Design Lead / Senior Designer

Publicis Groupe Africa is a leading marketing, communications, and business transformation network operating across 36 African countries, combining creativity, technology, and local insight to deliver integrated client solutions.

Publicis Groupe Africa is part of Publicis Groupe, the second-largest communications group globally, founded in 1926. The African network operates as a partnership of 44 communications agencies with offices spanning 36 countries, including South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, Morocco, and many others.

Its headquarters are in Johannesburg and Cape Town, providing a central hub for continental operations.

Overview

Design Leadership | Digital Craft | Integrated Design | AI & Future-Fit Creativity

THE OPPORTUNITY

Telecommunications is one of the most dynamic categories in the market that sits at the intersection of technology, culture, connectivity, customer experience and everyday life. This role offers the opportunity to work with a leading telecommunications client and help shape the next generation of its agency partnership.

We are building a connected, future-fit model that brings together creativity, intelligence, data, technology, AI and world-class execution around the customer. It is an opportunity for ambitious leaders to influence the work, the operating model and the capabilities we build — creating a partnership designed not only for today's challenges, but for what comes next.

ROLE PURPOSE

The Design Lead / Senior Designer is a hands-on senior creative responsible for the design quality, visual consistency and execution of assigned work within the Publicis/client partnership.

The role translates strategy and briefs into distinctive, effective and culturally relevant design across digital campaigns, social content, owned channels and integrated campaign adaptations. It combines concept development and hands-on execution with design direction, quality control and mentoring.

Working closely with creative leadership, strategy, client service, media, technology, production and operations, the role helps build a connected design practice that brings together strong craft, practical AI capability and efficient ways of working.

The Design Lead / Senior Designer is accountable for delivering:

Distinctive design that answers the brief and works across relevant channels.

High standards of craft, brand consistency and production accuracy.

Clear design direction and practical support for other designers.

Responsible use of AI and technology to improve ideas and execution.

Reliable delivery, effective collaboration and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

DESIGN LEADERSHIP & CREATIVE CRAFT

• Develop compelling concepts, layouts and visual narratives that answer the brief and support campaign objectives.
• Define or apply campaign aesthetics with strong typography, composition, imagery and visual hierarchy.
• Bring insight into South African culture and digital behaviour to brainstorms, campaign development and presentations.

TALENT, COLLABORATION & CLIENT PARTNERSHIP

• Lead design reviews within assigned workstreams, provide clear feedback and guide designers towards stronger creative solutions.
• Mentor junior and mid-level designers through practical coaching, knowledge sharing and craft development.
• Present design ideas and rationale confidently to internal teams and clients, responding constructively to feedback.
• Partner with creative leadership on pitches, proactive ideas and integrated campaign development.

DIGITAL DESIGN & PLATFORM EXECUTION

• Create platform-appropriate assets for social, display, performance media, web and other digital touchpoints, including relevant retail and content adaptations.
• Apply responsive design, usability and accessibility principles; collaborate with developers and specialists on implementation.
• Build reusable templates, components and design systems that enable consistent, efficient campaign rollout.
• Prepare organised, accurate production files and handovers, with appropriate specifications, naming and version control.

AI, TECHNOLOGY & FUTURE-FIT DESIGN

• Use approved AI tools in practical design workflows, including research, ideation, visual exploration, image development and adaptation.
• Apply critical judgement to AI-generated work, refining outputs for originality, accuracy, brand suitability and production quality.
• Protect confidential information and follow agency and client requirements for intellectual property, image rights and responsible AI use.
• Test and share useful techniques that improve turnaround and reduce repetitive tasks without compromising creative quality.

PRODUCTION, QUALITY & OPERATIONAL PARTNERSHIP

• Plan work with project management and traffic teams, manage priorities and flag capacity constraints or delivery risks early.
• Check work against the brief, brand guidelines, channel requirements and approved content before review or release.
• Use feedback and available performance insights to improve design, and help reduce avoidable rework across the team.

PERFORMANCE & ACCOUNTABILITY

• High-quality, on-brand work that meets brief objectives and channel requirements.
• Reliable delivery against agreed deadlines and scope, with accurate handovers and fewer avoidable corrections.
• Consistent design standards and visible development of designers supported by the role.
• Evidence of effective AI use, template adoption and workflow improvements that protect creative quality.
• Constructive collaboration, clear presentations and positive stakeholder feedback.

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

• A relevant qualification in graphic design, visual communication or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience.
• Minimum six years of relevant design experience, ideally within an agency or similarly fast-paced creative environment.
• A strong portfolio showing concept development, digital design craft and integrated campaign rollout, with at least four relevant examples and a clear explanation of personal contribution.
• Demonstrated experience leading design work, reviewing creative output and mentoring other designers.
• Experience working across multiple projects and stakeholders; telecommunications or large consumer brand experience is advantageous.

WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF TOOLS & AI

• Strong working proficiency in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, alongside Figma for collaborative design and prototyping.
• Confident use of PowerPoint or Keynote to build clear, compelling creative presentations.
• Sound knowledge of digital production requirements, interaction and visual design principles, and social platform creative formats.
• Practical experience using AI within a creative process, with the ability to demonstrate the workflow, human judgement applied and quality of the final result.
• Motion design and After Effects, HTML5 display production, video editing or 3D skills are advantageous.

THE PERSON

A craft-led conceptual thinker who combines curiosity with sound judgement. You are organised, collaborative and comfortable taking ownership. You can explain your creative choices, give and receive constructive feedback, solve problems under pressure and maintain high standards in a busy delivery environment. You are eager to learn, generous with your knowledge and open to new tools and ways of working.

Publicis Groupe Africa is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits any forms of Discrimination or Harassment. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all our employees in line with our Employment Equity Plan.All appointments will be based on qualifications, experience and best fit but preference will be given to candidates from designated groups. Interested candidates must please submit a concise CV including a link to your portfolio if necessary. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Should you not hear from us within 2 weeks after submitting your application, please consider your application as unsuccessful.

PUBLICIS VALUES

Trust through respect, transparency and accountability. Talent through collaboration, development and high standards. Transformation through curiosity, continuous learning and improvements that create value for clients.