Commercial Design Lead

Chelsea Football Club; England; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading football club in the UK is seeking a Commercial Design Lead to shape world-class commercial design. This role involves leading a team of designers, maintaining high standards, and ensuring collaboration with various teams. The ideal candidate has extensive design experience, advanced skills in design software, and a passion for innovative design solutions.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in agency or in-house design teams.
• Proven ability to lead creative output at pace and scale.
• Experience implementing design processes that drive consistency.

Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire a team of designers for world-class commercial design.
• Champion consistency, quality, and innovation in design outputs.
• Collaborate with teams to ensure all work reflects brand identity.

Skills

Advanced PowerPoint design skills

Advanced Adobe Creative Suite expertise

Leadership and team management

Creative design vision

Tools

Adobe InDesign

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Illustrator

Job description

JOB TITLE: Commercial Design Lead

DEPARTMENT: Commercial Planning

LOCATION: Stamford Bridge, London

Closing date: 10th December

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. In the event that we receive a large number of applications, the position may be filled before the listed closing date. To avoid missing out, please submit your application at your earliest convenience.

Job Opportunity

Join us as a Senior Creative Leader and take the reins in shaping world‑class commercial design. You’ll lead a talented team of four designers, setting the creative vision and raising the bar for excellence across every project. From standout sales presentations to high‑impact partnership materials, you’ll ensure every design delivers at the highest level; flawlessly and strategically.

Main Responsibilities:

• Lead and inspire a team of four designers to deliver world‑class commercial design. Set and uphold the creative vision across sales and partnership materials — from principal assets (shirt, sleeve, training kit) to sponsorship activations and presentations.
• Champion consistency, quality, and innovation in every output, transforming briefs and data into compelling visual stories that captivate senior stakeholders. Build credibility through polished, intuitive design solutions and efficient creative operations, including clear prioritisation and asset management.
• Collaborate with Commercial Strategy, Sales, and Marketing Creative teams to ensure all work reflects the club’s brand identity, integrates new techniques such as motion and animation, and meets elite industry standards.

What you will bring to the role;

• Extensive experience in agency or in‑house design teams, with a proven track record of leading creative output at pace and scale
• Demonstrable experience managing and developing a team of designers, raising quality standards and mentoring talent.
• Advanced PowerPoint design skills, with proven ability to deliver elite‑level presentations as a primary design platform.
• Advanced Adobe Creative Suite expertise (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator) with ability to set and enforce best practice.
• Experience implementing design processes and systems that drive speed, consistency and quality.

Skills and Behaviours:

• Desire to be a hands‑on, collaborative, proactive, creative lead continuing to strive for excellence and meet the deadlines/demands of the role
• Creative leader with a strong design eye

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Chelsea we recognise that the diversity of our people is one of our greatest strengths and we are taking positive action to ensure our existing colleagues and job applicants can fully be themselves and bring their own unique experiences and perspectives to Chelsea FC. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity.

If you need reasonable adjustments made to the recruitment process, please reach out to your recruiter, who will be able to advise and support you.

Chelsea FC is fully committed to ensuring the safety and well‑being of all children, young people and adults at risk (vulnerable groups). We therefore require all successful applicants to complete a DBS Check prior to starting employment. Depending on the role, successful applicants may also be required to undergo other child protection screening where appropriate.