Overview
Senior Retoucher & Graphic Designer (FTC) Jobs in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa at Publicis Groupe Africa
Title: Senior Retoucher & Graphic Designer (FTC)
Company: Publicis Groupe Africa
Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Overview
As the Senior Retoucher & Graphic designer you will be responsible for high-quality image retouching across multiple media platforms, ensuring creative standards are met while maintaining efficiency and consistency. This role often serves as a quality gatekeeper, working closely with Art Directors, Client Service, and sometimes clients. Overseeing the creative visual direction and quality of projects that are output across the agency. This includes driving innovation on visuals and aligning with client brand strategy, and ensuring cohesion in production delivery.
Striving in leading and assisting the creative visual direction and uphold the integrity of the agency’s art output across our global campaigns. Ensuring global brand consistency across markets, meeting campaign timelines, and upholding the visual identity of our clients brands.
Responsibilities
Creative & Visual Skills
- Expert Retouching Proficiency
Mastery in high-end product, skin, and surface retouching techniques (texture, color, and lighting correction)
- Advanced Photoshop Workflow
Smart object structuring, non-destructive editing, masking, layer comping, file prep for large-scale outputs
- Visual Brand Stewardship
Deep understanding of brand identity systems; able to interpret and implement brand guidelines across multiple asset types and markets
- Art Direction & Visual Storytelling
Ability to translate campaign concepts into polished visual assets, guiding composition, tone, and narrative
- Design Sensibility
Eye for layout, typography, and balance across static and motion assets; understanding of multi-channel design
- Color Management & Profiling
Skilled in working with accurate color spaces and ICC profiles for web, print, and packaging outputs
Strategic & Conceptual Thinking
- Creative Brief Interpretation
Ability to distill complex briefs into actionable creative outputs with strong visual coherence
- Cross-Market Adaptation
Understanding of cultural tone, aesthetic preferences, and market-specific visual nuances
- Visual Consistency Across Formats
Able to ensure uniformity across print, digital, social, POS, and packaging visuals
- Trend Awareness
In tune with visual culture, creative industry trends, and innovations in AI-assisted design/retouching
Qualifications
Technical Proficiency
- Adobe Creative Suite (Expert-level):
Photoshop, Bridge, Lightroom, Illustrator, InDesign
- AI Tools & Workflow Enhancers:
Knowledge of retouching plugins, neural filters, batch processing, and AI-assisted touch-ups, consistent learnings of AI advancement
- File Management & Delivery:
Rigorous about file naming conventions, folder structures, spec compliance, and platform formatting
- Collaborative Software & Tools:
Figma, Frame.io, Marcel AI tools
Operational & Workflow Skills
- Creative Workflow Optimization
Skilled at designing and refining post-production pipelines, action-based workflows, and handoff processes
- Time & Priority Management
Confident juggling multiple deadlines in fast-paced environments while maintaining quality
- Attention to Detail
Zero-tolerance for errors in final delivery; precision-driven in pixel-perfect output