Senior Design Manager – Jersey – 12 Month Fixed Term Contract / Secondment

Overview

We are looking for an experienced senior designer / design manager to join our Womenswear design team for a maternity cover fixed‑term contract role on Womenswear Jersey, reporting into the head of design.

Experience working on jersey for high‑street brands or suppliers, a strong eye for detail and creative handwriting, and a proven track record of developing commercially successful product are essential.

Responsibilities

• Spot the latest trends, communicate them with confidence and clarity to the design and buying teams and key leadership stakeholders, and translate them into commercial designs that customers will love.
• Set direction for the department and work closely with the wider design and buying teams to create cohesive trend coordination.
• Collaborate with design, buying, merchandising and technical colleagues to ensure ranges are commercial and balanced.
• Compile accurate technical brief packs and work closely with suppliers to achieve “first sample, right sample”.
• Understand best and worst lines to influence seasonal strategy and product opportunities.
• Push design constraints of costings and fashion ability forward while problem‑solving.
• Own the design critical path and support trend, development and production critical paths to ensure business deadlines are met.

Qualifications

• Proficiency in designing using Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop. PowerPoint and AI software experience is a bonus.
• Comprehensive understanding of garment construction, fabric and printing techniques.
• Ability to create detailed technical brief sheets with excellent attention to detail, to communicate design vision clearly to team and supply base.
• Team player with great interpersonal and communication skills, ability to build strong relationships with colleagues and collaborate.
• Excellent organisational skills; ability to prioritise and work in a fast‑paced environment.
• Ability to manage the whole design and development process from trend research and sample development through to range‑building and fits.
• Proven previous experience designing Ladies dresses for the UK market.
• Excellent commercial and market awareness and innovative thinking in research.
• Proven experience producing new and innovative designs to fast‑paced deadlines, with a strong hit rate.

Benefits

• Annual bonus scheme of up to 10% of base salary.
• Holiday starting at 25 days plus a personal day and bank holidays.
• 26 weeks maternity and adoption leave (after 1 year’s service) at full pay, followed by 13 weeks of Statutory Maternity Pay or Statutory Adoption Pay, and 6 weeks fully paid paternity leave.
• Free 24/7 virtual GP service, Employee Assistance Programme and free access to a range of experts to support mental wellbeing.

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