📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Creative Lead
🔹 Company: Williams Lea
🔹 Location: London, United Kingdom
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time
🔹 Category: Creative & Design
🔹 Date Posted: June 26, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: Mid-Senior level (5-10 years)
🔹 Remote Status: On-site (Fully onsite)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Managing and mentoring a creative team to deliver high-quality design output
- Collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to understand business needs and provide innovative design solutions
- Producing graphics and artwork using various software programs for marketing campaigns, brochures, adverts, events, and web publishing
- Project management, including coordinating artwork, print, and delivery, as well as web-work
- Working onsite at a leading investment bank with an established team
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a creative individual with strong leadership skills and experience in managing creative teams. The ideal candidate will have a solid understanding of corporate information and be able to work effectively in a fast-paced, onsite environment.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Meeting clients to discuss business objectives and job requirements
✅ Interpreting client needs and developing creative concepts to meet their purpose
✅ Thinking creatively to produce new ideas and concepts, and demonstrating illustrative skills with rough sketches
✅ Designing and artworking from initial creative concepts through to final delivery, and presenting finalized ideas to clients
✅ Liaising with external suppliers to ensure work meets exact requirements, and guiding other team members in design and template material
✅ Coordinating artwork, print, and delivery, as well as web-work, and following department workflow processes
✅ Punctually completing time-sheets, work tickets, and accurately reflecting time spent on all projects
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high level of multitasking and requires strong organizational skills to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Formal design training with a relevant qualification in graphic design
Experience: Proven experience in leading and mentoring creative teams, with a solid background in graphic design and project management
Required Skills:
- Expert level proficiency in Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator
- Intermediate skills in Flash, Adobe Premiere, and Dreamweaver
- Strong familiarity with PPT, Excel, and Word
- Advanced Acrobat skills, including pre-press experience
- Excellent printing techniques and issues knowledge
- Strong project management, print buying, and scheduling experience
Preferred Skills:
- Experience working in a corporate environment or for financial institutions
- Fluency in additional languages
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with experience in the financial sector or working with corporate information may have an advantage in this role.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: £65,000 per annum (provided in the original description)
Benefits:
- 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time or fixed-term roles)
- Salary sacrifice schemes, retail vouchers, including TechScheme for gadgets and household appliances
- Life Assurance
- Private Medical Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Health Assessments
- Cycle-to-work scheme
- Discounted gym memberships
- Referral Scheme
Working Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday – Friday, 9am until 5:30pm with 1 hour unpaid lunch break
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is in line with industry standards for a Creative Lead role in the United Kingdom.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Williams Lea operates in the outsourcing and offshoring consulting industry, focusing on providing skilled, technology-enabled business-critical support services to financial, legal, and professional services firms.
Company Size: Williams Lea is a mid-sized company with 5,001-10,000 employees globally, offering a collaborative and dynamic work environment.
Founded: Williams Lea was founded in 1981 and has since grown to become a global leader in its industry.
Company Description:
- Williams Lea is the global provider of tech-enabled skilled business-critical support services to financial, legal, and professional services firms
- The company connects people, processes, and technology to streamline key business and administrative functions and helps companies adapt to more virtual and digital workplaces
- Williams Lea serves clients in 20 countries across four continents and has 7,000 employees worldwide
Company Specialties:
- Pitchbooks and Presentations
- Creative and Graphic Design
- Business Information Services (BIS)
- CRM and Data Management
- Digital Mail
- Mailroom Services
- Reprographics
- Information Governance
- Records Management
- Colleague Experience Management
- Reception and Hospitality
- Secretarial Support
- Administrative Services
- Document Word Processing
- e-Billing
- Accounts Payable
- Procurement Support
- Publications and Subscriptions Management
- Transcription Services
- and Translation Services
Company Website: williamslea.com
ASSUMPTION: Williams Lea's extensive experience and global presence make it an attractive employer for candidates seeking a stable and well-established company.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is at the mid-senior level, offering opportunities for growth and development within the creative and design field.
Reporting Structure: The Creative Lead will report directly to the Design Manager and oversee a team of designers.
Work Arrangement: This role requires a fully onsite presence, working at the client's premises in London.
Growth Opportunities:
- Progression to a Design Manager or similar leadership role within the creative team
- Expanding skills and expertise in project management and team leadership
- Potential to work on high-profile projects for leading financial institutions
ASSUMPTION: This role offers strong growth potential for candidates looking to advance their careers in creative leadership and project management.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Onsite at a leading investment bank in London
Office Location(s): 535 8th Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, New York 10018, US (Headquarters); 30 Old Broad Street, London, England EC2N 1HT, GB (European Headquarters)
Geographic Context:
- London is a major global financial hub, offering a vibrant and multicultural work environment
- The City of London is home to numerous financial institutions and provides ample networking opportunities
- Williams Lea's onsite presence at a leading investment bank offers exposure to high-profile projects and clients
Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 9am until 5:30pm with 1 hour unpaid lunch break
ASSUMPTION: The onsite work arrangement at a leading investment bank provides a dynamic and challenging work environment for the right candidate.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission
- Phone or video screening with the HR department
- Onsite interview with the Design Manager and a member of the creative team
- Portfolio presentation and creative challenge (if applicable)
- Final interview with the Design Director
Key Assessment Areas:
- Creative problem-solving skills
- Leadership and team management abilities
- Understanding of corporate information and design guidelines
- Project management and organizational skills
- Adaptability and flexibility in a fast-paced environment
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare a portfolio showcasing your best creative work, with a focus on projects that demonstrate your leadership and project management skills
- Research Williams Lea and the client's industry to show your understanding of the company and its clients
- Prepare questions to ask during the interview to demonstrate your interest in the role and company
ATS Keywords: Graphic Design, Creative Solutions, Project Management, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Flash, Adobe Premiere, Dreamweaver, PPT, Excel, Word, Acrobat, Pre-Press, Time Management
ASSUMPTION: Williams Lea's recruitment process is designed to assess candidates' creative, leadership, and technical skills, as well as their cultural fit within the company.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator)
- Flash, Adobe Premiere, and Dreamweaver
- Microsoft Office Suite (PPT, Excel, Word)
- Acrobat
- Project management and collaboration tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, JIRA)
ASSUMPTION: Proficiency in the Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office Suite is essential for this role, while experience with project management tools is preferred.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Client-focused approach
- Collaboration and teamwork
- Continuous improvement and innovation
- Integrity and accountability
- Respect and inclusion
Work Style:
- Fast-paced and dynamic environment
- Strong focus on client needs and project deadlines
- Opportunities for growth and development
- Collaborative and supportive team culture
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you thrive in a fast-paced, onsite environment, working closely with clients and stakeholders?
- Are you able to balance multiple projects and meet tight deadlines?
- Do you have strong leadership and mentoring skills, with experience managing creative teams?
- Are you comfortable working within corporate design guidelines and adapting your creative style to meet client needs?
ASSUMPTION: Williams Lea values candidates who are adaptable, client-focused, and committed to continuous improvement and innovation.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple projects and tight deadlines in a fast-paced onsite environment
- Adapting to corporate design guidelines and client-specific requirements
- Working effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders
- Navigating a large organization and its internal processes
ASSUMPTION: These challenges can be overcome with strong project management skills, adaptability, and a client-focused approach.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Compared to similar roles in the industry, this position offers a unique opportunity to work onsite at a leading investment bank, providing exposure to high-profile projects and clients
- Williams Lea's global presence and extensive experience make it an attractive employer for candidates seeking a stable and well-established company
- This role offers strong growth potential for candidates looking to advance their careers in creative leadership and project management
ASSUMPTION: This role compares favorably to similar positions in the industry, offering a unique work environment and strong growth potential.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing a comprehensive brand guidelines document for a leading financial institution
- Creating a series of animated presentations for an investment banking conference, showcasing the client's unique value proposition
- Designing and implementing a new onboarding experience for a global law firm, including print and digital materials
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects demonstrate the range of creative and design challenges faced by the Creative Lead in this role.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the team structure and dynamics within the creative department?
- How does Williams Lea support the professional development and growth of its creative team members?
- Can you provide examples of how the company has adapted to changes in the market or client needs?
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 90 days?
- How does Williams Lea foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within its creative teams?
ASSUMPTION: These questions are designed to help candidates better understand the role, team dynamics, and company culture.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through the provided link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare a portfolio showcasing your best creative work, with a focus on projects that demonstrate your leadership and project management skills
- Research Williams Lea and the client's industry to show your understanding of the company and its clients
- Prepare questions to ask during the interview to demonstrate your interest in the role and company
- Follow up with the HR department one week after submitting your application to confirm receipt and inquire about the next steps in the interview process
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
