JOB ROLE: Senior Creative
SALARY: £45-55k per annum
TYPE: Permanent, Full Time
DEPARTMENT: Creative & Design
LOCATION: 5 Hancock Road, London, E3 3DA | Hybrid
THE COMPANY
Bearded Kitten is a global creative experience agency with a portfolio of award-winning work. Our mission is clear: to fearlessly champion fun and create the unforgettable. Don’t be deceived by our quirky name – Bearded Kitten is the real deal. From large scale brand experiences to cultural launch events, from building immersive worlds to conferences and employee engagement initiatives - we cover it all.
It’s an exciting time to be a Kitten, in the past year the company has grown rapidly and we’ve worked with some of the world’s biggest brands. With an ever growing client base across the UK and beyond - this is an opportunity to join a fast paced, innovative team.
THE ROLE
We are seeking a dynamic and visionary Senior Creative to join our team and play a central role in shaping and delivering exceptional experiential projects. This position demands a highly creative individual who excels at responding to client briefs, leading the creative process, and managing designers and other creatives to ensure top-notch execution. In this role, you will also take the lead on pitch strategy, working closely with freelance strategists to develop compelling proposals.
The ideal candidate will have experience in experiential design, creative strategy, a passion for staying ahead of trends, and a keen eye for detail, overseeing both conceptual and practical elements of design and production. You will manage a team of designers, freelancers, and collaborators, guiding projects from concept to execution.
This role will report to and work closely with Bearded Kitten’s Creative Director and CCO, ensuring alignment with the agency’s overarching creative vision.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Leading Creative Concepts & Pitch Strategy
* Lead the ideation process, interpreting and responding to client briefs with imaginative, impactful, and well-thought-out experiential ideas.
* Leverage strategic insights to inform creative development, ensuring alignment with both client objectives and market trends.
* Create compelling presentations and decks that effectively communicate creative concepts, designs, and strategies.
* Deliver engaging pitches to clients, articulating both the vision and the strategic direction of projects.
Managing the Design Team
* Oversee the creative and design team, including both full-time staff and freelance talent, ensuring their output aligns with project goals and brand standards.
* Provide day-to-day leadership, mentorship, and feedback to designers and other creative team members.
* Manage design staffing needs, sourcing and onboarding both full-time and freelance designers as required by project demands.
Overseeing Design Development & Fabrication
* Collaborate with the production and fabrication teams to ensure designs are accurately translated into tangible experiences.
* Oversee the entire design process on live jobs, ensuring alignment between concept and execution.
* Sign off on design samples, providing guidance and feedback to ensure high-quality output.
* Create and manage sample mood boards, ensuring consistency with the overarching creative vision.
Sourcing & Styling
* Assist with the creation of mood boards and style boards for projects, ensuring the appropriate aesthetic direction is followed.
* Source materials, dressing, props, and furniture in line with project themes and design specifications.
Trend Awareness & Industry Knowledge
* Stay at the forefront of industry trends, especially within the experiential and design space.
* Bring fresh, forward-thinking insights to the table, ensuring Bearded Kitten remains an industry leader.
* Regularly share trends and innovations with the team, helping shape the agency’s creative output.
Client Engagement
* Build strong relationships with clients, ensuring their needs are met while pushing creative boundaries.
* Maintain clear and consistent communication with internal stakeholders, including production, fabrication, and design teams.
THE PERSON
* Proven experience (6+ years) in a creative role within a creative experiential agency.
* Ideally 1+ years experience in a leadership role within a creative team.
* Strong portfolio showcasing creative work across a variety of mediums, especially; experiential, immersive experiences, permanent and semi permanent installations
* Experience in leading pitch strategy and working alongside freelance strategists.
* Excellent leadership and management skills, with experience guiding design teams and working with freelance designers.
* Exceptional ability to create, pitch, and present creative ideas and decks to clients.
* Strong understanding of the fabrication process, from design sign-off to production.
* Excellent moodboarding skills, with a keen eye for style, dressing, and furniture sourcing.
* Up-to-date knowledge of experiential trends, industry innovations, and design advancements.
* Highly organised, with strong project management skills and attention to detail.
* Strong interpersonal and communication skills to build relationships with clients, team members, and stakeholders.
OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU
* 25 days paid holiday, plus Bank Holidays. 1 additional day added per year of service up to 5 days.
* Approximately five additional days off over the Christmas/New Year period.
* Hybrid working. Minimum 3 days from the office, compulsory office day on Wednesdays.
* Flexi-time policy.
* Generous overtime policy.
* Discretionary end of year bonus scheme.
* New Business Incentive Scheme from day one.
* Employee Referral Incentive Policy from day one.
* Work mobile and/or eSim and work laptop.
* Employee assistance programme with free access to mental health resources.
* Enhanced maternity & paternity leave policy after 1 year of full service. 3 months full pay including statutory for lead carer or 1 month full pay including statutory for second carer.
* Monthly team socials, plus an annual team offsite with overnight stay.
* Free use of BK equipment; workshop, tools, rehearsal space etc for personal use.
* Season ticket loans offered.
* Cycle to work scheme.
* Guaranteed hilarity and nonsense on a daily basis.