Strategic Creative Director

AtkinsRéalis; West of England; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working culture

Flexible holiday allowances

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

AtkinsRéalis is seeking a Principal Creative to lead strategic, multi-disciplinary projects and elevate creative delivery across high-profile accounts. You will mentor teams, shape campaigns, pitch ideas to clients, and drive innovation while maintaining a collaborative culture.

The role combines long-term vision with immediate business needs, requiring analytical thinking, design excellence, and strong leadership across multidisciplinary teams in a hybrid UK environment.

Qualifications

• An original portfolio of work that demonstrates strong design skills across varied projects, including multi-disciplinary collaboration to elevate creative delivery.
• Develop compelling narratives, campaign concepts and creative strategies that translate complex ideas into engaging and impactful experiences.
• Confidently pitch creative ideas, campaign strategies and solutions to clients, senior stakeholders and project teams.
• Strong knowledge of Figma and Adobe Creative Suite, specifically InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop, as well as strong layout and typography skills.
• Lead and inspire multidisciplinary teams, creating an environment where individuals are empowered to take ownership and make decisions.
• Help to mentor and develop creative talent at all levels, identifying growth opportunities and supporting career progression.
• Work collaboratively with other Principals and business leaders to shape strategy, drive innovation and contribute to the overall success of the business.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement, encouraging new thinking, knowledge sharing and creative ambition across the team.
• Commercially aware with experience of quoting and scoping multi-discipline projects ensuring the right blend of skill sets are involved.
• Keeping updated with technologies and market trends, including a strong knowledge of AI tools and an understanding of how to use them effectively to enhance delivery.
• Contributing to business development and digital innovation; helping to develop future work pipeline through client engagement, spotting opportunities and maximising potential.
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail with experience of both proactive and reactive problem-solving.

Responsibilities

• Talk with clients and colleagues to understand ideas and bring them to life.
• Drive the business vision forward through client engagement, spotting opportunities and maximising potential.
• Push boundaries—seek added value beyond day-to-day tasks.
• Mentor and lead teams, fostering ownership and accountability.
• Collaborate with digital teams to deliver multi-discipline solutions.
• Lead from a strategic POV and inspire others in the project.
• Develop compelling narratives and campaigns that align with clients’ goals.
• Present ideas and campaigns to senior stakeholders and project teams.
• Draft documentation and briefs for initiatives and campaigns.
• Track results and adjust strategies to meet goals.

Skills

Creative leadership

Client engagement

Strategic thinking

Mentorship

Pitching

Team leadership

Brand storytelling

Figma

Adobe Creative Suite

InDesign

Illustrator

Photoshop

AI tooling

Campaign development

Multi-disciplinary collaboration

Tools

Figma

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

After Effects

Job description

AtkinsRéalis is seeking a Principal Creative to lead strategic, multi-disciplinary projects and elevate creative delivery across high-profile accounts. You will mentor teams, shape campaigns, pitch ideas to clients, and drive innovation while maintaining a collaborative culture.

The role combines long-term vision with immediate business needs, requiring analytical thinking, design excellence, and strong leadership across multidisciplinary teams in a hybrid UK environment.