Creative Director - Copy

Havas Lynx Group; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working 3 days in office

28 days holiday + bank holidays

Life insurance

Company pension scheme

Wellbeing programme

Cycle to work scheme

Volunteer days

Job summary

Havas Lynx Group in Manchester seeks a Creative Director to lead the team, shape big ideas, and deliver high‑impact creative work across media. You will mentor creatives, drive strategy collaboration, and actively pursue client opportunities while maintaining rigorous quality and innovation.

You will guide projects from concept to execution, oversee budgets, and ensure your team produces award‑winning campaigns.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in leading high‑impact creative work.
• Experience guiding global campaigns.
• Mentorship and talent development.
• Ability to present and sell ideas to clients.
• Experience with Generative AI tools & AI certifications.
• Multilingual communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide creative leadership and oversee team output.
• Develop and refine concepts from idea to execution.
• Engage clients, lead meetings, and grow business.
• Maintain high creative standards and industry excellence.
• Manage projects, resources, and budget alignment.
• Mentor and recruit talent.
• Collaborate across strategy, client services and leadership.
• Foster inclusive, ambitious team culture.
• Stay informed on industry trends and training.
• Pursue personal growth and emotional intelligence.
• Utilize AI tools to enhance creative output.

Skills

Creative leadership

Mentoring teams

Global campaigns

Multilingual

Awards/jury experience

Client engagement

Industry knowledge

Generative AI tools

Tools

Generative AI

Job description

As a Creative Director at Havas Lynx, you are responsible for thinking of insightful and effective conceptual ideas, whilst overseeing and producing impactful and original work which impresses and surpasses the need. You will excel across a broad range of media, whilst pro-actively furthering you and your team's skills across all areas. You will be a mentor to all Creatives in your team, helping them to fulfil their potential. You will apply your vast experience in guiding projects, taking overall responsibility for them and ensuring all work created by you and your team is of high quality. You will work closely with Strategy to shape big ideas and with Client Services to build strong client relationships, demonstrating an ability to passionately present and sell ideas.

What you can expect to be doing:

• Creative Leadership & Expertise - Lead the team with expert understanding of client needs, ensuring creative work exceeds expectations across various media.
• Concept Development & Execution - Originate, guide, and refine conceptual ideas, taking full responsibility for the quality and effectiveness of creative output.
• Client Engagement & Business Growth - Build strong client relationships, lead meetings, sell ideas effectively, and identify opportunities for new business.
• Industry Excellence & Innovation - Maintain high creative standards, track trends, and develop award-winning work through research, refinement, and execution.
• Project & Resource Management - Oversee team workload, ensure appropriate resource allocation, and maintain financial awareness to align creativity with budget constraints.
• Team Development & Recruitment - Mentor, delegate, and support career growth, actively participating in performance reviews and hiring processes.
• Cross-Department Collaboration - Work with senior leadership, client services, and strategy teams to ensure creative solutions are innovative, effective, and aligned with agency goals.
• Positive Work Environment - Foster a culture of creativity, inclusivity, and ambition, encouraging collaboration and professional development within the team.
• Industry Knowledge & Learning - Stay informed about industry advancements, share insights internally and externally, and ensure the team engages in relevant training.
• Self-Development & Emotional Intelligence - Pursue personal growth, set and achieve development goals, and demonstrate strong interpersonal skills to uplift both yourself and the team.

This role could be a great fit for you if

• You thrive in creative leadership - You can develop, refine, and execute compelling ideas while maintaining high creative standards.
• You excel at leading and mentoring teams - You enjoy guiding talent, delegating effectively, and fostering a collaborative environment.
• You have experience working on global campaigns - You understand the nuances of international markets and can deliver impactful work at scale.
• You are multilingual - You can communicate effectively across languages, enhancing collaboration and campaign reach.
• You have served on high-profile creative awards juries in the past three years (Cannes, D&AD, LIA's, One Show, or Clio's), - You bring a critical, respected perspective from your experience judging top-tier creative work.
• You have a proven track record of recent creative award wins - Your portfolio includes work that has been recognised by respected industry bodies.
• You have strong client engagement skills - You can confidently present ideas, build relationships, and challenge briefs to push creative boundaries.
• You stay ahead of industry trends - You have a keen eye for market insights, award-winning work, and emerging creative innovations.
• You balance creativity with business needs - You understand budgets, identify new opportunities, and contribute to business growth.
• You collaborate across disciplines - You work effectively with strategy, client services, and leadership teams to ensure creative excellence.
• You are committed to growth and development - You seek continuous learning, mentor others, and contribute to a positive, ambitious culture.
• You have experience working with Generative AI tools and data , along with AI certifications from platforms such as Coursera, Section AI, or LinkedIn Learning

At Havas Lynx, a global advertising agency at the forefront of healthcare communications, we combine unmatched creativity, extensive expertise, and a deep understanding of the pharmaceutical and healthcare field. Our communications resonate deeply with audiences and adhere to the highest standards of healthcare advertising.

Committed to driving meaningful change-a change built on a foundation of rich experience, inspired by innovation, and confirmed through our proven track record-we work in close partnership with healthcare professionals, patients, carers, and leading pharmaceutical brands to navigate the complex challenges of today's healthcare landscape. Our approach blends strategic insights and deep scientific acumen with cutting-edge creativity and digital innovation, crafting campaigns and solutions that significantly improve people's lives.

We're proud to be recognised as the 2025 UK's top healthcare and innovation agency at Cannes, where we've earned 2 Silver Lions, 1 Bronze Lion, and 6 shortlists - a testament to our creative excellence and impact. Our work has also been honoured with Gold and Silver at the Clio Health Awards, and we've taken home 5 coveted D&AD Pencils, celebrating our commitment to craft and innovation.

We're a team of over 400+ people in Manchester and London, with a history spanning over 35 years and an ever-evolving future. You can get a feel for the #LYNXLife through our YouTube #LYNXLife playlist, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

Everything this company achieves-every life it saves, every penny it makes, every policy it changes, every award it wins-is down to everyone who works here.

Please note that this role is based in Manchester, and our current hybrid working arrangement requires office attendance on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.

A supportive and challenging environment in which you will have the opportunity to learn, grow, and make an impact that matters. We put a huge investment into #LYNXLife and our #LXAcademy internal programmes. It's a unique initiative that aims to reward hard work, reduce pressures, and ensure that we can all enjoy our time at Lynx. Our strategy is to build capabilities internally and inspire the best talent, so we can continue to deliver on our mission.

You can also expect a whole host of benefits, including:

• Hybrid Working - 3 days in the office (flexible working options are available for in-office days)
• Starting holiday allowance of 28 days annual leave + Bank Holidays, with increasing allowance connected to length of service
• Option to buy, carry or sell holidays
• Early Friday finish throughout the year
• Seasonal working hours
• Enhanced family leave, pay and return to work benefit scheme
• Extensive L&D support
• Sabbatical opportunities
• Season ticket interest free loans for travel
• Cycle to work scheme
• Life insurance (4x salary)
• Company pension scheme
• Fully compensated company events
• Volunteer days
• Wellbeing programme including sports clubs, discounted gym memberships, free onsite flu vaccinations, extended lunch breaks on Wellness Wednesdays and much more
• +Medicash healthcare benefit
• 24/7 access to a free, confidential and independent Employee Assistance Programme