Lead Graphic Designer & Brand Manager (Temporary Role) - Dubai Campus

OverviewLead Graphic Designer and Brand ManagerTemporary Contract (August 2025 - March 2026)Heriot Watt University Dubai CampusWe are currently recruiting for a Lead Graphic Designer and Brand Manager with the Marketing Recruitment Admissions and Communications (MRAC) team. Reporting to the Head of Marketing in Dubai you will be a guardian of Heriot-Watt's impactful University Brand externally and within the University. You will be responsible for managing the brand output and development of creative deliverables that support key student recruitment and reputation as well as marketing campaigns events online presence social media brand campaigns and stakeholder engagement activities in areas such as Communications Alumni & Development Research and Enterprise and Office of The Principal. Your role is to manage creative requirements for the Dubai campus in addition to supporting and aligning with creative requirements globally. Two Graphic Designers will be reporting to this role so applicants must have leadership experience.Summary of Key Duties and ResponsibilitiesCreative Lead: Using your creative judgement and communication skills to lead on creative development with regard to collateral development for the academic schools, help graphic designers maximise their own creative output and deliver first-class creative work; reviewing briefs and setting the creative direction for projects where necessary taking into account direction from Head of MarketingTraffic & Workflow Management: Maintain high levels of production and traffic management to ensure internal client briefs are processed to agreed timescales and budgets, prioritising and reallocating tasks as necessary. This will involve using project/task/workflow delivery tools such as Slack, MS Teams and Trello.Supplier Management: Lead external supplier agreements and contracts for specialist media and print services, utilising suppliers and freelancers when necessaryDigital-First: Adopting a digital-first approach to projects and constantly improving the creative output to ensure innovative digital solutions are adopted in client briefsSenior Stakeholder Engagement: Key stakeholder engagement at all levels of the University to take briefs and working with team members on delivering response to briefs professionally. Developing strong working relationships with Heads of/DirectorsBrand Stewardship & Management: To act as the key decision-maker on brand related matters for Dubai escalating to Head of Marketing when necessaryGlobal Coordination: Providing creative support for projects delivered by Malaysia and UK teams ensuring briefs can be delivered that meet local market needs.Reporting: Providing regular monthly reporting on process efficiency in project delivery and also cost managementCustomer Service Evaluation: Continually evaluating client satisfaction and ensuring highest levels of customer service. This involves gathering feedback and identifying areas for improvement in effectiveness or efficiency which can support our strategic objective to be a Globally Connected UniversityBrand tone of voice guidelines and quality monitoring: Brand lead on the development of tone of voice and brand guidelines to ensure these are clear, consistent and up to date. This will enable our brand to be communicated externally and internally through the ongoing work of the design studio, external suppliers/agencies and professional service colleagues in the University.Education Qualifications & ExperienceEssentialAt least 5 years experience in a graphic design or creative role with a strong background in client deliveryKnowledge of video production/editingProven experience managing and delivering multiple projects successfully for internal or external clientsA strong entrepreneurial mind-setSignificant experience managing a team of graphic or digital designersExperience managing internal and external print delivery and servicesMust have exceptional communication skills and be able to bridge the gap between the operational and creative demands of the teamExperience of developing or delivering brand guidelines and championing this through all areasPassion for brand building with strong commercial awarenessProficiency in a variety of rapid prototyping and design tools Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop Illustrator InDesign Acrobat) within a Mac environmentAbility to work effectively both independently and as part of a teamDesirableCreative agency or design studio backgroundExperience of working in Higher EducationTechnical knowledge of print productionAn appreciation of other cultures, the global reach of the university and its international agendaHeriot-Watt University ValuesWith a history dating back to 1821 Heriot-Watt University has established a reputation for world-class teaching and professionally relevant leading-edge research which has made it one of the top UK universities for business and industry.We are a vibrant forward-looking university well known for the qual