aspect of this role lies in its strategic responsibility for how creative output is delivered at scale, efficiently, and with measurable business impact. This makes it a potent growth opportunity for individuals who can bridge creative vision with operational execution.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid working model, with 2 days per week expected in the London office. This indicates a modern approach to work, balancing the benefits of in-person collaboration and team cohesion with the flexibility of remote work. The office likely serves as a hub for strategic meetings, team building, and collaborative brainstorming sessions.

Office Location(s):

• One Stratford Place, Montfichet Rd, London, E20 1EJ, United Kingdom: This is a prime London location, suggesting a professional and accessible workplace. Proximity to transport links and amenities would be typical for such an address.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and emphasis on stakeholder partnerships suggest a workplace designed to facilitate collaboration, both within the design team and with other departments. Expect meeting rooms, open-plan areas for team interaction, and potentially dedicated creative studios.

• Tools & Technology: As the Head of Design, access to industry-standard design software, project management tools, and potentially AI-powered creative platforms will be essential. The role's emphasis on AI adoption implies that Entain is investing in cutting-edge technology.

• Operations Team Interaction: Opportunities to interact with operations professionals from marketing, IT, and other departments will be frequent, given the need to integrate design processes with broader business operations.

Work Schedule:

• The role is full-time, with an estimated 40 hours per week. The hybrid arrangement allows for flexibility in managing personal schedules, but the demands of a leadership position in a fast-paced industry mean that responsiveness and availability, especially during core office days, will be critical. The "Entain & Enhance" days offer dedicated time for personal or professional development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid setup in a major London office implies a professional and well-resourced environment. For operations professionals, understanding how this hybrid model impacts team coordination, project timelines, and the flow of information is key.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or a recruiter will likely conduct an initial call to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and salary expectations.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Conversation with the direct hiring manager (e.g., CMO, CCO) to delve deeper into leadership experience, strategic thinking, and alignment with Entain's vision.

• Team & Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with key design team members, other design leaders, and cross-functional stakeholders (e.g., Marketing Directors, Product Managers) to evaluate collaboration style, communication, and ability to influence.

• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where candidates present their portfolio, focusing on case studies that demonstrate strategic impact, operational execution, and AI integration.

• Final Interview/Panel: Potentially a final interview with a more senior executive or a panel to make the ultimate decision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact, Not Just Aesthetics: For this role, prioritize case studies that clearly articulate the business problem, your strategic approach, the operational processes you implemented or optimized, the role of AI (if applicable), and the measurable business results achieved.

• Structure Your Case Studies: Use a clear narrative: Challenge -> Strategy/Approach -> Execution (including operational processes and AI usage) -> Results -> Learnings. Quantify results wherever possible (e.g., % increase in engagement, % reduction in production time, ROI).

• Highlight AI Integration: Be prepared to speak in detail about specific AI tools you've used, how you integrated them into workflows, the challenges faced, and the tangible benefits derived. This is a key differentiator for this role.

• Demonstrate Leadership & Scalability: Showcase projects that involved managing teams, scaling design operations, or implementing process improvements that benefited multiple brands or large-scale initiatives.

• Tailor to Entain: Research Entain's brands and recent campaigns. Frame your experience and portfolio examples to show how you can contribute to their specific goals and challenges.

Challenge Preparation:

• Candidates may be asked to:
  • Develop a Creative Strategy: Present a high-level creative strategy for a specific Entain brand or a hypothetical campaign.
  • Solve a Design Operations Problem: Discuss how they would address a common challenge like scaling content production, improving cross-team collaboration, or integrating new technology into a design workflow.
  • Critique Existing Designs: Provide constructive feedback on current Entain brand assets and suggest improvements.
  • Present a Vision for AI in Design: Articulate their vision for how AI can further transform the design function at Entain.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on portfolio review and presentation, especially concerning AI and measurable impact, means candidates should prepare to articulate not just their creative vision but also their operational methodology and strategic thinking. This is a key area where candidates can demonstrate their suitability for a leadership role that blends creative excellence with operational rigor.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design Software: Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, Premiere Pro), Figma, Sketch.

• Prototyping & UX Tools: InVision, Adobe XD, Figma.

• Project Management & Collaboration: Jira, Asana, Monday.com, Trello, Microsoft Teams, Slack.

• AI-Powered Creative Tools: Adobe Sensei, Midjourney, DALL-E, Stable Diffusion, AI-assisted editing tools (e.g., for video or image enhancement).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics.

• Performance Tracking: Tools for monitoring campaign performance, A/B testing results, and user engagement metrics.

• Data Visualization: Tableau, Power BI, Looker Studio (for reporting on design impact and team performance).

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly managed by the Head of Design, an understanding of CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation tools (e.g., Marketo, HubSpot) is beneficial for understanding how design assets integrate into broader customer journeys and campaigns.

• DAM (Digital Asset Management) Systems: Experience with DAM solutions for organizing, storing, and distributing creative assets at scale.

• Workflow Automation: Tools or methodologies for automating repetitive design tasks or approval processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "champion AI adoption" means candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with a range of AI tools, not just as users but as strategic integrators into design workflows. Familiarity with DAM systems is also crucial for managing large creative portfolios.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: A strong emphasis on using performance metrics and insights to inform creative strategy and process improvements. Operations professionals are expected to be analytical and results-oriented.

• Efficiency & Scalability: A culture that values optimizing workflows, leveraging technology (especially AI), and ensuring that design output can be scaled effectively to meet business demands across multiple brands.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Encouragement of strong working relationships and open communication between the design team and other departments (marketing, product, tech) to ensure alignment and shared success.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: A proactive approach to exploring new technologies, methodologies, and creative approaches to stay ahead in a competitive market.

• Responsibility & Sustainability: Commitment to ethical practices, responsible marketing, and sustainable operations, reflecting Entain's broader company values.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Design is not siloed but deeply integrated with marketing, brand, and product teams. Expect frequent collaboration, joint planning sessions, and shared ownership of campaign success.

• Feedback-Rich Environment: A culture that encourages constructive feedback, both within the design team and from external stakeholders, to foster continuous improvement and elevate creative quality.

• Knowledge Sharing: Practices that promote the sharing of best practices, learnings from campaigns, and insights into new tools and technologies among team members.

• Agile & Responsive: The ability to adapt quickly to changing priorities, market shifts, and business needs, often through iterative design processes and rapid prototyping.

📝 Enhancement Note: The intersection of creative leadership and operational efficiency means that candidates must demonstrate an ability to foster a culture that values both artistic excellence and rigorous process management. The "values" here reflect a mature, business-oriented approach to creative operations.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creative Vision with Business Demands: The primary challenge will be ensuring that innovative and high-quality creative output aligns with strict business objectives, brand guidelines, and operational constraints (budget, timelines, scalability).

• Scaling Design Operations Effectively: Managing the complexity of delivering design for multiple global brands requires robust processes, efficient workflows, and effective team management to avoid bottlenecks and maintain quality.

• Integrating AI Seamlessly: Successfully embedding AI tools into existing workflows requires change management, team training, and continuous evaluation to ensure they genuinely enhance, rather than complicate, the creative process.

• Measuring Design's ROI: Quantifying the direct impact of design on business metrics can be challenging. Developing and implementing clear measurement frameworks will be crucial.

• Maintaining Creative Integrity at Pace: Operating "at pace" in a fast-moving industry can sometimes lead to compromises. The challenge is to maintain high creative standards while meeting aggressive deadlines.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced AI in Design: Opportunities to explore and implement cutting-edge AI tools and techniques for creative generation, optimization, and analysis.

• Strategic Brand Management: Deepen expertise in global brand strategy and its operational implications within the entertainment and gaming sectors.

• Creative Operations Leadership: Develop advanced skills in managing large creative teams, optimizing workflows, and driving operational efficiency in a complex, multi-brand environment.

• Industry Conferences & Certifications: Access to industry events and potential for certifications related to design, marketing operations, or AI.

• Mentorship: Opportunities to be mentored by senior leaders within Entain and to mentor emerging talent within the design team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the operational complexities inherent in this role. Candidates who can frame these challenges as opportunities for strategic problem-solving and process improvement will be well-positioned.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your philosophy for leading a large, multi-disciplinary design team. How do you foster innovation while ensuring operational efficiency and brand consistency?"

• "How have you leveraged AI tools in your previous roles to enhance creative speed, quality, or insight? Provide specific examples of implementation and outcomes."

• "Walk us through a complex integrated campaign you led from ideation to execution. What were the key operational challenges, and how did you overcome them?"

• "How do you approach measuring the business impact of design initiatives? What KPIs do you focus on, and how do you report on them?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about Entain and its brands, particularly within the entertainment, betting, and gaming industry?"

• "How would you ensure your design team collaborates effectively with marketing, product, and other stakeholders to drive business objectives?"

• "Describe a time you had to advocate for a creative vision that was met with resistance. How did you navigate that situation?"

• "What are your thoughts on Entain's commitment to responsible gaming and sustainability, and how would you integrate these values into design outputs?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on 2-3 Key Case Studies: Select projects that best showcase your leadership, strategic thinking, operational execution, AI integration, and measurable impact.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your strategic approach, the operational steps taken (including AI usage), the challenges encountered, and the quantifiable results achieved.

• Highlight Operational Processes: Be prepared to discuss the specific workflows, tools, and methodologies you used to manage the project and scale delivery.

• Demonstrate AI Proficiency: Clearly explain how AI was used, why it was chosen, and the tangible benefits it provided. Be ready for technical questions about AI tools.

• Connect to Entain's Goals: Frame your experience in a way that directly addresses Entain's stated ambitions and challenges, showing how you can contribute to their success.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should emphasize articulating a blend of creative vision and operational rigor. Candidates need to demonstrate not only their design expertise but also their ability to lead, manage processes, leverage technology, and drive tangible business results.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations-adjacent design leadership position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on SmartRecruiters, ensuring all fields are completed accurately.

• Curate Your Portfolio for Impact: Select 2-3 of your most compelling case studies that highlight strategic leadership, operational process implementation, AI integration, and measurable business outcomes. Quantify results wherever possible and tailor the presentation to Entain's industry and brands.

• Optimize Your Resume for Operations & Leadership: Ensure your CV clearly articulates your experience in leading large teams, managing complex projects, implementing process improvements, and driving business impact. Use keywords relevant to creative operations, design leadership, AI, and stakeholder management.

• Prepare for Case Study Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio case studies, focusing on clear storytelling, operational details, and demonstrating your strategic thinking and problem-solving capabilities. Be ready to discuss your experience with AI tools in detail.

• Research Entain Thoroughly: Understand Entain's brands, their market position, their stated values (responsibility, sustainability), and their ambition to be a leader in entertainment. Prepare thoughtful questions that demonstrate your engagement and strategic interest.

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