Design Room Manager

Trak Recruiting; Sydney; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

International environment

Lead multidisciplinary team

Collaborative teams

Influence on product development

Process improvement

Design-led culture

Job summary

Trak Recruiting is seeking a senior Design Room Manager for our elevated fashion client in Sydney. You will lead a multidisciplinary team across Product Development, Pattern Making, Garment Technology and Sample Production, ensuring creative direction translates into commercially viable product.

The role requires strong organisation, hands-on leadership and commercial discipline to manage timelines, budgets and quality across multiple seasons.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of fabrics, trims, garment construction and pattern development.
• Proven experience leading critical paths across multiple categories and seasons.
• Ability to translate creative direction into practical development plans.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the design room from concept through to production handover.
• Direct a multidisciplinary team across Product Development, Pattern Making and Sample Production.
• Translate creative direction into clear priorities with timelines and actions.
• Oversee budgets, fabric, trims, print development and cost management.
• Manage sample development, fittings, approvals and production handover.
• Monitor schedules, identify delays and reallocate resources.
• Collaborate with design, buying, merchandising and international teams.
• Drive process improvements and team capability development.
• Provide hands-on leadership during seasonal milestones and reviews.

Skills

Fabric knowledge

Pattern development

Team leadership

Commercial awareness

Stakeholder management

Project planning

Education

Relevant fashion design qualifications

Job description

An internationally recognised elevated fashion business with a strong creative identity and a global customer base. The Australian operation forms an important part of the wider design and product development function, working closely with international teams across multiple markets.

The business is established, design-led and highly quality-focused, with a collaborative environment where experienced people are trusted to take ownership. This is an opportunity to join a sophisticated fashion operation where craftsmanship, product quality and attention to detail are central to the way the business operates.

THE ROLE

This is a senior, hands-on opportunity for an experienced Design Room Manager to lead the development and execution, from initial concept through to production handover.

You will lead a multidisciplinary team across Product Development, Pattern Making, Garment Technology and Sample Production, ensuring creative direction is translated into commercially viable product while maintaining high standards of quality, timing and execution.

The role requires someone who can bridge creative and technical expertise with strong organisation, leadership and commercial discipline.

Day-to-Day

• Lead the critical path for seasonal collections and new product launches.
• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team of Product Developers, Pattern Makers, Garment Technicians and Sample Room specialists.
• Translate creative direction into clear priorities, timelines and actions for the wider team.
• Oversee fabric, trim, print and embellishment development, balancing quality, cost and lead times.
• Manage sample development, fittings, approvals and final production handover.
• Monitor development schedules, identifying delays and reallocating resources where required.
• Work closely with design, buying, merchandising, production and international teams.
• Oversee development budgets and ensure product decisions remain commercially appropriate.
• Improve processes, workflow and team capability across the design room.
• Provide hands-on leadership through key seasonal milestones and collection reviews.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

We are looking for an experienced fashion professional who combines creative understanding with strong operational and people-management capability.

You will ideally bring:

• Strong knowledge of fabrics, trims, garment construction and pattern development.
• Proven experience managing critical paths across multiple categories and seasons.
• Experience leading teams across product development, pattern making, garment technology and sample production.
• Ability to translate creative direction into practical development plans.
• Excellent organisation, prioritisation and follow-through.
• A hands-on leadership style with a willingness to get into the detail.
• Strong commercial awareness across cost, margin and production.
• Confidence working with senior creative and international stakeholders.
• Relevant fashion design qualifications will be highly regarded.

This role will suit someone who issenior enough to lead and influence, but still close enough to the product and process to be hands-on.

COMPANY PERKS

• Work within an internationally recognised elevated fashion environment.
• Lead an established multidisciplinary team.
• Collaborate with international creative and product development teams.
• Significant influence over product development and design room operations.
• Hands-on opportunity to improve processes and ways of working.
• Collaborative, design-led working environment.

SALARY

Competitive salary package + Super, commensurate with experience.