Design and Visual Identity Lead

EMBL is Europe’s life sciences laboratory. At our six sites in Barcelona, Grenoble, Hamburg, Heidelberg, Hinxton near Cambridge, and Rome, we seek to better understand life in its natural context, from molecules to ecosystems. 

EMBL is an intergovernmental organisation supported by 29 member states. We provide leadership and coordination for the life sciences across Europe, and our world-class fundamental research seeks collaborative and interdisciplinary solutions for some of society’s biggest challenges. We provide training for students and scientists, drive the development of new technology and methods in the life sciences, and offer state-of-the-art research infrastructure for a wide range of experimental and data services. 

EMBL’s Communications Team is looking for an experienced and motivated creative professional to lead its design team. You will play an important role in ensuring consistency in the organisation’s approach to visual branding in a multi-site environment that requires creative visuals and design, serving a variety of purposes and for various audiences.

Your role 

You will manage and mentor a small in-house team as well as task and direct external design professionals. You will be a trusted adviser on visual identity, design, copyright, and logo use to internal and external stakeholders. You will also act as EMBL's point of reference for the responsible use of Generative AI in design and visual communications.

At a practical level, you will be responsible for all aspects of corporate design and its implementation across all channels – online, social, multimedia, print, signage, wearable, and exhibitions – including securing internal support and compliance. You will create visual assets, provide art direction, and advise and train colleagues across EMBL.

We are an international, friendly and supportive team with personal and professional connections to researchers, government, and communications and journalism professionals around the world. This role is based in Heidelberg, Germany, and supports and advises all six EMBL sites across five European countries, and our network of partners and collaborators across our member states.

Main responsibilities include

• Lead, mentor, and provide strategic direction to the design team, cultivating a culture of creativity, collaboration and continuous innovation

• Manage in-house and commissioned design and illustration services for internal clients, and – on occasion – for external stakeholders

• Lead the prioritisation of strategic projects, ensuring resources align with organisational priorities

• Provide stewardship of EMBL's corporate identity across its six sites to ensure brand consistency

• Deliver engaging design training to EMBL staff

You have 

• A bachelor’s degree or relevant design qualifications

• Experience in science communications or a relevant academic field

• A minimum of five years’ experience as an art director or in senior graphic design roles, either at an agency or in-house

• Proven leadership and management experience; experience directing service providers

• Project management expertise in a fast-paced, multi-task environment

• Familiarity with integrating AI tools into creative workflows with appropriate governance

• Ability to evaluate and introduce new design technologies, and to set clear, practical standards for their responsible use across a large, multi-site organisation

• Excellent skills in Adobe Creative Cloud and other relevant software 

• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organisational skills

• Excellent written and oral English skills

• A demonstrated interest in translating complex scientific topics into compelling visual storytelling

• Experience in sourcing and negotiating with supplier

You may also have

• Fluency in German would be advantageous

• Experience working in a scientific and/or international organisation

Contract length: 3 years renewable to a maximum of 9 years.

Salary: Grade 6 or 7; depending on experience and qualifications (monthly salary starting from €4,580 after tax, excl. pension & insurances) + benefits

How to apply: Please send us your application via the application portal, including your CV, a cover letter, and at least three examples of your work with relevance to this role.

Why join us

EMBL is curiosity-driven, community-oriented and international. As an inclusive, equal opportunity employer, we believe that diversity enables us to collaborate more effectively and be innovative in our approaches. We are, therefore, committed to creating an inclusive and flexible culture - one where everyone can realise their full potential and make a positive contribution to our organisation. 

We encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing team – we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and personal experiences reflect the diversity of the populations that our science serves. We actively encourage applications from all genders and cultures, ethnic groups and all demographics to help us avoid perpetuating biases and oversights at this transformational point in our people strategy.

Enjoy lots of benefits:

• Financial incentives: Salary free of income tax, Monthly family, child and non-resident allowances, annual salary review, pension scheme, death benefit, long-term care, accident-at-work and unemployment insurances

• Flexible working arrangements

• Private medical insurance for you and your immediate family (including all prescriptions and generous dental & optical cover)

• Generous time off: 30 days annual leave per year, in addition to public holidays

• Relocation package including installation grant (if applicable)

• Campus life: Free shuttle bus (Heidelberg), library, subsidised on-site cafeteria, casual dress code, extensive sports and social club activities (on campus and remotely)

• Family benefits: Kindergarten (Heidelberg), 10 days of child sick leave, generous paid maternity/parental leave and monthly family & child allowances

• Benefits for international newcomers: Visa exemption, education grant for private schooling, financial support to travel back to your home country every second year and a monthly non-resident allowance.

• For detailed information please visit our employee benefits page here

What else you need to know

• International applicants: We recruit internationally and successful candidates are offered visa exemptions. Visit our International Applicants page, to find out more.

• EMBL is a signatory of DORA. Find out how we apply DORA principles to our recruitment and performance assessment processes here.

• Diversity and inclusion: At EMBL, we believe that diverse teams drive innovation and scientific excellence. We encourage applications from candidates of all genders, identities, nationalities and/or any other diverse backgrounds.

• How to apply: To apply please submit a cover letter and a CV through our online system. Applications will close at 23:59 CET on the date shown below. We aim to provide a response within two weeks after the closing date.

Closing Date