Senior Designer

Description:

We seek a Senior Designer to produce and oversee digital and print creative solutions for all our communication activity at the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).

You must be a highly experienced communications professional with excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to oversee several simultaneous design projects.

To succeed in this role, you should have in-depth knowledge and experience in graphic design, styles and layout techniques and be able to delegate and coach more junior staff members.

You should have extensive experience executing marketing projects from conception to production, including social media assets, graphics, animations, brochures, large-format printing, branding and out-of-home.

You will be a problem solver who can work under pressure. As well as executing commissions, you will apply excellent design principles to our communication and marketing objectives.

You will have the judgement and confidence to identify risks, challenge assumptions and change the creative direction of major projects at short notice to enhance and maintain the reputation of the Department across different cultures.

You will also be a proven storyteller, providing creative solutions to explain complex departmental achievements and trade statistics in an accessible way for businesses and the public during intense scrutiny of trade in the media and political landscape.

In addition to providing creative direction to the International Design Network, you will also directly line-manage two designers.

Working with our Senior Production Manager, you will help juggle competing priorities and demands on the design network globally.

You will understand and stay up to date with industry developments and tools and ensure continuous improvement of the wider International Design Network by applying the latest skills and best practices

Job description

You will:

• Be able to work under pressure for sustained periods – while also maintaining sound judgement.

• Give clear, trusted, and authoritative advice to colleagues, creative agencies and senior stakeholders.

• Have excellent awareness of Ministerial priorities, Departmental business objectives and the broader political/Governmental context.

• Be confident and authoritative, have good relationship management skills and be able to maintain key links with relevant policy and external partners.

• Understand the needs of our audiences and stakeholders within this landscape, with an ability to identify and flag risks.

• Be aware of the rapidly changing nature of communications – and how to put that to good use. You will also directly line manage the work of two designers.

• Keep up to date with industry developments in communication through GCS and other professional networks.

• Understand propriety guidance on media issues.

Ultimately, you will ensure the design team promotes the reputation of the department and our suite of brands through delivering high-quality pieces on tight deadlines.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Proven work experience as a Senior Designer, Graphic Designer or similar role.
• Portfolio of completed design projects.
• Hands-on experience and knowledge of:
  • Adobe InDesign
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe After Effects
  • Adobe Premiere Pro
• Strong aesthetic skills with the ability to combine various colours, fonts, and layouts.
• Attention to visual details.
• Ability to meet deadlines and manage the work of other designers and agencies.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience in an international environment is advantageous.
• Experience in designing for business, international trade and investment areas is preferable.
• We welcome a diverse pool of candidates. A second language skill is desirable.

Personal Attributes & Skills

• The successful candidate will be a dynamic communicator with excellent oral and written skills - particularly able to assimilate complex information and explain it concisely.
• Your ability to multitask and deliver the highest quality communications products, at pace, will enable you to hit the ground running in this important role.
• You will be collaborative, confident, thoughtful, and authoritative, maintaining sound judgement even under pressure.
• You will keep up to date on the rapidly changing nature of communications – and how to put that to good use, especially digital and social media.
• You’ll be curious, creative, keen to explore new techniques and tools, and to try new approaches.