Senior Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Graphic Designer

Company: Debenhams Group

Location: Manchester, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Creative & Design / Marketing Operations

Date Posted: 2026-06-10

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the creative aesthetic and brand guardianship for multiple retail brands, ensuring a cohesive and best-in-class design output across all channels.

• Manage and develop a team of creative designers, fostering a collaborative and productive environment to deliver exceptional design assets.

• Collaborate closely with Head of Creative, Marketing, Digital, Product, and Buying teams to align design initiatives with overall brand strategy and commercial objectives.

• Implement and refine workflow systems and procedures to optimize daily operations and streamline the planning of upcoming creative projects.

• Drive innovation in creative output by exploring emerging technologies like AI in the creative space and incorporating motion design elements.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within a transformation journey for Debenhams Group, indicating a significant opportunity for a Senior Graphic Designer to influence brand evolution and operational efficiency within the creative function. The emphasis on "revitalising our brand, culture, and connection" highlights the strategic importance of design in achieving business goals, aligning this role with aspects of Marketing Operations and Brand Management.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Continuously evolve and enhance the creative aesthetic of the Debenhams Group brands (Dorothy Perkins, Burton, Oasis, Coast & Wallis) to maintain a leading design standard.

• Partner with a second Senior Graphic Designer to ensure the timely and high-quality delivery of all Business As Usual (BAU) design assets.

• Translate concepts from the Head of Creative and wider design team into compelling visual assets across all touchpoints, including web, social media, email, campaigns, and PR events.

• Implement and review new systems and procedures to improve daily workflow, enhance planning efficiency, and ensure effective resource allocation for upcoming jobs.

• Work collaboratively with the Head of Creative, Design, and Marketing teams to ensure all creative output is consistent with and supports Debenhams' overarching brand strategy.

• Act as a brand guardian, ensuring creative consistency and adherence to brand guidelines across all multi-channel touchpoints to maintain a unified brand identity.

• Contribute to a team of 11 creatives, fostering a collaborative and supportive environment for shared learning and project execution.

• Develop creative concepts and assets for ad-hoc and seasonal projects, including events, product launches, and promotional campaigns, ensuring visual impact and brand alignment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of strategic brand stewardship, team leadership, and hands-on design execution. The inclusion of "Implement and review new systems and procedures to improve daily workflow" points towards a need for operational thinking within the creative process, suggesting a focus on efficiency and process optimization.

🎓 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 Senior Graphic Designer role, often supplemented by specialized certifications or a strong portfolio.

Experience: A minimum of 5-10 years of progressive experience in graphic design, with a significant portion in a senior or leadership capacity, preferably within the retail or fashion industry. Experience managing direct reports and collaborating with cross-functional teams is essential.

Required Skills:

• Adobe Creative Suite Proficiency: Expert-level command of Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign for creating high-impact visual assets.

• Figma Proficiency: Demonstrated skill in using Figma for collaborative design, prototyping, and UI/UX elements.

• Brand Guardianship: Proven ability to act as a brand guardian, ensuring creative consistency and adherence to brand guidelines across all platforms.

• People Management: Excellent leadership and people management skills, with experience in guiding, mentoring, and developing junior designers.

• Project Management: Strong organizational and project management capabilities to handle multiple projects simultaneously, meet deadlines, and manage resources effectively.

• Commercial Acumen: Ability to combine innovative creative approaches with a strong understanding of commercial objectives and market trends.

• Communication & Networking: Excellent communication, interpersonal, and networking skills to build and maintain strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

• Presentation Skills: Experience in presenting creative concepts and project outcomes to senior management.

Preferred Skills:

• Motion Design Experience: Familiarity or experience with motion graphics software (e.g., After Effects) for dynamic visual content.

• AI in Creative Space Knowledge: Interest or knowledge in leveraging Artificial Intelligence tools and workflows within the creative design process.

• Retail/Fashion Industry Experience: Prior experience in the fast-paced retail or fashion sector, understanding its unique design demands and timelines.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to influence and communicate effectively across all levels and departments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "AI in the creative space" knowledge suggests a forward-thinking approach to design operations, positioning candidates who can integrate emerging technologies for efficiency and innovation. The emphasis on "commercial ideas" and "commercial design" indicates that the role requires designers to be business-minded, not just artistically skilled.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstration of Brand Evolution: Showcase at least one case study detailing how you evolved or maintained the creative aesthetic for a brand, highlighting strategy and impact.

• Multi-channel Campaign Examples: Include examples of integrated campaigns executed across various channels (digital, social, print, email), demonstrating a holistic approach to design.

• Team Management & Collaboration: Provide evidence of your leadership style and how you've managed creative teams, including examples of collaboration and problem-solving within a team setting.

• Process Optimization Initiatives: Detail any instances where you implemented new systems, procedures, or workflows to improve efficiency or output within a creative team.

• Senior Stakeholder Presentations: Include examples or descriptions of presentations delivered to senior management, showcasing your ability to articulate creative strategy and outcomes.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design and Optimization: Candidates should be able to articulate their approach to designing and optimizing creative workflows, from brief to final delivery, ensuring efficiency and quality control.

• System Implementation: Experience or understanding of implementing new design tools, software, or processes to enhance team productivity and output quality.

• Performance Measurement: Ability to discuss how creative output is measured, whether through engagement metrics, brand perception, or direct commercial impact, and how this informs future design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's responsibility for "implementing and reviewing new systems and procedures," a portfolio demonstrating process improvement and workflow optimization is crucial. This goes beyond just showcasing creative work and delves into the operational efficiency of the design function.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Senior Graphic Designer with 5-10 years of experience in Manchester, UK, the estimated salary range is typically between £40,000 to £60,000 per annum. This can vary based on the specific depth of experience, portfolio strength, and the exact scope of responsibilities within the Debenhams Group.

Benefits:

• Highly competitive bonus scheme

• Company pension plan

• Share schemes

• Private medical cover

• Life assurance

• Access to an on-site gym with free weekly Pilates, yoga, and fitness classes

• Discount across all Debenhams Group brands

• Comprehensive wellbeing package

• Dog-friendly offices (in selected locations)

• Ongoing learning and development opportunities with strong internal progression pathways

• On-site canteen serving breakfast, lunch, snacks, and hot drinks

• Free season ticket loan

Working Hours: The standard working hours are likely to be 40 hours per week, aligning with typical full-time employment in the UK. While the role is on-site, there may be an expectation of flexibility to meet project deadlines and accommodate the fast-paced retail environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on current market data for Senior Graphic Designer roles in Manchester, UK, considering the experience level and the retail industry. The provided benefits are comprehensive and reflect a commitment to employee well-being and professional development, which are attractive to operations-focused individuals seeking a stable and rewarding work environment.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Retail (Fashion), E-commerce. Debenhams Group operates within a dynamic and highly competitive fashion retail market, encompassing established high-street brands undergoing significant transformation. This context means a strong emphasis on brand perception, customer engagement, and agile operational responses to market trends.

Company Size: The provided company data indicates a large enterprise, likely with several thousand employees across various brands and functions. This scale suggests established operational processes, opportunities for cross-functional collaboration, and potential for career progression within a structured environment.

Founded: Debenhams itself has a long history, but the "Debenhams Group" likely refers to its current iteration under new ownership, focused on revitalisation and growth. This historical context, combined with a current "transformation journey," suggests a culture that values both heritage and innovation, seeking individuals who can drive change while respecting brand legacy.

Team Structure:

• The creative team consists of 11 individuals, with this Senior Graphic Designer working alongside another Senior Graphic Designer.

• This role has direct reports within the graphic design team and works closely with supporting retouch and production teams.

• Collaboration is extensive, involving the Head of Creative, wider design team, Marketing, Digital, Product, and Buying departments, indicating a highly integrated Go-To-Market (GTM) function. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Creativity: While not explicitly stated, the emphasis on "brand strategy," "commercial ideas," and working with "Marketing, Digital, Product and Buying" implies a data-informed approach to creative decision-making, focusing on impact and ROI.

• Agile Workflow: The mention of a "fast-changing environment" and the need to "improve daily workflow" suggests an agile or iterative approach to project management and creative delivery.

• Brand Consistency: A core methodology is "brand guardianship," ensuring a unified and consistent visual identity across all consumer touchpoints.

Company Website: https://www.boohoo.com/ (Note: While the job listing URL points to Debenhams Group, the domain derived is boohoo.com, suggesting a potential acquisition or operational integration. This implies a digital-first, fast-fashion operational model.)

📝 Enhancement Note: The derived domain "boohoo.com" is a critical piece of context. If accurate, it indicates the Debenhams Group operates under the umbrella of a major online fashion retailer, emphasizing speed, digital marketing, and e-commerce operations. This significantly influences the expected pace, technology stack, and strategic priorities for the creative and marketing functions.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at a Senior level, indicating significant responsibility in shaping creative direction, managing a team, and influencing brand strategy. It sits within the "Creative & Media" and "Marketing" taxonomies, with strong ties to "Management & Leadership." For operations professionals, this translates to managing the "creative operations" function, focusing on efficiency, process, and output quality.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Graphic Designer reports to the Head of Creative. They, in turn, manage a team of graphic designers and collaborate closely with peers in Marketing, Digital, Product, and Buying. This structure allows for both strategic direction from leadership and cross-functional alignment with other GTM and product development teams.

Operations Impact: The Senior Graphic Designer's work directly impacts the perceived value and appeal of the Debenhams Group brands. Effective design drives customer engagement, supports marketing campaigns, influences purchasing decisions, and ultimately contributes to revenue growth. By optimizing creative workflows and ensuring brand consistency, this role enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of the entire Go-To-Market strategy.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to progress to a Creative Lead, Art Director, or Head of Creative role within Debenhams Group, managing larger teams and broader creative portfolios.

• Specialization: Develop expertise in emerging areas like AI-driven design, advanced motion graphics, or digital product design, becoming a subject matter expert.

• Cross-functional Mobility: Opportunities to move into related roles within Brand Management, Digital Marketing, or E-commerce operations, leveraging design expertise in a broader business context.

• Continuous Learning: Access to "ongoing learning and development" and "strong internal progression" means continuous skill enhancement in design, management, and operational best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "transformation journey" and "bold moves" mentioned by the company signal a period of significant growth and change, offering ample opportunities for individuals to take on increased responsibility and drive impactful initiatives within the operations of the creative department.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in a central Manchester office, described as "dog-friendly" in selected locations, suggesting a modern, potentially open-plan or hybrid workspace designed to foster collaboration and employee well-being.

Office Location(s): Central Manchester, England, United Kingdom. This location offers good connectivity and access to a vibrant city environment, beneficial for creative professionals.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The emphasis on working in a team of 11 creatives and collaborating with multiple departments suggests a highly interactive and communicative workspace.

• Tools & Technology: Access to the latest Adobe Creative Suite and Figma, along with potential exposure to AI creative tools, indicates a tech-forward environment.

• Team Interaction: Regular interaction with designers, marketing, digital, product, and buying teams will be a key feature of the daily work, fostering a dynamic and integrated creative process.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (likely 40 hours/week) are expected. Given the "fast-moving and changing environment" and retail industry demands, there may be an expectation for flexibility to meet critical deadlines, particularly around campaign launches or seasonal peaks.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "dog-friendly" office detail and on-site amenities like a gym and canteen point towards a company culture that invests in employee comfort and work-life balance, which can significantly impact the operational effectiveness and morale of a creative team.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

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

• Creative Assessment: A potential design challenge or task to evaluate practical skills, problem-solving abilities, and understanding of brand aesthetics. This may involve developing assets for a specific brand or campaign scenario.

• Team/Manager Interviews: Discussions with the Head of Creative and potentially other senior team members to assess technical proficiency, creative thinking, leadership potential, and cultural fit.

• Stakeholder Interview: An opportunity to meet with representatives from Marketing, Digital, or Product teams to evaluate cross-functional collaboration skills and understanding of broader business objectives.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader to discuss strategic vision, career aspirations, and overall fit within the Debenhams Group's transformation agenda.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Brand Versatility: Highlight projects demonstrating your ability to adapt creative output to different brand identities within the Debenhams Group portfolio.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, include metrics demonstrating the success of your designs (e.g., engagement rates, conversion improvements, campaign performance).

• Detail Your Process: For each project, explain your thought process, the challenges faced, the solutions implemented, and your role, especially in team-based projects.

• Highlight Leadership: Include examples of how you've mentored designers, managed projects, or improved team workflows.

• Demonstrate Tool Proficiency: Ensure your portfolio clearly showcases expertise in Adobe Creative Suite and Figma, and express your interest/knowledge in AI and motion design.

Challenge Preparation:

• Research Brands: Thoroughly understand the current aesthetic, target audience, and brand strategy of Dorothy Perkins, Burton, Oasis, Coast, and Wallis.

• Understand the Transformation: Familiarize yourself with the company's stated goals for transformation and how design contributes to this.

• Prepare for Workflow Discussions: Be ready to discuss how you would approach implementing new systems, optimizing workflows, and managing design projects in a fast-paced environment.

• Practice Presenting: Rehearse presenting your portfolio and any creative concepts, focusing on clear communication, strategic rationale, and impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "implementing and reviewing new systems and procedures" means interviewers will likely probe into your operational approach to design management and process improvement, not just aesthetic capabilities. Be prepared to discuss how you drive efficiency within a creative team.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential for all core graphic design tasks, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.

• Figma: A key tool for collaborative design, prototyping, and potentially UI/UX elements, indicating a modern, collaborative design workflow.

• Motion Design Software (e.g., Adobe After Effects): Preferred for creating dynamic visual content, animations, and video assets.

• Project Management Software (e.g., Asana, Trello, Monday.com): Likely used for task management, workflow tracking, and team collaboration, though not explicitly stated.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics Tools (e.g., Google Analytics): To understand the performance of digital assets and campaigns.

• Social Media Analytics: To gauge the effectiveness of social media creative.

• CRM/Marketing Automation Platforms (e.g., Salesforce Marketing Cloud, HubSpot): To track campaign performance and customer interactions driven by creative assets.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: Used for managing customer data, which graphic designers may interact with for campaign segmentation or personalization.

• Digital Asset Management (DAM) Systems: Likely in place for organizing and distributing creative assets across the group, ensuring brand consistency and efficient access.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specific mention of Figma alongside Adobe Suite highlights a move towards collaborative, cloud-based design tools, which is common in fast-paced retail and digital environments. Proficiency in these tools is critical for efficient "creative operations."

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Pace and Agility: Embracing change, innovation, and speed is central to the company's ethos, requiring operations to be adaptable and responsive.

• Collaboration and Communication: Strong cross-functional teamwork and effective communication across all levels are vital for aligning diverse brand strategies and operational goals.

• Customer Focus: All creative and operational efforts are ultimately aimed at enhancing customer connection and experience across brands.

• Data-Informed Decision Making: While creativity is key, decisions are increasingly informed by data to ensure commercial viability and impact.

• Brand Integrity: A deep respect for brand heritage and a commitment to maintaining and evolving brand guardianship are paramount.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Teams: Expect a highly collaborative environment where designers work hand-in-hand with marketing, digital, product, and buying teams to ensure cohesive Go-To-Market strategies.

• Feedback-Driven: A culture that likely encourages constructive feedback to refine creative output and optimize operational processes.

• Shared Ownership: A sense of shared responsibility for brand success, encouraging proactive contributions and problem-solving from all team members.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's emphasis on "transformation," "bold moves," and "unstoppable momentum" suggests a culture that rewards initiative, adaptability, and a forward-thinking operational mindset. Individuals who can drive change and contribute to efficiency will thrive.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Brand Revitalization: The primary challenge is to continually evolve and elevate the creative aesthetic of multiple established brands, ensuring they remain relevant and competitive in a fast-moving market.

• Balancing Multiple Brands: Managing distinct creative directions and brand guardianships for Dorothy Perkins, Burton, Oasis, Coast, and Wallis simultaneously requires strong organizational and strategic skills.

• Fast-Paced Environment: Adapting to the high pace and constant change inherent in the retail and e-commerce sector, ensuring timely delivery without compromising quality.

• Integrating New Technologies: Effectively incorporating AI and other emerging technologies into the creative workflow to enhance efficiency and innovation.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Skills: Opportunities to deepen expertise in motion graphics, AI-driven design tools, and potentially UX/UI principles.

• Leadership Development: Access to training and mentorship programs focused on team management, project leadership, and strategic creative direction.

• Industry Exposure: Potential to attend industry events, workshops, and conferences to stay abreast of design trends and operational best practices in retail and creative fields.

• Cross-Functional Understanding: Gaining deeper insights into marketing, e-commerce, product development, and buying operations, broadening business acumen.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "transformation journey" presents a significant opportunity to shape the future of these brands. For operations professionals, this means a chance to build and refine processes from the ground up, influencing long-term efficiency and effectiveness.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach evolving the creative aesthetic for a brand like Oasis while ensuring it remains aligned with its core identity and customer base?" (Focus on brand strategy, market research, and creative evolution.)

• "Describe a time you implemented a new system or procedure to improve workflow efficiency within a creative team. What was the impact?" (Focus on process optimization, operational thinking, and quantifiable results.)

• "How do you balance the demands of delivering day-to-day design assets (BAU) with developing concepts for larger seasonal projects or brand transformations?" (Focus on project management, prioritization, and resource allocation.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What are your thoughts on AI's role in graphic design, and how might you leverage it within a retail environment like Debenhams Group?" (Focus on innovation, forward-thinking, and practical application.)

• "How do you ensure creative consistency across multiple brands and various multi-channel touchpoints?" (Focus on brand guardianship, attention to detail, and process control.)

• "Describe your experience presenting creative strategies and outcomes to senior management. What is your approach?" (Focus on communication, stakeholder management, and strategic articulation.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Curate for Impact: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best showcase your versatility, leadership, and process improvement capabilities relevant to this role.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your role, the challenges, your creative solutions, the process, and the measurable outcomes. Emphasize any operational efficiencies you introduced.

• Demonstrate Tool Mastery: Be prepared to discuss your proficiency with Adobe Suite and Figma, and how you leverage these tools for collaboration and efficiency.

• Address Brand Guardianship: Explain how you approach maintaining brand integrity and consistency across diverse channels and projects.

• Showcase Leadership: Highlight instances where you mentored junior designers, managed projects, or contributed to team workflow improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: Be prepared to discuss not just your design skills but also your operational approach to managing creative projects, teams, and workflows. Demonstrating an understanding of how design impacts business objectives and contributes to efficiency will be key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight experience in brand guardianship, team management, process optimization, and proficiency in Adobe Suite and Figma. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate a digital portfolio that showcases your best work, with a strong emphasis on retail brands, multi-channel campaigns, your leadership experience, and any examples of process improvement within creative teams. Ensure it's easily accessible and professionally presented.

• Research Debenhams Group: Understand the company's current transformation phase, the specific brands you'll be working with, and their market position. Familiarize yourself with their recent campaigns and online presence.

• Practice Interview Responses: Prepare answers to common interview questions, focusing on demonstrating your creative strategy, problem-solving abilities, leadership skills, and your understanding of operational efficiency within a creative function.

⚠️ 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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