Senior Lead - Art Director (Brand Assets – Athlete & Editorial)

onrunning; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

On is seeking a highly experienced Senior Lead in Art Direction to shape athlete storytelling and commercial editorial imagery within the Brand Assets team. You will set visual direction across photography, film, and emerging formats, ensuring outputs are distinctive, elevated, and unmistakably On.

This role requires senior leadership to own projects end-to-end—from concept and casting through shoot to final delivery—while collaborating with production and external creatives to maintain On’s

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in art direction within a global brand or agency.
• Strong portfolio spanning sport, lifestyle, fashion and culture with storytelling craft.
• Confident leading shoots end to end from casting and location to visual tone and final output.
• Deep knowledge of digital storytelling, ecommerce content and omnichannel creative ecosystems.

Responsibilities

• Lead art direction across athlete storytelling and commercial editorial projects.
• Translate strategy into strong, clear visual outputs across film, photography and motion.
• Create athlete-first narratives that connect performance with culture and lifestyle.
• Establish and apply visual and casting standards across all projects.
• Own projects end-to-end—from concept and casting through shoot and final delivery.
• Partner with production and external creatives to deliver work at the highest level.
• Identify, brief and collaborate with external creative partners who align with On’s evolving visual aesthetic.
• Contribute to the evolution of On’s identity through bold, thoughtful image-making.
• Bring clarity, craft and consistency across all assigned touchpoints.

Skills

Art direction

Storytelling

Brand identity

Team leadership

Casting

Job description

In short

We’re looking for a highly experienced and hands-on Senior Lead in Art Direction to shape On’s athlete storytelling and commercial editorial imagery within our Brand Assets team.

Sitting within the group that powers On’s visual identity, you’ll create and define imagery that moves the brand forward—translating performance and lifestyle into compelling visual stories. From athlete campaigns to commercial editorial moments, you’ll lead high-impact projects that connect emotionally while serving clear brand and business needs.

This role is about setting the standard through the work itself. You’ll own projects end-to-end, guiding visual direction across photography, film and emerging formats—ensuring every output is distinctive, elevated and unmistakably On.

Your Mission

• Lead art direction across athlete storytelling and commercial editorial projects.
• Translate strategy into strong, clear visual outputs across film, photography and motion.
• Create athlete-first narratives that connect performance with culture and lifestyle.
• Establish and apply visual and casting standards across all projects.
• Own projects end-to-end—from concept and casting through shoot and final delivery.
• Partner with production and external creatives to deliver work at the highest level.
• Identify, brief and collaborate with external creative partners who align with On’s evolving visual aesthetic.
• Contribute to the evolution of On’s identity through bold, thoughtful image‑making.
• Bring clarity, craft and consistency across all assigned touchpoints.

Your Story

• 8+ years of experience in art direction within a global brand or agency.
• A strong, unique portfolio spanning sport, lifestyle, fashion and culture with a clear eye for storytelling and craft.
• Confident leading shoots end to end from casting and location to visual tone and final output.
• Deep knowledge of digital storytelling, ecommerce content and omnichannel creative ecosystems.
• Comfortable working across motion, film, CGI and new media formats and guiding teams through each.
• Experienced in building and managing creative teams from hiring to feedback, career growth and performance development.
• Adept at resource planning, workflow optimization and managing multiple projects at once.
• Clear communicator and natural collaborator who knows how to balance creative ambition with business needs.
• Comfortable leading through ambiguity, energized by pace and skilled at problem‑solving with optimism.
• Fluent in English, both written and spoken.

About the team

You’ll be part of the Brand Assets team within the Brand Voice and Creative Studio.

Our mission is to power On’s visual identity by creating, defining and elevating the imagery that moves the brand forward. We lead athlete, trade and e‑commerce storytelling through clear visual and casting standards—delivering the assets, systems and guidance that ensure every expression of On is consistent, distinctive and unmistakably ours.

Within this, your focus will be on athlete storytelling and commercial editorial image‑making—capturing the intersection of performance and culture in a way that feels both authentic and aspirational.

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