Creative Director
Possible
Sponsorship likelihood
This employer issued few or no visas recently
Not disclosed
Salary
Not disclosed by employer
£46,000
Going rate
Skilled Worker going rate
This role likely qualifies for a Skilled Worker visa
SOC 2494 (64% match) is an eligible occupation, with a going rate of £46,000, and Equa Multi Academy Trust is a licensed sponsor. That is our reading of the rules. Whether they issue a Certificate of Sponsorship is still their call.
This could also be SOC 1255 (Managers and directors in the creative industries) or SOC 1132 (Marketing, sales and advertising directors). We read the code off the advert, so it is our best guess, not the employer's.
New graduate or PhD holder? Pick one of the lower rates.
What each route needs for this job
| Occupation code | New entrant 70% of going rate | STEM PhD 80% of going rate | Relevant PhD 90% of going rate | Standard rate 100% of going rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2494 Advertising accounts managers and creative directors Most likely code | £33,400 | £36,800 | £41,400 | £46,000 |
1255 Managers and directors in the creative industries Also possible | £33,400 | £44,900 | £44,900 | £44,900 |
1132 Marketing, sales and advertising directors Also possible | £61,100 | £69,800 | £78,600 | £87,300 |
We use the lowest threshold across the plausible codes. Likelihood is Possible at most when the pay clears only a lower rate, or only under a less likely code. How the Home Office picks the code
About the role
Creative Director - POS & Shopper Marketing
About the Role
We're looking for an exceptional Creative Director for a global role defining the vision, capability and operating model of our Central Design Studio. Combining creative leadership, organisational development and commercial acumen, this role will build the teams, technology and ways of working needed to deliver outstanding creative work across global priorities, including POS, retail activation and shopper marketing programmes.
Working closely with business leaders and major global FMCG clients, you'll act as a strategic creative leader and trusted advisor. You'll shape the Studio's long-term direction, lead its Studio Management and Project Management functions, and deploy creative resources against the highest-value global priorities. You'll also translate complex business challenges into clear creative opportunities and compelling strategic recommendations for clients.
This is a high-impact leadership opportunity to build future capability, organisational structure and talent plans; accelerate the adoption of AI, automation and emerging creative technologies; and create a culture that balances creative excellence, operational rigour and commercial performance. As an integral contributor to pitch responses, you'll help shape and articulate our company value proposition and broader strategy, ensuring our creative offer is distinctive, relevant and commercially compelling.
Key Responsibilities Include:
- Setting the creative vision and standards across global POS and retail marketing programmes.
- Translating consumer behaviour, category dynamics and retail insights into clear creative strategies that create measurable impact.
- Challenging briefs to uncover the underlying audience need and conversion opportunity.
- Championing design excellence, innovation and continuous improvement across the creative function.
- Ensuring solutions balance customer engagement, brand objectives, sustainability, manufacturability and commercial performance.
- Acting as a trusted strategic advisor to global brand, marketing and senior client stakeholders.
- Presenting and defending creative recommendations through compelling storytelling and strategic rationale.
- Building, mentoring and inspiring high-performing multidisciplinary creative teams.
- Defining the long-term vision, capability roadmap and operating model for the Central Design Studio.
- Driving the adoption of AI, automation and emerging creative technologies to enhance innovation, quality and efficiency.
- Establishing performance measures across delivery excellence, talent development, utilisation and client satisfaction.
This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of global retail marketing and design, combining strategic leadership with hands-on creative impact in a dynamic international business.
About You
You're a retail-focused creative leader with the ability to move seamlessly between strategy, creative direction, execution and senior stakeholder engagement. You understand that exceptional retail design is about solving both customer and business challenges through creativity and insight.
We're looking for:
- Highly experienced in senior creative leadership roles within retail marketing, retail design, brand activation or POS environments.
- Deep expertise in consumer strategy and behaviour, path-to-purchase and retail environments.
- Experience developing POS and retail activation solutions for major FMCG or consumer brands across global or multi-market programmes.
- A strong portfolio showcasing strategic thinking, creative leadership and design excellence.
About Us
TMS Global is a leading subsidiary of DS Smith International Paper, a renowned global packaging services company. Operating across 97 global markets, TMS Global specializes in retail display, print, and packaging outsourcing. Our TMS family consists of just over 300 people who are spread internationally across Europe, AMEA and the Americas.
"To fulfil our purpose of redefining packaging for a changing world, we aim to build a diverse, motivated and engaged workforce. Our goal is to create a culture of inclusion where everyone is treated fairly, differences are valued and everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.
Our people come from diverse backgrounds, bring different perspectives, ideas and experiences to generate unique solutions focused on present and future sustainability challenges. We welcome all candidates to apply, even those not meeting all criteria."
#LI-CP
This description is the source posting as it read when we added it. We are not affiliated with Equa Multi Academy Trust, so check their own site for the current details.
Where this offer sits in the market
Advertising accounts managers and creative directors (SOC 2494) · UK · ONS ASHE 2025 · basic pay · ~33k in sample- Middle half £39,936–63,596
- Median £48,152
- Going rate £46,000
- Threshold £41,700
- New entrant £33,400–41,400
Similar sponsored roles
See all UK visa jobs- London, England, United Kingdom12 Oct
Paid Social Account Director
Spark Foundry Limited (Trading as Blue 449) · London, England, United Kingdom
- London, England, United Kingdom12 Oct
Client Services Manager (Creative)
ALLWYN ENTERTAINMENT LTD · London, England, United Kingdom
- London, England, United Kingdom12 Oct
Senior Account Manager
HANDLE RECRUITMENT LIMITED · London, England, United Kingdom
- London, England, United Kingdom12 Oct
Amazon Account Manager
Major Players Limited · London, England, United Kingdom
- London, England, United Kingdom12 Oct
Paid Search Account Director
STARCOM WORLDWIDE LIMITED · London, England, United Kingdom
- London, England, United Kingdom12 Oct
Creative Lead EMEA and APAC
TikTok Information Technologies UK Limited · London, England, United Kingdom
About sponsorship for this role
Does this job guarantee visa sponsorship?
Not necessarily. Equa Multi Academy Trust holds a sponsor licence, but sponsorship for a specific hire is always the employer's decision. Be upfront in your application that you'll require it.
What salary is needed for this role to be eligible?
The offer must clear both the general threshold and the SOC 2494 going rate of £46,000. New-entrant and shortage discounts can lower it.