Design Director

Job Description:

We are dentsu. We team together to help brands predict and plan for disruptive future opportunities and create new paths to growth in the sustainable economy. We know people better than anyone else and we use those insights to connect brand, content, commerce and experience, underpinned by modern creativity. We are the network designed for what's next.

Role Summary:

We are seeking an experienced Head of Design with over 10 years of experience leading UX/UI teams. This individual will drive our design initiatives with a focus on AI-driven design, rapid prototyping, and conceptual design, creating seamless experiences across connected digital, in-store, and physical environments. As the Head of Design, you'll lead and nurture a team of passionate designers both onshore, nearshore, and offshore, inspiring them to push the boundaries of experience design through the latest technologies and human-centred practices.

Responsibilities:

1. Leadership & Team Development: Lead, mentor, and inspire a team of UX/UI designers across the UK, Portugal, India, and Brazil. Cultivate a culture of innovation, nurturing each designer's skill set with cutting-edge design techniques, especially in AI, rapid prototyping, and conceptual design thinking.
2. Strategic Vision & Execution: Establish a design vision incorporating AI-driven insights, rapid prototyping methods, and connected experience thinking to deliver innovative solutions across web/App, in-store, and physical spaces. Empower the team to push creative limits by championing user-centric solutions.
3. AI & Emerging Technology Integration: Position the team at the forefront of AI integration in design. Explore and implement AI-driven tools, methodologies, and design automation to enhance efficiency and impact.
4. Rapid Prototyping & Conceptual Design: Lead the team in adopting rapid prototyping practices to test and validate ideas quickly. Drive conceptual design initiatives, encouraging team members to explore bold, visionary ideas and test innovative solutions.
5. Connected Experience Design: Guide the team to design cohesive experiences across digital and physical touchpoints, including web, mobile, in-store, and other physical environments. Ensure that each experience aligns with brand goals and enhances customer engagement across channels.
6. Resource Management & Project Support: Oversee the allocation of resources across projects, ensuring optimal alignment of skills to meet client needs.
7. Sales & Growth: Support in key project pitches, collaborating closely with business development teams to secure new business.
8. Client Engagement & Workshop Facilitation: Serve as a senior point of contact for clients, leading discovery and design-thinking workshops to uncover client goals and user needs. Guide clients through the design process, translating complex ideas into actionable strategies that meet business and user objectives.
9. Capability Growth in Nearshore & Offshore Teams: Expand the design capabilities of nearshore and offshore teams, working closely with local leads to foster a high-performing, global design community.
10. Cross-functional collaboration: Work closely with the broader team that includes strategists, researchers, and optimisation consultants to deliver integrated, data-driven design solutions.
11. Industry Leadership & Human-Centered Design Thinking: Stay at the cutting edge of design trends, including AI, connected experience design, and human-centred methodologies. Lead by example, positioning the team to consistently deliver industry-leading, user-centered experiences.

Requirements:

1. Strong experience in UX/UI design, with substantial experience leading cross-functional and global teams.
2. Fully experienced with Figma.
3. Strong expertise in AI-driven design, rapid prototyping, and conceptual design, with a track record of integrating emerging technologies.
4. Proven experience managing global teams, including onshore, nearshore, and offshore resources.
5. Deep understanding of multi-channel, connected experiences that bridge digital, in-store, and physical environments.
6. Experience in client-facing roles, including leading workshops, and project pitches, and delivering strategic design insights.
7. Exceptional communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with strategists, researchers, and optimisation specialists.
8. Passion for human-centred design principles and a commitment to staying ahead of industry trends.

What we offer:

This is a permanent role on a hybrid working basis. As well as a competitive salary, you'll enjoy a benefits package that you can tailor to your needs which includes:

• Competitive Salary
• Company-provided Medical Healthcare
• Generous Pension provisions
• Health and Wellness benefits
• Volunteering days
• Life Assurance
• Working in diverse teams where you can make a real impact.
• Exciting and rewarding environment.
• Varied work across industries

Inclusion and Diversity:

Our diverse and inclusive culture enables our employees to bring their whole selves to work and be proud of doing so. For us, this is the foundation for great innovation which, in turn, generates better outcomes for our people, partners and communities. This is why we encourage applications from people with disabilities, and of all ages, nationalities, backgrounds and cultures.

We are happy to discuss flexible and agile approaches to working for all our roles - we can't promise we will be able to offer you everything you want or need but we do promise to discuss it with you openly and honestly. If you have any reasonable adjustment needs arising from a disability or medical condition to fully participate in the recruitment process, please discuss this with our recruitment teams.

About dentsu:

Taking a people-centered approach to business transformation, we use insights to connect brand, content, commerce and experience, underpinned by modern creativity. As part of Dentsu Group Inc. we are headquartered in Tokyo, Japan and our 65,000 employee-base of dedicated professionals work across four regions (Japan, Americas, EMEA and APAC). Dentsu combines Japanese innovation with a diverse, global perspective to drive client growth and to shape society.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion sits at the heart of our Social Impact strategy - our fully integrated sustainability strategy which includes our ambition to build a fair and more equal society, where everyone is equipped to thrive.

Location:
London

Brand:
Merkle

Time Type:
Full time

Contract Type:
Permanent