Senior Retoucher & Graphic Designer (FTC)

Publicis Groupe Holdings B.V; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 300 000 - 400 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading creative agency in Johannesburg is looking for a Senior Retoucher & Graphic Designer to ensure high-quality image retouching across various media platforms. This role demands expert proficiency in retouching techniques and advanced knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Photoshop. You will play a key role in maintaining visual brand standards while optimizing creative workflow and juggling multiple deadlines. If you excel in collaborative environments and are detail-oriented, this position is for you.

Qualifications

• Mastery in high-end product retouching techniques with attention to detail.
• Expert-level knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, specifically Photoshop and Illustrator.
• Experience in collaborating with teams and understanding visual brand guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Master high-end product and skin retouching across various media.
• Direct the visual storytelling and art direction for campaigns.
• Ensure brand consistency and meet campaign timelines across multiple markets.

Skills

Expert Retouching Proficiency

Advanced Photoshop Workflow

Visual Brand Stewardship

Art Direction & Visual Storytelling

Design Sensibility

Color Management & Profiling

Strategic & Conceptual Thinking

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Figma

Frame.io

Marcel AI tools

Job description

Overview

As the Senior Retoucher & Graphic designer you will be responsible for high-quality image retouching across multiple media platforms, ensuring creative standards are met while maintaining efficiency and consistency. This role often serves as a quality gatekeeper, working closely with Art Directors, Client Service, and sometimes clients. Overseeing the creative visual direction and quality of projects that are output across the agency. This includes driving innovation on visuals and aligning with client brand strategy, and ensuring cohesion in production delivery.

Striving in leading and assisting the creative visual direction and uphold the integrity of the agency’s art output across our global campaigns. Ensuring global brand consistency across markets, meeting campaign timelines, and upholding the visual identity of our clients brands.

Responsibilities

Creative & Visual Skills

• Expert Retouching Proficiency – Mastery in high-end product, skin, and surface retouching techniques (texture, color, and lighting correction)
• Advanced Photoshop Workflow – Smart object structuring, non-destructive editing, masking, layer comping, file prep for large-scale outputs
• Visual Brand Stewardship – Deep understanding of brand identity systems; able to interpret and implement brand guidelines across multiple asset types and markets
• Art Direction & Visual Storytelling – Ability to translate campaign concepts into polished visual assets, guiding composition, tone, and narrative
• Design Sensibility – Eye for layout, typography, and balance across static and motion assets; understanding of multi-channel design
• Color Management & Profiling – Skilled in working with accurate color spaces and ICC profiles for web, print, and packaging outputs
• Strategic & Conceptual Thinking – Creative Brief Interpretation, Cross-Market Adaptation, Visual Consistency Across Formats, Trend Awareness

Qualifications

Technical Proficiency

• Adobe Creative Suite (Expert-level): Photoshop, Bridge, Lightroom, Illustrator, InDesign
• AI Tools & Workflow Enhancers: Knowledge of retouching plugins, neural filters, batch processing, AI-assisted touch-ups, consistent learnings of AI advancement
• File Management & Delivery: Rigorous about file naming conventions, folder structures, spec compliance, and platform formatting
• Collaborative Software & Tools: Figma, Frame.io, Marcel AI tools

Operational & Workflow Skills

• Creative Workflow Optimization – Designed and refined post-production pipelines, action-based workflows, handoff processes
• Time & Priority Management – Confident juggling multiple deadlines in fast-paced environments while maintaining quality
• Attention to Detail – Zero-tolerance for errors in final delivery; precision-driven in pixel-perfect output