Design and Visual Identity Lead

Overview

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.

The 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.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and provide strategic direction to the design team, cultivating a culture of creativity, collaboration and continuous innovation.
• Manage and mentor a small in‑house team, task and direct external design professionals.
• Serve as a trusted adviser on visual identity, design, copyright, and logo use to internal and external stakeholders.
• Act as EMBL's point of reference for the responsible use of Generative AI in design and visual communications.
• Oversee all aspects of corporate design and its implementation across all channels – online, social, multimedia, print, signage, wearable, and exhibitions – and secure internal support and compliance.
• Create visual assets, provide art direction, and advise and train colleagues across EMBL.
• Manage in‑house and commissioned design and illustration services for internal clients, and – on occasion – for external stakeholders.
• Lead 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.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree or relevant design qualifications.
• At least 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 suppliers.
• Fluency in German would be advantageous.
• Experience working in a scientific and/or international organisation.

Contract & Compensation

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.

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 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.

Equal Opportunity Statement

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 and whose backgrounds and personal experiences reflect the diversity of the populations that our science serves. We actively encourage applications from all genders, cultures, ethnic groups and all demographics to help us avoid perpetuating biases and oversights at this transformation point in our people strategy.

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.

Closing Date

21/07/2026