Head of Creative

About Us:

At itsu, we're passionate about making healthy eating exciting, accessible, and affordable. As an Asian-inspired food brand, we’ve grown to over 80 restaurants across the UK and Belgium, while building a thriving grocery business that reaches customers across Europe and beyond. Known for our fresh, high-quality food prepared daily in every shop, we're on an ambitious growth journey. With plans to expand our store estate, accelerate our grocery presence, and continue investing in innovation, technology, and our people, we're shaping the future of healthy fast food.

itsu [ grocery ], where this role sits, extends the much-loved itsu brand beyond our shops and into supermarkets, health food retailers, online channels, wholesale partners, and international markets. Our growing product range includes customer favourites such as crispy seaweed thins, frozen gyoza and bao, brilliant'broth, rice'noodles, and miso'easy, bringing the taste and quality of itsu into homes around the world.

Joining itsu means becoming part of a fast-paced, innovative business with big ambitions, a strong culture, and a shared mission to help people eat beautifully every day.

the role:

Lead a talented in-house studio and work with some of the UK’s best agencies and shape how millions of shoppers discover, choose and love itsu [grocery], from packaging and product launches to campaigns, digital channels and retail.

This is a rare opportunity to play a leading role in building one of the UK's most exciting food brands as we continue our journey towards £250m in annual sales.

key responsibilities:

paid social content creation

· Lead the creation of best-in-class always-on paid social content.

· Work closely with the Brand Director, Brand Marketing Controller, in-house studio team, and external agencies to develop engaging, high-performing creative.

· Use platform learnings and performance insights to continually evolve and improve content.

packaging artwork

· Lead the creative development of new and existing product packaging from initial concept through to final sign-off.

· Work closely with the Brand Director, Senior Production Manager, Marketing Innovation team and internal Design Team to ensure all artwork is delivered to the highest standard.

campaign creative

· Work with the Brand Director and retained creative and PR agencies to develop standout multichannel brand and tactical campaigns.

· Ensure all campaign creative is distinctive, effective and unmistakably itsu.

trade marketing

· Lead the development of best-in-class, high-performing trade marketing creative.

copy writing

· Work alongside the Brand Director and external agency to write and oversee copy across packaging, website, campaigns, trade marketing and wider brand communications.

· Ensure all copy reflects itsu's unique tone of voice and food-first brand positioning.

team management

· Lead an effective and dynamic creative team of two Senior Graphic Designers, a Creative Filmmaker, a Graphic Designer, and a Junior Designer.

this is you:

You will have considerable experience working on food and drink brands, and a proven track record of developing standout packaging, creating high-performing social content, and helping deliver impactful above-the-line campaigns.

You'll combine strong creative instincts with commercial thinking, understand what drives brands at shelf and on screen, and be equally comfortable reviewing packaging artwork, briefing agencies, writing copy or shaping a national campaign.

Most importantly, you'll be ambitious, hands-on and excited by the opportunity to help build one of the UK's fastest-growing food brands.

What We Offer:

• Competitive Salary
• Competitive Bonus Scheme
• 25 days holiday + Bank holidays (two bank holidays are interchangeable for other religious holidays)
• Health Insurance
• Company Pension Scheme
• Hybrid Working model: 4-day onsite/1-day WFH
• Opportunity to work from abroad 2 weeks of the year
• 50% employee discount in itsu shops
• Free itsu lunch every day!
• Discounts at major retailers
• Salary sacrifice cycle and electric vehicle schemes
• Development & Growth opportunities

At itsu [grocery], everyone’s taste matters, and so does who’s behind it. We celebrate diversity and are an equal opportunities employer. Applications from all backgrounds are encouraged. If you need support or adjustments to apply, we’ll happily accommodate.