Supply Chain-Jobs in Großbritannien

Thank you in advance for the interest, but this position is only available to those with either their Permanent Residency or a valid Work Permit.

Location for this position is Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Our client, a leading manufacturer of sportswear, athletic apparel and accessories, is looking for an experienced and dedicated Design Director to join their team! This person will lead a portion of their new development team to manage the execution of product development for their key department stores and branded collaboration divisions.

Superior organization and project management skills are integral for building product & merchandising planograms within required timelines for varying customer needs. The Design Director drives the brand vision from a merchandise and floor planning perspective to deliver best-in-class product to our customers and end-users.

Effective process and timeline management within the New Development team is key to success, along with strong relationships with all management and executive level functions of the company. This is a capsule-driven line, focused on key 4-way table programs to maximize retail opportunities, along with branded collaborations with varying partners (local and international).

1. Support design execution and planning to meet potential customer needs, working in close collaboration with the sales and account management teams to address the demands of a growing customer base.
2. Oversee the New Development Key Dept Store and Branded Collaboration team from a management and design direction perspective.
3. Manage departmental resources, review program allocations regularly to ensure balanced workload and proper fit between design expertise and allocated categories.
4. Onboard and train new employees to work functionally within the organization as needed.
5. Conduct performance management exercises for directly reporting individuals. Coach/mentor new and existing employees to effectively manage growing responsibilities of the team.
6. Coordinate with internal and external team members in a project management capacity to ensure all approval deadlines are met, troubleshoot and innovate solutions to avoid development delays.
7. Meticulously plan Research and Development trips (market research trips, fabric shows, etc). Document formal plans ahead of trips categorized into sustainable technologies, trending fabric needs, filling gaps in vendor partnerships.
8. Upon return from trips, conduct formal presentations of findings to ensure that the teams are all connected and informed.
9. Drive Innovation through successful creation and execution of line plans for required brands and divisions through both market and trend analysis and past sales performance analysis.
10. Identify new product categories, key items, fabric and color stories for integration into brands and divisions.
11. Define, drive and support designers' understanding of garment end-user, customer profile and needs associated with each item and the line as a whole.
12. Ensure that each collection embodies brand ethos, advancement/alignment with trend/color and company direction, as well as meeting cost parameters for various divisions.
13. Lead fabric specialist team to source key industry-leading fabrications based on trending innovation, environmental footprint, price point, market research and customer requests.
14. Effectively execute plans by ensuring that designers are following line plans, enforce accountability to build the line in accordance with line plans, company trend direction and customer requirements.
15. Manage sample development within a reasonable amount and cost to ensure the supply chain is not overburdened with sampling and the company is not over-paying for sample development.
16. Maintain customer focus and support sales by working closely with Sales and Account Management to support needs of new and existing department store and branded collaboration partnerships.
17. Identify needs of buying groups and build planning around customer demand and growth planning.
18. Conduct line presentations for various brands and divisions (customer buying teams, internal brand sales reps, etc) to show our product in its fully realized form, generating interest from buying groups.
19. Effectively communicate with other department managers (Design Director – SMU Club, Off-price and Key Item Retail, Technical Design, Fit, Graphics, Account Management, Planning and Support, Sales, Marketing, etc) to ensure seamless execution of collections.
20. Ensure that all departments have the right starting point to ensure that design expression and integrity is being realized from development to pre-production to final product.
21. Work with Marketing teams to ensure that design expression and integrity is being conveyed effectively to consumers.
22. Consistent collaboration between the Design Directors at every level of the business is integral to success in this role.

1. Post-secondary education in Fashion Design/Merchandising or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
2. Minimum of 5 years of industry experience in a similar role.
3. Proven experience at all stages of the design process from conception through to implementation.
4. Must possess strong organizational, planning and cost skills – subsequent ability to coach teams on said skill sets. Thrives under pressure and in fast-paced environments. Thrives in a team environment and can foster collaboration.
5. Solid understanding and continuous improvement of knowledge with respect to marketplace, garment construction, fit and finishing.
6. Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously; self-starter approach to work with an eagerness and consistently meet and exceed objectives. An entrepreneurial spirit with the ability to take calculated risks for the company's well-being. Detail-oriented with a “big picture” mindset.
7. Ability to multi-task and lead in a fast-paced, cross-functional, creative and ever-adapting environment.
8. Excellent communication skills – written, verbal, interpersonal and presentation.
9. Ability to travel domestically and internationally (must hold valid passport).