Lead Graphic Designer

Forward Role; Greater Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A forward-thinking financial services business in Greater Manchester is seeking a Lead Graphic Designer for a 12-month maternity cover in a hybrid role. This position involves leading a design team, shaping brand strategy, and ensuring high-quality creative output. Ideal for a seasoned designer ready for leadership, this role offers autonomy and the chance to influence brand evolution during a transformative phase.

Benefits

Creative freedom and autonomy

Supportive and people-first culture

Opportunity to shape an internal design studio

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a senior or lead designer role, ideally in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat).
• Experience with video graphics (After Effects, Premiere Pro) would be a bonus.

Responsibilities

• Lead the visual articulation of the brand(s) across all media and campaigns.
• Own and evolve brand guidelines, ensuring consistency and innovation.
• Manage and mentor a small internal design team.

Skills

Leadership

Collaboration

Attention to Detail

Organizational Skills

Marketing Principles

Education

Proven experience in design

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

After Effects

Premiere Pro

Job description

Lead Graphic Designer | Brand-Led | Manchester Area (Hybrid) | 12 Month FTC (Mat cover)
Location: Sale, Greater Manchester
Reports to: Brand & Communications Manager
Full-time | Permanent | People Management Role

I'm working exclusively with a well-established, forward-thinking business in the financial services space to recruit a Lead Graphic Designer to take charge of their creative output and brand direction for a 12 month FTC maternity leave cover.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a seasoned designer looking to step into a leadership role or for an experienced lead wanting to have real ownership of brand evolution and creative direction within an in-house setting.

About the Role
As Lead Graphic Designer, you'll be the creative lead across all brand touchpoints. Working closely with the Group Marketing team, you'll guide the design strategy and execution for multiple brands under the group’s umbrella. You’ll also manage a small but talented Design Studio team, mentoring and supporting their development, and ensuring high-quality output.

This is a role for someone who loves to balance hands-on design work with strategic brand guardianship — someone equally comfortable shaping big-picture visuals and finessing the smallest design details.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the visual articulation of the brand(s) across all media and campaigns.
• Own and evolve brand guidelines, ensuring consistency and innovation across the board.
• Manage and mentor a small internal design team, overseeing workflow and priorities.
• Sign off on all creative output, maintaining high standards and brand alignment.
• Collaborate with marketing stakeholders to develop effective and engaging collateral.
• Keep current with design trends, tools and techniques — continually raising the creative bar.
• Support with procurement and print production, ensuring cost-effectiveness and quality.

What We're Looking For

• Proven experience in a senior or lead designer role, ideally in a fast-paced in-house or agency environment.
• Strong proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat).
• A natural leader with great communication skills and a collaborative mindset.
• Meticulous attention to detail, excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects.
• Solid understanding of marketing principles and how design supports commercial goals.
• Experience with video graphics (After Effects, Premiere Pro) would be a bonus.

Why You’ll Want This Role

• High-impact role with creative freedom and autonomy
• Join a brand-led business during an exciting phase of transformation
• Hybrid working model (with office base in Sale)
• Supportive and people-first culture
• Opportunity to shape the direction of an internal design studio

Interested?
If this sounds like the right next step for you or someone in your network, drop me a message or apply directly. I’m happy to share more details on the company and what makes this opportunity stand out.

As an industry leading, nationwide Marketing, Digital, Analytics, IT and Design recruitment agency, we are continually receiving new assignments to work on, so keep a close eye on our website, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter pages for a full list of current permanent and interim opportunities as well as marketplace news and fun stuff.
Forward Role is operating as an employment agency.