Design Lead

Robert Walters UK; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A global talent solutions provider is seeking a Design Lead for their Bid Team in London or Manchester. This hybrid role emphasizes collaboration, creativity, and attention to detail, requiring 2+ years of design experience and a strong portfolio. Responsibilities include leading the creation of engaging sales materials, collaborating across departments, and adhering to brand guidelines. The ideal candidate possesses excellent communication skills and a proactive mindset, with proficiency in Microsoft tools and a passion for design innovation.

Qualifications

• 2+ years’ experience in a design-focused role, preferably in bids or proposal design.
• Strong portfolio showcasing storytelling and visual impact.
• Ability to create visually compelling outputs from briefs.

Responsibilities

• Lead the creation of sales and proposal materials.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to produce high-quality graphics and visuals.
• Ensure outputs are aligned with brand guidelines.

Skills

Design-focused experience

Strong portfolio

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Proactive mindset

Ability to interpret briefs

Tools

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Word

Adobe Creative Suite

Figma

Job description

Robert Walters is the world’s most trusted talent solutions business. Across the globe, we deliver recruitment, recruitment process outsourcing and advisory services for businesses of all shapes and sizes, opening doors for people with diverse skills, ambitions, and backgrounds.

Design Lead

London or Manchester (hybrid working)

Competitive salary

Overview

The Bid Team at Robert Walters plays a pivotal role in supporting our sales process. We work collaboratively with Sales and stakeholders across the business to lead the bid process — creating engaging, visually compelling content that helps us win new business and retain valued clients.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Act as the in-house design partner for the Bid Team, leading the creation of visually outstanding sales and proposal materials.
• Take briefs from Bid Managers, Sales Leads, the Solutions Team, and Subject Matter Experts across the business.
• Produce high-quality, creative, and easy-to-understand graphics, infographics, and visuals that make complex ideas simple and instantly clear to clients.
• Bring fresh, innovative ideas to elevate our sales pitches and proposals, ensuring they stand out from the competition.
• Collaborate with stakeholders across the organisation — from Managing Directors and Operations Leaders to Account Directors and Client Services teams globally.
• Ensure all outputs are aligned with brand guidelines, visual standards, and required formatting.
• Contribute to continuous improvement in bid and content management, maintaining and updating the centralised content management system.
• Develop unique, creative approaches to visual storytelling across document formats and technology platforms.
• Support and manage ad-hoc design projects across the Bid Team.

What We’re Looking For

• 2+ years’ experience in a design-focused role (experience in bids, sales enablement, or proposal design is highly desirable).
• Strong portfolio of proposals, pitch decks, or corporate presentations that demonstrate storytelling, clarity, and visual impact.
• Ability to interpret briefs and transform them into visually compelling outputs.
• Meticulous attention to detail and a deep understanding of working within brand guidelines.
• Proven ability to deliver high-quality work under pressure and to tight deadlines.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills — comfortable engaging with colleagues at all levels, including C-suite.
• Proactive, solution-oriented mindset with a passion for clarity, storytelling, and design innovation.
• (Preferred) Ability to create simple animated videos or motion graphics to bring proposals and solutions to life.

Software Skills

• Advanced Microsoft PowerPoint – essential for producing and enhancing client-facing presentations.
• Advanced Microsoft Word – for visually consistent, branded proposal documents.
• Bonus skills: Adobe Creative Suite – particularly InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop.
• Figma or other digital design tools for layout and collaborative design work.
• (Preferred) After Effects, Premiere Pro, or similar software for creating simple motion graphics or animated videos.

About the Job

Contract Type: Permanent
Specialism: Human Resources
Focus: Recruitment
Workplace Type: Hybrid
Experience Level: Associate
Language: English - Professional working
Location: London

Job Reference: 7431
Date posted: 25 November 2025
Consultant: Alicia Blythe