Job Description
The Design Manager is the design lead for Freemans Event Partners, responsible for leading and quality-controlling all design output across the business, working with multiple stakeholders. This includes the Freemans Event Partners brand and its business verticals, event communications and wayfinding, design input in build projects, and all brand and marketing communications across B2B and B2C audiences.
A core and heavily weighted responsibility of this role is the production and ownership of a high volume of external-facing presentations, including client retention, event and venue reviews, wash-ups, and line-up presentations. The role requires exceptional PowerPoint capability, strong visual storytelling, and the ability to manage multiple deadlines while maintaining consistently high standards.
The role sits within the Marketing team and works closely with commercial, operations and leadership stakeholders. Success in the role will be measured by quality, consistency, stakeholder satisfaction and timely delivery of presentations and design projects.
The Design Manager will lead and manage an in-house designer who will be focussed on event marketing production.
Job Requirements
- Minimum 5 years’ experience in a design role (in-house or agency).
- Exceptional PowerPoint expertise, with strong capability in layout, typography, visual hierarchy and storytelling.
- Proven experience producing high-quality, senior-level client presentations at volume.
- Strong understanding of branding is essential, and some knowledge of events and the built environment would be desirable.
- Strong commercial awareness, with the ability to align design decisions to revenue, retention and business growth objectives.
- Highly effective interpersonal and communication skills, combining meticulous attention to detail with clear, confident written and verbal communication.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Line management experience.
Job Responsibilities
1. Design leadership & brand consistency
- Lead the design function for Freemans Event Partners, owning day-to-day design decisions and quality control, and partnering with the Marketing Director on final approvals.
- Manage design output across outlet builds, permanent event structures, wayfinding signage, and event communications working with internal designers and freelancers.
- Own and evolve brand application across B2B (client pitches, new venue and event contracts, business verticals including FEP PAY, Foodservice and Brand
Partnerships) and B2C (recruitment, people services and food & beverage consumer communications).
- Ensure all internal and outsourced design work aligns with brand guidelines and strategic objectives.
2. Client presentations (key deliverable)
- Lead, manage and personally produce a high volume of client-facing presentations including pitches, retention decks, line-ups, reviews and wash-ups.
- Define and maintain the visual standard, structure and storytelling approach for all presentations; ensuring an exceptional quality of photography and videography assets used in presentations.
- Create highly visual PowerPoint decks and templates to be used across the business.
- Educate and empower team members to utilise templates and demonstrate uptake of company templates across the business on a regular basis.
- Ensure consistency across graphics, photography and videography, working with print suppliers where required.
3. Design project management & delivery
- Manage the flow of multiple concurrent design projects, ensuring deadlines, quality and stakeholder expectations are met.
- Act as the main point of contact between stakeholders and the design function.
- Develop clear briefs, timelines and priorities aligned to commercial and strategic needs.
- Track progress, manage changes and allocate resources effectively.
4. Team & resource management
- Coach and develop in-house Designer.
- Identify, brief and manage freelancers, agencies and specialist suppliers as required.
- Ensure all presentation templates, visual assets and brand resources are current, accessible and consistently applied.
5. Stakeholder collaboration & communication
- Work closely with senior stakeholders to translate commercial objectives into clear, compelling visual outputs.
- Present and explain design rationale, propositions and recommendations in a confident, client-ready manner.
- Review photography and videography libraries, identifying gaps and briefing the wider marketing team where needed.
Job Benefits
* 28 days holiday allowance, plus bank holidays on top.
* Life cover, company pension scheme and employee assistant programme.
* Access to Mintago, a healthcare cash plan reimbursing the costs of dental treatments, optical and more! As a Mintago member, you can also access an online GP service as well as gym, and retail discounts.
* The opportunity to earn some extra cash by using our refer a friend programme.
* Free costa coffee's whilst working in our HQ
* We also have fortnightly lunches and regular social activities, plus the opportunity to be involved in some of the UK’s most prestigious sporting events and festivals!