Design Director (12mth FTC)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Director (12mth FTC)

Company: Jones Knowles Ritchie

Location: London, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: CONTRACTOR

Category: Creative Direction / Branding Operations

Date Posted: March 17, 2026

Experience Level: 7+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (Minimum 2 days/week in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is a critical leadership position within a renowned branding and design agency, focusing on elevating creative vision and strategic output for Consumer Packaging (CPG) and broader branding initiatives.

• The Design Director will be responsible for driving creative excellence, fostering innovation, and inspiring a team of designers to deliver world-class conceptual work for global clients.

• Key to this role is the ability to lead client-facing engagements, deliver impactful pitches and strategies, and champion Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE+I) within the team and the agency.

• This position is a 12-month fixed-term contract (FTC), ideal for experienced design leaders seeking to make a significant impact in a high-profile role.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the original job description is for a "Design Director," the emphasis on strategic branding, consumer packaging, leadership, client presentations, and team development aligns closely with the high-level strategic and operational aspects of a Senior Operations role within a creative agency context. Therefore, it's categorized under "Creative Direction / Branding Operations" to reflect this strategic oversight and process-driven approach, rather than a purely individual contributor design role. The "Operations" aspect comes from managing the creative process, team performance, and client strategic delivery.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Champion the sharing of creative work and inspiration, both internally and externally, to foster a culture of continuous learning and creative advancement.

• Identify and develop the skills within the design team through targeted training, mentorship programs, and performance feedback, ensuring professional growth and team capability enhancement.

• Lead client-facing presentations with a high degree of professionalism and strategic clarity, effectively communicating creative concepts and brand ideas.

• Deliver impactful pitches and strategies that demonstrably influence client outcomes and secure new business opportunities.

• Provide constructive, actionable feedback on design work, guiding projects through iterative processes to achieve creative excellence and strategic alignment.

• Collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams (e.g., strategy, account management, production) to ensure cohesive and optimal results for clients across various consumer touchpoints.

• Oversee the creative direction of branding and Consumer Packaging (CPG) projects, ensuring consistent quality and strategic integrity from concept to execution.

• Act as a passionate advocate for outstanding design and meticulous attention to detail in all aspects of the work.

• Proven ability to extract world-class conceptual design thinking and execution from team members, fostering a high-performance creative environment.

• Champion Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE+I) through actions in team building, management, and growth, aligning with JKR's core values.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities listed are typical for a senior creative leadership role. For an operations-focused enhancement, the emphasis is placed on the management of these creative processes, team development as a form of talent operations, client engagement as strategic relationship operations, and the delivery of strategic outcomes as business operations. The DE+I advocacy is also framed as a key operational value driver for team cohesion and external representation.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Substantial experience (7+ years) in a leading branding, design, or creative agency environment, demonstrating progression to senior leadership.

• Significant exposure to Global Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) projects, with a proven track record of successful leadership in this sector.

• Ability to construct compelling brand ideas and translate them across various consumer touchpoints and platforms.

• Proven experience managing and leading design teams, fostering a collaborative, high-performance, and inclusive environment.

Required Skills:

• Creative Direction: Ability to define and articulate a clear creative vision and execute it through compelling design.

• Branding & Brand Strategy: Deep understanding of brand development, positioning, and execution across multiple channels.

• Consumer Packaging (CPG): Expertise in designing for the CPG market, understanding its unique demands and opportunities.

• Leadership & Team Management: Proven ability to inspire, mentor, and manage a team of designers, fostering growth and accountability.

• Client-Facing Presentations: Exceptional skills in presenting creative work, strategies, and ideas to senior clients with confidence and clarity.

• Conceptual Design: Ability to conceptualize and guide the development of innovative and impactful design ideas.

• Adobe Creative Suite Proficiency: Strong command of industry-standard design software (e.g., Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign) to a level that facilitates guidance and review.

• Exceptional Communication Skills: Articulate, persuasive, and adept at conveying complex ideas clearly to both internal teams and external clients.

• DE+I Advocacy: Demonstrated commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion within a team and organizational context.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with global branding initiatives and diverse market landscapes.

• Familiarity with broader consumer experience design beyond packaging.

• Strategic thinking capabilities to link design output directly to business objectives.

• Experience in new business pitches and proposal development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Skills & Qualifications" section is tailored to highlight operational leadership within a creative context. The emphasis is on managing the creative process, team performance, and client strategy delivery, which are core operational functions in a creative agency. The inclusion of DE+I advocacy is framed as a critical leadership and operational imperative.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Creative Vision & Execution: Showcase a range of projects demonstrating a clear, evolving creative vision and its successful execution across branding and CPG.

• Strategic Impact: Include case studies that highlight how your design leadership influenced client strategy, brand perception, or market performance.

• Process & Collaboration: Demonstrate your approach to leading design processes, team collaboration, and client engagement, showcasing how you guide projects from brief to completion.

• Problem-Solving: Present examples of how you've tackled complex design challenges, particularly within the CPG space, and the innovative solutions developed.

• Client-Facing Excellence: Highlight examples of successful client presentations or pitches, showcasing your ability to articulate strategy and design rationale effectively.

Process Documentation:

• Candidates are expected to articulate their methodologies for:
  • Creative Brief Interpretation & Strategic Alignment: How you translate client briefs into actionable creative strategies and ensure design output aligns with business objectives.
  • Team Workflow & Project Management: Your approach to managing design projects, assigning tasks, setting timelines, and ensuring efficient workflow within the team.
  • Feedback & Iteration Cycles: How you provide and receive constructive feedback to drive design quality and iterative improvement.
  • Innovation & Trend Integration: Your process for staying abreast of design trends, technological advancements, and integrating them into creative output.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section emphasizes the operational aspects of a creative director's role. The "Portfolio Essentials" and "Process Documentation" focus on demonstrating the candidate's ability to manage creative processes, lead teams effectively, and deliver strategic outcomes, which are critical for an operations-focused enhancement. The emphasis is on how creative work is led and delivered, not just the aesthetic output.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for a Design Director role with 7+ years of experience in London, this 12-month FTC role is estimated to range between £70,000 - £95,000 per annum, pro-rated for the contract duration. This estimate considers the seniority, specialized CPG/branding experience, and leadership responsibilities.

• Research Methodology: This estimate is derived from analyzing similar senior creative leadership roles in London-based branding and design agencies, factoring in the fixed-term contract nature, the agency's reputation (Jones Knowles Ritchie), and the specified experience level on platforms like LinkedIn Salary, Glassdoor, and industry-specific recruitment agency reports.

Benefits:

• Pension Plan: Contribution towards a retirement savings plan.

• Training & Development: Access to professional development opportunities, workshops, and courses to enhance skills.

• Paid Holiday: Entitlement to paid annual leave.

• Health Insurance: Provision of private health insurance for the employee.

• Busy Shoreditch Studio: Access to a dynamic and collaborative workspace in a prime London location.

• Hybrid Working: Flexibility to work remotely for part of the week, with a minimum of 2 days required in the studio.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours, typically around 40 hours per week, with flexibility often expected given the client-facing and project-driven nature of the role. The hybrid model allows for some autonomy in managing work schedules.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate for a 12-month FTC role in London, reflecting the seniority and specialized nature of the Design Director position. Benefits are listed as provided in the original description, with context relevant to a contract role where applicable. The working hours are standard, but the hybrid aspect introduces operational flexibility.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Branding, Advertising & Design Services. Jones Knowles Ritchie (JKR) is a globally recognized, independent branding business with a strong heritage in packaging and an expansive reach across the entire consumer experience.

Company Size: Over 300 employees globally, with a significant presence in their London studio. This size indicates a well-established agency with robust processes and a diverse talent pool, offering opportunities for cross-functional collaboration.

Founded: 1990. JKR has a long-standing history, suggesting a stable and experienced organization with a refined approach to branding and client service.

Team Structure:

• Creative Leadership: The role reports directly to the Creative Director, indicating a clear hierarchy for creative decision-making and vision setting.

• Design Team: You will lead a team of designers, responsible for their development, output, and overall performance.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: The role requires close collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, including account management, strategy, and potentially production, ensuring integrated client solutions.

• Global Network: As part of a worldwide agency, there are opportunities to interact with and learn from colleagues across UK and US studios.

Methodology:

• Brand Building: JKR focuses on building and delivering brands across the entire consumer experience, emphasizing a holistic approach.

• Inspiring True Selves: The company's ethos is to inspire brands and people to be their true selves, encouraging bravery, tenacity, and authenticity.

• Data-Informed Creativity: While creativity is paramount, the emphasis on building brands across consumer experiences implies a data-informed approach to understanding audiences and market dynamics.

• Process Optimization: The leadership role inherently involves optimizing creative workflows, team performance, and client delivery processes.

Company Website: https://www.jkrglobal.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: This section contextualizes the role within JKR's established brand and culture, highlighting the operational implications of their size, history, and methodology. The emphasis on "inspiring true selves" and building brands across experiences points to a culture that values strategic, human-centered design, which the Design Director must operationalize.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This position represents a senior leadership level within the creative operations of an agency. It is a Director-level role with significant responsibility for creative output, team performance, and client strategy. It sits at the intersection of creative excellence and operational delivery.

Reporting Structure: The Design Director reports directly to the Creative Director, indicating a direct line of communication for strategic creative direction and performance management. This structure allows for focused mentorship and clear accountability.

Operations Impact: The Design Director's impact is profound:

• Creative Output Quality: Directly influences the caliber and strategic relevance of all design work produced by their team.

• Team Performance & Development: Shapes the skills, capabilities, and morale of the design team, impacting overall agency productivity and talent retention.

• Client Satisfaction & Retention: The success of client presentations, pitches, and project delivery directly affects client relationships and future business.

• Brand Reputation: The quality of work produced by the team contributes significantly to JKR's reputation as a leading branding agency.

• DE+I Leadership: Sets a standard for inclusive leadership and team dynamics, positively impacting company culture and talent attraction.

Growth Opportunities:

• Deepened Strategic Leadership: Opportunity to further develop strategic thinking and client advisory skills at a senior level within a global agency.

• Mentorship & Talent Development: Gain extensive experience in nurturing and growing design talent, a key operational skill.

• Broader Creative Influence: Potential to influence agency-wide creative processes and standards.

• Global Exposure: Work with international teams and clients, broadening perspective and experience.

• Potential for Permanent Role: While a fixed-term contract, exceptional performance and agency needs could lead to permanent opportunities or future contract extensions.

📝 Enhancement Note: This analysis frames the Design Director role through an operations lens, focusing on the strategic impact and operational responsibilities. The growth opportunities are tied to developing leadership, operational management, and strategic advisory skills essential for senior operations professionals in creative industries.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: JKR operates from a "Busy Shoreditch studio." Shoreditch is known as a vibrant, creative hub in London, suggesting an energetic and inspiring work environment.

Office Location(s): London, England, United Kingdom. The studio is situated in a prime location within London, likely offering good accessibility via public transport and proximity to other creative businesses and amenities.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The "busy studio" context implies a dynamic workplace where interaction and spontaneous collaboration are encouraged. The hybrid model (min 2 days/week in studio) ensures this remains a key aspect of the work.

• Creative Hub: Being in Shoreditch suggests an environment rich with creative energy, inspiration, and networking opportunities.

• Tools & Technology: While not explicitly detailed, a leading branding agency like JKR would be expected to provide state-of-the-art design software and hardware necessary for high-level creative work.

• Team Interaction: The hybrid model encourages structured in-person time for team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and client presentations, fostering strong team cohesion.

Work Schedule:

• The role is based on a standard full-time work schedule, likely around 40 hours per week.

• The hybrid working arrangement offers flexibility, requiring a minimum of 2 days per week in the Shoreditch studio. This blend allows for focused individual work at home and collaborative, strategic work in the office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment description emphasizes the operational aspects of a hybrid model within a creative agency setting. The focus is on how the physical and flexible workspace supports collaboration, efficiency, and the overall operational delivery of creative services.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of CV and portfolio to assess experience, leadership capabilities, and alignment with CPG/branding expertise.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A key stage will involve presenting a curated portfolio, likely focusing on case studies that demonstrate strategic thinking, leadership, and creative execution. Expect to discuss your process, team management, and client engagement strategies.

• Team/Creative Director Interview: Interviews with the Creative Director and potentially other senior creative leads to assess cultural fit, creative philosophy, and leadership style.

• Scenario-Based Questions: You may be asked to discuss how you would approach specific creative challenges or team management scenarios relevant to the role.

• DE+I Discussion: Expect to discuss your approach to championing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your leadership, strategic approach to branding and CPG, and ability to drive creative excellence through a team.

• Tell a Story: For each project, articulate the challenge, your role/approach, the process, the team's contribution, and the measurable outcome or impact.

• Highlight Leadership: Clearly define your responsibilities and contributions as a leader, not just an individual designer. Showcase how you mentored, guided, and extracted great work from your team.

• Demonstrate Process: Be prepared to walk through your creative process, including how you manage feedback, iterate on ideas, and collaborate with other disciplines.

• Emphasize CPG Expertise: If possible, highlight specific projects that demonstrate a deep understanding of the CPG market and its unique demands.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use data or metrics to demonstrate the success of your projects (e.g., increased brand awareness, successful market launch, positive client feedback).

Challenge Preparation:

• Creative Strategy Exercise: Be prepared for a hypothetical brief where you might be asked to outline a creative approach, strategy, or conceptual direction for a new brand or campaign.

• Team Management Scenario: Consider how you would handle common team dynamics, performance issues, or motivational challenges.

• Client Presentation Practice: Rehearse how you would present a complex creative idea to a senior client, focusing on clarity, persuasion, and strategic rationale.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides actionable advice for operations professionals applying for this role, focusing on how to present their experience and skills in a way that highlights their operational leadership and strategic impact within a creative context.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential proficiency is expected, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, for guiding and reviewing design work.

• Presentation Software: Expertise in tools like Keynote, PowerPoint, or Google Slides for creating and delivering impactful client presentations.

• Project Management Tools: Familiarity with tools like Asana, Trello, Monday.com, or similar, for managing team workflows, tasks, and project timelines.

• Collaboration Platforms: Proficiency with tools such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Zoom for internal and external communication and virtual collaboration.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Brand Performance Metrics: While not a data analyst role, understanding key metrics related to brand perception, market share, and consumer engagement is beneficial for strategic input.

• Client Feedback Analysis: Ability to interpret and act upon client feedback to refine creative output.

CRM & Automation:

• Client Relationship Management (CRM): While not directly managing a CRM, understanding how client interactions and project data are managed is helpful for seamless collaboration with account teams.

• Workflow Automation: Awareness of how design workflows can be streamlined, though direct automation tool experience might be less critical than process optimization leadership.

📝 Enhancement Note: The tools listed are relevant to a senior creative leadership role, emphasizing those used for design execution, presentation, project management, and team communication – all critical components of operational delivery in a creative agency.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Creative Excellence: A relentless pursuit of high-quality, innovative, and strategically sound design work.

• Authenticity & Bravery: Encouraging individuals and brands to express their true selves and take bold creative risks.

• Collaboration: Fostering a team environment where ideas are shared freely, and multidisciplinary teams work cohesively.

• Impact-Driven: Focusing on delivering creative solutions that achieve tangible business results for clients.

• Inclusivity: Actively promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, ensuring all team members feel valued and respected.

• Tenacity: A commitment to pushing through challenges and delivering exceptional outcomes.

Collaboration Style:

• Open Communication: Encouraging transparent and honest dialogue across all levels and departments.

• Cross-Functional Integration: Working closely with strategy, account management, and other teams to ensure a unified approach to client briefs.

• Constructive Feedback Culture: Establishing a safe space for giving and receiving feedback to drive continuous improvement and creative growth.

• Knowledge Sharing: Promoting the sharing of insights, inspiration, and best practices within the team and across the agency.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section translates the company's stated values into operational principles relevant to the Design Director’s role, focusing on how these values shape team dynamics, decision-making, and the execution of creative operations.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creative Vision with Client Demands: Effectively translating client objectives and feedback into innovative design without compromising creative integrity.

• Managing a Diverse Team: Leading and motivating a team with varying skill sets, experience levels, and creative approaches, while championing DE+I.

• Delivering under Pressure: Meeting tight deadlines common in agency environments while maintaining high standards of creative output.

• Driving Innovation: Continuously pushing creative boundaries and introducing fresh ideas in a competitive market.

• Fixed-Term Contract Transition: Navigating the nuances of a temporary role, focusing on immediate impact and potential future opportunities.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Creative Leadership: Hone skills in strategic creative direction, team motivation, and agency operations at a senior level.

• Global CPG Expertise: Deepen understanding of international CPG markets and consumer trends.

• DE+I Leadership Development: Gain practical experience in embedding DE+I principles into team management and agency culture.

• Client Relationship Management: Strengthen abilities in high-level client engagement and strategic advisory.

• Networking: Build valuable connections within the London creative industry and with JKR's global team.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section identifies operational challenges inherent in the role and highlights specific growth paths that align with career development in creative operations and leadership.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for developing a creative strategy for a new CPG brand launch." (Focus on methodology, team involvement, and strategic alignment).

• "How do you ensure your team's creative output consistently meets high standards while fostering individual growth?" (Highlight leadership style, feedback mechanisms, and talent development).

• "Walk us through a challenging client presentation you led. What was the situation, your approach, and the outcome?" (Showcase communication, persuasion, and problem-solving skills).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "How would you champion DE+I within your design team at JKR?" (Align your approach with JKR's stated values and demonstrate practical application).

• "What excites you most about JKR's approach to branding and inspiring brands to be their true selves?" (Show research into the company's ethos and connect it to your own values).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically, perhaps by project type (CPG, Brand Identity) or by theme (Innovation, Strategic Impact).

• Narrative: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your strategic approach, how you led the team, the challenges overcome, and the results achieved.

• Highlight Leadership: Explicitly state your role, responsibilities, and impact in leading the team and guiding the creative process.

• Showcase CPG Nuances: If applicable, detail your understanding of CPG specifics, such as shelf presence, consumer behavior, and packaging functionality.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time; focus on quality over quantity, presenting your strongest, most relevant work.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides tailored interview preparation advice, focusing on how an operations-minded candidate can address questions and present their portfolio effectively, highlighting their leadership and strategic delivery capabilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Design Director position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight your most relevant CPG and branding leadership experience. Focus on case studies that demonstrate strategic thinking, team leadership, and client presentation success.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your years of experience, leadership roles, and specific achievements in driving creative excellence and team performance. Use keywords such as "Creative Direction," "Branding," "CPG," "Team Leadership," and "Client Presentations."

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your creative process, leadership philosophy, and DE+I advocacy. Be ready to discuss how you manage teams and deliver impactful client work.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with JKR's portfolio, client work, and company values, particularly their emphasis on inspiring brands and people to be their true selves. Understand their Shoreditch studio environment and hybrid working model.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description is designed to provide a comprehensive overview and strategic insights for operations professionals. All details, especially regarding compensation and specific role expectations, should be verified directly with the hiring organization (Jones Knowles Ritchie) during the application and interview process.