Senior Designer

Job Description

Job Description

As a senior designer, you will drive the creative delivery of projects, mentoring junior team members to help them reach their full potential. You will own projects from concept to execution, maintaining direct client relationships while ensuring both creative excellence and commercial success. With guidance from the Design Director, you will manage the creative and financial delivery of projects, ensuring they meet strategic goals and exceed expectations.

Creative & Strategic Standards

• You exhibit mastery over the core tenants of your craft; design systems, typography, art direction and graphic design. You are constantly curious and eager to advance your skills and that of the team
• A proven portfolio showcasing distinctive, high-quality work with clear strategic intent
• With input from the Design Director and Creative Director, you take the lead—demonstrating exceptional creativity, intellect, and strategic thinking. You approach problem-solving with confidence, effectiveness, and a keen eye for detail
• Great understanding of the client’s strategic needs and the objectives set by the Client Services & Strategy team. Beyond the brief, you proactively identify key strategic design insights that sharpen your creative approach
• You think in terms of the “big idea,” while ensuring exceptional execution. With a strong grasp of brand identity within a broader brand world, you conceptualise and deliver innovative design thinking for both global and local clients
• Curious and forward-thinking, you seek out new ways to evolve brands—staying ahead of trends, insights, and emerging engagement strategies. You understand how brands connect
  with consumers across the full brand experience and translate that understanding into groundbreaking work
• As a confident and articulate communicator, you represent Elmwood and its creative excellence. You are able to clearly express complex ideas and boil down your design decisions to easily understandable and compelling language

Client & Team Relationships

• Establish and nurture strong relationships with key stakeholders, including clients, suppliers, and industry networks, to drive collaboration and long-term success
• Stay abreast of current trends and are working to build a trusted network of expert creatives—illustrators, photographers, printers, and more —to elevate project outcomes with the right talent and inspire the team with new ideas and approaches
• Confidence in negotiation and communication, effectively engaging with both peers and clients to align expectations and achieve the best results
• Deliver compelling presentations, articulating conceptual ideas with clarity and impact to inspire both internal teams and clients
• You excel in both collaborative team settings, fully understanding your roles and responsibilities,
  while also working independently with the guidance of the Design Director
• You are involved in mentoring junior team members and play a key role in next generation of talent, partnering with colleges to shape the future of talent within the agency
• Collaboration with other departments, such as strategy and client services, is a priority for you, ensuring that creative strategies align with and actively support our broader business goals

Requirements

Skills & Behaviours

• You inspire clients by driving conversations and identifying new opportunities that push the boundaries of both the work and brands, ultimately fostering organic growth
• You able to take initiative and approach every project with a curious, creative mindset, demonstrating the ability to deliver high-quality results that meet client needs and expectations
• You provide strong strategic thinking in brand identity creation, development, and evolution
• Exceptional creative and craft skills, demonstrated across a diverse range of projects and brands
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and persuasively
• Confident and engaging presentation style, capable of inspiring both internal teams and clients
• Deep understanding of print and production techniques, enabling informed decision-making and guidance for others

Experience

• Your body of work to date includes exceptional thinking and you have a clear understanding of what it means to succeed with brands across a global footprint
• Wealth of experience and a strong grasp of how to flex design assets appropriately within a broader brand ecosystem
• Deep knowledge of print, production, Ai and digital motion, understanding how these elements serve as guardrails for delivering creative output
• You stay informed about new trends and innovations in the creative world, constantly seeking ways to incorporate these insights into your design thinking
• You are a strong communicator and have demonstrated an ability to take ownership of projects, delegating tasks and giving good feedback
• You are committed to continual learning, always enhancing your understanding of our systems, processes, and insights

Commercial Effectiveness

• A clear understanding of both the brief and the budget, working closely with the Design Director to ensure the project is delivered on target
• Adept at self-managing your time, ensuring that work is completed on schedule and with creative excellence
• You have the ability to innovate and adapt creative methods to effectively tackle challenges and seize opportunities, always staying ahead of industry trends and meeting client needs

Profile

• You have an inherent understanding of Elmwood’s values and personality traits, consistently putting them into practice everyday
• You provide active support to the Marketing team, helping to drive effectiveness and
  contribute to creative award entries
• Expand your wider knowledge of design through attendance at seminars and exhibitions as part of your inspiration days
• You take a proactive role in Elmwood’s social media presence, offering guidance on content creation to ensure that both the work and the culture are showcased in the best possible light, reinforcing the brand’s identity and values
• You also maintain strong relationships with your university, engaging in degree shows, talks, and portfolio days to foster connections and share knowledge with emerging talent

Benefits

What We Offer (NYC Studio)

We care about our people, and that’s why we create a collaborative culture where new thinking is celebrated, ambition is supported, and people are rewarded for their contribution. Whilst a competitive package, professional development and the opportunity to shape our next chapter is all standard here at elmwood, we thought we would highlight a few of our favourite benefits:

• 15 vacation days
• 12 paid holidays
• 5 paid sick/wellness days
• 2 paid personal days
• A comprehensive medical, dental and vision plan (including family coverage)
• Life and disability insurance
• Flexible spending account for medical expenses
• Commuter benefits program
• 401k plan with company matching up to 4.5%, employees start receiving matching contributions after 3 months of employment.

Let’s Build Better Brands — Getting them from Intent to Impact Faster

If you're ready to help shape the future of brand consultancy by growing purposeful, performance-driven partnerships, we’d love to hear from you.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

Elmwood is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate and value difference, and we’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels they belong. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences — including underrepresented groups.

Need adjustments to support your application? Let us know. We’re happy to provide alternative formats, remote interviews, or any other support you might need to show your best self.