At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design of trendy merchandise from concept to production.
- Company: Join a leading global brand in gaming and entertainment.
- Benefits: Generous salary, 30 days leave, private healthcare, and learning support.
- Other info: Hybrid work model with a focus on personal and career development.
- Why this job: Be a creative visionary and shape exciting merch that resonates with fans.
- Qualifications: Experience in merchandising, strong leadership, and design software skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 ÂŁ per year.
The Design Lead – Merch will take ownership of our PokerStars Store design strategy, leading the creative process from concept to production. You’ll combine design expertise with commercial insight, ensuring our merch aligns with brand guidelines, resonates with our audience, and drives desire to purchase. This role requires a creative visionary who knows fashion and trends, to collaborate across functions, and deliver high-quality, commercially viable designs to service our internal stakeholders and players and fans. This role follows a hybrid approach to working, allowing you to combine working from home with working in our modern offices.
What You’ll Do:
- Lead the design and creative direction for all merchandise, including apparel, accessories, and promotional items.
- Develop and maintain a cohesive design language that aligns with our brand identity and appeals to our customer base.
- Collaborate closely with Brand, Product, and Commercial teams to ensure designs meet both creative and business objectives.
- Oversee the end-to-end design process: concept development, prototyping, vendor liaison, and production oversight.
- Recommend and test new production suppliers to ensure best quality products.
- Use trend research and competitor analysis to ensure our merchandise stands out in the market.
- Maintain awareness of industry regulations and standards relevant to online gambling marketing and merchandising.
- Ensure all design deliverables meet deadlines, budgets, and quality standards.
What You’ll Bring:
- Proven experience in merchandising or product design, preferably in e-commerce, gaming, or lifestyle brands.
- Strong leadership experience, with the ability to inspire and guide a design team.
- Excellent portfolio showcasing merch design, brand alignment, and creative problem-solving.
- Proficiency in design software such as Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign) and 3D/prototyping tools.
- Strong understanding of digital and physical product design, including production constraints and commercial considerations.
- Excellent communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, dynamic, and regulated industry.
- Knowledge of sustainable materials and ethical production processes.
- Understanding of customer insights and merchandising analytics to inform design decisions.
Why Choose Us:
- Aside from a generous base salary, we have a fantastic benefits & rewards program that is designed to encourage personal and career development.
- Discretionary annual performance bonus.
- 30 days paid leave.
- Private healthcare.
- Personal life assurance and income protection.
- The option to join our company pension scheme.
- A personal interest allowance to let you learn something new or pursue a hobby.
- External learning support of up to £2,000 or equivalent in local currency, dedicated 4 learning “Power Hours” every month during office time, full access to the Udemy and Mindtools platforms, in‑house leadership program and many other training opportunities for developing your skills and progressing your career.
- Looking to extend your family? You will receive a cash gift of 1,000 EUR for your new addition whilst working for us.
- 26 weeks primary carer leave at 100% pay & 4 weeks secondary carer leave pay at 100% pay.
- Access to an onsite gym.
Equal Opportunities:
At Flutter International we are committed to creating an inclusive environment where our people can be their authentic selves and thrive. We embrace and celebrate diversity, respecting all our uniqueness and differences. We welcome you to let us know whether you have any accessibility needs. Please email us at talent@flutterint.com. Your journey with us is focused on ensuring you have what you need to be your best self.
The Group PokerStars is a proud member of the Flutter Entertainment family, a global leader in sports betting, iGaming, and entertainment. We're not just another company; we're listed on both the prestigious FTSE 100 index on the London Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). What sets us apart is our world class brands, cutting-edge products, and our International division includes our operations in over 100 global markets and offers sports betting, casino, poker, rummy and lottery, mainly online. What truly defines us is our commitment to ensuring that the excitement of gaming and entertainment is experienced in a responsible and sustainable way. Our remarkable team of over 8,000 colleagues drives this vision, spread across 28 offices worldwide.
Design Lead - Merch employer: PokerStars
Contact Detail:
PokerStars Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Design Lead - Merch
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨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 design process and how you tackle challenges.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its products. Understand their brand identity and think about how your design vision aligns with their goals. This will help you stand out as a candidate who truly gets them.
✨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 and engaged with our brand.
We think you need these skills to ace Design Lead - Merch
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Creative Flair: When you're putting together your application, make sure to showcase your design portfolio. We want to see your best work that aligns with our brand and demonstrates your creative problem-solving skills. Remember, this is your chance to shine!
Tailor Your Application: Don’t just send a generic application! Take the time to tailor your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in merchandising and product design, especially in e-commerce or lifestyle brands. We love seeing how your background fits with what we do.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured documents that are easy to read. Make sure to highlight your leadership experience and collaboration skills, as these are key for us in this role.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at PokerStars
✨Showcase Your Creative Vision
Make sure to bring a strong portfolio that highlights your best merchandising designs. Focus on projects that demonstrate your ability to align with brand identity and showcase your creative problem-solving skills.
✨Know the Trends
Research current fashion trends and competitor offerings before the interview. Be prepared to discuss how you can incorporate these insights into your design strategy for the PokerStars Store.
✨Collaborate Like a Pro
Since this role involves working closely with various teams, think of examples where you've successfully collaborated in the past. Highlight your communication skills and how you’ve managed stakeholder expectations.
✨Understand the Industry
Brush up on industry regulations and standards related to online gambling marketing and merchandising. Showing that you’re aware of these factors will demonstrate your readiness to navigate the complexities of the role.