Senior Knitwear Designer in Hawick

Responsible to: Site Director

Department: Design – Hawick Mill

Hours: Maternity Cover – Fixed Term for 18 Months, 38 hours per week Monday to Friday - working on site.

Main Purpose: Responsible for translating, developing and delivering key customer knitwear & knitted accessory collections that are in line, commercially and operationally, to the business needs whilst not compromising customer requirements.

Our Scottish Borders-based Hawick Research & Design Centre is situated in our knitwear mill, where we have the latest state of the art Shima Seiki knitting machines, significant technical development and sampling resource. We are recognised as the go-to Scottish manufacturer for the world’s leading couture houses and are continually progressing our own brand journey at the same time.

By joining our busy & dynamic team, you will be able to build a successful career in a growing and globally recognised family-owned company.

About the Role:

• Managing key Customer Accounts and liaising with their creative & development departments to interpret their brief and develop new collections each season.
• Advise and suggest best ways to manufacture products which are both commercial but cost effective for the factory without compromising quality.
• Applying knowledge of different yarns, gauges, stitch structures, tension properties, production methods, constructions, costings and gradings.
• Liaising with Knitting Technicians/Sample Room team to produce 1st prototype samples and Bulk Agent samples through to production and ensure samples are produced to the customer’s requirements.
• Preparation of fabric development requests, garment and accessory spec sheets, colourways, range sketches and CAD collection overview plans.
• Liaising with Yarn Manager, R&D team, Customer Services, Sales & Development Manager and Site Director to ensure samples are delivered to the customer by the agreed delivery date.
• Visit customers and attend presentations/review meetings with Sales & Development Manager as and when required.
• Sourcing new yarn qualities, trimmings such as buttons, zips, pullers, ribbons etc.
• Working with key customer to inspire, interpret and develop their ideas into commercial, profitable product.
• Ensuring that new season collections are archived at the end of each season.

Key qualities we are looking for:

• Have technical knitwear knowledge, with a minimum of 3 years industry experience following a design (or other relevant) degree to support this.
• Have a flexible, can do approach.
• Be enthusiastic and willing to learn new skills and techniques.
• Have excellent IT skills in Adobe Illustrator, InDesign and Microsoft Office.
• Have the ability to manage several tasks and projects simultaneously whilst prioritising workload.
• Have excellent organisational skills with a high attention to detail.
• Be a confident communicator that enjoys working with a variety of people.
• Passionate about delivering a high standard of quality.

Travel will be required to such places in such manner and on such occasions as may be reasonably required from time to time. Overnight absences from home may be required.

Additional Duties: Perform any additional or alternative duties as requested by the Director[s] as is reasonably expected within the role.

About Us: Founded in 1797, Johnstons of Elgin is an innovative, luxury clothing brand celebrating 225 years of experience in working with the world’s finest fibres. Across three centuries, our family-owned company has carefully sourced cashmere and fine woollen fibres from around the world, applying the latest technology and highest quality craft expertise in our very own vertical Scottish mills. Employing over 1,000 staff, our valued employees and communities are at the heart of everything we do, producing unique, high-quality designs that are made to last. Our brand is focused on sustainability, working with natural, renewable, and biodegradable fibres and we are committed to maintaining a minimal environmental footprint.

Johnstons of Elgin is proud to be an equal opportunity employer wholeheartedly supporting the principles of equality and diversity to build an inclusive workforce. Our aim is to embed diversity and inclusion in everything we do to create an environment where our employees feel safe to be their whole authentic self without having to downplay or change parts of their identity. We celebrate diversity in all its forms, which goes beyond those characteristics protected by law to include everything that makes us unique, from our backgrounds and experiences to our personalities and ways of thinking.

We endeavour to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities and encourage any candidate who requires assistance to contact us at hr@johnstonsofelgin.com.

Don’t meet every requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of colour are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single requirement or qualification. At Johnstons of Elgin, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you are excited about this role but think your experience doesn’t align perfectly with the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Please note all applicants must be able to provide evidence of their right to remain and take up paid employment in country job is based.

If this sounds like the right opportunity for you, we’d love to hear from you! Join us at Johnstons of Elgin, where tradition meets innovation, and be part of a team that values craftsmanship and quality above all. Please note: All applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK.