Senior Designer / Product Developer (Menswear)

An exciting position has arisen for an experienced Menswear Designer/Product Developer to join a well-established supplier and manufacturer on a maternity cover basis. This role offers the chance to be part of a dynamic, multi-functional team dedicated to designing, developing, and producing garments for several leading clothing retailers. Senior Designer / Product Developer (Menswear) – Why This Role Stands Out: * To design and develop seasonal and trend-led in-house collections that align with customer aesthetics. * Identify emerging trends and potential gaps in the product range, proposing innovative fabrics and styling options. * Manage and support a team of five designers, fostering their development and contributing to the business's progress. * Collaboration: Work closely with in-house account management teams, suppliers, and production sites to ensure seamless operations and customer satisfaction. * Research and Innovation: Conduct ongoing fabric and trend research, presenting findings to in-house teams and customers. * Leadership: Prepare, present, and lead customer development days, ensuring development samples meet briefs and are delivered on time. Key Responsibilities: * Extensive fabric and trim sourcing according to customer briefs and emerging trends. * Raising and updating design tech packs and checking samples against them. * Managing the development critical path, regularly updating customers on sample progress. * Liaising daily with mills, factories, and customer buying teams, establishing close professional relationships. * Attending weekly factory critical path meetings to ensure critical dates are maintained and issues resolved. * Following up on comp shops and managing the design critical path to ensure showrooms are ready for key seasonal dates. Senior Designer / Product Developer (Menswear) – Skills & Experience : * Degree in apparel design or a similar field. * Over 5 years of multi-category menswear design experience. * Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator) and Microsoft Office. * Excellent communication, presentation, and organisational skills. * A confident, proactive, and flexible approach with the ability to supervise others and work effectively under pressure. * Ability to interact effectively with suppliers and colleagues at all levels. * This opportunity is London based and applicants must have full eligibility to work in the UK