Job title: Design Lead

Contract: 1 Year

Location: London (Hybrid)

Purpose:

• Creation of Retail/Visual Merchandising/Engagement design for the Oral Products Category

Accountability:

• Creative-doing: is able to drive the creative process hands-on in all phases, from ideation and concept development to refinement and print production / prototyping, (incl. the expression for restricted markets), on specific projects or activities across Retail/VM/Engagement design. This includes the ability to self-generate concept sketches, scenarios & mood boards, concept brainstorming, fast 3D visualization and presentation. Ability to collaborate hands-on with suppliers and internal stakeholders to achieve the business needs, not only by briefing them, but by being part of the creative brainstorming, designing and down selecting.
• Creative strategic thinking: able to ladder up creative solutions to business & brand strategy, delivering compelling creative solutions that fully answer the brief (business needs & strategy / brand expression and storytelling) on all kinds of assigned projects, spanning across: Packaging Design / Visual Identity /VM Product displays, pop-ups in brand engagement and indirect retail.
• Drives design: concept, refinement, and development of the global identity, across formats and design elements (incl. the expression for restricted markets), on specific projects or activities. Part of the creative process both, internally and with suppliers. Communicate design vision with both internal and external teams.
• Design finesse: creatively pushing the boundaries of design projects with an eye for the latest standards & trends in retail design; be at the forefront of both, continuous improvement as well as the more disruptive innovation programs. Knowledgeable about sustainable design and materials.

Design Delivery:

• Developing, collaborating and inputting on Retail/VM and engagement design with internal teams and suppliers.
• Deliver final design files, technical specifications, mockups & color target/samples for global commercial deployment,
• Direct development prototypes/mockups with lead supplier, that are commercially viable and in accordance with PMI principles, whilst setting new standards in executional and operational excellence, ensuring design concept integrity.

Key Competencies & skills:

• BA/BS and/or MA/MS in a relevant design field.
• Minimum 6+ years of relevant design experience (corporate /consultancy), with proven success cases in the market.
• Good understanding of manufacturing technologies and international design standards.
• Holistic design expertise and hands-on design across several design subject areas (3D and 2D packaging, graphics, brand, viz. ID, product display, retail) with a strong background in VM/Retail design.
• Good communicator (verbal, written, and visual) with the ability to influence and build consensus both within a cross-functional and design team. Ability to present effectively and influence both peers, and more senior stakeholders.
• Collaboration mind set: Strong team player with ability to actively promote information sharing, one team spirit, and leading by example and showing rather than telling.
• Excellent sense of form, materials, use of colour and breadth of creative expression with an affinity for how things are made, an eye for detail, and a passion for quality from concept to execution with strong understanding of materials and processes.