We are looking for a Senior designer to join our Client’s Design team. This is an exciting multi-category role across the Client’s brands covering seasonal, events & papershop areas. The role can be managed working across the Client’s multiple sites and working from home.
As a Senior Designer you’ll lead the product design & development teams for the category & be a part of a wider buying, merchandising & product development team. We are looking for a highly skilled creative who is experienced with print & pattern, product design & trend forecasting. You’ll be an experienced leader who can get the best from your team in order to inspire creativity & deliver market leading products to the customers.
Your duties as a Senior Designer will include:
• Manage the delivery of the design strategy and our Non-Food Divisional Objectives
• Design commercial and competitive product ranges. Be aware of competitors and demonstrate awareness of this through design
• Be a product expert. Follow the development of the product from concept design to launch, liaising with PD teams, Product Technologists and Buyers
• Ensure you identify new product opportunities and innovation with quality and cost in mind, while adhering to the critical path
• Adhere to safety, quality and legal requirements
• Set quality standards through continually benchmarking and monitoring performance of new product developments in the marketplace against our competitors
• Be accountable for your team and to act as a coach and leader, sharing innovation and product trends
• Manage, motivate and lead your team, regularly assessing individuals’ performance and giving feedback where appropriate
• Have a sound knowledge of market share and analysis of market data to generate a clear product strategy
• Be an entrepreneur. Treat your area of design with integrity and build relationships with key suppliers and stakeholders
• Identify new product growth opportunities
• Lead and show leadership values
• Understand our customer. Design with the customer at the heart of what we do. Follow and engage with customer style preferences and accurately identify product for each customer type
• Visit trade fairs, comp shops, suppliers and identify areas to visit for inspiration
• Be accountable for adhering to the critical path and meeting deadlines
• Manage freelance support when required
• Maximise PR for area ensuring key trends and key items are available
• Be available to travel both nationally and internationally where required
Your experience will include:
• Recent relevant design experience in a comparable product design and development role
• Knowledge of brand management and a track record of delivering creativity with proven commercial results
• Relevant technical experience for given product range/ extensive knowledge of manufacturing processes and working with product development teams
• Able to influence & communicate successfully across a diverse audience
• Relationship management and time management skills are critical
• Experience in team management
• Commercial awareness and proven creative ability
• Strong planning and executing skills
• Demonstrates a passion for the brand and clear focus on the customer
• Computer literate with the ability to use Photoshop and Illustrator to a high standard
• Up to date knowledge of retail and consumer trends
• Lead a team, be an entrepreneur, build relationships with design teams and suppliers, own your category
Work-life balance is important to our Client, so they offer their colleagues as much flexibility as possible in line with the needs of their role. Employees are trusted to decide how, where and when they work, combining remote and collaborative working with a flexible approach to hours.