At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead design for innovative contract textiles, from concept to production.
- Company: Join Panaz, a leader in high-performance fabrics with a focus on sustainability.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, 33 days holiday, and ongoing career development.
- Other info: Opportunity for international travel and exposure to global markets.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in design while collaborating with a creative team.
- Qualifications: Experienced textile designer with strong CAD skills and a passion for innovation.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 € per year.
Working hours: 37.5 hours per week
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, working directly with our international manufacturing partners in Europe, China and Turkey. The role is 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 encourage you to apply through our careers website.
Why Panaz? – Culture, Benefits & Growth
- Salary – competitive salary
- Working hours - 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
- Design & Product Development to Launch: 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. Able to 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.
Who We’re Looking For – Personal Attributes
- Creatively and Commercially Balanced: Passionate about design and innovation, but also pragmatic and commercial – you understand manufacturing realities, cost constraints and performance standards, and can balance creative vision with practical considerations. You are highly organised and self-motivated to keep work on track.
- Strong Communicator and Technically Confident: Able to engage effectively with a wide range of stakeholders – from suppliers and manufacturers to sales colleagues and customers. Knowledge of woven textiles and fabric construction, and comfortable communicating technical details. You can pivot to design Printed textiles and see CAD and digital tools as essential to the design process (not just add-ons) and use them fluently to achieve outstanding results.
- Collaborative Partner: A genuine team player who thrives in a collaborative, senior design partnership. You enjoy sharing ideas, giving and receiving feedback, and working closely with experienced colleagues. You are also confident supporting, guiding and coordinating designers, fostering a positive, high-performing team environment while remaining hands-on and collaborative.
- Adaptable & Curious: Open to travel, new experiences and learning. You stay on top of trends in design, colour and materials, and you’re eager to deliver against creative briefs across both 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.
If you're passionate about design and want to stay close to product creation while driving design delivery and innovation as part of a collaborative team, we invite you to apply via our official careers website.
Head of Design - Contract Textiles in Burnley employer: Panaz
At Panaz, we pride ourselves on being a leading supplier of high-performance contract fabrics, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration. Our inclusive team environment, competitive salary, and commitment to employee growth through ongoing training and development make us an excellent employer for those passionate about design. With opportunities for international travel and the chance to directly influence product creation, joining our team means being part of a progressive company that values creativity and teamwork.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Design - Contract Textiles in Burnley
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts, attend design events, and engage with professionals on platforms like LinkedIn. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that dream role.
✨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, be ready to discuss your projects and how they relate to the role you're after.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its design ethos. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs, especially in contract textiles. Tailor your answers to show you’re the perfect fit!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Panaz.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Design - Contract Textiles in Burnley
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Design:When writing your application, let your love for design shine through! Share specific examples of your work that highlight your creativity and innovation in textiles. We want to see how you can bring your unique flair to our team.
Tailor Your CV and Cover Letter:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Head of Design role. Highlight relevant experience in woven, vinyl, dyed, and printed fabrics, and don’t forget to mention any hands-on leadership roles you've had. We’re looking for someone who can hit the ground running!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read through your achievements and skills. Remember, we appreciate attention to detail, so make sure there are no typos or errors!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our careers website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at Panaz!
How to prepare for a job interview at Panaz
✨Know Your Textiles
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of woven, vinyl, dyed, and printed fabrics. Be ready to discuss specific examples of your work with these materials and how you've tackled challenges in design and manufacturing.
✨Showcase Your CAD Skills
Since this role involves a lot of digital design, be prepared to demonstrate your proficiency with design software like Photoshop. Bring along a portfolio that highlights your best CAD designs and visual layouts to impress the interviewers.
✨Communicate Clearly
As a Head of Design, you'll need to liaise with various stakeholders. Practice articulating your design ideas and technical details clearly. Think about how you can explain complex concepts in a way that's easy for others to understand.
✨Emphasise Collaboration
This role is all about teamwork, so be ready to share examples of how you've successfully collaborated with others in the past. Highlight your experience in guiding and supporting fellow designers while fostering a positive team environment.
