Head of Design and Creative

At the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, we work with political leaders around the world to drive change. We help governments turn bold ideas into reality so they can deliver for their people. We do it by advising on strategy, policy and delivery, unlocking the power of technology across all three. And by sharing what we learn on the ground, so everyone can benefit. We do it to build more open, inclusive and prosperous countries for people everywhere.

We are a global not-for-profit organisation, operating in more than 40 countries across five continents. Our teams include political strategists, policy experts, delivery practitioners, technology specialists and more. We speak more than 45 languages and are working on over 100 projects, tackling some of the world’s biggest challenges. We’re all here at TBI to make a difference.

In a world of ever more complex challenges, we believe diversity of background and perspective is a strength. We pride ourselves on a culture that values and nurtures difference. We are dedicated to unlocking potential, not only for the countries we work in but also for each of our team members. No matter where you’re from or who you are, if you’re passionate about the transformative power of progressive politics, we invite you to build a better future with us.

Role Summary

The Head of Design & Creative leads TBI’s design and creative direction, ensuring the Institute is presented in a coherent, high-quality and engaging way across publications, campaigns, events, digital and social channels. The role involves setting governance and standards for brand management; providing creative direction for high-impact strategic moments where professional judgement, clarity of purpose and the desired outcomes are central to success; leading the in-house creative design and video team.

Key Responsibilities 

•         Develop and maintain the long-term vision and roadmap for TBI’s design and creative function, ensuring it evolves in line with organisational priorities as set by the senior executive team.

•         Own and evolve TBI's brand standards and governance, ensuring consistent application across channels and formats.

•         Provide creative direction for high-impact moments, including flagship events, priority campaigns and partnerships.

•         Lead concept development for priority work and ensure narrative and visuals align across all channels.

•         Lead the in-house studio team and ensure Design and Video workflows support and enhance the coherence and quality of storytelling across outputs.

•         Maintain strong relationships with colleagues across the Institute to effectively manage prioritisation of workload with clear expectations for outcomes.

•         Use insight and feedback (qualitative and quantitative) to improve creative effectiveness and consistency across channels.

Person specification  

The successful candidate will:  

• Have significant experience in design and creative leadership, with a strong portfolio spanning multiple channels and formats.
• Have a strong understanding of brand strategy, identity development and governance, with experience evolving and maintaining a brand across a complex organisation.
• Demonstrate excellent creative judgement, translating organisational priorities into compelling creative concepts and confidently setting direction.
• Have proven experience leading and developing multidisciplinary creative teams, combining strategic leadership with hands-on expertise and constructive critique.
• Have extensive experience delivering high-profile creative work across publications, campaigns, events, digital, social and video, from concept to production.
• Be an effective communicator presenting creative recommendations and building relationships across teams in the UK and around the world.
• Understand how brand and creative support wider communications objectives, audience engagement and organisational reputation.
• Be pragmatic and adaptable, with experience developing creative systems and ways of working that improve quality and efficiency while managing competing priorities.
• Demonstrate an interest in politics, policy, technology and innovation, with the ability to engage with complex subject matter and communicate it creatively.

Closing Date: