VP Design - Canterbury in London

We’re Pentland Brands: a global family business behind some of the world’s most iconic active and lifestyle brands. We bring integrity, energy and ambition to our work, setting high standards and striving to deliver great outcomes without ego.

Design rugby apparel built for strength, movement and team identity. At Canterbury, product has to do more than look good. It has to stand up to the intensity of the game, move with the player and carry the pride of the team, from training ground to match day and beyond.

The VP Design leads the global creative direction for Canterbury, codifying the brand DNA through product design and creating a distinctive, consistent design handwriting across performance and lifestyle ranges.

What you’ll be doing:

• Set the global design vision for Canterbury, aligned to brand strategy, product priorities and consumer insight.
• Lead seasonal design direction across on-field, licensed, off-field, colour, graphics and print.
• Create a clear and recognisable Canterbury product handwriting across relevant consumer segments and markets.
• Partner with Product Management and Development to ensure designs are feasible, commercial and aligned to quality expectations.
• Lead, inspire and develop the design team, building a culture of creativity, craft, pace and accountability.
• Guide the use of external specialist support for footwear and protection / hardgoods where required.
• Ensure design decisions support product storytelling, range architecture, sustainability and commercial priorities.
• Represent Design in cross-functional leadership forums and contribute to the wider Canterbury operating model.
• Maintain design documentation, colour, material and graphic handovers so Development and Sourcing can progress work accurately and on time.
• Use prototype reviews, fit sessions and sample feedback to refine product detail while protecting the intended design handwriting.
• Set the seasonal creative framework, design principles and visual handwriting for Canterbury.
• Lead design reviews to ensure creative direction is translated consistently across categories and pods.
• Partner with Product Management and Development to balance creativity, performance, cost and manufacturability.
• Use consumer, athlete, trend and competitor insight to inform design direction and innovation opportunities.
• Build design capability, craft standards and consistent ways of working across the design team.
• Ensure design outputs support product storytelling, brand identity and commercial range needs.

What you’ll bring:

• Senior design leadership experience within performance sport, apparel, rugby, outdoor, teamwear or related categories.
• Strong product, visual and graphic design knowledge with the ability to set clear creative direction.
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary design teams and developing creative talent.
• Strong design thinking, problem solving and storytelling capability.
• Ability to balance innovation, brand identity, commercial relevance and delivery discipline.
• Confidence influencing senior stakeholders and aligning design strategy with business goals.
• Strong understanding of product creation, materials, fit, construction and seasonal design processes.
• Strong craft, taste level and technical curiosity, with the ability to turn brand DNA and trend insight into practical product solutions.
• Significant design leadership experience within performance, sport, lifestyle, apparel or equipment categories.

Why Canterbury?

Canterbury is the world’s original rugby brand, built on more than a century of sporting heritage, technical product knowledge and deep connection to the game. Founded in New Zealand in 1904, Canterbury creates performance kit, training apparel, casualwear and fan product for players, teams and supporters who live and breathe rugby. It is a brand shaped by strength, durability and belonging, supporting people on and off the pitch, from grassroots clubs to the highest levels of the sport.

Joining Canterbury means becoming part of a team that cares deeply about rugby product and the people who wear it: how it fits, how it moves, how it performs under pressure, how it represents team identity, and how it brings players, coaches and fans together.

Perks & Benefits

We offer a competitive salary, discretionary bonus, hybrid working, flexible start and finish times, generous holiday allowance, product discounts, sample sales, enhanced family-friendly policies, healthcare support, gym and fitness discounts, cycle to work scheme and electric car scheme. You can find full details of our benefits and perks on our UK Benefits page.

The Interview Process

We want our interview process to feel clear, straightforward, and supportive. If your experience and expectations look like a strong match for the role, here’s what you can expect next:

• Talent Team Intro Call - A 30-minute video call with our Talent Team to get to know each other, talk through the role and your experience, and answer any questions you have.
• Experience Interview - A more in-depth interview (usually online) with the hiring manager to explore your skills, experience and approach, and how these align with the role, our principles, and our ways of working.
• Final Interview - A final in-person interview at our office, focused on deeper discussion and practical application, giving you the chance to meet more of the team and see Pentland Brands in action.

This vacancy is a newly created role as part of organisational changes. Final appointment will depend upon the outcome of consultation processes and affected employees will have priority for consideration.