Head of Design - Contract Textiles Panaz HQ - Burnley

Panaz is one of the world’s leading suppliers of high-performance contract fabrics, known for innovation, design excellence, and sustainability, with over 40 years of sector expertise. We are seeking a Head of Design to partner with the Design Director in developing and delivering contract textile collections for global hospitality, healthcare, cruise and commercial markets. This hands-on role will suit an experienced textile designer skilled across woven, vinyl, dyed and printed fabrics, leading CAD-based development and working directly with our international manufacturing partners in Europe, China and Turkey. It’s ideal for a designer who wants to stay close to product creation while driving design delivery and innovation as part of a collaborative team.

Working closely with the Design Director, the Head of Design will provide day-to-day design leadership, manage a Senior Designer and Specialist Print Designer, and travel with or deputise for the Design Director when required. If you thrive in a busy setting and want to develop your career in a progressive company, we invite you to apply via our official careers website.

Why Panaz? – Culture, Benefits & Growth

• Competitive salary
• 37.5 hours per week
• 33 days holiday including bank holidays and paid Christmas closure
• Inclusive team culture – Accessible facilities, team events, and volunteering opportunities
• Training & development – Ongoing support for career progression
• Company sick pay – After 1 year of service

Key Responsibilities

• From initial concept through to final production, translate design briefs into commercially viable, specification-ready fabrics across woven, vinyl, dyed and printed textile collections.
• Contribute to overall design direction, ensuring cohesive collection stories, compelling colour palettes and appropriate material choices.
• Manage multiple design projects simultaneously with attention to detail and support the Design Director in managing design workload, priorities and critical path timelines to meet collection launch dates.
• Represent the design team in cross-functional meetings.

Woven Textile Manufacturing & Supplier Liaison

• Communicate directly with international weaving mills and fabric manufacturers, clearly briefing them on design requirements – including woven layouts and structures, yarn specifications, colours, repeats and performance standards.
• Review and approve development samples (strike-offs, lab dips, trial weaves), providing feedback to achieve the desired result.
• Maintain strong supplier relationships, balancing creative intent with practical manufacturability, cost targets and lead-time constraints.

Digital Design & CAD Systems

• Produce high-quality CAD designs, visual layouts and presentation boards for design reviews, customer meetings and product launches.
• Utilise design software (e.g. Photoshop) with proficiency in managing pattern repeats, colour separations, colour matching and use of a digital colour library.
• Maintain well-organised design files and development records, ensuring all artwork and specifications are accurately documented through each stage of the development process.

Personal Attributes

• Creatively and Commercially Balanced: Passionate about design and innovation, pragmatic, cost-aware, highly organised and self-motivated.
• Strong Communicator and Technically Confident: Engages stakeholders, knowledgeable about woven textiles, comfortable with printed textiles, and proficient in CAD and digital tools.
• Collaborative Partner: Team player who shares ideas, provides and receives feedback, guides designers and fosters a positive, high-performing team environment.
• Adaptable & Curious: Open to travel, new experiences and learning, stays on top of trends and delivers against creative briefs across product development and photography.

What This Role Offers

• A senior role within an established, design-led textile manufacturer, where design is central to the company’s identity and success.
• Close collaboration with the Design Director on both creative and strategic projects, gaining insight and contributing at a high level.
• Significant exposure to global markets, suppliers and customers, including opportunities for international travel and building a worldwide professional network.
• The chance to directly influence and shape future collections – your ideas will translate into real products in the market, across diverse and high-profile interiors projects.

Recruitment Fraud Alert

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