Freelance Design Project Director

Craft Agency Ltd.; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 74,000 - 111,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work

London studio access

Job summary

Craft Agency Ltd. in London seeks a Project Director to lead a landmark brand merger from strategy to delivery, across two brands into a single identity.

You will drive the programme with senior client stakeholders and agency leaders, balancing strategic and creative direction while navigating a fast-moving environment. You will work closely with C-suite, hold firm lines when needed, and shape timelines with a hands-on, expert approach.

Qualifications

• Experience managing large, complex branding or design programmes.
• Comfortable engaging with C-suite and senior clients.
• Proven ability to shape timelines and navigate shifting directions.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end delivery of a landmark brand merger.
• Align strategy through execution with senior stakeholders.
• Balance client expectations with creative direction.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Branding

Client leadership

Job description

Right now, one of London's most awarded independent studios is delivering a two-brand merger - one of the biggest, most complex branding programmes on its books - and needs someone to run it end-to-end.

This is a studio currently sitting at the very top of the UK creative rankings, and the work you'd be steering carries the same weight as the reputation.

The Role

You'll own delivery of a landmark brand merger, bringing two established brands into a single new identity, from now through to mid or late December. That means holding the whole programme together, from strategy through execution, while the agency's founder, chief strategy officer and chief design officer stay personally close to the work and a large group of very senior client stakeholders needs constant alignment.

This is deliberately not process administration. The studio believes the best project directors sit close to the client and the creative, not behind a Gantt chart. You'll shape timelines, get ten steps ahead of a fast-moving, sometimes chaotic environment, and hold firm lines with founder-level leadership while flexing when direction shifts. When the work drifts from strategy, you're expected to say so.

The Package

£400-£600 per day

Hybrid working, roughly 1-2 days a week in the London studio

Rolling booking, ASAP to mid/late December, with potential extension into January

Flexibility on start date

Fast interview process

The Person

You're a Project Director from a branding or design agency, or a strong Senior PM ready to step up, who has run large, complex programmes with senior stakeholder groups.

You command genuine gravitas: comfortable holding a line with C-suite and clients alike, and confident enough to bring real creative judgement to the room. Sector isn't the point; scale is. You'll have branding work you're proud to point to.