Job Description

Introduction

Metropolitan is one of the oldest financial services brands in South Africa. With a 125-year legacy of serving the communities in which it operates, Metropolitan represents true empowerment in serving Africa's people through affordable financial solutions that create financial growth and security. Metropolitan operates in South Africa, but the brand is also present in 7 African countries including, Namibia, Botswana, Kenya, Ghana and Lesotho. Metropolitan provides financial wellness solutions that meet the needs of low-income clients, including funeral insurance, health, savings, hospital cash-back cover, retirement solutions and life insurance. www.metropolitan.co.za

Disclaimer

As an applicant, please verify the legitimacy of this job advert on our company career page.

Role Purpose

The Studio and Design Manager is responsible for managing the operational and design aspects of a creative studio or agency. Oversee the design projects from conception through execution, ensuring that deliverables align with brand standards and marketing strategies. Foster a collaborative environment that encourages creativity and innovation, while effectively managing resources and timelines.

Requirements

Degree in Multimedia Design, Graphic Design, Visual Arts, or related field
5-8 years of experience in multimedia production or graphic design
Portfolio showcasing a range of design and video work
Experience working in a corporate, agency, or regulated environment preferred
Proven ability to lead a team and inspire creative thinking


SKILLS



Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, After Effects)
Excellent project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
Negotiations skills, flexibility and adaptability
Strong communication and interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams
Familiarity with digital marketing concepts, social media, and current design trends is a plus
Experience with video editing and animation software
Innovative & creative excellence with strong attention to detail

Duties & Responsibilities

Studio workflow management:

Inspire and guide the team towards a shared creative vision.
Oversee the entire design process, from project briefing and concept development to execution and delivery.
Develop and implement design processes and workflows to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
Manage the design studio and ensure the smooth running of the creative teams' workflow and administrative processes.
Maintain accurate records of all creative assets and ensure the correct filing and version management.
Lead the design team , delegate tasks and ensuring team members have the resources they need.
Ensure that all design work meets quality standards , client briefs and brand guidelines.
Stay updated on industry trends, emerging technologies and competitor to inspire innovative ideas.
Encourage brainstorming and acceptance of unconventional ideas to enhance creativity.


Visual & Graphic Design:



Create visual assets for marketing campaigns, social media, internal communications, and presentations.
Design brochures, infographics, web banners, digital ads, and signage within brand standards.
Work with the content and brand team to translate messages into compelling visuals.
Think outside the box and generate innovative ideas for all design projects.


Video Production:



Knowledge of the production process of the multimedia content creation from conception to deliver.
Shoot, edit, and produce short videos for internal and external use (e.g., client explainers, recruitment videos, testimonials).
Add voiceovers, music, captions, and animations where needed.
Ensure final outputs are on-brand, legally compliant, and platform-optimized.


Digital Content Development:



Support website, app, and email content with responsive visuals and animated media.
Design multimedia content for webinars, product tutorials, and digital client journeys.
Optimize multimedia files for loading speed, accessibility, and device responsiveness.


Creative Collaboration



Engage with stakeholders to understand their needs, expectations and concerns.
Collaborate with graphic designers, copywriters, digital marketers, product & brand managers, and UX designers.
Participate in campaign planning sessions and contribute creative ideas.
Adapt and localize global/regional content where relevant to the South African or target market context.


Brand Stewardship:



Uphold the corporate brand's visual identity in all outputs.
Contribute to the development and upkeep of brand toolkits, templates, and design standards.


People:



Create a positive work climate and culture to energise employees, give meaning to work, minimise work disruption and maximise employee productivity.
Demonstrate exemplary leadership behaviour, through personal involvement, commitment and dedication in support of organisational values.
Select and recruit suitably qualified talent in line with Employment Equity principles and METROPOLITAN values.
Drive a culture that guides and directs best practice, fostering an environment of continuous learning,
improvement and cohesiveness.
Enable a learning and growth culture whereby information regarding successes, issues, trends and ideas are actively shared between team members.
Execute effective workforce planning practices to ensure that staffing requirements are accurately
Identify employee growth and development needs and schedule interventions to enable ongoing
development, training and personal growth.
Effectively manage performance within the team in order to ensure business objectives are achieved
Encourage innovation, change agility and collaborative working relationships with peers and stakeholders.


Finance:



Develop and manage marketing budgets, ensuring proper allocation of resources to maximise ROI on shopper marketing initiatives.
Control the budget for area, including the authorisation of expenditures and implementation of financial regulations.
Manage high risk and problematic financial issues in area of accountability and contribute to the development of policy.
Identify solutions opportunities to enhance cost effectiveness and increase operational efficiency.
Implement and manage financial risk methodologies, techniques and systems and use to monitor and report on financial activities.
Implement and provide feedback on the effectiveness of financial policy, practice and procedures preventing illegal, unethical or improper conduct.
Implement risk management, governance and compliance policies in own practice area, to identify and manage governance and risk exposure liability.
Provide input into the risk identification processes and communicate recommendations in the appropriate forum.

Competencies

Generating Ideas
Developing Expertise
Producing Output
Meeting Timescales
Challenging Ideas
Inviting Feedback
Establishing Rapport
* Showing Composure