As our Lead Art Director, you will be the creative heart of the Fashion Art Direction team, giving clarity to our high-profile campaigns, whilst leading our talented team of womens, mens, and childrens Art Directors.
This is a senior creative leadership role where you’ll make a tangible difference by ensuring our visual identity remains cohesive, elevated, and commercially impactful across every platform.
Based from our Premier Park Studios, London —with opportunities for UK and global travel—you will lead a talented team of Art Directors, championing their growth while collaborating closely with senior leaders in Brand Marketing, and Buying.
From your first day, you’ll be supported by a collaborative environment that values innovation, giving you the platform to evolve our imagery and inspire the next chapter of NEXT’s visual story.
What You’ll Take On
* Define and champion the creative vision for photography at Next, ensuring all content aligns with our wider brand purpose and business objectives.
* Lead end-to-end art direction for both studio and location shoots, acting as the key creative voice from pre-production through to the final edit.
* Oversee, guide and mentor a team of Art Directors and creatives, ensuring consistency, innovation, and brand alignment.
* Direct brand-defining campaigns, working with high-profile models and top-tier production teams to deliver industry-leading content.
* Translate commercial goals into compelling creative strategies, presenting your ideas confidently to senior leadership and stakeholders.
* Manage project timelines and budgets effectively, partnering with Booking and Production teams to ensure every shoot is resourced and executed to the highest standard.
What You’ll Bring
* Extensive experience (7+ years) in art direction within a fast-paced retail or editorial environment, with a portfolio that showcases high-end commercial retail and editorial work.
* Proven leadership skills, with the ability to guide and develop a creative team while managing multiple large-scale projects simultaneously.
* A strategic mindset, possessing a deep understanding of brand strategy and how content performs across digital, e-commerce and print channels.
* Natural collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to influence at all levels and build strong relationships across the business.
* Trend-focused insight, bringing a sharp eye for cultural shifts and a passion for all NEXT product categories, from Fashion to Home.
* Resilience and organisation, remaining solutions-focused under pressure and holding a full UK driving licence for travel between locations.
* 25% off most NEXT, MADE*, Lipsy*, Gap* and Victoria's Secret* products (*when purchased through NEXT)
* Company performance based bonus
* On-site Nursery available; OFSTED outstanding in all areas
* 10% off most partner brands & up to 15% off Branded Beauty
* Early VIP access to sale stock
* Access to fantastic discounts at our Staff Shops
* Restaurants with great food at amazing prices
* Access a digital GP and other free health and wellbeing services
* Free on-site parking
* Financial Wellbeing - Save, track and enhance your financial wellbeing
* Apprenticeship - Grow and develop on the job whilst gaining a qualification
* Direct to Work - Discount online and instore, collect your items the next day for free from your place of work or local store
* Support Networks - Access to Network Groups to empower and celebrate each other
* Wellhub - Discounted flexible monthly gym memberships, with apps, PT sessions and more
Conditions apply to all benefits. These benefits are discretionary and subject to change.
We aim to support all candidates during the application process and are happy to provide workplace adjustments when necessary. Should you need support with your application due to a disability or long-term condition, feel free to get in touch with us by email headoffice_careers@next.co.uk (please include 'Workplace Adjustments' in the subject line), or call us on 0116 284 2486 and leave a voicemail.
What's Next?
Apply
Show us what you can do. Submit your application online and our recruitment team will take a first look at your experience and strengths.
Inform
Let’s talk. We will get in touch for an initial conversation by phone or video to learn more about you and share what the team is looking for.
Review
If you are invited to an interview, you may be asked to present an interview task or portfolio and talk through your experience in a competency based interview. It is also your chance to ask questions and get to know us.
Offer
If it’s the right match, our recruitment team will be in touch with a job offer and next steps. This is where your journey with NEXT begins.
Team Overview
The Digital & Marketing team brings creativity, technology, and insight together. From bold campaigns and boundary-pushing design to product innovation, digital evolution, and vital data support, these teams shape seamless experiences and drive the business forward.
Explore similar opportunities across our business.
You’ve probably heard of NEXT, but did you know about our portfolio? Every brand in our offering brings a distinct story, attitude and community. Spanning contemporary lifestyle brands, established high street names and timeless collections, together they showcase the vibrancy of today’s retail world.
About NEXT
You know Next, but did you know we’re a FTSE-100 retail company employing over 35,000 people across the UK and Ireland. We’re the UK’s 2nd largest fashion retailer and for Kidswear we’re the market leader. At the last count we have over 500 stores, plus the Next Online and it’s now possible to buy on-line from over 70 countries around the world! So we’ve gone global!
Are you ready to take it on?
Challenges. Opportunities. The future. Let’s take it on at NEXT.
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