Lead Senior Womenswear Designer

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a talented and commercially astute Lead Senior Womenswear Designer to join a fast-growing, highly creative fashion brand with an established international following.

This is a fantastic opportunity to play a key role in the continued growth and evolution of the brand, taking ownership of the womenswear collections from initial concept through to final product. Working closely with Buying, Merchandising and Production, you will help shape the creative direction, elevate the product offer and ensure collections are both innovative and commercially successful.

We are looking for someone with a strong creative eye, excellent technical knowledge and the confidence to lead, inspire and develop others. This is more than a traditional Senior Designer position; it is an opportunity to make a real impact, bring fresh thinking and help shape the future of the Design function.

Main responsibilities will include:

• Leading the creative development of womenswear collections from initial concept, research and trend direction through to sampling, fittings and final sign-off.
• Taking ownership of the overall collection aesthetic, ensuring a cohesive and commercially relevant product offer that reflects the brand's identity and customer.
• Driving fresh creative ideas across colour, print, fabrications, silhouettes and product categories to continually evolve and elevate the collections.
• Translating key trends, customer insights, competitor activity and trading performance into exciting and commercially viable product.
• Working closely with Buying and Merchandising to develop balanced collections, considering price points, margin, quality and commercial opportunities.
• Overseeing the technical development of product, ensuring high standards across garment construction, fit, fabrics and finishes.
• Managing relationships with factories and suppliers, overseeing sampling, approvals and critical path deadlines.
• Providing creative leadership and direction within the Design team, supporting and developing junior designers and encouraging a positive, collaborative environment.
• Taking a proactive approach to problem-solving, making confident decisions and bringing forward recommendations and new opportunities.
• Working collaboratively across the wider business to ensure the successful delivery of collections in a fast-paced and growing environment.

Person specification:

• Proven experience as a Senior Womenswear Designer within a fashion brand or retailer, with a strong portfolio demonstrating ownership of collections from concept through to final product.
• An exceptional creative eye, with a strong understanding of colour, print, shape, silhouette, fabrications and overall collection development.
• The ability to create cohesive, exciting collections that bring fresh ideas and newness while remaining true to the brand's DNA and customer.
• Strong commercial awareness, with an understanding of trends, competitors, trading performance, price architecture, margin and product profitability.
• Excellent technical knowledge of garment construction, fit, fabrics and finishes, with the ability to translate creative ideas into well-developed products.
• Strong CAD skills across Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
• Experience working closely with factories and suppliers, managing product development, sampling and approvals through to production.
• Confident leadership skills, with the ability to take ownership, make decisions and support, motivate and develop more junior members of the team.
• Highly organised, proactive and solutions-focused, with the ability to manage multiple collections and deadlines at pace.
• A collaborative and energetic approach, with the confidence to challenge ideas constructively and influence across Design, Buying, Merchandising and Production.
• Passionate about fashion and product, with the ambition and creative drive to make a tangible difference to a growing international brand