Menswear Designer - Own Brand

Key Duties/Responsibilities:

• The creation of seasonal trend reports for the business.

• Utilise the Trend reports to drive Brand direction, creating Customer profile documents and Brand mood boards for your brands.

• Generate Seasonal Trip and Retail reports

• Manage the Design process in line with critical path timelines

• Mentor Junior Members of the team.

• Lead design engagement with Textiles 2030 working groups on circular design and sustainability.

• Lead engagement with new technologies and projects such as 3D Design.

• Design coherent, directional, relevant ranges in line with the research and any direction provided. Ensuring line-art/ tech packs are to the highest level of quality.

• Liaise with the buying team, leading the direction of the brands.

• Create clear, detailed functional and technical CAD’s as appropriate and upload onto the PLM creating the Tech Pack.

• Fully utilise pantones to ensure clear colour communication throughout the business.

• Create and maintain Branding / Packaging line-art / Packs / PLM

• Work closely with Product Development on new fabrics, trims, techniques and fits in line with the brand requirements.

• Liaisie with the Product Developer with the fit and finish of prototype samples.

• Monitor sales information on a weekly basis.

• Continually assess market trends both internally (within JD Group) and externally (competition) including the JD interantional markets.

• Visit JD Stores on a regular basis.

• Fully utilise trend prediction agencies such as WGSN.

• Ensure you are aware of new factories and their techniques (i.e. new washes, print or embroidery techniques)

• Attend Tradeshow local and internationally to ensure you are at the forefront of Trend Forecasting.

• Visit factories where appropriate to develop your knowledge of manufacturing techniques in partnership with the Development Team

• Assist Senior Designers when providing Marketing with styling suggestions for any marketing/advertising material, by presenting tear sheets /mood boards.

Skills/Experience/Knowledge needed:

• Strong working knowledge of Adobe suite is essential.

• Strong teamwork and communication skills are essential.

• Excellent time management skills.

• Knowledge of PLM systems is an advantage, however full training is available.

• 3D Design would be an advantage.

The Company:

The JD Group is a leading omnichannel retailer of Sports Fashion, Street & Premium Fashion, Outdoors and Gyms with over 60,000 colleagues over 3,400 stores across several retail fascia’s in over 30 markets around the world.

We are an equal opportunities employer who embraces and values differences. We recognise the importance of an inclusive workplace culture in which everyone can thrive irrespective of their background or identity.

To be a part of this successful and continuously growing company, you will have the desire to ingrain our strategic goals of being a people first, a digital leader and customer focused organisation which provides operational excellence and is continuous with identifying new areas of growth into our day-to-day.

We know our employees work tirelessly to make JD Sports the success it is today and in turn, we offer them some amazing benefits:

• Incremental Holiday Allowance
• Staff Discount on qualifying purchases across Group retail stores and online
• Exclusive Colleague Bike Discount scheme
• Discounted Gym membership
• Personal development opportunities to learn and develop at work
• Access to Apprenticeships and accredited qualifications

Interested?

If you are interested in this position, then press the Apply Now button.

Due to the high volumes of applications our opportunities attract, it takes time to review them all. If you don’t hear back within two weeks of your application, please consider your application to have been unsuccessful on this occasion

Applications that meet the skills criteria will be contacted for a 1st stage meeting with the talent team. Shortlisted candidates will then be invited to interview with the hiring manager.

Thank you again for your time.