Design Director (12mth FTC)

Jones Knowles Ritchie; Greater London; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading branding agency is seeking a Design Director to guide and elevate creative vision. This role involves overseeing branding initiatives in the Consumer Packaging sector, leading a design team, and delivering impactful strategies. Candidates should have substantial experience in branding and CPG projects, with proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite. The position is on a fixed-term contract starting January 2026. Benefits include pension, health insurance, and hybrid working arrangements.

Benefits

Pension Plan

Training & Development

Paid holiday

Health insurance

Hybrid working: min 2 days pw in the studio

Qualifications

• 7 years of relevant experience in design.
• Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite and design tools.
• Exceptional communication skills required.

Responsibilities

• Champion sharing of creative work internally and externally.
• Identify and develop skills through training and mentorship.
• Lead client-facing presentations and deliver impactful pitches.

Skills

Adobe Creative Suite

Rhinoceros 3D

Experience Design

UX

Usability

Grasshopper

Information Architecture

Sketch

Sign Manufacturing

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe InDesign

Job description

Overview

Jones Knowles Ritchie is a branding business founded in 1990 and proudly independent ever since.

We started out in the world of packaging but now were worldwidefrom three founders to more than 300 of us across the UK and USA. Together we build and deliver brands across the entire consumer experience.

But even more important than what we do is why we do it. Were here to inspire brands and people to be their true selves. To be brave. Be tenacious. And above all be yourself. Because we believe thats the only way to truly be distinctive everywhere.

We are seeking a Design Director on a fixed term contract (FTC) from January 2026 to guide and elevate our creative vision. Reporting directly to the Creative Director you will oversee the creative direction of branding initiatives particularly in the Consumer Packaging (CPG) sector.

The Design Director plays a pivotal leadership role within our Design team driving quality and strategically led creative solutions. You will inspire your team and offer growth opportunities enabling them to excel in their roles while consistently innovating for our clients.

Responsibilities

• Champion the sharing of creative work and inspiration both internally and externally
• Identify and develop skills within the team through training and mentorship
• Lead client-facing presentations with excellence in communication
• Deliver impactful pitches and strategies that influence client outcomes
• Provide constructive feedback on design work and guide projects towards creative excellence
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to achieve optimal results for clients

Experience

• Substantial experience in a leading branding design or creative agency
• Significant exposure to Global CPG projects with proven leadership
• Ability to construct brand ideas across various consumer touchpoints
• Experience managing design teams and fostering a collaborative environment
• Fluent in senior-level presentations and client engagement
• A passionate advocate for outstanding design and attention to detail
• Proven ability to extract world-class conceptual design from team members

Requirements

• 7 years of relevant experience
• Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite
• Exceptional communication skills
• Experience leading a team of designers

At JKR our goal is to create an equitable diverse and inclusive workplace that reflects and creates for the societies we live in. Diversity Equity and Inclusion is a long-term business imperative and a commitment at JKR not an initiative that sits under one department. As a leader in our business you will demonstrate being a DEI advocate and champion with your actions in how you build run and grow your team(s)

Benefits

This role will be offered as a Fixed term contract from January 2026 for 12 months you will be eligible for JKR benefits including :

• Pension Plan
• Training & Development
• Paid holiday
• Health insurance
• Location : Shoreditch studio
• Hybrid working : min 2 days pw in the studio (or as required by the team)

Key Skills: Rhinoceros 3D, Information Architecture, UX, Usability, Adobe Creative Suite, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Experience Design, Grasshopper, Sketch, Sign Manufacturing, Adobe InDesign

Employment Type : Contract

Experience : years

Vacancy : 1