Creative Lead

Role Title - Creative Lead

Grade - GCB 06

Role purpose (overall high level summary of the role)

The Creative Lead will enable the Creative Services to consistently deliver high‐quality creative work by providing art direction, branding advice and technical guidance, closely monitoring quality standards and assisting the Head of Creative Services in implementing various improvement initiatives.

The role holder will be responsible for the design integrity of marketing communications projects and programmes through strategic direction, development of tight creative concepts and seamless execution. Also responsible for leading a team of designers and ensuring that work is consistent with HSBC brand and quality standards. 

The Creative Lead is expected to assist and/or report to the identified chapter lead within the service. The chapter lead will then be responsible for the team’s objectives and performance review, supporting the Production lead in making sure the overall goals and strategic alignment both on the service and business are met.

Governance and Committee Memberships 

• Principal Accountabilities and Responsibilities (e.g., for Business, Customers and Stakeholders; internal control environment, etc.)
• Bring fresh direction and insight to creative output, while maintaining HSBC brand and design standards
• Develop/maintain a thorough understanding of the DPS business and assigned channels/business areas.
• Collaborate with business partners in developing marketing and communications strategies
• Positions DPS as subject-matter-expert in execution of Creative assets
• Jointly manage high-level design jobs with co-Creative leads
• Ensure high quality of work by consistently taking responsibility for one's own work, reviewing it against quality standards, and consistently seeking to achieve zero quality errors.
• Build the team's ability to provide better service by regularly reporting project concerns and suggesting ways to resolve them, participating in project reviews, preparing production briefs etc.
• Pursue design excellence by evaluation of work against both creative peers and industry standards

Leadership & Teamwork
  

• Coordinates with the Head of Creative Services in mentoring and assigning training to team members in order to enhance overall team technical and soft 
• skills necessary to become effective designers
• Interview and recruit digital designers for the team
• Build and maintain team morale; liaise closely with co-Creative leads and Head of Creative Services
• Drive the team to consistently deliver high-quality creative work by providing art direction, branding advice and technical guidance, closely monitoring 
• quality standards and assisting the Head of Creative Services in implementing various improvement initiatives
• Review high-end work submitted to ensure its quality, strategic, integrity, and appropriate integration
• Ensure a steady improvement in one's skills and capabilities by supporting, planning and attending collaborative work and in-house cross-training opportunities, and coordinating with the Head of Creative Services and Digital Designers in developing annual and quarterly training plans
• Maintain proficiency in current versions of software required for performing duties within HSBC
• Puts the need of the greater team ahead of his/her own needs, ensuring the team's growth and improvement is of priority.
• Puts emphasis and acts upon the HSBC purpose and values
• Ensures task and knowledge is equally distributed to the team

Functional Knowledge

• 5–8 years’ experience in a design agency or comparable industry is preferred. Candidates with less experience, or experience not fully aligned with the Creative Lead role, may be considered for a Senior Designer position.
• Strong leader with high quality standards and excellent organisational skills
• Proven track record conceptualizing and overseeing execution of large campaigns and projects for commercial and corporate brands
• Web experience: Working knowledge of HTML5, CSS, and web design principles is required
• Video production experience: Working knowledge of video creation process from pre-to-postproduction
• Knowledge of emerging digital experience technologies such as XR, Metaverse and AI art, is an advantage
• User-centric/customer-centric design theory: experience with user research, rapid prototyping, information architecture, user stories and persona writing is preferred
• Print production: Strong knowledge of print production and colour separation
• Communication and people skills: Superior written and verbal communication and presentation skills; excellent people and social skills, able to lead and motivate a team
• Strong focus on simplicity vs complexity in both communicating and translating briefs into designs
• Able to generate and consistently provide innovative and creative ideas, working within corporate
• guidelines but challenging provided briefs and questioning traditional approaches as necessary
• Excellent working knowledge of industry standard design software
• Extremely client-focused, with positive attitude coupled with excellent people skills, able to negotiate effectively, communicate at all levels and able to work well under pressure
• Ability to network with other resources and specialists around the business as appropriate
• Genuine enthusiasm for design and willing to share knowledge and experience, and great design resources, articles and other inspiration with others

Others

• Develop professional and harmonious relationships with DPS customers through constant, personal communication aimed at obtaining a clear understanding of the business objectives and the situational context of their project requirements
• Enables and promotes collaboration between other teams to deliver a much more effective solution to clients and stakeholders
• Contributes in software/hardware standardisation requirements for the Creative Services team