At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape the future of womenswear by blending creativity with commercial strategy.
- Company: Join Sainsbury's, a leading retailer committed to inclusivity and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy discounts, flexible working, and a range of employee benefits.
- Other info: Opportunities for career growth and mentorship within a supportive team.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in fashion while developing your skills in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in womenswear design and strong commercial acumen required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Salary: Competitive Plus Benefits
Location: Coventry Store Support Centre - Ansty Park and Home, Coventry, CV7 9RD
Contract type:
Business area: Sainsbury's Commercial & Sustainability
Closing date: 15 July 2026
Requisition ID: 400068489
We’d all like amazing work to do, and real work-life balance. That’s waiting for you at Sainsbury’s. Here, everything in our stores starts in Sainsbury’s Commercial. From product, proposition, packaging and price, to whether it meets our sustainability commitments or simply tastes great, our team is responsible for all food, non-food and Clothing items available in Sainsbury’s stores, online and on demand. It’s an incredibly fast‑paced environment. People here are in it together and aren’t afraid to take risks. The knowledge and experience you gain here could set you up for career moves anywhere else in the business. So, if you’re passionate about your products and just as hungry to learn, you’ll fit in perfectly.
As a Senior Designer at TU Clothing, you’ll play a key role in shaping the future of our customer proposition by bridging creativity with commercial strategy. You’ll translate brand vision, trend direction and consumer insight into collections that are both inspiring and commercially successful, ensuring relevance across customer segments while remaining aligned to business objectives. This role requires expertise in womenswear jersey design. We are specifically seeking candidates with a proven background designing within this space. This role combines high‑level creative expertise with strong commercial acumen, trend forecasting, and strategic thinking. You’ll influence product direction, raise creative standards and help bring ideas to life in ways that surprise and delight customers while remaining deliverable at scale.
What you’ll do
- You’ll shape and influence product strategy and seasonal design direction for your area, ensuring creative output supports commercial objectives and customer needs. This includes defining and delivering seasonal concepts, design theories and mood boards, clearly articulating creative direction and presenting confidently to key stakeholders.
- You’ll use market research, trend forecasting and customer insight to interpret emerging behaviours and translate them into relevant, commercially viable design opportunities. The role also contributes to macro‑trend research, informing wider business strategy and seasonal storytelling.
- You’ll ensure design integrity throughout the full product lifecycle, from concept through to final production - maintaining TU brand DNA, quality standards and deliverability, while mentoring and influencing the wider design team.
Who you are
- You’re an experienced, commercially minded designer who can balance creativity with delivery.
- You’re confident presenting ideas, influencing stakeholders and working at pace in a fast‑moving environment.
- You’re curious, trend‑aware and strategically minded, with a strong passion for product and a drive to continually raise the bar on quality, relevance and customer appeal.
To be considered for this role, you must have demonstrable experience operating at Senior Designer level or equivalent, with clear accountability for trend interpretation, product development and influencing design direction within a commercial fashion environment.
- Expert CAD and hand‑sketching skills, producing clear, accurate and commercially effective design outputs.
- Strong understanding of fabric performance, garment construction and manufacturing methods.
- Proven ability to balance creative vision with commercial viability, delivering trend‑led designs aligned to business objectives.
- Confident presenter with strong influencing skills, able to articulate design concepts and seasonal direction clearly.
- Experience developing detailed tech packs to support accurate sampling and production.
- Strong planning and critical path management skills, ensuring design milestones are delivered on time.
- Demonstrable experience in Lingerie and Swimwear design.
We are committed to being a truly inclusive retailer so you’ll be welcomed whoever you are and wherever you work. Around here, there’s always the chance to try something new — whether that’s as part of an evolving team or somewhere else across the business - and we take development seriously and promise to support you. We also recognise and celebrate colleagues when they go the extra mile and, where possible, offer flexible working.
When you join our team, we’ll also offer you an amazing range of benefits. Here are some of them:
- Starting off with colleague discount, you'll be able to save 10% on your shopping online and instore at Sainsbury's, Argos, TU and Habitat, and we regularly increase the discount to 15% at points during the year.
- We've also got you covered for your future with our pensions scheme and life cover.
- You'll also be able to share in our success as you may be eligible for a performance‑related bonus of up to 10% of salary, depending on how we perform.
- Your wellbeing is important to us too. You'll receive an annual holiday allowance and you can buy up to an additional week's holiday.
- We also offer other benefits that will help your money go further such as season ticket loans, cycle to work scheme, health cash plans, salary advance (where you can access some of your pay before pay day) as well access to a great range of discounts from hundreds of other retailers.
- And if you ever need it there is also an employee assistance programme.
- Moments that matter are as important to us as they are to you which is why we give up to 26 weeks’ pay for maternity or adoption leave and up to 4 weeks’ pay for paternity leave.
Please see www.sainsburys.jobs for a range of our benefits (note, length of service and eligibility criteria may apply).
Senior Designer - Womenswear Jersey in Coventry employer: Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd
At Sainsbury's, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic and inclusive work environment where creativity meets commercial strategy. As a Senior Designer in our Coventry Store Support Centre, you'll enjoy a competitive salary, extensive benefits, and opportunities for personal and professional growth, all while contributing to a brand that values innovation and sustainability. Join us to be part of a collaborative team that celebrates your contributions and supports your career journey in the fast-paced world of fashion design.
Contact Details:
Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Designer - Womenswear Jersey in Coventry
✨Get Down to the Fashion Events
Dive headfirst into local fashion shows, trade fairs, and networking events. These are golden opportunities to meet industry pros and showcase your passion for the industry in person. Plus, it gives you the chance to chat about potential roles at places like Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd!
✨Join Fashion-Focused Communities
Become a part of online fashion communities on platforms like Instagram or Pinterest. Participate in discussions and share your insights on trends or your personal style journey. It’s a great way to get noticed by brands looking to fill positions, including Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd.
✨Craft a Rock-Solid Portfolio
Since you're aiming for a full-time gig, your portfolio should reflect not just your best work but also your personality. Whether it’s lookbooks, design sketches, or styling projects, make sure it screams 'you' and includes a bit about why you’d be a perfect fit for Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd.
✨Leverage Your University Connections
If you’re fresh out of university, don’t underestimate your career services. They often have partnerships with fashion companies for internships and entry-level roles. Use this to your advantage and connect with them to find any openings at Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Designer - Womenswear Jersey in Coventry
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Style:In the fashion-apparel industry, your personal style and understanding of current trends are crucial. Make sure your CV and cover letter reflect your unique fashion sense – use visuals if you can and highlight any fashion-related experiences or projects that show off your flair!
Highlight Relevant Experience:When you're applying for a full-time role, be sure to focus on any past roles or internships in fashion that’ve honed your skills. Whether that's working in retail, fashion design, or marketing, quantify your achievements and show how they relate to the role at Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd.
Include a Strong Portfolio:An impressive portfolio is key in fashion! Make sure to include a link to your online portfolio in your CV, showcasing your best work, be it designs, campaigns, or styling projects. This is your chance to let your creativity shine and demonstrate your abilities to Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd!
Craft a Standout Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to weave in your passion for fashion and the specific reasons you want to work at Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd. Share your vision of how you'd contribute to their brand and why you're excited about their work. Tailoring this will make you stand out from the crowd!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd
✨Showcase Your Style Portfolio
For a role in the fashion-apparel industry, having a well-curated portfolio is essential. Ensure you include your best work that reflects your style and creativity, whether it's sketches, lookbooks, or completed designs. Be ready to discuss your design process and the inspirations behind your pieces!
✨Know the Latest Trends and Brands
Being well-versed in current fashion trends and influential brands can give you a leg up in the interview. Get familiar with what’s trending in the market and know your competitors. This shows your passion for the industry and helps you connect your work experience to current fashion trajectories.
✨Demonstrate Your Collaboration Skills
In a full-time fashion role, collaboration is key, whether you’re working with designers, marketers, or suppliers. Be prepared to share experiences where you successfully worked as part of a team or navigated challenges with colleagues. This will highlight your ability to adapt and thrive in a fast-paced environment.
✨Dress the Part
This might sound obvious, but in fashion, how you present yourself is part of your brand. Wear something that represents your personal style while still aligning with the company’s aesthetic. It’s a great way to show you understand the industry's essence and can embody the brand’s image!