Head of Design

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Head of Design

Company: Wild Cosmetics

Location: London, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Creative & Design Leadership / Marketing Operations

Date Posted: October 08, 2025

Experience Level: 10+ years (implied from 7+ years required and leadership role)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and inspire an in-house creative team to develop and execute visually compelling brand assets across all channels, ensuring a consistent and bold "Wild" aesthetic.

• Drive creative innovation by translating briefs into effective, high-impact deliverables for paid social, CRM, retail, campaigns, and brand awareness initiatives.

• Collaborate closely with Marketing, Product, Retail, and Performance teams to ensure creative output aligns with commercial objectives and cultural resonance.

• Serve as a hands-on leader, actively contributing to daily design outputs while mentoring and developing the design team's capabilities.

• Shape the creative vision for both Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) and Retail spaces, ensuring a cohesive and impactful customer experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role of "Head of Design" at a high-growth, disruptive brand like Wild Cosmetics implies a significant strategic and operational component, extending beyond pure creative execution. It requires a strong understanding of go-to-market strategies, brand positioning, and cross-functional alignment, making it highly relevant to operations professionals interested in the intersection of creativity and business impact. The emphasis on "bold, fast-paced disruptive brands" and "commercially as it is culturally impactful" suggests a need for a strategic thinker who can translate creative vision into measurable business outcomes.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Translate strategic briefs into innovative and effective creative deliverables across digital and print collateral, including paid social, CRM, retail displays, campaign aesthetics, and brand awareness projects.

• Manage, lead, and mentor a design team, fostering a collaborative and high-performance environment to ensure the delivery of exceptional creative work.

• Develop and implement creative strategies that unlock new audiences and drive both customer acquisition and retention, aligning with overall business growth objectives.

• Oversee the design and execution of retail design elements to ensure brand consistency, aesthetic appeal, and effective product communication in physical spaces.

• Contribute to the design of physical products by analyzing current market trends and translating them into compelling product case designs and visual concepts.

• Support art direction across brand, design, and photography, ensuring all visual content aligns with Wild's bold, engaging, and distinctive aesthetic.

• Champion a data-led approach to creative strategy, working alongside the Creative Director to inform new product development and market growth initiatives.

• Ensure timely delivery of creative briefs within a fast-paced and reactive environment, maintaining meticulous attention to detail.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership, hands-on execution, and team management. The emphasis on "creative strategy," "data lead approach," and "commercial awareness" indicates that this role requires an operations-minded individual who can balance artistic vision with measurable business impact. The inclusion of responsibilities like "design for our physical products" and "development and delivery of our retail design work" points to a need for understanding product lifecycle and physical channel operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, Marketing, or a related field is typically expected for a leadership role of this nature.

Experience: 7+ years of experience within a creative team, with a significant portion in a leadership or senior design capacity, demonstrating proven experience in building and evolving brands.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience in leading and mentoring creative teams in fast-paced, high-growth environments.

• Exceptional ability to translate complex briefs into bold, impactful creative ideas and deliverables.

• Thorough experience designing for a wide range of channels and formats, including packaging, CRM, paid/organic social media, print media, and Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising.

• Deep understanding of creative best practices and effectiveness for paid social media campaigns.

• Expertise in art direction, with a strong portfolio showcasing a cohesive visual aesthetic.

• A demonstrable balance of creative instinct and commercial awareness, capable of championing innovative ideas while aligning with business goals.

• Proficiency in the Adobe Creative Suite (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and Figma.

• Strong organizational and project management skills to manage multiple briefs, deadlines, and stakeholders efficiently.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in a disruptive or challenger brand environment, similar to Wild Cosmetics.

• Familiarity with e-commerce DTC platforms and retail visual merchandising principles.

• Understanding of A/B testing and data-driven optimization for creative assets.

• Experience in product design conceptualization and development.

• Knowledge of emerging design trends and technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 7+ years of experience, coupled with leadership responsibilities and the demand for a "resourceful do-er," implies a candidate with significant practical application and a strong track record. The emphasis on both "creative instinct" and "commercial awareness" is a key differentiator for operations-minded candidates who can link creative output to business results. The specific mention of Adobe Creative Suite and Figma points to essential technical proficiencies.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 7 years of design work, with a strong emphasis on brand evolution and creative leadership.

• Examples of successful creative campaigns and deliverables across diverse channels (digital, print, social, retail, packaging).

• Case studies demonstrating the ability to translate briefs into impactful creative solutions that achieve specific business objectives.

• Visual evidence of leadership, including team management and mentorship contributions, if applicable.

Process Documentation:

• Examples of how you've structured creative processes to ensure efficiency and quality in a high-output environment.

• Documentation or case studies highlighting how data and commercial awareness informed creative strategy and execution.

• Examples of workflow management for managing multiple design projects and cross-functional collaborations.

• Demonstrations of approach to ensuring brand consistency across all touchpoints, from digital ads to physical retail spaces.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Head of Design role, the portfolio is paramount. It should not only showcase creative talent but also strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and the ability to drive commercial outcomes. Operations candidates should highlight how they've implemented efficient processes, managed workflows, and used data to inform creative decisions, demonstrating a structured and results-oriented approach to design leadership.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Head of Design role in London with 7+ years of experience and leadership responsibilities in a high-growth startup, the estimated annual salary range is £70,000 - £100,000. This range accounts for the candidate's experience, the company's growth stage, and the competitive London market for creative leadership.

Benefits:

• Generous Holiday Allowance: 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays, plus an additional 9 remote working days for enhanced flexibility.

• Hybrid Work Model: 3 days per week in the modern London office, fostering collaboration and team connection, with 2 days remote for focused work.

• Retirement Planning: A 4% Company Pension contribution to support long-term financial security.

• Mental Well-being Support: Access to mental health resources through Spill, providing professional support and counseling.

• Comprehensive Healthcare: Private healthcare coverage through Vitality, ensuring access to quality medical services.

• Work-Life Balance: Weekly early finishes and regular social events to promote team cohesion and employee well-being.

• Professional Development: An annual Learning & Development (L&D) budget to support continuous skill enhancement and career growth.

• On-site Perks: Complimentary breakfast provided at the office, enhancing the daily work experience.

• Product Perks: Free and discounted Wild products, allowing employees to experience the brand firsthand.

• Community Engagement: 2 dedicated team volunteering days and 2 personal volunteering days to support charitable causes and community initiatives.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours are expected, likely around 40 hours per week, with the flexibility of hybrid working and early finishes contributing to a positive work-life balance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on typical compensation for similar roles in London, considering the company's likely funding stage and the demand for experienced creative leaders in the consumer goods sector. The benefits package is comprehensive and reflects a modern, employee-centric approach, with particular emphasis on work-life balance, well-being, and professional development, which are attractive to operations professionals seeking supportive environments.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) / Personal Care, with a strong focus on sustainability and direct-to-consumer (DTC) e-commerce. Wild Cosmetics operates in a rapidly evolving market where brand innovation, customer engagement, and ethical practices are key differentiators.

Company Size: High-growth startup, indicating a dynamic, agile, and potentially fast-paced work environment. This size typically means opportunities for significant impact and direct influence on company direction.

Founded: 2020. This relatively recent founding suggests a company with a modern outlook, potentially less entrenched bureaucracy, and a strong focus on innovation and rapid scaling.

Team Structure:

• The Head of Design reports to the Creative Director, indicating a clear hierarchy within the creative function.

• The role involves managing direct reports within the design team, suggesting a structured team with specialized roles (e.g., digital designers, print designers).

Methodology:

• Creative Innovation: Emphasis on conceptualizing and executing bold, impactful creative work across various channels.

• Data-Led Approach: Integration of data insights into creative strategy for product development and market growth.

• Omni-Channel Consistency: Ensuring a unified brand experience across DTC e-commerce, retail, and marketing touchpoints.

• Agile & Reactive: Operating within a high-paced environment that requires adaptability and quick turnaround times.

Company Website: https://careers.wearewild.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Wild Cosmetics' focus on sustainability and its rapid growth trajectory suggests a culture that values innovation, impact, and a mission-driven approach. For operations professionals, this means an environment where process improvements and strategic initiatives can have a visible effect, and where collaboration across departments is crucial for achieving ambitious goals. The "disruptive brands" mention points to a willingness to challenge norms and embrace creative solutions.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a senior leadership level within the design function, equivalent to a Director or VP of Design in larger organizations. It demands strategic thinking, team management, and significant operational oversight of the creative process.

Reporting Structure: The Head of Design reports directly to the Creative Director. This provides a clear line of reporting and strategic alignment within the creative department. Collaboration will extend horizontally to Marketing, Product, Retail, and Performance teams.

Operations Impact: The Head of Design plays a critical role in shaping the brand's perception and driving commercial success. Their work directly influences customer acquisition, retention, brand loyalty, and retail presence. A strategic approach to design operations can lead to significant efficiencies and improved ROI on creative investments.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Expansion: Potential to grow into a Creative Director role or expand the scope of design operations as the company scales.

• Strategic Influence: Opportunity to contribute significantly to the company's overall brand strategy, product development, and market expansion initiatives.

• Skill Development: Deepen expertise in managing creative operations, cross-functional collaboration, and driving data-informed creative strategies within a high-growth CPG environment.

• Mentorship Opportunities: Develop leadership skills by mentoring and growing a talented team of designers, fostering their career progression.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers substantial growth potential, moving beyond pure design execution into strategic brand operations. The impact on revenue and market share is direct, making it attractive to operations professionals who seek to drive tangible business results through creative strategy and efficient execution. The hybrid nature and L&D budget also support continuous professional development.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company offers a hybrid working model, with 3 days per week in their "shiny new London office." This suggests a modern, well-equipped workspace designed to facilitate collaboration and team interaction.

Office Location(s): London, SW9 6DE, United Kingdom. This location in London provides access to a vibrant city environment and a strong talent pool.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and emphasis on team events encourage interaction and knowledge sharing among colleagues. The office is designed to support this.

• Operations Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (Adobe Creative Suite, Figma) is provided, enabling efficient creative workflows.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities to work closely with diverse teams (Marketing, Product, Retail, Performance) foster a dynamic and integrated work environment.

Work Schedule: A standard full-time work schedule (likely 40 hours/week) is expected, complemented by the hybrid model and weekly early finishes, allowing for a structured yet flexible approach to managing design operations and personal time.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid setup with a dedicated office presence indicates a company that values both flexibility and in-person collaboration, a common and often preferred model for operations roles that require team synergy and access to resources. The "shiny new London office" suggests an investment in employee experience and a modern working environment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your CV and portfolio to assess experience, leadership capabilities, and alignment with the brand's aesthetic and values.

• Creative Challenge/Case Study: Candidates will likely be asked to present a portfolio review and potentially tackle a design challenge that simulates real-world briefs, focusing on creative problem-solving, strategic thinking, and execution under pressure.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with the Creative Director, other members of the creative team, and key stakeholders from Marketing, Product, or Retail to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, and strategic alignment.

• Final Interview: A discussion with senior leadership to finalize hiring decisions, focusing on vision, leadership potential, and overall impact on the business.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Showcase projects that best demonstrate your leadership, strategic thinking, and ability to drive commercial impact. Highlight your experience with diverse channels and disruptive brands.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your strategic approach, the creative process, the challenges faced, and the measurable results achieved. Quantify impact wherever possible (e.g., engagement rates, conversion increases, retail performance).

• Highlight Leadership: Include examples of how you've mentored teams, managed workflows, and contributed to strategic decision-making.

• Demonstrate Brand Understanding: Show how you understand and can apply the "Wild" brand aesthetic and ethos to your work.

• Be Prepared for Hands-On Work: As this is a hands-on role, be ready to discuss your process and potentially demonstrate your skills with the tools.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brand: Deeply research Wild Cosmetics, its mission, target audience, competitors, and current marketing efforts.

• Anticipate Briefs: Consider typical briefs for a DTC/CPG brand in areas like social media campaigns, product launches, retail activations, or CRM.

• Focus on Strategy & Execution: Prepare to articulate your strategic rationale behind creative decisions and how you would ensure high-quality execution.

• Practice Presentation: Rehearse your portfolio walkthrough and any case study presentations to ensure clarity, conciseness, and impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a senior creative leadership role will heavily weigh the portfolio and the candidate's ability to articulate their strategic thinking and impact. Operations candidates should emphasize their structured approach to creative project management, their ability to measure and report on creative ROI, and their collaborative skills.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential for graphic design, photo editing, and layout. Expertise in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign is expected.

• Figma: Crucial for UI/UX design, collaborative prototyping, and efficient design system management, especially for digital and product interfaces.

• Prototyping Tools: Potentially other tools for creating interactive mockups and user flows, depending on the specific product and digital design needs.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Google Analytics / Adobe Analytics: To understand user behavior, campaign performance, and inform creative optimizations.

• Social Media Analytics Platforms: (e.g., Meta Business Suite, Sprout Social) for tracking paid social campaign effectiveness.

• CRM Analytics: Understanding data from platforms like Salesforce or HubSpot to inform CRM campaign creative.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: Familiarity with CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) to understand how creative assets are deployed in customer journeys.

• Marketing Automation Platforms: (e.g., Klaviyo, Mailchimp) to understand creative requirements for automated email and SMS campaigns.

• Project Management Tools: (e.g., Asana, Trello, Monday.com) for managing design workflows, briefs, and team tasks.

📝 Enhancement Note: While primarily a design role, proficiency with design tools is non-negotiable. Familiarity with analytics and project management tools is highly advantageous, as it demonstrates an understanding of how creative integrates with broader marketing and operational strategies and how its performance is measured.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Bold & Disruptive: A willingness to challenge conventions and push creative boundaries to stand out in the market.

• Customer-Centric: A focus on understanding and connecting with the target audience through compelling and relevant creative.

• Data-Driven: Utilizing insights to inform creative decisions, optimize performance, and demonstrate commercial impact.

• Efficient & Agile: Ability to deliver high-quality work quickly and adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Collaborative: Working effectively across departments to achieve shared goals and ensure brand consistency.

• Sustainable Impact: A commitment to the company's mission of reducing single-use plastic, reflected in brand messaging and design.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Proactive engagement with Marketing, Product, Retail, and Performance teams to ensure creative alignment and strategic execution.

• Feedback & Iteration: An open environment for constructive feedback to refine creative outputs and improve processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, trends, and learnings within the design team and across departments.

• Mission Alignment: Working towards a common goal of building a successful and impactful sustainable brand.

📝 Enhancement Note: Wild Cosmetics' values likely mirror those of a modern, mission-driven, and fast-scaling startup. Operations professionals will find resonance in the emphasis on data, efficiency, and cross-functional collaboration, which are core tenets of effective operations management.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Speed and Quality: Maintaining high creative standards while meeting the demands of a fast-paced, high-output environment.

• Brand Consistency Across Channels: Ensuring a cohesive "Wild" brand identity across diverse platforms, from digital ads to physical retail and product packaging.

• Leading a Hands-On Team: Effectively managing direct reports while also contributing significantly to daily creative output.

• Translating Data into Creative: Leveraging performance data and market insights to inspire innovative and effective creative solutions.

• Adapting to Rapid Growth: Evolving creative strategies and team structures to support the company's continuous expansion.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic Brand Leadership: Gaining experience in shaping the brand narrative and visual identity for a rapidly growing DTC company.

• Cross-Functional Operations: Deepening understanding of how design integrates with marketing, product development, and retail operations.

• Team Development: Refining leadership and mentorship skills by guiding and developing a team of designers.

• Industry Trends: Staying at the forefront of design innovation, particularly within the CPG and sustainability sectors.

• Potential for Executive Growth: Opportunity to grow into broader leadership roles as the company scales.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for leadership roles in scaling startups. Operations professionals are well-suited to address these by implementing structured processes, performance metrics, and clear communication channels, turning potential obstacles into opportunities for strategic improvement.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you translated a complex business brief into a creative strategy that drove significant commercial results. What was your process, and how did you measure success?" (Focus on linking creative to business impact, data usage, and ROI).

• "How would you approach ensuring brand consistency across our DTC website, social media campaigns, and retail store designs? What operational processes would you put in place?" (Highlight process, collaboration, and cross-channel thinking).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Wild Cosmetics, and how do you see your design leadership contributing to our mission and growth?" (Demonstrate research and genuine interest).

• "Describe your leadership style. How do you motivate and develop a creative team, especially in a fast-paced environment?" (Focus on mentorship, agile leadership, and team performance).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each key project, clearly outline the challenge, your strategic approach, the creative solution, and the tangible results achieved. Use data to support your claims.

• Showcase Leadership: Highlight instances where you led teams, managed projects, or influenced strategic decisions.

• Demonstrate Versatility: Present a range of work that covers different channels and formats relevant to Wild Cosmetics (social, retail, packaging, product design).

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Prepare to discuss the 'why' behind your creative choices and your process for problem-solving.

• Connect to Wild: Explicitly link your experience and style to Wild Cosmetics' brand values and objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just creative talent, but also strategic business acumen, operational efficiency, and strong leadership capabilities. Operations candidates should leverage their experience in process optimization, data analysis, and cross-functional collaboration to answer questions effectively.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Head of Design position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Wild Cosmetics careers page.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to prominently feature work demonstrating brand building, creative leadership, and commercial impact, especially within DTC or CPG sectors. Highlight projects that align with Wild's bold aesthetic and sustainability mission.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your 7+ years of experience, leadership roles, proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Figma, and achievements in driving creative success and business results. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your creative process, leadership philosophy, and strategic approach to design challenges. Prepare specific examples of how you've managed teams, driven innovation, and achieved measurable outcomes.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Wild Cosmetics' brand, mission, products, target audience, and recent marketing campaigns. Understand their competitive landscape and sustainability focus to demonstrate genuine interest and strategic alignment.

⚠️ 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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