Organic Lead Designer - Fixed term contract

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Organic Lead Designer - Fixed Term Contract

Company: Visualsoft

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: Temporary

Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Operations

Date Posted: March 19, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (Estimated 5-10 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead a team of designers and videographers to create high-impact designs for organic digital marketing campaigns.

• Drive innovation and efficiency in creative output to directly support Customer Engagement, SEO, CRO, and Marketplace client success.

• Accountable for the quality control and approval of all creative assets, ensuring alignment with channel-specific best practices.

• Shape the commercial growth of the design department by identifying new sales opportunities and expanding service offerings.

• Act as the primary liaison between the design team and other departments, translating business needs into actionable design strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Organic Lead Designer," the responsibilities strongly suggest a role at the intersection of Creative Operations and Marketing Operations, focusing on the execution and strategic oversight of creative assets within specific digital marketing channels. The emphasis on client success, commercial growth, and cross-departmental collaboration points to a GTM-aligned operations function.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Creative Strategy & Execution:

  • Serve as the creative lead for all organic digital marketing initiatives, with a sharp focus on Customer Engagement, SEO, CRO, and Marketplace campaigns.
  • Develop and refine the department's service offering to maintain and elevate best-in-class creative standards.
  • Manage direct client communication for creative projects, ensuring clear understanding and alignment of objectives.

• Quality Control & Approvals:

  • Ensure design briefs are comprehensive, up-to-date, and accurately reflect client or internal department needs.
  • Conduct thorough quality checks on submitted briefs and all creative output (visuals, video, motion graphics).
  • Approve all assets to guarantee consistency, quality, and adherence to brand guidelines across all organic channels.

• Team Management & Development:

  • Provide line management for Senior Designers and Designers, including conducting regular 1-on-1s, facilitating professional development, and monitoring performance against KPIs.
  • Foster a collaborative and high-performing team environment.

• Departmental Growth & Innovation:

  • Drive the commercial expansion of the design department by identifying and capitalizing on new creative sales opportunities within the core service areas.
  • Identify internal training needs and develop/deliver relevant training programs to upskill the team.
  • Support Research & Development initiatives, exploring new software, technologies, and methodologies to enhance design efficiency and creative possibilities.
  • Lead on internal brand creative projects and contribute to quoting for internal marketing jobs.

• Cross-Departmental Collaboration:

  • Act as the key point of contact between the design team and other departments (e.g., SEO, CRO, Sales, Account Management).

  • Translate broad business requirements into specific, actionable design plans.

  • Ensure seamless collaboration and communication to achieve unified campaign goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of creative leadership, team management, and strategic business development, typical of a senior operations role within a creative or digital marketing agency. The focus on specific channels (SEO, CRO, etc.) and client engagement points to a GTM-aligned operations function.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mentioned, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Digital Media, Marketing, or a related field is often preferred for such roles. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience:

• Proven experience in a Design or Digital Marketing role, with a strong portfolio showcasing impactful creative work.

• Demonstrated experience in leading and mentoring creative teams within a digital environment.

Required Skills:

• Creative Suite Mastery: Expert proficiency in Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator is non-negotiable.

• Video & Motion Production: Expert knowledge of After Effects and proficiency in video editing using Adobe Premiere or Final Cut Pro, specifically for high-performance organic creatives.

• User Experience (UX) Principles: Solid understanding of UX principles and their practical implementation in web design.

• Digital Leadership: Proven ability to mentor, lead, and coach design and videography teams, driving performance and development.

• Web Content Management Systems (CMS): Experience building and managing web pages using a CMS.

• Strategic Planning: Ability to think preemptively and plan effectively for future creative needs and departmental growth.

• Commercial Awareness: A strong understanding of commercial objectives, target orientation, and performance metrics relevant to a service-based department.

• Analytical Thinking: A technical mindset with an interest in understanding how systems and processes work, particularly concerning design efficiency and performance.

• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, essential for client interaction and internal cross-departmental collaboration.

• Proactive Mindset: A self-motivated, 'can-do' attitude with the ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.

• Time Management: Proven ability to work effectively under tight deadlines, managing personal and team time efficiently.

• Detail Orientation: Highly organized with meticulous attention to detail in all creative outputs and process management.

• Leadership Style: Demonstrates strong initiative, decisiveness, and a clear leadership approach.

• Technical Agility: Aptitude for quickly learning and adapting to new technologies, systems, and processes.

• Professional Integrity: Upholds professionalism, integrity, and a strong work ethic in all endeavors.

• Collaborative Spirit: A natural team player with a flexible and adaptable approach to working.

• Organisational Skills: Strong planning and organizational capabilities, with effective self-management of workload.

• Growth Mindset: A continuous and genuine willingness to learn and develop.

Preferred Skills:

• Organic Channel Expertise: Strong understanding of performance marketing channels, including Customer Engagement, SEO, CRO, and Marketplaces, and how creative impacts their success.

• Website Development Appreciation: Experience with or a solid understanding of website development processes and technologies.

• Innovation Interest: A keen interest in emerging technologies and evolving online marketing channels.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Required Skills" section is extensive and covers both technical design proficiencies and crucial operational/leadership competencies. Given the role's focus on organic channels and client success, deep knowledge of SEO, CRO, and customer engagement principles is highly advantageous, aligning with GTM operations.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrated Creative Leadership: Showcase examples of leading design projects from concept to completion, highlighting your role in strategic direction and team guidance.

• Impactful Organic Campaign Designs: Include case studies or examples of designs specifically created for organic digital marketing channels (SEO, CRO, Customer Engagement, Marketplaces) that demonstrate measurable success.

• Process Optimization Examples: Present instances where you identified inefficiencies in design workflows or processes and implemented solutions to improve speed, quality, or output.

• System Implementation/Integration: If applicable, provide examples of how you've integrated new design tools or processes into a team's workflow or collaborated with development teams on CMS implementations.

• Client Communication & ROI: Showcase how your creative leadership has directly contributed to client satisfaction and business outcomes, ideally with quantifiable results (e.g., conversion rate improvements, engagement uplift).

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Be prepared to discuss your approach to designing, documenting, and optimizing creative workflows for design and video production teams, ensuring clarity and efficiency.

• Implementation & Automation: Examples of how you've implemented new design tools, software, or automated processes to enhance team productivity and output quality.

• Measurement & Performance Analysis: Demonstrate how you track and analyze the performance of creative assets and team output, using data to inform future creative decisions and process improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role like this, a portfolio is critical. It should not only showcase visual design skills but also evidence of leadership, strategic thinking, process improvement, and a commercial mindset, aligning with operations functions that drive business results.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Based on the UK market for a Lead Designer with significant experience in a digital marketing agency context, and considering the fixed-term nature of the contract, an estimated salary range for Newcastle upon Tyne would be £45,000 - £65,000 per annum. This estimate accounts for the leadership responsibilities, specialized technical skills (Adobe Creative Suite, video production), and the fixed-term contract duration.

Benefits:

• Progression Options: Opportunities for career advancement within Visualsoft.

• Unlimited Paid Holidays: A unique offering providing significant flexibility and work-life balance.

• Hybrid Working: Flexibility to balance work between home and office.

• Medicash Cash Plan: Comprehensive health coverage including optical, dental, massages, and access to a discounts platform, with up to £995 cashback annually.

• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP): Access to Vivup for mental health support, financial guidance, and overall well-being resources.

• High-Performance MacBook: Provision of a top-tier laptop for work.

• VS Perks: A monthly treat from a selection of vouchers and credits (e.g., Amazon, PlayStation, ASOS, H&M, Just Eat).

• On-site Amenities: Free breakfast, fruit, hot and cold drinks, and protein shakes.

• Social & Relaxation: Friday afternoon drinks and regular team social events.

• Pension Scheme: Support for long-term financial planning.

• Cycle to Work Scheme: Encouraging sustainable commuting.

• Brand Discounts: Savings across Visualsoft's brands.

• Training & Development: Opportunities for continuous learning and skill enhancement.

Working Hours:

The role is advertised with an implied standard full-time working week. Based on the mention of a "high-performance MacBook" and the general industry standard, this would typically equate to approximately 40 hours per week. The hybrid working arrangement offers some flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on industry benchmarks for Lead Designer roles in the North East of England, considering the required expertise and leadership scope. The extensive benefits package is highly attractive and reflects a strong employee-centric culture.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Visualsoft operates within the Digital Marketing and eCommerce sector, specifically as a leading eCommerce agency. They focus on providing comprehensive online solutions for retailers.

Company Size: Visualsoft is a significant player, indicated by having multiple office locations and a substantial employee base (though exact numbers aren't provided here, the scope suggests a mid-to-large sized agency). This size implies established processes but also opportunities for impact.

Founded: Founded in 2003, Visualsoft has a long history in the eCommerce space, suggesting stability, deep industry knowledge, and a proven track record.

Team Structure:

• The Organic Design team is led by this role, consisting of Senior Designers and Designers, alongside Videographers.

• This team operates within the broader marketing and creative services division of Visualsoft.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Creative: While focused on design, the role emphasizes "high-performance" and "effectiveness" for specific channels (SEO, CRO, Customer Engagement), implying a data-informed approach to creative strategy and asset creation.

• Agile Workflow: The need to work to "tight deadlines" and collaborate across departments suggests an agile or iterative operational methodology.

• Continuous Improvement: The emphasis on R&D, identifying new technologies, and internal training points to a culture of continuous improvement and innovation within operations.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Visualsoft's long history and focus on eCommerce success indicate a results-oriented environment. The emphasis on collaboration and innovation suggests a dynamic workplace where operational efficiency directly impacts client outcomes.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a significant step into leadership within a specialized operational function (creative operations for digital marketing). It bridges creative expertise with management and commercial strategy, positioning the individual as a key operational leader within the design department.

Reporting Structure: The Lead Designer will report to a higher-level manager within the Creative or Marketing division (e.g., Head of Creative, Marketing Director). They will, in turn, manage a team of designers and videographers.

Operations Impact: The Lead Designer's role is critical to Visualsoft's GTM strategy by ensuring the creative output for organic channels is not only visually appealing but also highly effective in driving client acquisition, engagement, and conversion. Their influence directly impacts client retention and the agency's reputation for delivering results.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Specialization: Deepen expertise in leading creative teams and managing operational workflows within a fast-paced agency environment.

• Strategic Impact: Opportunity to influence the strategic direction of Visualsoft's creative service offerings and commercial growth.

• Cross-Functional Development: Gain exposure to various GTM functions (SEO, CRO, Sales) and understand how creative operations integrates with broader business objectives.

• Potential for Permanent Role: Given the fixed-term nature, successful performance could lead to a permanent position or other leadership opportunities within the company.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is ideal for a designer who wants to move into a management and strategic operations position, impacting business growth through creative excellence and operational efficiency.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Visualsoft offers a hybrid working model, suggesting a blend of remote work and in-office collaboration. Their offices are described as "great working environments."

Office Location(s): The role is based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, United Kingdom, with other mentioned locations for workspaces including Stockton on Tees and Manchester. This indicates a company with a physical presence and collaborative hubs.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hubs: The offices are designed to foster collaboration, with dog-friendly spaces (Stockton on Tees and Manchester) suggesting a relaxed yet professional atmosphere.

• Technology Enabled: Provision of a "high-performance MacBook" indicates that the company invests in the tools necessary for creative professionals to perform at their best.

• Team Interaction: The hybrid model allows for both focused individual work and in-person team engagement, crucial for creative brainstorming and leadership.

Work Schedule: The role is likely to adhere to standard UK business hours, with the flexibility afforded by a hybrid working arrangement. The emphasis on "tight deadlines" suggests that occasional flexibility or extended hours might be necessary during peak periods, but the "unlimited paid holidays" benefit aims to balance this.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model and emphasis on a positive work environment suggest a company that values employee well-being and productivity, important considerations for operations roles that require sustained focus and collaboration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a review of CV and portfolio followed by a brief call with HR or a hiring manager to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.

• Creative & Technical Assessment: A more in-depth interview focusing on design skills, software proficiency (Adobe Creative Suite, video editing), and understanding of UX principles. This may include a technical test or review of specific portfolio pieces.

• Leadership & Strategy Interview: A discussion with senior management to evaluate leadership capabilities, strategic thinking, commercial awareness, and experience in team management. This is where your approach to operations and process improvement will be key.

• Cross-Functional/Client Simulation: Potentially a scenario-based interview or a simulated client interaction to assess communication, problem-solving, and ability to translate business needs into design plans.

• Final Interview: A concluding conversation with a senior leader to finalize the offer.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Impact: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best represent your leadership, creative vision, and ability to deliver results for organic digital marketing channels.

• Highlight Process & Strategy: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your strategic approach, the challenges faced, the solutions implemented (especially process improvements), and the measurable outcomes. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

• Showcase Leadership: Include examples where you managed a team, mentored junior designers, or influenced creative direction.

• Demonstrate Technical Proficiency: Ensure your portfolio clearly shows your mastery of relevant software (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, Premiere/FCP) and your understanding of UX principles.

• Quantify Results: Whenever possible, include data and metrics that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased conversion rates, engagement metrics, lead generation improvements).

• Tailor to Visualsoft: Research Visualsoft's clients and their work. If possible, include a project that aligns with their industry focus or demonstrates an understanding of their client base.

Challenge Preparation:

• Process Design Exercise: Be prepared to outline how you would structure a design workflow for a new client acquisition or a specific campaign type (e.g., an SEO-focused landing page design). Focus on efficiency, quality control checkpoints, and collaboration points.

• Creative Briefing Scenario: You might be asked to critique a sample creative brief or develop a brief based on a hypothetical business objective.

• Team Management Scenario: Be ready to discuss how you would handle underperformance within your team, motivate designers, or manage conflicting creative opinions.

• Commercial Growth Strategy: Think about how you would identify new service offerings or upsell opportunities within the design department to existing or new clients.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily scrutinize both design talent and operational leadership. A strong portfolio that demonstrates a strategic, process-oriented, and results-driven approach will be crucial for success.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Expert knowledge of Photoshop and Illustrator is essential for graphic design.

• Motion Graphics & Video Editing: Expertise in After Effects for motion graphics and Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro for video editing is a key requirement.

• Content Management Systems (CMS): Experience with platforms like WordPress, Shopify, or similar for web page creation and management.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics Platforms: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics to understand user behavior and campaign performance, informing design decisions.

• SEO Tools: Understanding of tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, or Moz to grasp SEO best practices and how design impacts search performance.

• CRO Tools: Knowledge of A/B testing platforms (e.g., Optimizely, VWO) and heatmapping/session recording tools (e.g., Hotjar) to inform conversion-focused design.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot): While not a primary tool for a designer, understanding how design assets integrate with CRM for customer engagement campaigns would be beneficial.

• Project Management Software: Proficiency with tools like Asana, Trello, Jira, or Monday.com for managing design projects, tasks, and team workflows.

• Collaboration Tools: Experience with platforms like Slack or Microsoft Teams for internal communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the core technical requirements are design-focused, a strong candidate will demonstrate an understanding of how these creative tools integrate with marketing operations and analytics to drive business outcomes.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Client Championing: A commitment to understanding and exceeding client expectations through high-quality, effective creative solutions that drive their online success.

• One Team Mentality: Emphasis on collaboration, both within the design team and across departments, to achieve collective goals and celebrate shared successes.

• Driving Change: Embracing the evolving nature of eCommerce and digital marketing by proactively seeking innovative solutions and leading change within the creative function.

• Caring About What Matters: A commitment to ethical practices, employee well-being, and making a positive impact, reflecting a responsible and human-centric approach to operations.

• Efficiency & Performance: A drive for operational efficiency, data-driven decision-making, and a focus on performance metrics to ensure the design department contributes measurably to business targets.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expect a highly collaborative environment where designers work closely with SEO specialists, CRO experts, account managers, and sales teams to ensure creative strategies are aligned with broader GTM objectives.

• Feedback-Rich Environment: A culture that values constructive feedback, both for creative output and operational processes, to foster continuous improvement.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouragement of sharing best practices, new techniques, and insights across the team and with other departments to elevate collective expertise.

📝 Enhancement Note: Visualsoft's stated values—championing clients, teamwork, creating change, and caring—translate into an operational culture that is client-focused, collaborative, innovative, and ethically grounded.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creative Vision with Performance Metrics: Ensuring innovative and aesthetically pleasing designs also meet strict performance benchmarks for organic channels. This requires a deep understanding of how design impacts conversion rates and user engagement.

• Managing Fixed-Term Contract Expectations: Effectively integrating into the team and driving significant impact within a defined contract period, while also managing potential uncertainties.

• Cross-Departmental Alignment: Navigating the complexities of aligning creative output with the diverse needs and priorities of SEO, CRO, and other GTM functions.

• Staying Ahead of Design & Digital Marketing Trends: Continuously evolving creative strategies and technical skills to keep pace with the rapidly changing digital landscape.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Creative Techniques: Opportunities to explore and master new design software, animation techniques, or video production methods relevant to organic marketing.

• Strategic Operations Skills: Develop expertise in operational management, process optimization, team leadership, and commercial strategy within a GTM context.

• Industry Exposure: Potential to attend industry events or training focused on eCommerce, digital marketing, and creative operations.

• Mentorship: Guidance from senior leadership within Visualsoft on career progression and operational excellence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges present significant opportunities for growth, particularly in developing strategic operational skills and adapting to a dynamic GTM environment.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for developing a creative strategy for an organic digital marketing campaign. How do you ensure it aligns with SEO and CRO goals?" (Focus on your structured approach, research methods, and integration of channel-specific requirements).

• "How would you manage a situation where the SEO team has different creative requirements than the CRO team for a client's website redesign?" (Demonstrate your conflict resolution, negotiation, and cross-functional collaboration skills).

• "Walk me through a project where you identified an inefficiency in a design workflow and implemented a solution. What was the impact?" (Use the STAR method, highlighting your analytical thinking and process improvement initiative).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Visualsoft and our approach to eCommerce marketing?" (Show you've researched their website, client portfolio, and values).

• "How do you see your leadership style contributing to our 'One Team' and 'Create Change' values?" (Connect your personal approach to their stated company ethos).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: For each portfolio piece, craft a narrative that highlights the problem, your strategic solution, your leadership role, the challenges overcome, and the quantifiable results achieved.

• Focus on Process: Clearly explain the workflow, tools, and methodologies you employed. If you improved a process, make that a central part of the story.

• Highlight Leadership & Collaboration: Show how you guided the team, collaborated with other departments, and managed client expectations.

• Be Data-Ready: Have specific metrics and data points readily available to support your claims of impact and ROI.

• Conciseness: Aim for clarity and brevity, ensuring each project presentation is impactful and to the point.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparing specific examples that showcase your leadership, operational thinking, and ability to drive results within a GTM context will be key to acing the interview process.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.

• Portfolio Customization: Select and refine 3-5 key projects for your portfolio that best demonstrate your creative leadership, process improvement capabilities, and success in driving organic digital marketing results.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords related to design leadership, organic marketing channels (SEO, CRO, Customer Engagement), team management, process optimization, and proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and video production tools. Quantify achievements wherever possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your thought process for creative strategy, team management, and operational efficiency. Prepare to walk through your portfolio highlights, focusing on how your work has delivered measurable business impact.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Visualsoft's services, client base, and company values. Understand their position in the eCommerce and digital marketing landscape 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.

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