At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead creative direction and design strategy for a global sporting goods brand.
- Company: Join a renowned global sporting goods brand in London.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, leadership role, and opportunity to shape brand identity.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact on product design and brand growth.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in consumer product design and proven leadership experience.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on innovation and team culture.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Are you a strategic and hands-on design leader with a passion for building product that blends performance, innovation, and culture? Do you know how to embed brand DNA into every stitch, panel, and silhouette? Can you lead a multidisciplinary creative team while driving commercial impact and long-term brand growth?
MacGregor Black is currently partnering with a global sporting goods brand on the search for a Head of Design, based in London. This is a senior leadership role responsible for owning the creative direction and product identity across global markets. You'll join the Brand Leadership Team and shape design across all categories, balancing core technical performance product with the growth of lifestyle and innovation-focused collections.
Key Responsibilities:- Lead the creative direction of the brand, defining and evolving a design language that reflects the brand’s heritage, ambition, and consumer focus.
- Codify brand DNA across the product range, creating consistency and distinction across categories, consumer types, and price points.
- Drive storytelling and design strategy across all global product ranges, partnering closely with Product, Merchandising, Innovation, and Marketing teams.
- Lead and develop a high-performing, multidisciplinary team of designers, fostering a culture of collaboration, creative excellence, and accountability.
- Balance commercial awareness with creative ambition, identifying high-impact NPD and innovation-led design opportunities.
- Ensure the product design process is efficient, insight-led, and aligned to business timelines and seasonal strategies.
- Champion cross-functional collaboration to ensure cohesive go-to-market plans and long-term brand equity.
- Contribute to strategic planning, transformation initiatives, and global brand growth.
- 10+ years in consumer product design, ideally within performance apparel.
- Proven leadership of multidisciplinary creative teams across apparel, brand, and graphics.
- Strong knowledge of the full design lifecycle including research, ideation, testing, and execution.
- Confident strategic thinker with the ability to translate brand ambition into product.
- Excellent communication, storytelling, and presentation skills.
- Experience aligning design vision with commercial goals and cross-functional priorities.
- Comfortable managing resource planning, budgeting, and creative operations.
- Empathetic, empowering leadership style with a drive for high standards and strong team culture.
Please contact Tom Honeyman for more details today.
Head of Design employer: MacGregor Black
Contact Detail:
MacGregor Black Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Design
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts, attend design events, and engage with professionals on platforms like LinkedIn. We can’t stress enough how important it is to make connections that could lead to opportunities.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your portfolio! Make sure it’s up-to-date and highlights your best work. When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, use your portfolio to tell your story and showcase your design journey.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company’s design ethos and recent projects. We want you to walk in confident, ready to discuss how your vision aligns with their brand DNA and how you can drive their creative direction.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Design
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When you're writing your application, let your passion for design shine through! We want to see how you blend performance, innovation, and culture in your work. Share specific examples that highlight your creative journey and how it aligns with our brand's DNA.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application for the Head of Design role. We’re looking for someone who can lead a multidisciplinary team and drive commercial impact, so highlight your relevant experience and how you've successfully managed similar challenges in the past.
Be Clear and Concise: While we love creativity, clarity is key in your written application. Use straightforward language to convey your ideas and experiences. This will help us understand your thought process and how you approach design challenges.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at MacGregor Black
✨Know Your Brand Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the brand's history, values, and current product lines. Understand how their design language reflects their heritage and ambition. This will help you articulate how your vision aligns with theirs.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare examples that highlight your experience leading multidisciplinary teams. Discuss how you've fostered collaboration and accountability in past roles. Be ready to share specific instances where your leadership made a tangible impact on a project.
✨Balance Creativity with Commercial Awareness
Think about how you've successfully merged creative ambition with commercial goals in your previous roles. Be prepared to discuss high-impact design opportunities you've identified and how they contributed to brand growth.
✨Prepare for Cross-Functional Collaboration Questions
Expect questions about how you work with other departments like Product, Merchandising, and Marketing. Have examples ready that demonstrate your ability to champion collaboration and ensure cohesive go-to-market strategies.