Senior Knitwear Design Manager / Head of Design

Join an award-winning British luxury brand. Lead with creativity. Shape something exceptional. 240 Years of Heritage. One Exciting Leadership Opportunity. At John Smedley, British Luxury Brand of the Year 2026, we have been creating exceptional British knitwear since 1784. Now in our eighth generation as a family business, we're proud of our heritage, our craftsmanship and, above all, our people. Based at our historic mill in Derbyshire, we combine centuries of expertise with innovation, creativity and a commitment to responsible British manufacturing.

We're looking for an experienced Senior Design Manager / Head of Design to lead our Design & Product Development teams on a fixed-term contract – and we're looking for someone who can start as soon as possible!

What You'll Be Doing

• Leading with purpose – providing day-to-day leadership, direction and support across our Design and Product Development teams, inspiring colleagues to deliver exceptional results.
• Shaping future collections – overseeing the end-to-end design and development of seasonal ranges, exclusive customer projects and exciting new product opportunities.
• Bringing ideas to life – ensuring creative concepts are translated into production-ready garments through accurate technical specifications, garment packs and construction details.
• Championing exceptional quality – maintaining the highest standards of design, fit, construction and product development, ensuring every collection reflects the John Smedley identity.
• Driving commercial success – balancing creativity, quality and commercial objectives to deliver beautiful products that meet customer expectations and business goals.
• Keeping everything on track – managing seasonal critical paths, team workloads, priorities and deadlines to ensure projects are delivered efficiently.
• Making things better – championing a right-first-time approach, improving processes and reducing unnecessary sampling, rework and delays.
• Working together – building strong relationships across Design, Technical, Manufacturing, Quality, Commercial and Marketing to ensure seamless product development.
• Solving challenges – taking the lead on design-related product issues, making confident decisions and finding practical, effective solutions.
• Developing great people – mentoring, supporting and motivating your team, encouraging collaboration, creativity and continuous improvement.

We're looking for a confident, commercially minded design leader who's passionate about exceptional products, inspiring people and delivering outstanding results. You'll ideally bring:

• Significant experience in fashion, premium apparel or knitwear design, with knitwear expertise highly desirable.
• Proven experience leading, managing or mentoring design and product development teams.
• Strong technical knowledge of garment construction, fabrics, yarns, specifications and manufacturing processes.
• Experience overseeing the full product development lifecycle, from initial concept through to production.
• A strong understanding of seasonal collections, critical paths and managing multiple projects to tight deadlines.
• Excellent commercial awareness, with the ability to balance creativity, quality, cost and customer expectations.
• Exceptional organisational skills, attention to detail and the confidence to make decisions and prioritise effectively.
• A collaborative leadership style and the ability to build strong relationships across multiple departments.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills, with the confidence to challenge constructively and influence decisions.
• A genuine passion for innovation, continuous improvement and creating beautiful, high-quality products.

Above all, you'll bring energy, enthusiasm, strong leadership and a genuine pride in creating exceptional products while bringing out the best in your team.

Why Join John Smedley?

• Great people. Great heritage. Great benefits.
• Competitive salary – up to £42,000 per annum.
• Flexible working hours – supporting a better work-life balance.
• Enhanced annual leave – giving you more time to enjoy life outside work.
• Exclusive John Smedley discounts – enjoy our luxury knitwear at special employee prices.
• Discounts at hundreds of retailers – helping your money go further.
• Complimentary tea and coffee – because the little things count.
• Team events and activities – opportunities to connect, celebrate and have fun.
• Employee Assistance Programme and wellbeing services – because your wellbeing matters.
• Death in service benefit – providing additional peace of mind.
• Access to top-tier training and development programmes – helping you continue to learn, grow and succeed.
• A welcoming, supportive working environment – where your ideas, expertise and contribution are genuinely valued.

Start Date: ASAP – Immediate availability preferred. You must be able to work on-site four days per week. This is an essential requirement of the role, allowing you to lead your team effectively and collaborate closely throughout the design and development process. This position is based at our historic Lea Mills in Matlock, Derbyshire, where our design expertise and manufacturing heritage come together. You'll have the opportunity to work closely with talented craftspeople, technical specialists and commercial teams, combining hands-on product development with strategic leadership.

This is a fantastic opportunity to step into a senior position with genuine influence, helping shape future collections, strengthen our product development processes and support the next chapter of John Smedley's story.

Ready to Lead the Way? If you're an experienced design leader ready for a new challenge, this is your opportunity to make a real impact at one of Britain's most iconic luxury knitwear brands. We're particularly keen to hear from candidates who are available immediately or at short notice.