Head of Creative Services – Wagamama

Inside Out® Community; Harrow; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Food allowance – £200 monthly

Private healthcare

Pension 3%

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Employee discounts across retail, H&L

Job summary

wagamama in London is seeking a Head of Creative Services to lead our in-house studio, shaping how our brand appears across menus, campaigns and guest experiences. You will set the standard for creative direction and ensure consistency across all channels.

You will build strong brand systems, guide a high-performing team, and partner with external agencies to deliver bold, distinctive work that resonates with guests.

Qualifications

• Experience as an account director or similar in an agency is highly desirable.
• Experience leading creative projects and teams in the hospitality/retail or related guest-facing industry.
• Strong leadership and team management abilities.
• Agency management and budget experience.
• Strong relationship builder with positive energy for the role.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a high-performing creative team across design, content, production and brand.
• Build relationships with external agencies, freelancers and production partners.
• Develop and maintain brand guidelines, design systems and asset libraries for consistency and speed.
• Set and evolve the creative vision for wagamama across campaigns, menus and digital channels.
• Grow the in-house studio and reduce reliance on external agencies where possible.
• Provide creative leadership across campaigns, menu launches, partnerships, social, CRM and restaurant communications.
• Oversee design and evolution of physical brand assets including packaging, crockery, uniforms, signage and graphics.
• Partner with property and operations teams to shape future restaurant environments and guest experiences.

Skills

Leadership

Account director

Agency management

Budget management

Relationship building

Hospitality experience

Job description

hybrid 3x a week | london bridge | competitive salary + 30% bonus

at wagamama, food is life and we're here to make every bite count. with over 165 restaurants across the UK (and growing fast) we've been dishing up vibrant, fresh asian inspired flavours since '92. it's all about good food, good vibes, and good company

were looking for a head of creative services to join us

ready to dive in and stir things up?

this role could suit someone currently working as a senior account director, or client services director within a creative/brand agency who is looking to move client-side

purpose

you'll help shape how wagamama shows up in the world, making sure our creative direction + visual identity feel fresh, distinctive and unmistakably us across every guest touchpoint

you'll lead our in-house creative team with clarity, care and a strong point of view, setting the standard for great work while helping people and disciplines thrive

you'll bring the brand to life across campaigns, restaurants, digital channels and physical experiences, making sure every piece of work strengthens the brand and helps guests feel good

you'll also play a key role in building a best-in-class in-house studio, developing brand guidelines, creative systems, tools and ways of working that help the team move with more pace, more confidence and more creative consistency

what you'll do

• lead and develop a high-performing creative team across design, content, production and brand
• build strong relationships with external agencies, freelancers and production partners, ensuring they bring specialist expertise where needed
• develop and maintain brand guidelines, design systems and asset libraries that support consistency and speed
• set and evolve the creative vision for wagamama, ensuring it is brought to life consistently and distinctively across all channels
• continue to build the capability of the in-house studio, reducing reliance on external agencies where appropriate
• provide creative leadership across campaigns, menu launches, partnerships, social, CRM, restaurant communications and brand initiatives, from first idea through to execution
• oversee the design and evolution of physical brand assets including packaging, crockery, uniforms, signage and restaurant graphics
• partner with property and operations teams to help shape the creative direction of future restaurant environments and guest experiences
• stay connected to culture, design, hospitality and consumer trends, bringing fresh thinking into the business

what you'll need

• experience working as an account director or similar for an agency highly desirable
• extensive experience leading creative projects + teams in the hospitality, retail or similar guest facing industry
• strong leadership, team management
• agency management
• budget management experience
• strong relationship builder, able to bring teams together and bring positive energy to the role

what's in it for you

• hybrid working (3x a week at noodle hq, the rest at home)
• 30% bonus
• car allowance
• come as you are culture, with modern offices, fresh fruit and soft drinks
• £200 monthly wagamama food allowance - enjoy all your favourite dishes on us!
• private healthcare cover
• 3% pension contribution
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• + further discounts across retail, hospitality & leisure - perks that make life sweeter
• supporting you every step of the way! family-friendly pay: 26 weeks full pay + 13 weeks half pay for expectant or adopting parents

nothing brings people together like great food. no matter where you're from or who you are, you've got a seat at our table because food is the ultimate connector, and here everyone belong