Role: Design Manager
Reporting to: Head of Product
Location: THG HQ, Manchester (WA15 0AF) – Fully Office Based
The Role
As Design Manager, you will lead and inspire the design team across Men’s, Women’s, and Accessories categories. Reporting to the Head of Product, you will drive the creation of stylish, functional, and high-performance apparel that resonates with our customers and elevates MP’s position in the activewear market.
You will collaborate closely with product development, marketing, and buying teams to manage the full design lifecycle—from concept through to production—ensuring collections are innovative, on-trend, commercially viable, and aligned with our brand ethos.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and manage the design team, fostering creativity, collaboration, and high performance across Men’s, Women’s, and Accessories lines.
- Develop and deliver innovative, trend‑led collections that embody MP Activewear’s brand values and appeal to our active customer base.
- Drive the creative vision of the ranges with brand, ensuring the creative brief is executed.
- Conduct ongoing research into fashion trends, fabrics, technologies, and sustainability to ensure products remain current, functional, and market-leading.
- Collaborate with product development to ensure designs meet technical, fit, functionality, and production requirements.
- Maintain a clear understanding of the product development process, timelines, and critical path milestones.
- Present design concepts and collections confidently to stakeholders, integrating feedback to refine and enhance output.
- Work with buying teams to select materials that balance sustainability, quality, and cost-effectiveness.
- Monitor competitor activity, influencer trends, and market shifts to maintain MP’s competitive edge.
- Participate in fittings and collaborate closely with production teams to ensure the highest quality execution of designs.
What We’re Looking For
- Degree in Fashion Design or a related field.
- Minimum 5 years of experience in clothing design, with at least 2 years in a management or leadership role, preferably in activewear, sportswear, or fashion.
- Strong portfolio demonstrating expertise in performance and activewear design.
- In‑depth knowledge of garment construction, fabrics, and technical design principles.
- Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop) and other relevant design software.
- Ability to balance creative innovation with commercial insight, designing products that are both stylish and functional.
- Excellent communication, leadership, and cross‑functional collaboration skills.
- Passion for activewear and a deep understanding of the modern consumer’s needs.
- Adaptable, proactive, and able to thrive in a fast‑paced, evolving environment.
What’s in it for me?
- Access bespoke development programmes that have been designed and developed by our in‑house L&D team.
- Continued development through our upskilling programme that is delivered in partnership with an industry‑leading training provider.
Enhanced Leave
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
- Enjoy your birthday off on us.
- Enhanced maternity and paternity pay, depending on length of service.
- Up to 10 days compassionate leave.
- Buy back up to 3 days each year.
- Access face‑to‑face and virtual appointments with our in‑house GP.
- Access our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) which is provided by Bupa.
- State‑of‑the‑art on‑site gym.
- Access to our on‑site physio.
Other Perks
- Save up to 12% on the cost of personal tech through our salary sacrifice scheme.
- Subsidised bus pass from Manchester City Centre to our ICON office.
- Up to 50% staff discount on THG brands.
- On‑site staff shop.
- Know someone who would be perfect for THG? Refer them and get up to £1000 when they pass their probation.
- Anniversary gifts when you hit 5 and 10 years of service.
Employment Equality & Diversity
THG is proud to be a Disability Confident Committed employer. If you are invited to interview, please let us know if there are any reasonable adjustments we can make to the recruitment process that will enable you to perform to the best of your ability.
THG is committed to creating a diverse & inclusive environment and hence welcomes applications from all sections of the community.
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