Senior Designer - Kids in Kent

Location: Street, Somerset

About the role:

• Creation of seasonal product designs and prototypes to meet requirements of design briefs for key product groups, working on new constructions driving the shape of the seasonal gender lines.
• The development of off-line, conceptual product designs aimed at delivering the long term design strategy driving gender lines forward.
• All designs and developments delivered meet the requirements of product differentiation and brand and collection proposition in all three regions and for the collection of the Clarks targeted consumer.
• Work closely to develop colour and material boards to drive the look and shape of the line.
• Research design themes and concepts to determine brand and collection interpretation and key looks feeding back to Product Management team.
• Gender strategy into gender design team.
• Working with PLM/Pod Team establish prioritisation and distribution of seasonal design workload.
• Collaborate to select new materials/leathers.
• Finalise seasonal design briefs with the line/PLM ensuring they meet both collection and design strategy.
• Design creative product briefs to meet the collections requirements for the consumer, commercial aspects of the brief, as well as Brand proposition.
• Develop last and unit/outsole designs in collaboration with product engineers, last specialists/CAD.
• Work with product development and sources to develop initial design concepts to prototype stage.
• Develop and maintain briefing packs for sources/product development for creation of prototypes.
• Work with sources to develop a line of samples to meet the line review timelines.
• Present product concepts to key stakeholders to effectively influence decision making.
• Help manage adherence to design/development timelines of collection design team.
• Drive colour and materials mix within the line challenging established formulas.
• Mentor the development of gender design team establishing training requirements and coaching key skill areas.
• Help support career progression plan together with BUD and range managers.
• Work on off-line, cross gender conceptual design projects, aimed at driving shape/structure of the line for the future.
• Collaborate with freelance/outside design resource as directed by PLM to deliver against design brief requirements to budget.
• Comprehensive set of product boards to present to BUD/range managers with timetabled updates to complement the range build requirements.
• Gender design team fully engaged and enthused with seasonal collection and design strategies.
• Concise briefs are developed to deliver both the design and line requirements.
• On time delivery of product designs and prototypes by gender design team which meet brief requirements.
• Clear and concise briefing to sources delivering effective interpretation of designs.
• Samples are available for line review process on time.
• Lines reflect the season's colour/materials palette challenging previously established formulas, delivering commercial and exciting product packages.
• Lines reflect the season's key looks for the Clarks consumer, supporting existing product groups and introducing new directional design concepts/product categories.
• Gender design team skills are as planned and meet resource plans.
• Successful career progression plans in place for all levels of design.
• Industry leading, cross gender, innovative/conceptual design projects delivers against brand/design strategy requirements.
• Line reflects clear brand identity.
• Freelance design work meets all brief/brand collection requirements within budget.

About You:

• Thorough understanding of Clarks product development processes.
• In depth knowledge of shoemaking process.
• Thorough knowledge of lasts and units/out soles.
• In depth experience of the design process and product briefing.
• Good sourcing knowledge.
• Excellent understanding of the Clarks brand collection strategy.
• In-depth knowledge of the Clarks consumer.
• Design qualification to degree level or equivalent industry experience.
• Thorough knowledge of product costing.
• Shoemaking process.
• High level of product development skills.
• Wide ranging experience in footwear design.
• Working to a determined timeline.
• Proven creative ability.
• Support developing others in design skills/development of training programmes.
• Proven footwear design capability.
• High level technical appreciation of all footwear constructions.
• Design specification packs - ability to expertly interpret and review blueprints.
• High level skill in design software.
• Expert knowledge of Leather and materials.
• Graphic design desirable.
• Strong decision making skills.
• Ability to collaborate at all levels.
• Good communication skills both verbally and in writing.
• Strong influencing and interpersonal skills.
• Team leader.
• Inspirational.
• Customer and consumer focus.
• Drive.
• Time management and prioritisation.
• Coaching.
• Team player.
• Ability to collaborate at all levels.

What We Offer:

• Competitive salary.
• Flexible/hybrid working options.
• Career development and progression opportunities.
• Supportive and collaborative culture.
• Comprehensive benefits package.

Why join us?

At Clarks, you'll be part of a brand with heritage, craftsmanship, and style at its core. We offer great training, career progression, and the chance to make your mark in a global business.

About Clarks:

Clarks, based in Somerset, England, has been at the forefront of innovative shoemaking since its foundation in 1825 when brothers James and Cyrus Clark made a slipper from sheepskin off-cuts. At the time, it was ground-breaking: a combination of invention and craftsmanship that has remained at the heart of what the brand does now. In the Clarks archive, more than 22,000 pairs of shoes have sparked revolutions and defined generations. From the original Clarks Desert Boot, first designed by Nathan Clark and launched in 1950, to the iconic Wallabee, each design has an instantly recognisable signature that makes it unmistakably Clarks.