Marketing and Brand Designer (UK)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Marketing and Brand Designer

Company: IFS Nexus Black

Location: London, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Marketing & Design Operations

Date Posted: 2026-09-18

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid (Remote with occasional office presence in London)

🚀 Role Summary

• This role serves as the visual engine for the marketing team, responsible for creating and maintaining brand consistency across all marketing touchpoints.

• You will design a wide range of assets, including social media content, website elements, print collateral, and comprehensive event branding.

• The position requires a hands-on, generalist creative approach, flexing across digital and physical design formats frequently.

• You will partner closely with marketing, events, and content teams to translate campaign briefs into compelling visual outputs at speed, managing multiple projects with tight deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Marketing and Brand Designer," this role integrates heavily with Go-To-Market (GTM) operations by providing the visual assets that support marketing campaigns, sales enablement materials, and event strategies. The emphasis on speed, brand consistency, and cross-functional collaboration aligns with operational efficiency in marketing and GTM functions. The hybrid nature suggests a need for strong self-management and asynchronous communication skills, common in operations roles.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design engaging social media content (static and short-form video) for platforms like LinkedIn and X, ensuring brand alignment.

• Build and maintain visually appealing website content and effective landing page assets to support campaign objectives.

• Create professional print and physical collateral, including leaflets, one-pagers, and sales enablement materials, ensuring print production readiness.

• Develop comprehensive event assets such as booth mockups, floor plans, signage, banners, and on-site branding elements.

• Produce motion graphics and video assets, including edits, animated graphics, social cuts, and event loop videos.

• Collaborate directly with the marketing team to rapidly translate campaign briefs into high-quality visual outputs.

• Uphold and evolve brand consistency across all designed formats, acting as a brand guardian.

• Manage multiple concurrent design projects, effectively prioritizing and meeting tight event and campaign deadlines.

• Contribute to the visual strategy of marketing campaigns, ensuring a cohesive and impactful brand presence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for operational efficiency in design execution. The emphasis on "translating briefs into visual output at speed" and "managing multiple concurrent projects with tight event/campaign deadlines" points to the operational demands of a fast-paced GTM environment. The role requires not just creative skill but also project management and process adherence to ensure timely delivery of assets critical for marketing and sales operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field is typically expected for roles requiring this level of creative and technical proficiency. Equivalent practical experience with a strong portfolio will also be considered.

Experience: 2-5 years of professional experience in graphic design, with a significant focus on marketing and brand development. Experience within a B2B, technology, or enterprise software environment is highly advantageous.

Required Skills:

• Portfolio: A strong, diverse portfolio showcasing both digital and physical design work (not solely digital).

• Design Software Proficiency: Expertise in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) or a Figma equivalent.

• Motion/Video Tools: Working knowledge of motion graphics and video editing software such as After Effects, Premiere Pro, or similar.

• Print Production: Experience with print design principles, including bleed, CMYK, and file preparation for printers.

• Event/Environmental Design: Proven experience designing for events, including booth layouts, signage, and large-format print.

• Brand Systems Understanding: Solid grasp of brand guidelines, including typography, color palettes, and layout consistency across various formats.

• Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to work directly and effectively with marketing teams, responding quickly to briefs.

Preferred Skills:

• 3D Mockup/Rendering: Skills in 3D visualization tools like SketchUp, Cinema 4D, or similar for booth or environment mockups.

• Advanced Animation: Basic animation skills beyond simple edits, such as Lottie or 2D animation.

• Content Capture: Photography or videography experience for event or on-site content creation.

• Web Design Handoff: Familiarity with web design principles and working alongside developers or with platforms like Webflow.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Core (must-have)" skills clearly define the operational requirements for this role, emphasizing a broad range of design execution capabilities rather than deep specialization. The "Nice-to-have" skills suggest areas where an individual could further enhance their value to the operations of the marketing and GTM teams, particularly in content creation and visualization.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Comprehensive Showcase: The portfolio must demonstrate a broad range of capabilities, including digital assets (social media, web banners), print collateral (brochures, one-pagers), and physical/event designs (booth mockups, signage).

• Brand Consistency Examples: Include case studies or examples that clearly illustrate how you maintained brand consistency across multiple channels and formats for a single campaign or client.

• Process Documentation: Briefly outline your design process for a key project, highlighting how you approach briefs, iterate on designs, and manage feedback to meet deadlines.

• Print Production Readiness: Showcase examples of print-ready files or discuss your experience in preparing files for professional printing, demonstrating an understanding of technical print requirements.

Process Documentation:

• Brief Interpretation: Demonstrate how you translate marketing campaign briefs into actionable design requirements and visual concepts.

• Workflow Management: Illustrate your approach to managing multiple design projects simultaneously, including prioritization, time management, and stakeholder communication to ensure timely delivery.

• Brand System Application: Show examples of how you apply and evolve brand systems consistently across diverse media, from digital ads to physical banners.

• Feedback Integration: Provide examples of how you incorporate feedback from marketing and other stakeholders into your designs efficiently.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a design role supporting operations, the portfolio is critical for demonstrating an understanding of process, efficiency, and brand stewardship. The emphasis here is on showing not just creative output, but the operational thinking behind it—how projects are managed, how brand is maintained, and how technical requirements (like print) are handled operationally.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Given the location (London, UK), experience level (Mid-Level, 2-5 years), and the specialized nature of the role within a tech/AI company, a competitive salary range can be estimated. For a Marketing and Brand Designer in London with this experience, the typical range is approximately £35,000 - £50,000 per annum.

Benefits:

• Hybrid Work Model: Flexibility to work remotely with occasional office presence, promoting work-life balance.

• Pension Scheme: Contribution to a company-sponsored pension plan, a standard benefit in the UK.

• Health and Wellness: Access to wellness programs or benefits, potentially including private medical insurance.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for training, workshops, and attending industry events to enhance design and technical skills.

• Employee Assistance Program: Support services for personal and professional well-being.

• Generous Holiday Allowance: Standard UK holiday entitlement plus potential additional company days.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, typical for a full-time role. While the role is hybrid, specific working hours may offer some flexibility, allowing for effective management of asynchronous communication and project deadlines, crucial for operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on research for similar mid-level graphic design roles in London, considering the tech/AI industry context which often offers slightly higher compensation. Benefits are standard for full-time roles in the UK, with a focus on aspects relevant to a hybrid and professional work environment. The mention of 40 working hours is a baseline; the hybrid aspect suggests potential flexibility in daily schedules.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: The company operates within the Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Enterprise Software sector, specifically focusing on AI-first business solutions for industrial customers. This B2B SaaS environment demands a focus on tangible outcomes, efficiency, and problem-solving for complex enterprise challenges.

Company Size: IFS Nexus Black is positioned as an "AI-first business within IFS," suggesting a dynamic, startup-like environment within a larger, established enterprise (IFS). This implies a blend of agility and stability, with a need for operational processes that can scale.

Founded: IFS has a history of 40 years in industrial depth, while Nexus Black is a newer, AI-focused initiative. This combination indicates a company that leverages deep industry expertise with cutting-edge technology, aiming for rapid implementation and real-world impact.

Team Structure:

• Marketing & Design Hub: The designer will be part of the marketing team, working closely with marketing, events, and content colleagues. This suggests a collaborative structure where design is integral to campaign execution.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The role emphasizes close partnership with various internal teams, indicating a need for strong communication and an understanding of how design supports broader GTM and product initiatives.

• Agile Environment: Operating like a startup within a larger company suggests a flatter hierarchy and a focus on individual ownership and rapid execution, common in agile operations.

Methodology:

• AI-First Approach: Solutions are built with AI at their core, driving innovation and efficiency.

• Outcome-Oriented: Focus on delivering real-world outcomes for enterprise customers in weeks, not months.

• Iterative Design: The need to "move quickly" and "challenge traditional ways of working" suggests an iterative approach to both product development and marketing asset creation.

• Data-Driven Visuals: While not explicit, in an AI-first company, design outputs are likely expected to be data-informed or support data-driven narratives.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is described as fast-paced, high-ownership, and comfortable operating across traditional boundaries. For a designer, this means being adaptable, proactive, and able to contribute beyond just executing tasks, aligning with operational excellence. The blend of startup agility with enterprise depth is a key characteristic.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a mid-level, hands-on creative role. It sits within the operational framework of the marketing and GTM functions, where design is a critical support function. The role is for an individual contributor who owns specific visual output and contributes to campaign success.

Reporting Structure: The designer will report to a marketing lead or manager, working closely with peers in marketing, content, and events. This structure allows for direct collaboration and integration into campaign planning and execution.

Operations Impact: The designer's impact is directly tied to the effectiveness of marketing campaigns and GTM initiatives. High-quality, on-brand visual assets streamline communication, enhance brand perception, support sales enablement, and contribute to successful event experiences, all of which are operational metrics for marketing and sales.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Expansion: Opportunity to expand skills across a wider range of design disciplines (e.g., 3D visualization, advanced motion graphics, photography/videography) based on project needs and company growth.

• Brand Stewardship: Develop deeper expertise in brand management and visual strategy within the AI and enterprise software space.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain exposure to product marketing, campaign strategy, and event logistics, enhancing understanding of the broader GTM operations.

• Leadership Potential: With proven success and expanded responsibilities, potential to move into senior designer roles or lead specific visual initiatives within marketing operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path for this role is about deepening expertise within marketing operations and broadening the scope of visual support for GTM. It's less about moving into pure management and more about becoming a highly versatile and indispensable creative operations specialist.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid. The role involves remote work with an expectation of occasional presence in the London office. This allows for flexibility while maintaining in-person collaboration opportunities for specific events, team meetings, or brainstorming sessions.

Office Location(s): London, England, United Kingdom. This central location provides access to a vibrant professional network and is likely well-connected for commuting.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The London office likely serves as a hub for team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and collaborative design sprints, fostering idea exchange.

• Digital Tooling: A strong reliance on digital design tools (Adobe Creative Suite, Figma) and collaboration platforms for remote work and asset sharing.

• Fast-Paced Environment: The culture is described as fast-paced, requiring designers to be agile and responsive to marketing and campaign needs.

Work Schedule: Standard 40-hour work week. The hybrid nature offers flexibility in managing personal schedules, but the need to meet campaign and event deadlines requires discipline and effective time management, a core aspect of operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is key here. It requires individuals to be self-disciplined and effective in managing their time and communication remotely, while also being prepared for in-person collaboration. This balance is characteristic of modern operational roles in tech companies.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your CV and portfolio to assess suitability for the role and its requirements.

• Portfolio Review & Skills Assessment: A dedicated session to walk through your portfolio, discussing specific projects, your design process, and how you've handled challenges. Expect questions about your experience with digital vs. physical design, print production, and motion graphics.

• Team/Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion about your experience, how you collaborate with marketing teams, your understanding of brand systems, and your ability to work at speed. Questions may also cover your approach to managing multiple projects and meeting deadlines.

• Practical Exercise (Potential): You might be given a small design challenge or a brief to create a sample asset to assess your skills and speed.

• Final Interview: Possibly with a senior leader to discuss cultural fit and long-term potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Showcase 5-7 of your strongest and most relevant projects, emphasizing those that demonstrate breadth (digital, print, event) and brand consistency.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your role, your design process, the challenges you faced, and the positive outcomes or impact. Use visual examples of the final assets.

• Highlight Operational Aspects: Point out how you managed deadlines, collaborated with stakeholders, ensured brand adherence, and handled technical requirements (e.g., print specs).

• Showcase Speed & Adaptability: Include examples of projects completed under tight deadlines or where you had to adapt quickly to changing requirements.

• Prepare for Technical Questions: Be ready to discuss your proficiency with specific software and your understanding of print production and digital asset optimization.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: If given a design challenge, carefully read and understand the objectives, target audience, and key message.

• Prioritize Brand Consistency: Ensure your output aligns with the provided brand guidelines.

• Demonstrate Efficiency: Focus on delivering a clear, well-executed concept within the given timeframe.

• Articulate Your Choices: Be prepared to explain the rationale behind your design decisions, linking them back to the brief and brand objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process and portfolio review are critical for this role. The emphasis on a "hands-on, generalist creative role" and working "at speed" means interviewers will be looking for not just creative talent but also operational efficiency, adaptability, and a proactive approach to problem-solving. The portfolio is the primary evidence of these capabilities.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Software:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign for creating a wide range of digital and print assets.

• Figma: A strong alternative or complementary tool for digital design, UI/UX, and collaborative workflows.

Motion & Video Tools:

• After Effects: For creating motion graphics and animations.

• Premiere Pro: For video editing and producing short-form video content.

3D Visualization (Preferred):

• SketchUp / Cinema 4D: For creating 3D mockups of event booths or environmental designs.

Web Design Integration (Preferred):

• Webflow: Familiarity with web design platforms or working with developers for web asset integration.

Collaboration & Project Management:

• Asana, Trello, Jira, or similar: Tools likely used for project management, task tracking, and workflow coordination within the marketing team.

• Slack, Microsoft Teams: For real-time communication and team collaboration.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct user, understanding how design assets integrate with CRM campaigns (e.g., email templates) and marketing automation platforms can be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The tools listed are standard for a modern marketing design role. Proficiency in the Adobe Suite or Figma is a baseline operational requirement. The inclusion of motion graphics, video editing, and preferred 3D tools indicates the breadth of visual content creation expected, supporting various GTM and operational needs.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Agility & Speed: A core value is the ability to "move quickly" and deliver results in weeks. This translates to a need for designers who can adapt rapidly and execute efficiently.

• Ownership & Accountability: High-ownership individuals are expected, meaning designers should take responsibility for their work and its outcomes, proactively identifying and solving problems.

• Innovation & Disruption: "Challenging traditional ways of working" suggests a culture that embraces new ideas and approaches, encouraging creative problem-solving.

• Customer Focus: Building AI solutions for "enterprise customers" means designs should always consider the end-user experience and business impact.

• Collaboration: Working "across traditional boundaries" highlights the importance of teamwork and effective cross-functional communication.

Collaboration Style:

• Hands-On & Integrated: Designers are expected to work directly with marketing, events, and content teams, actively participating in campaign development.

• Responsive & Iterative: The pace demands a responsive design approach, where feedback is incorporated quickly and designs are iterated upon efficiently.

• Brand Stewardship: A collaborative effort to maintain and evolve brand consistency across all touchpoints.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging an environment where ideas and best practices are shared to improve collective output.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values emphasize a proactive, results-oriented, and collaborative mindset. For a designer, this means being more than just an executor; it's about being a strategic partner who understands the operational goals of the marketing and GTM teams and contributes to achieving them through exceptional visual communication.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Speed and Quality: The demand for rapid output while maintaining high brand standards and creative excellence. This requires efficient workflows and strong prioritization skills.

• Managing Diverse Asset Types: Consistently delivering high-quality designs across a wide spectrum of formats (digital, print, video, physical) often within the same week.

• Brand Evolution: Keeping brand assets fresh and relevant in a fast-moving AI industry while adhering to established guidelines.

• Cross-Functional Communication: Effectively translating diverse needs from various teams (marketing, events, content) into cohesive visual solutions.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Skills: Opportunities to hone skills in motion graphics, 3D visualization, or video editing through project work or targeted training.

• Brand Strategy Exposure: Deeper involvement in brand strategy discussions and contributing to the visual roadmap for Nexus Black.

• GTM Operations Understanding: Gaining a comprehensive understanding of how design supports broader marketing and sales operations, campaign planning, and product launches.

• Industry Trends: Staying abreast of AI, enterprise software, and design industry trends to bring fresh perspectives to the role.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to a fast-paced GTM environment where design is a critical support function. Overcoming these challenges presents significant growth opportunities, particularly in developing operational efficiency and strategic design thinking.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for taking a campaign brief from initial concept to final delivery, especially when working under tight deadlines." (Focus on your workflow, communication, and how you ensure brand consistency.)

• "How do you approach designing for both digital and physical mediums, and what are the key differences you consider?" (Highlight your understanding of print production vs. digital optimization and brand application across both.)

• "Can you walk us through a project where you had to manage multiple design requests simultaneously? How did you prioritize and ensure all deadlines were met?" (Demonstrate your project management and time-blocking skills.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about IFS Nexus Black and our AI-first approach?" (Research the company's products and mission; connect your design skills to their industry and goals.)

• "How do you ensure brand consistency across a wide range of collateral and touchpoints?" (Discuss your understanding of brand systems and your role as a brand guardian.)

• "Describe a time you had to work closely with a marketing team to achieve a specific campaign goal. What was your contribution?" (Showcase your collaborative spirit and understanding of marketing objectives.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Organize your portfolio logically, perhaps by project type (digital, print, event) or by showcasing a campaign that spans multiple mediums.

• Highlight Process, Not Just Polish: For each project, explain the 'why' and 'how' – your thought process, problem-solving, and execution. This demonstrates operational thinking.

• Quantify Impact (if possible): If you have metrics on how your designs improved engagement, conversion, or brand recall, include them.

• Showcase Versatility: Explicitly point out examples that demonstrate your ability to work across digital, print, and physical/event design, as well as motion graphics.

• Be Ready for Live Exercises: Practice creating a quick social post or adapting an existing asset based on a hypothetical brief.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not only creative talent but also operational efficiency, adaptability, and a strong understanding of brand management within a GTM context. The ability to articulate your process and justify your design decisions is paramount.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Marketing and Brand Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects that demonstrate your versatility across digital, print, and event design. Include examples of how you've maintained brand consistency and worked under deadline pressure.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your experience with key design software (Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, motion graphics tools) and your proven ability to deliver diverse assets for marketing campaigns and events. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your design process, how you collaborate with marketing teams, and how you ensure brand integrity. Be ready to discuss specific projects from your portfolio in detail, focusing on problem-solving and execution.

• Research IFS Nexus Black: Understand their AI-first mission, product offerings (Resolve, Flow, Comply, Reason), and target industries. Consider how your design skills can visually support their unique value proposition.

⚠️ 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.