Footwear Designer, Girlswear

Our Design Team deliver stand‑out, affordable fashion with the unique style and touches that underpin the River Island handwriting. As a Senior Designer you’ll take a lead in setting the direction for your categories, and will be accountable for full development cycle of products for inclusion in the final ranges. As a true subject matter expert in driving design excellence, delivering complex and stand‑out pieces within the range. Your outstanding market, industry and commercial awareness will ensure delivery of design that represent key trends and drive commercial results, and presentation of a balanced overall range for our customer.

Key Accountabilities

• Deliver excellence in product design, from concept to completion, that represents key trends and commercial opportunities, and create a balanced range for your category.
• Through strong understanding of fabric, engineering, fit and quality, produce designs to a high technical standard, and excellent first sample hit rate, for the level of the market.
• Through outstanding broad market and customer awareness and research, and a thorough understanding of the River Island brand, lead and shape Product Development discussions that address key trends and opportunities.
• In developing broad industry and competitor awareness, identify and realise new product and design opportunities aligned to our overall Product strategy.
• At all stages, incorporate an understanding of sustainable practices in design, development and production to deliver on our sustainability commitments, and role model this to the whole Design team.
• Understand sales history, sales and margin targets and range plans across both your own area of accountability and more broadly across all divisions to ensure designs are aligned to deliver on commercial opportunities.
• Through strong relationships and collaboration with suppliers, fabric mills, Fabric Sourcing and Buying counterparts, identify and realise opportunities for newness, trends and sourcing.
• Support new Design Talent through mentoring and developing all team members, creating learning opportunities and fostering inclusion and diversity of opinion.
• Provide direction to Designers and Assistant Designers, managing their workload to ensure they contribute effectively to the design process.
• Grow talent within the Design team, identifying readiness for next role, providing learning opportunities, coaching and mentoring in a timely way to enable everyone to realise their individual potential.

Key experience required

• Substantial previous experience as an established Designer or equivalent is essential.
• Qualifications or studies relevant to Design are essential.
• Must be able to provide a portfolio of Design work.
• Track record of successfully mentoring and developing others.
• Excellent network in the market and industry.

Job role competencies

• Advanced Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop skills are essential.
• Excellent Product Development skills.
• Excellent technical and creative design skills.
• Strong organisation skills, intentional with time and focus.
• Strong verbal communication skills.
• Excellent mentoring and development skills.
• Strong commercial acumen.
• Strong interpersonal effectiveness and collaboration skills, emotional intelligence and self-management.
• Builds strong, genuine relationships with peers, highly collaborative approach.
• Self‑starter.
• Forward‑thinking, innovative.
• Change champion with a curious, continuous learning mindset.
• Tenacious and resilient and adaptable to change.
• Passion for the RI brand and customer.
• Disciplined and conscientious, results oriented.

About Us

We’re a much-loved brand with an exciting future. Our Islanders are a diverse bunch of bright, talented people who love working together – and are proud of the work they do. Progression here can take you in all kinds of directions. This is what a career at River Island is like. And this is where yours starts. This role is based at our Head Office in West London.

What we can offer you:

• Generous 50% staff discount so you can treat yourself to the latest products, and a bargain staff shop on site.
• Reducing Islanders everyday expenses through discounts, benefits, financial advice, wellbeing solutions and more through the Retail Trust.
• A free onsite gym, subsidised restaurant & café to fill your needs.
• Various social events to socialise throughout the year.
• Every family is unique, we support Islanders with all different family setups enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption & fertility treatment.
• Flexible working, on top of payday and summer early finish Fridays.
• Give as you earn scheme, a ‘Giver Island’ day each year and receive matched funding.
• Support with upskilling through on the job training and qualifications.
• A succession plan if you want to progress.
• A generous bonus scheme & private pension plan.
• The choice to opt in for healthcare through our provider AXA.
• An allowance supporting your commute to work.
• 25 days paid holiday, exclusive of Bank Holidays, with the added option to purchase additional holiday twice a year for whatever the need!

Keeping You Safe

At River Island we are committed to the safeguarding of all of our employees regardless of age or job role. We will fulfil our obligation under the Prevent duty which seeks to stop extremism and extremist views from materialising in our business. We promote and encourage the belief in British Values- including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. Our Island is made up of a diverse community, where we all belong and feel part of something bigger. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio‑economic background, religion and/or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles unless operational requirements prevent otherwise.