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

Date Posted: 2026-06-19T14:47:00.313

Experience Level: 10+ years

Remote Status: Hybrid (2 days on-site)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the global design vision and creative excellence across Entain's portfolio of over 30 iconic brands.

• Drive innovation and embed emerging technologies, particularly AI, to enhance creative output and customer engagement.

• Manage and inspire a multi-disciplinary design team to deliver high-impact campaigns across various channels.

• Oversee the implementation of best practices and processes to scale design delivery efficiently across multiple brands.

• Act as a brand guardian, ensuring creative integrity and strategic alignment for all design outputs.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior leadership position within an in-house agency structure, implying a strong focus on operationalizing creative processes, managing a significant team, and demonstrating measurable business impact through design. The emphasis on AI integration suggests a forward-thinking approach to creative operations and efficiency.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and execute the overarching creative vision and design strategy for Entain's global brand portfolio.

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a team of design leaders and professionals, fostering a culture of high performance and creative excellence in both static and motion design.

• Champion the adoption and integration of AI tools and technologies to augment creative speed, improve insight generation, and elevate the quality of design work.

• Translate strategic business objectives and customer insights into compelling, award-winning design concepts from ideation through to final execution.

• Collaborate closely with key stakeholders across marketing, product, and brand teams to ensure creative output aligns with business goals and drives measurable commercial impact.

• Implement and refine design operational processes and workflows to ensure efficient, scalable, and consistent delivery of creative assets across CRM, performance marketing, TV, and social media channels.

• Act as the primary brand guardian, ensuring all design outputs adhere to brand guidelines, maintain creative integrity, and represent Entain's values responsibly.

• Stay abreast of industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in design and creative operations, continuously seeking opportunities for innovation and improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus on strategic creative leadership and operational execution. The emphasis on "scaling design delivery" and "implementing best practice processes" points to a need for strong operations management skills within the creative function, akin to a Head of Creative Operations or Director of Creative Operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, Fine Arts, or a related field is typically expected for senior design leadership roles.

Experience: Proven track record of at least 10+ years in design, with a significant portion in leadership roles managing large, multi-location design teams and diverse brand portfolios.

Required Skills:

• Creative Leadership & Vision: Ability to set and articulate a compelling creative vision, inspiring teams and stakeholders.

• Brand Guardianship: Deep understanding of brand principles and the ability to maintain brand consistency and integrity across a vast portfolio.

• AI Integration in Design: Demonstrable curiosity and practical application of AI tools to enhance creative workflows, speed, and output quality.

• Team Management & Development: Proven experience leading, mentoring, and developing multi-disciplinary design teams, including design leaders.

• Strategic Thinking & Execution: Capacity to translate business objectives into impactful design concepts and oversee their execution from ideation to delivery.

• Design Principles Expertise: Mastery of typography, motion graphics, digital execution, and other core design disciplines.

• Integrated Campaign Experience: Experience delivering impactful campaigns across CRM, performance marketing, TV, and social media channels.

• Process Implementation: Ability to design, implement, and optimize operational processes for scalable design delivery.

• Stakeholder Management: Strong interpersonal skills to effectively partner with and influence cross-functional stakeholders.

Preferred Skills:

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

• Familiarity with agile methodologies in a creative context.

• Experience managing budgets and resource allocation for design teams.

• Proficiency with project management tools relevant to creative workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "10+" years of experience with a focus on "leading large, multi-location design teams" and "impactful, integrated creative work" suggests this role requires a seasoned professional with a strong portfolio that demonstrates not just creative output but also the operational capacity to manage complex creative functions at scale. The explicit mention of AI integration points to a demand for forward-thinking candidates.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing impactful, integrated creative work across multiple brands and channels (CRM, performance marketing, social, TV).

• Case studies demonstrating strategic thinking, ideation, and successful execution from concept to completion.

• Examples of how design has driven measurable business impact or achieved specific marketing objectives.

• Evidence of leading and managing design teams, highlighting leadership and collaborative approaches.

• Demonstrations of AI tool adoption and its positive impact on creative speed, efficiency, or quality. Process Documentation:

• Showcase of implemented design operational processes that enable scalable and efficient delivery across multiple brands.

• Examples of workflow design and optimization for creative production, including project management and asset delivery.

• Documentation illustrating how design standards and brand guidelines are maintained and enforced across a large team and diverse brand portfolio.

• Evidence of measuring and reporting on design performance and its contribution to business goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Head of Design role, the portfolio is critical. It must not only display creative prowess but also the operational acumen to manage a large, global function. Applicants should prepare to articulate the processes behind their creative output, especially concerning scalability, efficiency, and the strategic use of AI.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the seniority of the Head of Design role, leadership responsibilities, hybrid working model, and London location, a competitive salary range is estimated. For a role requiring 10+ years of experience and leading a significant team, the typical range in London for such a position would be approximately £90,000 - £130,000 per annum. This range accounts for the strategic importance of the role, the size of the organization, and the cost of living in London.

Benefits:

• Hybrid Working Model: Flexibility to balance remote work with in-office collaboration (2 days on-site expected).

• Annual Bonus Scheme: Opportunity for performance-based financial rewards.

• Private Healthcare: Comprehensive health coverage for employees.

• Career Progression: Opportunities for advancement within a leading global organization.

• Exposure to International Markets: Work on global campaigns and gain international experience.

• Progressive Environment: Embrace AI and emerging technologies in a supportive community.

• Recognition Programs: Opportunities for awards and recognition from peers and leaders.

Working Hours: While not explicitly stated, a full-time role of this seniority typically involves standard working hours (e.g., 37.5-40 hours per week), with an expectation of flexibility to meet project deadlines and leadership demands. The hybrid model allows for some control over daily schedules.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on industry benchmarks for senior design leadership roles in London, considering the company's profile (Entain is a large, publicly traded company) and the specific responsibilities outlined. The provided benefits are directly from the job description and are common for senior positions in the UK.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Entertainment, Betting, and Gaming. Entain is a global leader in this sector, operating iconic brands and focusing on creating exciting, responsible, and sustainable customer experiences. This industry context implies a fast-paced, dynamic environment driven by innovation and customer engagement.

Company Size: 29,000+ employees globally. This indicates a large, established organization with complex structures and significant resources, offering opportunities for large-scale impact and career growth.

Founded: Entain (formerly GVC Holdings) has a long history, with its origins tracing back to the late 1990s. This longevity suggests a stable company with established processes, but also one that has evolved significantly through growth and acquisitions.

Team Structure:

• The role operates within an "in-house creative agency" model, suggesting a dedicated team responsible for delivering creative output for multiple brands.

• The Head of Design will lead a "multi-disciplinary team of design leaders," indicating a hierarchical structure with design specialists reporting into senior design managers or leads.

• This team will likely collaborate closely with marketing, brand management, product development, and performance teams across various global brands. Methodology:

• Creative Excellence & Innovation: A core focus on delivering "bold, boundary-pushing experiences" and maintaining "creative integrity."

• AI Adoption: A strategic emphasis on embedding AI to enhance creative speed, insight, and quality.

• Process-Driven Delivery: Implementing "best practice processes to scale design delivery" efficiently.

• Data-Informed Creativity: Partnering with stakeholders to "drive measurable business impact," suggesting that design decisions are informed by performance data and business objectives.

Company Website: https://entaingroup.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is described as fast-paced, innovative, and collaborative, with a strong emphasis on growth and responsible practices. The scale of Entain means the Head of Design will manage a significant operation with broad influence.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior leadership role, equivalent to a Director or VP level within a creative function. It demands strategic oversight, team management, and operational responsibility for a large creative output across multiple brands. The role is pivotal in shaping the creative direction and operational efficiency of design at Entain.

Reporting Structure: The Head of Design likely reports to a senior executive within the Marketing or Creative department, such as a Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), Chief Creative Officer (CCO), or a VP of Marketing/Creative. They will, in turn, manage a team of design leaders and professionals.

Operations Impact: The Head of Design's impact is significant, directly influencing customer engagement, brand perception, and marketing campaign effectiveness across Entain's global portfolio. By driving creative excellence and operational efficiency, they contribute directly to revenue generation and market position.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Expansion: Potential to grow into a more senior executive role overseeing broader creative functions or global marketing operations.

• Strategic Influence: Opportunity to shape Entain’s overall brand identity and creative strategy on a global scale.

• Technological Advancement: Lead the integration of cutting-edge technologies like AI, positioning oneself at the forefront of creative operations innovation.

• Cross-Brand Expertise: Develop deep expertise across a diverse range of iconic brands within the entertainment and gaming sectors.

• Mentorship and Team Development: Cultivate and grow a high-performing design organization, fostering talent and leadership within the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers substantial growth potential, moving beyond pure design execution to strategic operational leadership. The focus on AI and global brand strategy provides avenues for developing highly sought-after skills and expanding influence within the organization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid working model, with a requirement of 2 days per week on-site at the London (Stratford) office. This suggests a modern office environment designed for collaboration and focused work.

Office Location(s): One Stratford Place, Montfichet Rd, London, E20 1EJ, United Kingdom. This location is in a prominent business district in London, likely offering good transport links and amenities.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and emphasis on teamwork suggest an office space that facilitates collaboration, brainstorming, and team interaction.

• Technology-Enabled: As a company embracing AI and technology, the workspace is expected to be equipped with modern tools and infrastructure to support design and creative operations.

• Cross-functional Interaction: The role requires close collaboration with various departments, so the office environment would likely encourage interaction and knowledge sharing across teams.

Work Schedule: Full-time, with a hybrid arrangement allowing for flexibility. The expectation is likely for leaders to have some presence in the office to guide teams and participate in key meetings, while also benefiting from remote work flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model at Entain is presented as a benefit, offering work-life balance while maintaining the necessity of in-person collaboration for strategic leadership. The Stratford office location is a key piece of information for candidates considering the commute and local amenities.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of CV and portfolio to assess experience, leadership capabilities, and alignment with the role's requirements.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion focused on leadership style, strategic vision, experience with AI in design, and team management philosophy.

• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where the candidate presents their portfolio, highlighting key projects, demonstrating strategic thinking, process implementation, and AI integration. This is a critical stage to assess practical application and operational capabilities.

• Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with key cross-functional stakeholders (e.g., Marketing Directors, Brand Managers) to evaluate collaboration skills, communication style, and ability to drive business impact.

• Final Round: Potentially with senior leadership (e.g., CMO, CCO) to discuss overall strategic fit, cultural alignment, and long-term vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Strategic Storytelling: Structure your portfolio around case studies that clearly articulate the problem, your strategic approach, the design solution, the process, and the measurable business impact.

• Highlight Operations & AI: Explicitly showcase how you've managed design operations, implemented processes for scalability, and integrated AI tools to achieve specific outcomes. Quantify results wherever possible.

• Leadership Examples: Include examples that demonstrate your ability to lead, mentor, and inspire design teams, perhaps showcasing team growth or successful team-based projects.

• Brand Diversity: Ensure your portfolio represents your ability to work across different brands and industries, demonstrating adaptability.

• Conciseness and Clarity: Prepare a focused presentation that highlights your most relevant achievements and clearly articulates your value proposition for Entain.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a potential creative challenge or a hypothetical scenario related to a global brand's design strategy or operational efficiency.

• Practice articulating your approach to a complex design problem, focusing on strategy, process, and stakeholder management.

• Consider how you would leverage AI in such a scenario to deliver impactful results efficiently.

• Prepare to discuss your leadership philosophy and how you build and motivate high-performing, diverse creative teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is expected to be rigorous, with a strong emphasis on the candidate's portfolio and their ability to articulate their strategic and operational approach to design leadership, particularly concerning AI integration and team management.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design Software: Proficiency with industry-standard design suites such as Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, Premiere Pro).

• Prototyping & Wireframing Tools: Experience with tools like Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision for creating and presenting designs.

• AI-Powered Creative Tools: Familiarity with emerging AI platforms and plugins for image generation, content creation, design automation, and data analysis (specific tools will vary but an understanding of their capabilities is key).

• Project Management Software: Experience with tools like Asana, Jira, Trello, Monday.com for managing creative workflows, tasks, and team collaboration.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Understanding of tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics to interpret user behavior and campaign performance.

• Data Visualization Tools: Familiarity with platforms like Tableau, Power BI, or similar for reporting on design impact and campaign effectiveness.

• CRM & Marketing Automation Platforms: Understanding of how design integrates with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) and marketing automation tools for campaign execution.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: Basic understanding of how design assets are utilized within CRM platforms for customer communications.

• Workflow Automation: Awareness of tools or methodologies that can automate repetitive design tasks or asset delivery processes.

• Digital Asset Management (DAM): Experience with DAM systems for organizing, storing, and distributing creative assets efficiently.

📝 Enhancement Note: While specific tools aren't listed, the role's requirements for AI integration, leading multi-disciplinary teams, and driving performance-driven campaigns imply a need for a broad understanding of modern creative technology stacks, including design software, collaboration platforms, AI tools, and analytics.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Creative Excellence: A commitment to producing high-quality, innovative, and impactful design work that pushes boundaries.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Fostering a supportive environment where diverse talents can thrive and work together towards shared goals.

• Innovation & Curiosity: Embracing new technologies, particularly AI, and encouraging experimentation to find better ways of working.

• Responsibility & Sustainability: Upholding Entain's commitment to responsible gaming and sustainable practices in all creative endeavors.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Using insights and performance metrics to inform creative strategies and demonstrate business value.

• Efficiency & Agility: Implementing streamlined processes to deliver high-quality work at pace in a dynamic industry.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Partnership: A proactive and collaborative approach to working with marketing, brand, product, and other departments to ensure design alignment and impact.

• Open Communication: Encouraging transparent and constructive feedback loops within the design team and with stakeholders.

• Knowledge Sharing: Promoting a culture where best practices, learnings, and new ideas are shared freely among team members.

• Agile Mindset: Adapting to changing project needs and market demands with flexibility and speed.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at Entain values innovation, responsibility, and collaboration. For a Head of Design, demonstrating an ability to foster these values within their team and in their interactions with other departments will be crucial.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scaling Design Operations: Effectively managing and scaling design output across 30+ diverse global brands while maintaining consistency and quality.

• AI Integration Complexity: Successfully embedding AI tools into existing workflows, managing team adoption, and ensuring ethical and effective use without compromising creative integrity.

• Balancing Pace and Quality: Meeting the demands of a fast-paced entertainment industry while upholding high creative standards.

• Stakeholder Alignment: Navigating diverse stakeholder needs and opinions across different brands and departments to achieve consensus on creative direction.

• Talent Management: Attracting, retaining, and developing top design talent in a competitive market.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI in Creative Technologies: Deepen expertise in leveraging AI for design, content creation, and workflow automation.

• Global Brand Strategy: Expand knowledge and experience in managing brand identity and creative campaigns for a large, international portfolio.

• Leadership Development: Enhance strategic leadership skills and gain experience in executive-level decision-making.

• Industry Trends: Stay at the forefront of innovation in the entertainment, gaming, and creative technology sectors through conferences, workshops, and continuous learning.

• Process Optimization: Develop advanced skills in operationalizing creative functions for maximum efficiency and impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges primarily revolve around managing scale, complexity, and technological adoption within a dynamic industry. The growth opportunities are significant, offering a path to strategic leadership and expertise in cutting-edge creative operations.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your vision for a world-class in-house creative agency and how you would operationalize that vision at Entain." (Focus on team structure, processes, and KPIs.)

• "How do you approach embedding new technologies like AI into established design workflows? What are the key considerations for adoption and success?" (Prepare specific examples of AI tools and implementation strategies.)

• "Walk us through a time you had to balance competing demands from multiple stakeholders on a large-scale project. How did you ensure alignment and deliver a successful outcome?" (Use the STAR method, highlighting communication and negotiation skills.)

• "How do you define and measure creative excellence and business impact in design? What metrics do you prioritize?" (Discuss relevant KPIs for brand, performance, and customer engagement.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you most about Entain and its brands, and how do you see your design leadership contributing to our mission?" (Research Entain's brands and strategic goals.)

• "How would you foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within your design team, especially concerning AI adoption?" (Link to Entain's values and industry trends.)

• "Describe your experience leading and developing diverse, multi-location design teams. What is your leadership philosophy?" (Highlight your approach to mentorship, performance management, and team building.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each key project, clearly outline the brief/challenge, your strategic approach, the design solution, the operational process involved, and the measurable results.

• Quantify Impact: Use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your work. For example, "Increased conversion rates by X%," "Reduced time to market by Y%," or "Achieved Z engagement metrics."

• Showcase AI Application: If applicable, dedicate specific slides or sections to demonstrate how you've used AI tools to enhance creativity, efficiency, or achieve specific project goals.

• Demonstrate Operational Acumen: Explain the processes you implemented to manage large teams, ensure brand consistency, or scale design delivery.

• Tailor to Entain: Emphasize projects that align with Entain's brands, industry, and strategic objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic vision, strong operational leadership, a forward-thinking approach to AI, and the ability to drive measurable business results through design. The portfolio presentation is a critical component for showcasing these capabilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Head of Design position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on jobs.smartrecruiters.com, ensuring your CV and Portfolio are uploaded.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight your experience in leading large, multi-location design teams, driving creative vision for multiple brands, and integrating AI into design workflows. Prepare case studies that clearly articulate operational processes and measurable business impact.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 10+ years of experience, leadership achievements, and specific skills in creative direction, brand guardianship, and AI adoption. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your strategic vision, leadership philosophy, and approach to operationalizing creative functions. Prepare to discuss specific examples of successful campaign execution, AI integration, and team management. Rehearse your portfolio presentation, focusing on storytelling and quantifiable results.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Entain, its brands, its market position, and its commitment to innovation and responsible gaming. Understand their strategic goals to better align your application and interview responses.

⚠️ 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.