Design Manager

Design Manager Overview

We are partnered with a well-established fashion supplier who are seeking an experienced Design Manager to lead their dynamic design team, working across Licensed products.

The Design Manager must have a strong background in licensed design, with a minimum of six years’ industry experience, including at least three years managing a design team of 10+ across multi product categories.

The Design Manager will work closely with the Head of Creative to shape and deliver commercially successful, licensor-approved collections.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and guide the design team with both strategic oversight and hands-on involvement, ensuring all creative work aligns with brand guidelines, licensor requirements, and retailer standards
• Translate creative direction into commercially viable collections while maintaining high quality and consistency throughout all stages of development
• Plan and allocate workloads effectively to ensure deadlines are met, productivity is optimized, and team wellbeing is supported
• Conduct regular performance reviews, providing clear feedback, coaching, and development support to maintain outstanding creative standards
• Act as a central point of communication between Directors, senior leadership, and operational teams to ensure clarity, alignment, and transparency
• Represent the business professionally when engaging with licensors, retailers, and external partners, building and maintaining strong working relationships
• Promote a positive and inclusive team culture by being accessible, supportive, and proactive in mentoring and training team members, with clear progression pathways
• Oversee team absences including holidays and sickness, ensuring appropriate cover and minimal impact on workflow
• Demonstrate strong proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator and Photoshop), alongside excellent organizational, communication, and presentation skills
• Apply in-depth knowledge of fabrics, garment construction, production techniques, manufacturing capabilities, and cost considerations, working closely with factories
• Collaborate with Sales and Development teams to balance innovation with commercial timelines and market requirements
• Maintain a strong awareness of market trends, consumer behaviour, and competitor activity, contributing to seasonal and macro trend development as well as graphics direction
• Plan and attend seasonal competitor shopping trips within agreed budgets alongside the Head of Creative
• Participate in travel as required for licensor meetings, retailer appointments, and research trips

Additional Information

This is a hybrid role, with 3 days in the office and 2 working from home.