WORK180 logo
Applications for this job have closed. This page will redirect to the Philip Morris International UK jobs page in 10 seconds.

Director of Creative Services

Greater London
Full time
Posted
employer logo
Philip Morris International UK
FMCG & consumer goods
501-1,000 employees
16 jobs
...loading

About Our Vision

It’s Time to Unsmoke.

We’ve built the world’s most successful cigarette company, with the world’s most popular and iconic brands. Now we’ve made a dramatic decision. We will be far more than a leading cigarette company. We’re building PMI’s future on smoke-free products that are a much better choice than cigarette smoking. Indeed, our vision – for all of us at PMI – is that these products will one day replace cigarettes.

Why are we doing this? Because we should … We understand the millions of men and women who smoke cigarettes. They are looking for less harmful, yet satisfying, alternatives to smoking. We will give them that choice. We have a commitment to our employees and our shareholders. We will fulfill that commitment by pursuing this long-term vision for success. Society expects us to act responsibly. And we are doing just that, by delivering a smoke-free future. … And because we now can. Success in the cigarette business gives us the resources to pursue our ambitious vision. Thanks to the imagination and perseverance of thousands of people at PMI, we have developed breakthrough products that are smoke-free and enjoyable.

The Mission

To lead the creative output of the Content and Owned Media Group ensuring that all output stays true to an overall creative vision and the brand guidelines of the organisation whilst effectively communicating the brand and corporate messages in compelling ways to meet business objectives and audience needs.

In addition, to managing the collective delivery of the Creative Services Group, this role is also accountable for overarching Creative Production whether that be harnessing internal talent or coordinating and collaborating with external freelancers and agencies.

Core to the mission is to act as an anchor and quality control for all creative delivery whilst simultaneously coordinating resources to ensure timely and on budget delivery across all projects

The Person

We are looking for a natural collaborator and communicator, who is well organized and loves to get things done. Superb at inspiring, mentoring and guiding creative resources to drive at solutions with experience and a proven track record of managing projects across creative disciplines i.e. copy, design/ art and video/ film and across the full omni-channel spectrum of media types, particularly web, social and paid media

A keen and imaginative intellect they will have a proven creative expertise as evidenced by showcasing a range of creative projects with demonstrable understanding of good design and copy principles. Beyond this, the successful candidate will have the ability to align creative strategies with business objectives.

This person knows how to drive strong creative outcomes through leadership, oversight and governance, understanding when to bring in and harness the capabilities of different members of the creative teams and not be afraid to reach out externally where there is a creative gap.

This individual can be adaptable and comfortable working in a dynamic environment where the ability to calmly pivot approach as strategies evolve or react at speed to external events will be essential. Project management proficiency will be a real asset in terms of being able to adapt schedules and manage production resources.

The successful candidate need to be self-starter and strong leader that understands how to nurture talent and build high performing teams with an infectious energy that generates momentum and enthusiasm from others.

Core Competencies

  • Accomplished, credible and authentic people leader, able to build high performing teams through an inclusive and open approach with an inspiring vision and the ability to create the right conditions for teams to grow and succeed collectively and individually.
  • Deep understanding of design principles, copy principles, branding, videography and emerging technologies – particularly in the Ai space
  • Knowledgeable and skilled creative leader and creator of omni-channel communications including a track record of management of internal and 3rd party resources e.g. freelancers, agencies
  • Innovative and curious conceptual thinker with a good understanding of emergent communication trends and stylistic shifts to maintain a contemporary edge to creative output.
  • Experience of managing the production process across the media spectrum and on a global basis recognising the pitfalls and opportunities of global delivery including a demonstrable understanding of usage rights and copyright concerns
  • Problem solver and sense maker removing obstacles and confusion through open dialogue and innovative thinking
  • Results driver – urgency and bias for timely action and concrete outcomes within agreed timeframes and budgetary envelopes
  • Adequate familiarity across the board with the subject matter to be alert to potential risks and opportunities to constructively challenge execution, driving solution and detail focus
  • Disciplined and collaborative - to interpret requirements and ensure that the right people are engaged at the right time through the process
  • Critical eye for craft, quality with a strong attention to detail and accuracy
  • Conduit to specialist expertise and resources as required to support execution
  • Gatherer and sharer of best practise, tools and techniques.

Core Responsibilities

  • Be accountable for the creative content output of the Content and Owned Media Group managing the Creative Content Group in addition to 3rd party resources ensuring that all projects are on time and on budget and meet the requirements of briefs
  • Engage with the wider Content and Owned Media Group Leadership Team to ensure that the Creative Content Group is meeting, if not exceeding, expectations.
  • In conjunction with the Content/ stakeholder Manager Group interrogate and sign off on briefs to ensure they are adequately detailed and coherent, with clear assessment objectives before being processed by the Creative Content Group
  • Oversee the prioritisation process and agreement of workstack and resources (internal or 3rd party) with Creative Services Production Manager and in collaboration with the Director stakeholder Services and Group Ops including budget and timeline alignment and organising and convening key decision forums.
  • Oversee the production processes (internal or 3rd party) through the Creative Services Production Manager including the procurement of 3rd party resources and ensuring scheduling, budget and legal compliance.
  • Ensure the Creative Content Group are fulfilling the compliance aspects of the process being a key point of liaison with stakeholders.
  • Act as a sounding board and partner to the Director stakeholder Services and Group Ops, Director Channel Management to establish executional briefs – development, integrated communications, measurement and monitoring
  • Ensure that all executing groups are briefed and have clarity of task and allocated resources.
  • Review impact and results of deployed creative content to determine avenues for continuous improvement (effectiveness).
  • Review creative development and production processes to determine avenues for continuous improvement (efficiency) including the adoption of new technologies and smarter use of 3rd parties.
  • Regularly review up-to date status of all projects with Content and Ops Teams, managing budgets and monitoring workload – intervening, alerting and resolving potential bottlenecks with key stakeholders as required
  • Coach, mentor, develop and direct, as appropriate, direct reports.
  • As a member of the Content and Owned Media Leadership Team, participate in operational and strategic management forums and reviews

Experiences

  • Track record of managing multi-disciplinary creative and production resources interacting with a range of clients/ stakeholders simultaneously with at least 7- 10 years in creative roles and 3 -5 in a senior leadership position leading a creative group.
  • Conceived and delivered omni-channel multimarket communication content and campaigns with successful and demonstrable impact across the full spectrum of media types - particularly across web, social and paid media
  • Experience in relevant industries including PR, Advertising, Corporate Communications, Marketing, Media or Design and ideally a range of experiences across different disciplines
  • Strong technical proficiency in creative software e.g. Adobe Creative Suite, familiarity with project management tools. Should be digital savvy with an understanding of digital marketing trends and platforms including, ideally, first-hand experience of the application of AI tools
  • Responsibility for budget and delivery within a creative group context
  • Proven results driven leader working across complex projects with multiple stakeholders and in a multi-national setting.
  • Has operated successfully in matrixed organisations
  • Presentation and sell-through of projects and concepts to senior stakeholders including C -Suite