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