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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