Vacancy Name
Creative Director
Vacancy No
VN2711
Location City
Multiple (Non‑London)
Location Country
United Kingdom
Job Description
Job Title: Creative Director
Department : 4creative
Location: Leeds / Manchester
Job Grade: L2
DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION
4creative is the multi‑awarded, highly respected, in‑house creative agency of Channel 4 Television.
The department is responsible for developing and delivering all advertising campaigns, editorial imagery and channel branding for C4 in every media, playing a key role in projecting a coherent sense of the 4‑brand.
4creative’s vision is to make risky, culturally potent, innovative work across the C4 portfolio.
JOB PURPOSE
To bring creative leadership, and unifying oversight to our Promo and Pictures output. Ensuring consistent excellence, bold ideas and a strong brand voice across all platforms and uses. The Creative Director will also provide cultural leadership and direction across Channel 4’s Leeds and Manchester offices, ensuring that regional teams are creatively empowered, aligned and working to the highest standards.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
* Provide strong brand guardianship of the Channel 4 Masterbrand and sub‑brands.
* Provide clear creative leadership across both Promo and Pictures teams, ensuring a unified creative vision for promos, photography, design, imagery, and campaigns.
* Confidently present creative direction to senior leadership teams, commissioners, marketing stakeholders and external partners.
* Lead the creative process on promos, branding work and digital/social campaigns.
* Oversee the team in commissioning, development and delivery of high‑quality photography and imagery for Channel 4 programming ensuring its fit for purpose across digital, streaming, print, press and third‑party platforms.
* Provide creative direction for key art, talent‑led shoots and editorial photography for both studio and location shoots.
* Write and present high‑quality treatments that clearly express the creative vision.
* Provide creative direction and mentorship across the Leeds and Manchester 4creative offices.
* Help shape and nurture regional creative culture, ensuring that teams feel connected to the wider strategic vision.
* Encourage and support the development of locally originated creative ideas, projects and initiatives.
* Build strong collaborative relationships across regional teams and departments.
* Maintain an overview of the evolving image and promotional needs of the business and the changing media landscape, including trends in photography, video, design and emerging technologies/AI.
* Proactively explore new creative techniques, platforms and formats to keep Channel 4 at the forefront of innovation.
* Support and provide cover for the Deputy ECD as required.
ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE & SKILLS
* Minimum 5 years’ experience overseeing high‑profile, high‑quality creative output to tight deadlines.
* Strong conceptual creative. Proven experience generating and producing strong campaign ideas.
* Proven track record in directing and/or creating outstanding promos, photography, campaigns or high‑impact visual work.
* Complete understanding of the end‑to‑end promo and stills creation process, from concept through to delivery.
* Strong idea generation, scripting and treatment‑writing skills.
* Strong knowledge of visual design, art direction, photography, motion graphics and digital formats.
* Ability to communicate and present creative ideas clearly and persuasively.
* Experience managing and developing creative teams, including cross‑location.
* Skilled at building relationships and collaborating with multiple internal departments and senior stakeholders.
* Deep understanding of Channel 4’s brand values, creative ambition and cultural mission.
* A positive, proactive mindset and commitment to inclusivity and representing diverse voices.
Basic salary per annum starting from
£89,250.00
Application questions to complete
Please remember to complete the additional application questions by uploading a Word or PDF attachment. These questions really help us get to know you better and we won’t be able to consider your application without them.
1. Please outline how you meet the ‘Essential Experience & Skills’ outlined in the Job Description (Max 500 words)
Benefits
* Private medical insurance
* Free Virtual GP access for employees
* Free Female Health hormone test each year
* Free Tastecard membership
* Financial guidance 1‑2‑1’s available each quarter
* Discounted Gym memberships
* Pension
* Life Assurance
* Income Protection
* Holiday Purchase
Hybrid working
From September 2023, C4 has operated a 60/40 working pattern, equating to three office days per week. Having everyone in the office three days a week gives us more opportunity to build our high performing, inclusive culture; to collaborate and to learn and share with each other, as well as helping to coordinate a regular pattern of home and office working days. Employees then have the flexibility to decide where they spend the rest of the working week. All our offices are open five days a week.
Applications Close Date
19 Mar 2026
Equal Opportunities
Channel 4’s purpose is to create change through entertainment; by representing unheard voices, challenging with purpose and delivering content which reflects the diversity of different communities across the UK.
We are only able to deliver on this remit by having a workforce rich in diversity of thought, background and lived experience. As an employer we encourage applications from candidates from all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on disability, age, gender reassignment, gender expression, criminal history, length of time spent unemployed, marriage or civil partnership status, national origin, pregnancy and maternity status, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
Disability Confident Scheme: Channel 4 is a member of the Business Disability Forum (BDF) and has also maintained the highest level of the Department of Work and Pension’s Disability Confident scheme - Level 3: Leader. Under the Disability Confident Scheme, we aim to offer an interview to all candidates who have a neurodiverse condition, impairment or long‑term condition and who meet the essential criteria for an advertised job. If you wish your application to be considered under the Disability Confident Scheme, please select yes when completing the application questions. For more information, please visit the Disability Confident Campaign website.
For our roles and schemes that receive a high volume of applications it may not be possible to provide an interview to all applicants who meet the essential criteria and in this situation we can only select applications that best meet the skills needed for the role.
Care Leaver Friendly Employer: Channel 4 is a Care Leaver Friendly Employer. By signing the Care Leaver Friendly Employer Charter and adopting its principles, we are supporting an immensely talented yet often under‑served and under‑represented community of young people/ adults. We commit to offering an interview (and constructive feedback) to applicants who identify as care experienced and meet the essential criteria for the role as outlined on the job description. Applicants should indicate if they wish to apply under our Care Leaver Scheme by selecting the option on the application form.
For our roles and schemes that receive a high volume of applications it may not be possible to provide an interview to all applicants who meet the essential criteria and in this situation we can only select applications that best meet the skills needed for the role.
Workplace Adjustments: We are committed to providing disabled applicants a level playing field when applying for a job and support whilst employed to perform to the best of their ability and develop their careers. If you have a neurodiverse condition, impairment or long‑term condition and require any adjustments, additional support or alternative arrangements during the recruitment and wish to discuss this confidentially, please let us know via the following e‑mail recruitment@channel4.co.uk
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