List Design Manager, Food & Drink (Maternity Cover) - DK Life

London (Hybrid) | Fixed-term Maternity Cover

Join DK Life, home to our award-winning lifestyle publishing, and help shape the look and feel of DK’s vibrant Food & Drink list. Work on standout titles like The Unprocessed Plate by industry leading nutritionist Rhiannon Lambert, Naturally Vegan by plant-based innovator Julius Fiedler, Menolicious by Belles Berry and broadcaster Mariella Frostrup, and Silk Roads by culinary storyteller Anna Ansari.

We’re seeking a highly creative and commercially minded List Design Manager (maternity cover). You’ll oversee visual development from concept and styling to jackets and layouts, commission world-class photography, illustration, and food styling, and manage multiple projects from start to finish. Working closely with acquisitions and editorial teams, you’ll mentor junior designers, step into hands-on design when needed, provide clear creative feedback, and deliver books that inspire readers globally.

You'll have proven design leadership experience in Food & Drink publishing, with a portfolio that shows confident visual storytelling across illustrated cookery and lifestyle titles. Excellent communication and negotiation skills, strong project management ability, and line management experience (preferred) are essential.

If you combine creative flair, precision, and a passion for food, and want to lead the visual direction of one of DK’s most vibrant illustrated lists, we’d love to hear from you. This role is office-based at least three days a week, with additional days required for photoshoots.

To apply, please submit your CV, cover letter, and PDF portfolio (no links please).

Please also include a short moodboard PDF showing what inspires you in food and lifestyle design.

We are eager to see your own unique voice and talent, not the words generated by an AI tool. Please refrain from using AI in this application.

Closing date for applications: 9th November 2025

We have a range of benefits to reflect our commitment to our people, some of which are:

• 25 days paid holiday entitlement in year one, plus bank holidays
• Generous pension scheme
• Volunteering policy and charity matching
• Employee assistance programme
• 60% discount on company books
• Cycle to work scheme and discounted gym membership
• Flex Fridays (1pm Finish*)
• Shopping discounts

Up to 30 days remote working from abroad*

And we plant a tree for every new employee to our business

DK is committed to building a diverse workforce that reflects the varied communities that read our books across the world. We encourage applications from all individuals, regardless of age, religion, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality or social background. DK is proud to announce that we have adopted The Halo Code.

DK is a member of the disability confident scheme. We guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/i

DK supports flexible working and has introduced a new ‘smart-working’ policy with a hybrid approach of working weekly from home and in DK’s office.

The Book Trade Charity offers financial support to people looking to enter the book trade, but who may struggle to afford the costs of attending interviews or undertaking internships. For more information, visit www.booktradeentrysupport.org

*Subject to certain criteria being met.