Creative Director

Creative Director

Location: Hybrid, with access to our London office a minimum of twice per week

Contract Type: Full Time Permanent

Reports to: CMO

Start Date: ASAP

The INKEY List, a trailblazing force in the beauty industry, is on the hunt for a Creative Director who will lead the charge in shaping and evolving our creative vision. This is an exciting, high-impact role that blends strategic leadership, art direction, and innovative design across multiple platforms and formats, from digital to physical. We’re looking for someone with an entrepreneurial mindset, a proven track record in both startup and corporate environments, and an innate ability to think outside the box. If you have a passion for beauty, a love for bold creative ideas, and the experience to back it up, we want you to lead our team into its next creative frontier.

What You’ll Do:

• Creative Leadership: Own the creative direction for all digital and physical collateral, including integrated campaigns, product launches, social content, email marketing, press assets, and more. You will inspire, challenge, and guide your team to push boundaries while aligning to the core brand values and objectives.
• Brand Consistency & Innovation: Develop and formalize a cohesive brand book and creative guidelines that maintain a consistent visual language across global markets (US, UK, and beyond). Balance brand heritage with fresh, bold ideas that resonate with both new and existing customers.
• Collaborative Team Leadership: Manage, nurture, and grow a dynamic, cross-functional team. Empower your team members to think holistically about the customer journey—from concept to delivery—ensuring every touchpoint tells a compelling story.
• Visionary Concept Development: Lead brainstorming sessions and drive the creative process, translating business and marketing objectives into visually striking concepts that capture attention and inspire action.
• Creative Direction Across Channels: From digital-first social media content to high-impact in-store visuals, you will direct and deliver creative assets that perform across all channels, with an emphasis on scalability and impact.
• UGC & Social Content: Partner with internal and external content creators to produce low-fi, user-generated content (UGC), as well as high-quality product shoots that resonate with modern consumers. Direct in-house photography and video shoots, ensuring the execution matches your bold vision.
• Cross-Departmental Collaboration: Work closely with DTC, brand, social, and trade marketing teams to ensure the creative vision aligns with overarching business and marketing strategies. Cultivate strong relationships to seamlessly integrate creative with marketing initiatives.
• Art Direction & On-Set Leadership: Be hands-on with art direction across photoshoots, managing a team of photographers, videographers, stylists, and more. Ensure every shot is on brand, on vision, and on schedule.

Skills & Expertise:

• Trend Savvy & Future-Focused: A pulse on emerging trends, particularly in the beauty industry and social media, with the ability to translate them into innovative, on-brand creative that drives engagement and converts.
• Exceptional Design Eye: A keen eye for typography, design, and visual storytelling through a digital-first lens. Your designs will not only look stunning but function flawlessly across digital and print formats.
• Strategic Thinker: Ability to balance bold creative ideas with business and marketing objectives, ensuring that design choices drive brand recognition and commercial results.
• Collaborative & Inspiring Leader: Strong people leadership skills—able to guide, coach, and elevate your team. Your leadership style encourages open, solution-oriented communication and inspires a culture of creative excellence.
• Motion & Video Proficiency: Expertise in motion graphics and video production, with the ability to direct shoots and understand the technical aspects of shooting for both product-only and lifestyle content.
• Multichannel Expertise: An intuitive understanding of digital best practices and platform nuances (e.g., Instagram Stories vs. email). You know what works, where it works, and how to make it stand out.
• Highly Organized: Superior organizational skills, with the ability to juggle multiple high-priority projects and deadlines. You thrive in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments and have the agility to adapt to shifting priorities.

What We’re Looking For:

• Experience: 16+ years of experience in creative leadership, ideally with a blend of startup and corporate experience in the beauty or lifestyle sector.
• Art Direction: 5+ years leading creative projects and managing on-set production, with a proven portfolio of high-impact campaigns and designs.
• Team Leadership: Significant experience leading and mentoring creative teams, fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence.
• Tech-Savvy: Advanced knowledge of design software (Adobe Creative Suite, InDesign, etc.), and an understanding of UX/UI principles. Motion graphics and video editing experience is highly preferred.
• Adaptable & Innovative: Comfortable navigating ambiguity and changing priorities with a creative, flexible approach. Always looking for new ways to push creative boundaries.
• Beauty Industry Insight: Experience in the beauty, skincare, or fashion industries is highly desirable, though not mandatory. A genuine passion for beauty and innovation is a must.

Why Join Us?

• Dynamic Culture: Be part of a fast-paced, rapidly-growing beauty brand that values innovation, creativity, and bold ideas.
• Collaborative Environment: Work with a passionate, fun, and highly talented team that’s driven by results and a shared commitment to excellence.
• Global Reach: Your work will influence and inspire audiences across the globe—take ownership of shaping our brand’s global creative vision.

What we will give to you (our Company Benefits):

• Hybrid working
• Private Medical for ALL employees - Vitality Medical scheme
• Part of the BCORP organisations
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Birthday day off
• Cycle to work scheme
• Electric Car scheme
• Team days
• Allowance to use on our wonderful products each month
• Dog friendly office

The INKEY team

At The INKEY List we are a dynamic and enthusiastic team with huge ambition.

We make things happen (sometimes against the odds!) by thinking differently and being solution-led.

We love hearing creative, innovative ideas that provide opportunities for improvement. Proactiveness is an absolute must. In return, we are committed to developing the knowledge of our team, as we do with our consumers, and the scope for growth is enormous.

We are a diverse team of passionate individuals who fundamentally believe that better knowledge creates better decisions.

We are really proud of the culture and environment we have built in our business since our launch in 2018.

We stand for transparency, equality and fairness and live this through our brand and our team every day.

We are for everyone.