Design Director

The Home Agency; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

IMA is a creative agency focused on emotional connections through advertising, media, packaging and retail activations. We are seeking an inspiring Design Director to shape standout work and lead teams with hands-on guidance from brief to execution.

You will drive creative thinking, ensure strategic, distinctive outcomes, and help teams deliver high-quality work that resonates with clients and audiences.

Qualifications

• Significant creative experience in an agency or comparable environment with a portfolio showing strong ideas and execution.
• Experience leading creative projects or teams from brief through to delivery, managing priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to develop clear, original concepts grounded in audience insight, brand strategy and client objectives.
• Confidence presenting creative work and building relationships with clients and colleagues through strong communication.
• Supportive leadership, constructive feedback, commitment to creative quality and curiosity about relevant, effective work across channels.

Responsibilities

• Develop original, strategically grounded creative ideas that respond to client briefs and connect with audiences.
• Shape concepts and campaigns across relevant channels, from initial thinking through to final delivery.
• Partner with clients and internal teams to clarify objectives and build feasible, high-quality creative solutions.
• Present creative work with clear storytelling to bring ideas to life and gain stakeholder support.
• Guide and inspire creative team members, providing constructive feedback and supporting their development.
• Review creative output for quality, craft and detail, ensuring delivery meets agreed timelines and budgets while bringing relevant cultural and creative inspiration to the team.

Job description

IMA is a creative agency built to create connections people buy into—emotionally and literally. From advertising and media to packaging and retail activations, we deliver work that earns attention and gives people a reason to choose your brand in moments that matter.

We are looking for an inspiring Design Director to help shape and deliver standout creative work for our clients. Combining a strong creative vision with hands‑on leadership, the Design Director will develop and refine ideas across a range of channels, guide teams through each stage of the process from the initial brief to final execution, and help ensure every piece of work is strategically strong, distinctive and effective. You will bring creative thinking and clear direction to projects, helping teams turn ideas into polished work that meets the brief and makes a meaningful impact for our clients.

What You’ll Get From Us

• The opportunity to create work for a varied range of brands and projects.

• A collaborative, people‑first environment where ideas are shared and developed together.

• Support to build your design skills and grow your creative career.

• The chance to contribute to work across advertising, media, packaging and retail activations.

• A values‑led culture where your contribution is recognised and supported.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Develop original, strategically grounded creative ideas that respond to client briefs and connect with audiences.

• Shape concepts and campaigns across relevant channels, from initial thinking through to final delivery.

• Partner with clients and internal teams to clarify objectives and build feasible, high‑quality creative solutions.

• Present creative work with clear storytelling to bring ideas to life and gain stakeholder support.

• Guide and inspire creative team members, providing constructive feedback and supporting their development.

• Review creative output for quality, craft and detail, ensuring delivery meets agreed timelines and budgets while bringing relevant cultural and creative inspiration to the team.

What We’re Looking For

• Significant creative experience in an agency or comparable environment, with a portfolio demonstrating strong ideas and excellent execution.

• Experience leading creative projects or teams efficiently from brief through to delivery, managing priorities and deadlines.

• Ability to develop clear, original concepts grounded in audience insight, brand strategy and client objectives.

• Confidence presenting creative work and building positive relationships with clients and colleagues through strong communication and collaboration.

• Supportive leadership, thoughtful constructive feedback, commitment to creative quality and curiosity about relevant, effective work across channels.

Our Values at IMA

• Own it - take responsibility when it matters.

• Build Trust - nurture honest, open, lasting relationships with colleagues and clients.

• Stay Hungry - keep learning, improving and staying curious.

These principles shape how we work - with each other, with clients, and with the world.

We are an equal opportunity employer. Preference will be given to suitably qualified candidates from designated groups in line with the company’s Employment Equity Plan.