Head of Design/Operations

Location: UK
Department: creative
Job Type: Full Time

In 1999 a high-level concierge service was founded in a basement apartment in Notting Hill. In the decades since, the business has evolved into an international full-service agency that has earned itself a globally recognised track record of delivering some of the most impactful and innovative experiences around for clients such as LinkedIn, Gong and VeeFriends. We have great ambitions and are proud of everything we’ve built since our basement apartment days, but we’re still growing, and for our next phase, we need you!


what you’ll be doing

We’re going through an exciting period of growth, helping clients across the world bring their stories to life through the power of events, and we’re looking for someone brilliant to help us do that. So, if you’re a Head of Design/Operations (or think you’ve got what it takes to become one!) we need you!

The Design team is responsible for projects directly impacting business goals and metrics. In this role, you will primarily work with the Client Experience, Event Production and Marketing teams to define design programming at scale. You will be key in enhancing our design system, focusing on reusability and accessibility, and fostering a culture of excellence and team spirit. In addition to this, you will perform design work and project management to support the team when needed.  

The Head of Design will be working in close collaboration with the Creative Director. Your roles and responsibilities will vary however, the Head of Design will oversee the design studio and will be responsible for managing and leading the design team, setting design standards, and ensuring that design projects meet the objectives and requirements set. Your focus will be on the strategic aspects of design, such as aligning design initiatives with the organisation’s overall goals, setting design direction, and ensuring consistency in design across different projects. The role will also involve resource management, project planning, team leadership, budget management for the department and collaboration with other departments to ensure the successful execution of design projects.


what you’ll need

5+ years of experience

To deliver in this role successfully, Design, Operational and Leadership skills are vital. You will have 5+ years’ experience as a Head of Design/Senior Design Project Manager/Design Operations role.

great communication skills

In this role, you’ll be in charge of leading and managing the Design team alongside working with all internal departments. As a result, we’re looking for someone who is great at communicating and building relationships (both inside and outside of the business) and is never afraid to speak up and tell people what they need.

high levels of organisational skills

We take pride in all that we do and always spend time getting to know the details involved in our projects. In this role, you’ll be in charge of design team resourcing. As a result, you’ll need to have high levels of organisation to ensure each project is managed correctly.

an eagerness to learn

We look for those who are willing to get involved, take risks if they spot a great opportunity, and help us get to where we want to be. Because of this, we need somebody that’s happy to ask for help if they’re not sure of something, and is ready to get stuck into the role and make it their own.

technological skills

We work online, remote/hybrid, and create virtual, live and hybrid events. Because of this, we use a lot of different software (that we’ll teach you how to use!) both internally and on our projects, so you’ll need the ability to navigate different technologies. 


what you’ll get

The chance to be part of a fast-growing, award-winning global events agency that encourages their team to have autonomy over their role, enabling you to bring new ideas to the table, develop your role into exactly what you want it to be and receive support whilst doing it.

In addition to that, in return for everything you bring, we will provide the following:

opportunities to travel

With events happening in incredible locations across the globe, there are plenty of opportunities to travel. Previous locations include New York, Miami, San Francisco, Mexico City, São Paulo, Singapore, Dubai, Ibiza, Barcelona, Paris, Hvar and more!

flexible hours

We have typical hours of 10 am – 6 pm but due to the nature of the events industry, we offer a flexible approach to this. Want to work different hours? You can. Need to pop out for an appointment? You can. You just need to let your manager know!

company culture

A great company culture provides more than just lip service—and we make sure we’re always doing that by regularly investing in it. Not just offering you a job and a warm welcome, but creating opportunities for you to build a fulfilling career. We do this by investing in your development, whether personal or professional, providing accessible leadership, and hosting numerous team socials. Including Christmas and Summer parties you’ll actually want to attend—with previous overnight stays at venues such as the Wilderness Reserve, Four Seasons and Artists Residence.

hybrid working

We work remotely most of the time, but have one day a week where we meet in our (dog-friendly!) Soho Works office so we can connect and catch up. When you’re not in the office, you can work from anywhere: your home, your garden, abroad — and we’ll set you up with the equipment to do so, including an Apple MacBook, mouse, laptop stand and second screen.

career progression

At emc3, we have a dedicated learning and development budget allocated to each person so that they can learn and grow in their role. And when it comes to progression, you’ll have the opportunity to level: up, down or sideways! Whether you’re looking to progress further in a current role or change departments—where possible, we’ll always support you with the transition.

mental health support

In addition to unlimited paid time off for mental health, we provide free access to therapy, counselling and mental health resources for all of our employees.

paid volunteering

We believe everybody should do their bit, and so offer one paid day off a year so that you can help out in your local community.

an emphasis on sustainability

We care about the impact events and our business have on the environment and have a sustainability team to ensure we follow best practices to make our events as environmentally friendly as possible.

This job is no longer accepting applications.