Head of Creative Services

Job Summary

Zurich Life Assurance is looking for a Head of Creative Services who will report to the Chief Marketing Officer. This position leads a team of creative designers who are responsible for visually communicating content composed by internal business units into captivating outputs that are engaging, functional and aligned with Zurich’s corporate brand. Projects include artwork for external and internal materials for print such as brochures, adverts, direct mail, contractual and regulatory documentation, event display, tenders and digital such as website graphics, e-marketing content, audio, video and animation.
 

Your Role

As Head of Creative Services your main responsibilities will include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following:

• People management: Promote a team environment inspiring collaboration, creativity, and personal development. Manage team to deliver high quality, cost effective and timely outputs across multiple customer touchpoints.
• Production management: Manage production schedule facilitating transparency through the team’s digital job tracking system. 
• Brand management: Advocate the Zurich customer value proposition, Zurich customer centricity, Zurich graphic standards and Zurich corporate brand guidelines to maintain the integrity of all creative outputs.
• Encourage and stretch brand creativity where appropriate.
• Drive creative team to deliver innovative solutions.
• Project management: Workstream owner for creative projects ensuring appropriate scoping, planning and execution to meet all deliverables.
• Stakeholder management: Manage expectations at all levels from frontline to C-Suite with ability to coordinate feedback clearly and concisely.
• Vendor management: Oversee the management and maintenance of agreements with third party vendors. 
• Maintain department’s SharePoint site to manage permissions and communicate standard operating procedures and best practice. 
• Encourage clear communication of project progress between designers and requesters to reduce escalations.
• Implement efficient processes and procedures for production, asset management and communication.  
• Demonstrate effective problem solving and ideation skills. 
• Maintain knowledge of current graphic techniques, technology, industry trends and software applications. 

Business accountabilities

•    Provide consultancy support to stakeholders to ensure creative alignment with the company’s strategic and business objectives.
•    Actively consider the commercial impact when conceptualising to ensure ROI is optimised.
•    Complete regular quality reviews to identify, assess and take action to mitigate risks.
•    Undertake inspections of established processes, practice as well as outputs to identify potential or actual compliance issues and recommend appropriate action.
•    Create and analyse insights based on the data available and detail in regular management reports.
•    Deliver communications support particularly for complex communications to ensure successful delivery of integrated messages. 

Performance management accountabilities

•    Model behaviours that demonstrate commitment to the Zurich corporate values and behaviours.
•    Conduct performance reviews through continuous assessment activities throughout the year.
•    Provide input into performance management discussions of project team members.
•    Conflict management.
•    Educate team members and business partners on area of technical expertise.
•    Identify creative opportunities to advance the brand both internally and externally.
•    Provide guidance and support for team members through coaching and mentoring techniques.
•    Take action to manage own personal development and encourage others to do the same.

Your Skills and Experience

As Head of Creative Services your skills and qualifications will include: 

•    Degree in visual communication or equivalent. 
•    7+ years of experience within the creative field.
•    Track record successfully managing and developing creative teams with high level communication and conflict resolution skills. 
•    Highly innovative and creative mindset.
•    Highly proactive and organised with the ability to multi-task and manage a large workload within a fast-paced environment.
•    Excellent project management and presentation skills.
•    Experience directing projects for print, digital, audio, video and animation.
•    Solid understanding of print methods and preflighting.
•    Mac literate.
•    Advanced: Adobe CC (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat), SharePoint.
•    Intermediate: Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Teams, OneNote, Excel).
•    Beginner: Adobe CC (After Effects, Premier Pro, Audition), Animoto.

Additional Information

This is a hybrid role which will require 2-3 days in office per week. 

If you value an exciting and varied working environment and meet the above requirements, then we are looking forward to receiving your application. This role may be available both part or full-time. Please discuss with us the flexibility you may require
 

Who we are

 Zurich is one of Ireland's leading insurance companies providing a wide range of general insurance and life insurance products and services. The company employs over 1,000 people across its locations in Dublin and Wexford. Zurich is a strong brand. Zurich in Ireland is part of Zurich Insurance Group, a leading multi-line insurer that serves its customers in global and local markets. Our 55,000 employees worldwide form the basis of our success, helping our customers in 210 countries and territories to understand and protect themselves from risk. In order to deliver our services, we offer a competitive compensation package and interesting opportunities for further training & development. As a Zurich employee you benefit from a multitude of advantages as well as a strong culture, characterized by acceptance, diversity and team spirit.