Creative Director

We are building something special at Three: an in-house agency that is going to re-energise the brand and take our marketing effort to new heights.

This role is pivotal to that goal. We need a strong creative practitioner, with proven leadership skills, to define our creative ambitions for the brand and to guide our talented team of creatives and designers so that we can realise those ambitions.

At the same time, the creative director will face outwards, advocating the commercial value of creativity within the wider business. They will also work closely with the head of creative services to define the culture and agree ways of working within the new IHA, as well as with our external agencies to collaborate on campaigns which are led by them.

Success will be an extension of the IHA’s remit over time, taking on higher profile briefs as we prove our capability to the business. The right candidate will be up for that challenge and will give as much love to digital retail promotions and always-on social content as to above the line advertising.

Create the conditions for the success of the in-house agency. You will begin by working with the head of creative services and the brand lead to review the existing brand. You will assess what is needed to re-energise it and make it fit for the competitive opportunities and challenges ahead. You will define our creative ambitions for the brand, develop new brand guidelines and agree a clear measurable plan for how to achieve the ambitions you’ve set. Beyond this you will use your expert knowledge and experience in brand development and creative communications, as well as your leadership and management skills, to enable the entire IHA team to thrive.

Lead, motivate and manage to achieve the ambitions. This role is all about getting the best from the entire in-house team. To do this, you will build an agile, commercially creative and collaborative culture. You’ll challenge, create confidence and coach the team, nurturing and inspiring them to become the best they can be. You’ll convey the significance of the work to the team, celebrate examples of quality work and its effectiveness. You’ll also be seen to be an enthusiastic advocate for commercially creative marketing within the business, gaining the commitment and active support of the board, key stakeholders and the marketing team. And you’ll build the reputation of the in-house agency so that it attracts and retains star quality people.

Guide the work so it is consistently the best it can be.  Set clear standards for the work across Creative, Design and Production in all channels and for all types of asset. Encourage the team to treat every brief as an opportunity, whilst working within agreed timelines and budgets. Stay close to the work as it progresses between briefing, reviews and approval, ensuring its creators can articulate how the work will work and enhance the brand in the mind of our customers and potential customers. Guide the team in how to present the work to demonstrate why it is right and practical to execute.

Partner with the lead creative agency. Build strong collaborative relationships with external partners taking direction on creative strategy and lead ideas, forming the third corner of the Lead agency, Marketing and In-House Agency triangle.

Help the In-House Agency run efficiently and effectively. Based on a deep understanding of all the brands in the stable and the creative ambition of the IHA, set clear ways of working across the team, so that each member of the team is able to work efficiently and effectively. Advocate the use of systems, tools and processes which enable your team to excel. Model the right behaviours to encourage respectful collaboration across all functions of the IHA and to show respect for timelines, budgets and other constraints inherent in the brief. Encourage your team to see those constraints as a creative challenge while also empowering them to push back on briefs which fail to inspire or lack clarity.

• Extensive experience in a Creative Director role including but not exclusively in in-house agency/ies.
• Extensive experience of leading creative teams in a fast-moving creative environment that delivers consistently high-quality creative output across Brand, all channels of Marketing Communication, Retail estate and Packaging.
• A proven track record of delivering quality work both as a practitioner and as a leader.
• Experience of improving overall creative standards and output in an agency leadership role.

What you'll receive in return…

• A performance based annual bonus & an additional 'flexible allowance' to spend on additional benefits, topping up your pension, or to be added to your salary
• A company car allowance.
• Hybrid working between your home (2-3 days a week) and our Reading office (2-3 days a week)
• 28 days annual leave + 8 bank holidays + 3 personal days annually, which increases with length of service
• Private Medical Insurance, Life Assurance and Income Protection
• Free mobile phone package & unlimited sim-card
• .... Plus lots more including wellbeing and learning & development benefits!

Our people make us who we are. We’re a diverse and inclusive bunch, and it’s important you can feel you belong here. We value everybody for who they are and what they bring to the table, supporting one another as we continue to deliver for our customers.

With that in mind, if you do not ‘tick every box’ in the job advert above, there are likely other valuable attributes and skills you have that would make you a great addition for the team. So, if you feel this role is for you, then please apply! We are committed to equality in employment and growing a diverse workforce. We embrace those of any race, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, marital status, family status or civil status and we want our teams to reflect this!

We are a Disability Confident Committed Employer. Need any reasonable adjustments? Let us know when you apply so we can support you throughout the interview process.

At Three we have a hybrid working arrangement in place as standard for office based employees, where employees work from a mix of office based location and working from their home in the UK to carry on their role.

Excluding retail, our core hours at Three are between 10:00 and 16:00, with operating hours between 08:00 & 18:30. This allows employees to have a start time between 08:00 and 10:00 and finish time between 16:00 and 18:30.