HEAD OF CREATIVE

Visual Architects ltd; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Visual Architects ltd is seeking a Head of Creative in Manchester to lead creative direction and manage a team of Creative Producers and Designers. In this senior leadership role, you will ensure high-quality output across projects while driving innovation and overseeing proposals. Applicants should have proven experience in experiential brand activations and significant creative leadership accomplishments, ensuring successful project delivery. The position offers opportunities for travel across the UK and Europe.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in experiential, brand activations, or live events.
• Previously held a senior creative role (Creative Director, etc.).
• Strong portfolio of large-scale projects.
• Experience managing creative teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the creative direction across all projects.
• Manage and mentor a team of Creative Producers and Designers.
• Oversee and elevate all proposals before sending to clients.
• Ensure creative integrity is maintained from concept to delivery.

Skills

Strong creative vision

Commercial awareness

Leadership skills

Excellent communication

Organizational skills

Job description

HEAD OF CREATIVE

• Full Time

Head of Creative (Experiential & Brand Activations)

Location: Manchester (with travel across UK & Europe)

Company: Visual Architects

About Us

Visual Architects are immersive experience creators and creative production partners. We design, build and deliver large‑scale environments for festivals, brands and live events across the UK and Europe. From concept to installation, we transform spaces into unforgettable worlds.

The Role

We are looking for a Head of Creative to lead and elevate our creative output across all projects.

This is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing creative direction, proposals, and project development, while managing a team of Creative Producers (formerly Account Managers) and Designers.

You will sit at the centre of the business, bridging creative vision, commercial thinking, and delivery, ensuring every project is both high‑impact creatively and strong commercially.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the creative direction across all projects, ensuring a consistent, high‑quality output
• Drive innovation by developing new concepts, themes, and product ideas aligned with market demand
• Stay ahead of trends in brand activations, festivals, and immersive experiences
• Define and maintain Visual Architects’ creative identity and standards

Team Management

• Manage and mentor a team of Creative Producers (Account Managers) and Designers
• Structure workflows between producers and designers to ensure efficiency and clarity
• Set clear timelines for design, proposals, and delivery
• Ensure strong communication between creative, production, and sales teams

Proposals & Winning Work

• Oversee and elevate all proposals before they are sent to clients
• Work closely with Creative Producers to shape ideas, strengthen concepts, and increase close rates
• Bring strong commercial awareness to creative decisions
• Support key pitches and client presentations

Project Oversight

• Ensure creative integrity is maintained from concept through to delivery
• Guide teams on how to execute ideas within budget and operational constraints
• Collaborate with production to ensure designs are buildable and efficient

Process & Structure

• Improve and implement systems for proposal creation, design timelines, and creative workflow
• Help transition Account Managers into Creative Producers, focused on delivery rather than sales
• Work within the EOS structure to drive accountability and performance

What We’re Looking For

Experience

• Proven experience in experiential, brand activations, live events, or festival production
• Previously held a senior creative role (Creative Director, Head of Creative, Senior Producer, etc.)
• Strong portfolio of large‑scale, high‑impact projects
• Experience managing creative teams and overseeing multiple projects simultaneously

Skillset

• Strong creative vision with the ability to generate and develop ideas
• Commercial awareness — understands what wins work, not just what looks good
• Ability to balance creativity with budgets, timelines, and operational realities
• Excellent leadership and communication skills
• Highly organised with strong planning and time management

Mindset

• Proactive and forward‑thinking
• Solution‑driven
• High standards and attention to detail
• Comfortable working in a fast‑paced, evolving environment
• Passionate about creating standout, memorable experiences

Why This Role is Important

This role is critical to the next stage of growth at Visual Architects.

By introducing a Head of Creative, we aim to:

• Increase proposal quality and conversion rates
• Strengthen our creative output and market positioning
• Improve efficiency between design, sales, and delivery
• Build a team that creates world‑class immersive environments at scale

What Success Looks Like

• Higher quality, more compelling proposals
• Increased close rate on projects
• Stronger, more innovative creative output
• Clear structure and efficiency across creative teams
• Consistent delivery of high‑impact, commercially successful projects