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Design Manager

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Matalan

17d ago

  • Job
    Full-time
    Senior Level
  • Design
    Creative Arts & Fashion
  • Liverpool

AI generated summary

  • You should have a fashion degree, retail experience, menswear knowledge, leadership skills, garment expertise, market awareness, and strong communication abilities. Adaptability is key.
  • You will lead a design team, develop strategies, oversee market trends, communicate progress, collaborate cross-functionally, manage budgets, support team growth, and nurture a creative environment.

Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design or a related field.
  • Proven experience in a similar environment, experience in retail preferred.
  • Menswear experience is advantageous.
  • Previous leadership or management experience in a design-related role.
  • In-depth knowledge of garment construction, fabrics, and manufacturing processes.
  • Strong understanding of market trends and consumer behaviour in the UK fashion industry and the skill to communicate that business wide.
  • Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
  • Ability and desire to support, mentor and develop a design team.
  • Capacity to thrive in an ever changing, deadline-driven environment.

Responsibilities

  • Lead, inspire, and manage a dynamic design team to create inspiring ranges for Matalan.
  • Foster a collaborative and creative environment, encouraging the team to push boundaries in design.
  • Develop and execute a comprehensive design strategy aligned with the overall company goals.
  • Keep abreast of industry trends, competitor’s ranges, and evolving consumer preferences to guide informed and strategic design decisions.
  • Translate market research into actionable design concepts.
  • Create and deliver Matalan’s seasonal trends to key stakeholders.
  • Clearly communicate design strategies, goals, and progress to cross-functional teams.
  • Collaborate across divisions to ensure designs align with market demands and business goals.
  • Work closely with marketing to create compelling product stories to deliver key customer moments.
  • Work closely with B&M to ensure the critical path is adhered to and achievable.
  • Support design team members with workload to ensure the critical path remains on track.
  • Manage yearly travel, sample and freelance budgets offering best value for Matalan.
  • Manage designer’s salaries within company budget requirements.
  • Improve the design team’s skills through mentoring and support. Key areas are problem solving, communication, team collaboration and leadership skills.
  • Develop individual career growth plans for the design team.
  • Build resilience in team members by upskilling them and fostering a supportive environment.

FAQs

What qualifications are required for the Design Manager position?

A Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design or a related field is required.

Is previous management experience necessary for this role?

Yes, previous leadership or management experience in a design-related role is required.

Do I need experience in menswear for this position?

Menswear experience is advantageous for this role.

What is the main responsibility of the Design Manager at Matalan?

The main responsibility is to lead and manage the menswear design team, overseeing the entire design process from concept to delivery of cohesive ranges in-store and online.

Will the Design Manager have a budget to manage?

Yes, the Design Manager will manage yearly travel, sample, and freelance budgets, ensuring best value for Matalan.

How important is collaboration in this role?

Collaboration is crucial, as the Design Manager will work across divisions to ensure designs align with market demands and business goals.

What opportunities for career development does Matalan provide?

Matalan offers access to a wide range of career development opportunities and supports individual career growth plans for the design team.

Are there any specific skills needed for this position?

Yes, in-depth knowledge of garment construction, fabrics, manufacturing processes, and strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential.

What benefits does Matalan offer to its employees?

Matalan offers competitive salaries, a 20% staff discount, wellbeing support, life assurance, a pension scheme, and access to a retail rewards platform, among other benefits.

Is there a focus on team building and support in this role?

Yes, fostering a supportive environment and improving the design team’s skills through mentoring is a key responsibility of the Design Manager.

Find Your Fit. Shape The Future.

Retail & Consumer Goods
Industry
10,001+
Employees
1985
Founded Year

Mission & Purpose

From humble beginnings to disruptive innovations in the retail industry, when we say there’s no other retailer like Matalan, we really mean it! There’s an honesty and energy here that allows our people to shine, which our colleagues, customers and suppliers love. With over 200 stores in the UK, a growing online presence and over 15,000 employees, we’re a thriving, omnichannel value retailer that’s going places and delivering year on year growth. If you want to work for a company that’s passionate about its people, helps you to grow and be the best you can be, then you’ve come to the right place. We work together to support our customers, suppliers and each other, and we’re excited by the possibility of our people helping us to shape the future of retail. We make sure every voice is heard, nurture the ambitions of our people and invest in their future. Our amazing and diverse people make us who we are and our values are the driving force behind everything we do: Think Customer, Think Family, Be Real, Be the Best. Talent is quickly spotted and nurtured, and there are lots of opportunities to tailor make your own career and learn with us. Right now, Matalan is stepping in to a new age and embracing the changing face of retail. We have some exciting opportunities across the business in Retail and Logistics, as well as Ecommerce, Marketing, Technology and Product at our Head Office in Liverpool and our new Creative Hub in London.