Creative Lead

A global integrated marketing agency with heritage in influencer marketing is hiring a Lead Creative with a genuinely integrated, multidisciplinary background to run the day-to-day of the studio.

This is a hands-on, senior creative role for someone who crosses disciplines: art direction, experiential, events and design, backed by strong strategic thinking. The hire needs to come from an integrated creative or experiential agency rather than a purely social or brand-led one. A strong design background is essential and still core to the day job, but the role now sits well beyond design: you’ll shape strategy, lead ideas, art direct shoots, concept IRL activations and front pitches alongside the Creative Director.

Role: Lead Creative / Creative Lead

Salary: £65,000

Location: London (Liverpool Street), hybrid, 3 days per week on site

What you’ll be doing:

• Develop original, culturally relevant creative ideas across integrated campaigns spanning experiential, events, influencer, social, content, PR and OOH
• Take ownership of pitches end to end, from brief through core idea and narrative to visually exceptional decks and presentation
• Personally bring ideas to life through strong design, art direction, visualisation, layouts and storytelling, working directly in creative tools rather than briefing others
• Bring your own strategic thinking to briefs alongside the strategy team, translating cultural and audience insight into compelling creative platforms
• Concept and art direct experiential activations, events, influencer trips, pop-ups and installations, working closely with producers, 3D designers and fabricators
• Protect the original idea and quality of execution from pitch through production and launch
• Establish and protect the visual world of campaigns across design, photography, film, social, environments and physical production
• Confidently present and sell creative thinking to senior clients, holding the line on the idea through feedback
• Act as day-to-day creative lead in the studio, working closely with the Creative Director to hold a high standard across output
• Line manage and mentor the Junior Designer, giving clear creative direction and space to develop
• Help oversee the agency’s own creative identity, credentials, pitch templates, case studies, website and awards materials

What you’ll need:

• Genuinely integrated, multidisciplinary creative background spanning art direction, experiential, events and design
• At least 5 years inside an integrated creative or experiential agency, not primarily a social-first or brand-only shop
• Strong design pedigree you still draw on daily, with a portfolio of work that’s actually made it out into the world
• Real strategic thinking: able to shape the thought behind the campaign, not just the execution
• Hands-on experiential and events experience, including real activations with production, fabrication and brand integration
• Exceptional visual communication, art direction and design craft, including personally crafting beautifully designed pitch decks
• Confidence leading pitches and presenting to senior clients and brand leaders
• Advanced Adobe Creative Suite skills and comfort using AI creatively across ideation, visualisation, art direction, rendering and moving image
• Understanding of photography, film, materials, fabrication and the realities of turning ambitious ideas into physical experiences
• Solid grasp of working budgets, costs and production realities when developing ideas
• Strong feedback and mentoring skills, with the maturity to develop junior talent

Nice to have:

• Hands-on with 3D software (Cinema 4D, Blender or similar) for visualisation of physical activations
• Prior work on brand partnership activations in beauty, sport, entertainment or culture (e.g. F1, music, fashion weeks)
• International campaign delivery across UK, Europe and US
• Strong understanding of influencer and creator culture
• Experience art directing or directing stills and moving-image shoots

This role would suit an all-rounder creative from an integrated or experiential agency who still loves being on the tools, can hold their own on strategy and wants real ownership of the day-to-day of an ambitious studio.