The opportunity
We are seeking an Associate Creative Director with brand identity expertise developed at some of the best brand agencies around, and who shares our energy – to challenge the ordinary, drive up standards in our people and create exciting work which others wish they had done. This role will be prominent, client-facing and influential in driving our brand reputation.
Here’s what the role will involve:
Creative leadership
As an experienced brand designer, you lead with creative authority, inspiring the team with your thinking and process, and clients with your collaborative leadership style:
- Developing strategic creative processes in the design of brand identity systems
- Overseeing design, copywriting and art direction
- Presenting creative concepts to clients and senior stakeholders with confidence and strategic rationale
- Line managing 2-3 designers, conducting regular 1:1s, setting and monitoring performance objectives in quarterly reviews
- Supporting the Executive Creative Director in inspiring the team with our creative ethos of ‘never ordinary’, recruiting the very best talent
- Inspiring the creative team with your knowledge and appreciation of brand
- Working with the wider agency team to showcase the agency through brilliant case studies, events and strategic marketing initiatives
- Demonstrating proactivity, accountability and responsiveness in a fast-moving agency environment.
Brand design expertise
You’ll be hands on in:
- Working closely with strategists to craft creative brand strategies to deliver truly game-changing identities
- Breaking new creative ground while maintaining strategic relevance and commercial viability
- Ensuring brand consistency and creative excellence across all touchpoints
- Embedding the highest standards of design excellence through a deep understanding of craft and innovative techniques
- Crafting brand experience campaign ideas for established brands, demonstrating your expertise in maintaining and developing powerful brand thinking
- Jumping on the tools when needed to bring your concepts to life
Essential requirements:
Experience and background
- 10+ years in leading brand identity agencies
- Proven track record developing new and evolved brand identities
- Portfolio demonstrating range from brand identity design to roll-out, including brand films and launch campaigns
- Agency background essential (full-time over freelance)
Creative and technical skills
- Strong conceptual thinking with ability to translate strategy into compelling creative ideas
- Knowledge of innovative creative processes in developing brands
- Exceptional visual storytelling abilities
- Experience directing photography, film, and digital content creation
- Understanding of current creative trends and emerging technologies
- Proficiency in Creative Suite (particularly Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator)
- Understanding of digital platforms and social media creative requirements
Team leadership
- Proven ability to lead creative teams and manage multiple projects simultaneously
- Strong presentation and communication skills
- Mentoring and line management experience of junior to senior creatives
All about us
Mr B & Friends is an independent agency with a global perspective – our clients range from entrepreneurial start-ups to global brands such as LEGO and Coca-Cola, and we work frequently with clients in the USA and Asia. Our expertise lies in three areas – brand strategy & identity, brand communications and employee experience. We are sector agnostic, working equally across B2B and B2C, but with particular strength in tech, leisure, manufacturing, property and sport.
With a full-time staff of c.30 people, we’re well placed to handle complex strategic projects entirely in-house, while still feeling like the energised, supportive team we’ve been from the start (some 19 years ago).
But if you really want to ‘get’ our culture, then you have to understand our ethos – Never Ordinary. It’s the lens we apply to everything we do – challenging sector norms and driving up quality standards in ideas and execution.
And the ‘Friends’ in our name isn’t spin. We look after our people – many have been with us for five or more years (and there’s loyalty bonuses that go along with that).
If it’s glory you’re after, then we win awards too, including the likes of The Drum and the Transform Awards. But really, it’s a bi-product – our focus is building great relationships with clients who come to us for exciting and effective work.
We also have a great Employee Benefits scheme called The Friends Pact – offering a host of additional benefits outside salary, holiday and pension on offer for all the team to enjoy. This currently includes flexible hours, a hybrid work policy and a 4.5day week with half-days on Fridays. Full details will be shared during the recruitment process.
If you don’t have a traditional creative education, you won’t be alone here. We value aptitude and experience over certificates, and welcome untypical perspectives.
Essential information
- Job Title: Associate Creative Director
- Team: Creative
- Reporting to: Executive Creative Director
- Location: Based in our central Bristol office, but with a hybrid option of 2-3 days WFH
- Package:
- Salary: £65k p.a.
- Workplace pension
- 24 days annual leave
- Flexible hours
- Full employee benefits package detailed in ‘The Friends Pact’. Full details will be shared during the recruitment process.
Applications
In the first instance, please email your CV and PDF/URL portfolio to:
Kate Gorringe
Executive Creative Director
kate.gorringe@mrbandfriends.co.uk
Let us know if there’s anything we can do to make our application or interview process more accessible for you.
