Head of Creative Services [ Q - 20271]

Aquent is proud to partner with a globally recognized luxury fashion and accessories house, a beacon of elegance and innovation, dedicated to shaping global trends and delivering unparalleled brand experiences. This esteemed client is known for its relentless pursuit of excellence in every aspect of its operations, creating a world where creativity and precision converge to define luxury. Joining this team means stepping into an environment that values visionary leadership and impactful contributions to a globally admired brand. This is an extraordinary opportunity to step into a pivotal leadership role, orchestrating the global brand image operations for our esteemed client. You will be the architect of efficiency, transforming high-concept creative visions into world-class global campaigns that resonate across digital, retail, PR, and e-commerce channels. Your impact will be profound, as you build the structural frameworks that ensure seamless execution and uphold the brand's prestigious image worldwide. This role is designed for a strategic mind focused on operational leadership and project governance, empowering creative teams by establishing robust processes, clear timelines, and cross-functional alignment. Your leadership will directly contribute to the consistent, high-quality presentation of the brand across all consumer touchpoints, driving commercial success and reinforcing its global standing. Key Responsibilities

• Own and manage the global creative services workflow for campaigns, product launches, and content initiatives. Implement clear processes, timelines, and governance frameworks to foster efficient cross-functional collaboration.
• Establish and maintain production calendars aligned with seasonal milestones and commercial priorities. Introduce workflow optimization tools and reporting systems to enhance transparency and accountability, and develop RACI frameworks for campaign sign-offs and approvals.
• Lead in-house production of global campaigns and brand content, ensuring excellence from concept through delivery. Manage all stages of production, including pre-production, shoot execution, post-production, retouching, adaptation, and asset delivery.
• Oversee budget planning and cost control across all productions, ensuring all assets meet luxury production standards and align with brand guidelines. Supervise content versioning and localization for regional markets.
• Select and manage external production companies, photographers, directors, creative partners, and vendors. Negotiate contracts and production budgets to maximize quality and efficiency.
• Maintain a trusted global network of premium creative and production partners. Ensure legal, compliance, and usage rights are secured and thoroughly documented.
• Partner closely with channel owners (Retail, E-commerce, Social, CRM, Wholesale, PR, VM) to ensure creative plans are shared early and integrated seamlessly. Coordinate launch planning timelines across all touchpoints, ensuring assets are delivered in line with go-to-market milestones.
• Work with Marketing to supply comprehensive creative guidelines and toolkits for effective 360° launch execution globally. Ensure creative consistency across paid media, organic social, in-store, digital platforms, and experiential activations.
• Support the adaptation of global campaigns into performance marketing formats without compromising brand equity.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Merchandising to align creative output with hero product strategies and commercial priorities. Contribute to annual planning cycles, mapping production roadmaps against seasonal drops and key brand moments.
• Support long-term brand evolution by maintaining visual identity consistency across all creative output. Build scalable frameworks to support growth in accessories, men's, and day categories.
• Drive continuous improvement in efficiency, cost management, and asset re-usability.
• Lead and develop the Creative Services team, fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, and collaboration. Champion clear communication between creative, marketing, and commercial teams.
• Build strong cross-functional partnerships with colleagues, departments, external vendors, freelancers, and creative talents. Encourage innovation in production processes, including the thoughtful integration of new technologies. Qualifications
• Proven track record in Creative Operations, Creative Project Management, or Creative Delivery within a traditional, global luxury fashion, footwear, or premium accessories brand.
• Demonstrated 70% operational strategist mindset (governance, workflows, scaling operations) and 30% execution expert (delivering world-class productions).
• Deep experience aligning creative output with commercial and merchandising priorities, ensuring assets perform in performance marketing formats without diluting prestige brand equity.
• Demonstrable experience managing complex, multi-million-pound production budgets and securing rigorous legal/usage rights globally. Perks & Benefits
• Enjoy Summer Fridays off across June, July, and August, plus guaranteed global office closure between Christmas and New Year.
• 25 days' annual leave plus UK bank holidays. About Aquent Talent Client Description Our client is an iconic global luxury brand famed worldwide for setting the gold standard in luxury footwear, leather accessories, and high-fashion drops. Operating as a flagship house within an international luxury group, they combine exceptional creative ambition with global commercial scale. Known for high-visibility global campaigns and an agile, trend-setting visual culture, they offer a collaborative, Central London-based environment where operational architecture directly powers world-class creative output.