Senior RTW Designer

Reporting to the Design Director, the Senior RTW Designer is responsible for collaborating with the Design Director in the creation of the Stella McCartney RTW collection from concept to completion. This role will have a focus/flare for Outerwear and Tailoring designs and will be working closely with the design team acting as the bridge between the Design Director and the team to manage and ensure that the collections are successful and fashion forward.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate closely with the Design Director for support to ensure the best understanding and development of seasonal creative concepts.
• Drive fittings independently and display confidence in following through styles from sketch to production, ensuring all sketches are defined and put into development by the team.
• Demonstrate technical awareness and knowledge of garment construction, with a focus and/or flare for Outerwear/Tailoring designs.
• Actively lead, drive and monitor the conceptual development of innovative and directional product lines in all areas relating to the RTW collections.
• Work with the Design Director to develop key overarching creative direction to implement at the beginning of each season, bringing your own original ideas to convey freshness and relevance to the product.
• Support the fabric research and colour card inspiration and fully oversee the creative fabric to sketch process.
• Working closely with the Design Director for day‑to‑day support and management, attend inter‑category and inter‑department meetings to ensure development is achieved within the timelines set by the Senior Collection Manager.
• Work collaboratively with all key departments, including the Merchandising, Product Development, Fabric, Print, Embroidery and Atelier to develop the collection in the vision of the Design Director and achieve consistency in product.
• Develop a close working relationship with the Product Development and Materials team to ensure they source the materials and techniques needed on time, as well as providing them with clear, complete and updated design information for them to pass onto our factories to ensure successful prototypes.
• Travel when required to Novara to fit and oversee the sampling process. Demonstrate confidence to provide clear directives and feedback.
• Help give direction and guidance to the Designer, Junior Designer and Design Assistants. Oversee their work and development on behalf of the Design Director. Ensure they are fully briefed and all projects are overseen at every stage and they develop in their role.

Qualifications

• Previous experience leading Designers and creative studio.
• Technically strong with good knowledge of garment construction.
• Experience focusing on Outerwear and Tailoring.
• Experience ideally gained in the luxury design industry.
• Ability to delegate and manage Junior Designers.
• Ability to multi‑task and work effectively on several projects simultaneously.
• Goal oriented, result driven individual.
• Commercially minded, quickly responding to business/market needs.
• Strong team player who can work across multiple teams and under pressure.
• High work ethic, integrity and reliability with a "Hands on" attitude.
• Great time management skills.
• Comfortable working additional hours to perform duties, including weekends and also travel when necessary.
• Impeccable presentation and communication skills, both verbally and written.
• Proficient in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.
• Creative thinker, with the ability to think outside the box and an eye for detail.

Benefits

• Up to 50% discount on Stella McCartney products.
• Matched pension contribution up to 6%.
• Extensive private medical and critical illness insurance, as well as life assurance.
• Annual Health Screening.
• 25 days annual leave.