Head of Graphic Design

Head of Graphic Design  

Location: Hamilton 

Job Type: Full Time Permanent (Mon – Friday 07:00 – 15.45) 

Salary: £35k – 38k DoE 

Reports To: General Manager 

Role Overview 

We are seeking a highly experienced and commercially minded Head of Graphic Design to lead and oversee our design department. This is a key leadership role requiring a balance of creative excellence, operational management and client-facing expertise. 

The successful candidate will be responsible for managing a team of designers, overseeing workflow and job allocation, ensuring high-quality design output and maintaining strong relationships with clients. You will also play a hands-on role in design production and print setup, while coordinating closely with production and administrative teams to ensure projects are delivered efficiently and to the highest standard. 

Key Responsibilities 

Leadership & Team Management 

● Lead, mentor and develop a team of graphic designers of varying experience levels 

● Conduct regular performance reviews, training, and professional development planning 

● Foster a collaborative, creative and high-performance team culture 

● Set clear expectations, workflows and quality standards for the department 

Job & Workflow Management 

● Oversee all incoming design projects from brief through to final delivery 

● Allocate jobs effectively based on team capacity, skillset and deadlines 

● Monitor project progress and ensure all deadlines are consistently met 

● Implement and improve workflow systems and processes to maximise efficiency 

Client & Stakeholder Management 

● Act as a senior point of contact for key clients 

● Conduct client consultations to understand requirements, objectives and constraints 

● Translate client briefs into clear, actionable design tasks 

● Manage expectations and provide expert guidance on design solutions and production feasibility 

Creative Direction & Design Execution 

● Provide creative leadership and ensure all output meets brand and quality standards 

● Contribute hands-on to design work where required, particularly on complex or high-value projects 

● Review and approve all major design work before release 

Print Production & Technical Oversight 

● Prepare and oversee artwork for print production, ensuring accuracy and technical compliance 

● Set up print-ready files, including colour management, bleed and formatting requirements 

● Liaise closely with production teams to ensure smooth transition from design to print 

● Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to design and print processes 

Cross-Department Collaboration 

● Work closely with production and administrative teams to align priorities and schedules 

● Ensure clear communication between departments to avoid delays or errors 

● Contribute to overall operational planning and continuous improvement initiatives 

Problem Solving & Quality Control 

● Identify and resolve design, workflow or production challenges proactively 

● Maintain strict quality control processes across all design output 

● Ensure all deliverables meet both client expectations and internal standards 

Required Skills & Experience 

● Minimum 5 years of professional graphic design experience, with at least 2 years in a leadership or managerial role 

● Proven experience managing a design team in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment 

● Strong portfolio demonstrating high-quality design across print and/or digital media 

● Extensive knowledge of print production processes and artwork setup 

● Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, etc.) 

● Excellent organisational and project management skills 

● Strong client-facing and communication abilities 

● Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail 

● Commercial awareness and ability to balance creativity with business objectives 

Desirable Qualifications 

● Degree or equivalent qualification in Graphic Design or a related field 

● Experience in automotive design preferable but not essential 

● Knowledge of workflow/project management systems 

● Experience implementing or improving design processes and systems 

Key Attributes 

● Strong leadership presence with the ability to inspire and motivate a team 

● Proactive, solutions-oriented mindset 

● High level of attention to detail and commitment to quality 

● Excellent time management and prioritisation skills 

● Calm and effective under pressure 

What We Offer 

● Competitive salary and benefits package 

● Opportunity to lead and shape a growing design department 

● Collaborative and dynamic working environment 

● Career progression opportunities