Assistant Designer Womenswear Denim

MARKS&SPENCER; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK retailer is looking for an Assistant Designer with a passion for denim to join their dynamic team. This is a 12-month fixed-term contract. The successful candidate will collaborate closely with the Design Lead to deliver high-quality product designs. Responsibilities include creating tech packs, conducting product research, and ensuring design integrity. Candidates should be experts in design software and have a solid understanding of fabrics and garment fit. A portfolio sample is required with the application.

Benefits

20% colleague discount

Competitive holiday entitlement

Discretionary bonus schemes

Defined Contribution Pension Scheme

Comprehensive training programmes

Parental and neonatal policies

24/7 Virtual GP access

Charity volunteer day

Qualifications

• Design handwriting and taste level align with M&S style vision.
• Significant designer experience in retail or manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of fabric, fit, and garment integrity.

Responsibilities

• Deliver product direction with seasonal briefs and product research.
• Create tech packs to meet critical paths.
• Collaborate with technical teams on fabric and design delivery.

Skills

Design handwriting and taste level

Expertise in design

Strong understanding of fabric and fit

Creating tech packs

Proficiency in design CAD software

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Photoshop

InDesign

PLM software

Job description

From Merchandising and Marketing - Product Development and Design, through to Supply Chain and Space Planning - our mission is to bring stylish wardrobe, home and beauty essentials to our customers via an easy, inspiring shopping experience online and in store that will delight them every time.

As we accelerate the transformation of our business to suit the changing needs of our customer, we need results‑orientated colleagues that not only have a passion for our product, but a strong team‑working ethos, creativity and a healthy commercial aim to join us on our journey.

We are looking for an Assistant Designer with a passion for denim to join our outstanding team. IMPORTANT - Please make sure you include a sample of your portfolio to your application. This role is a 12‑month fixed‑term contract.

To stay close to customers, our support teams are in the office three days a week as we believe that skills are developed through collaboration, and that spending time together makes us more creative and connected.

What's in it for you

Being a part of M&S is exactly that – playing your part to bring the magic of M&S to our customers every day. We’re an inclusive, dynamic, exciting, and ever‑evolving business built on doing the right thing and bringing exceptional quality, value, and service to every customer, whenever, wherever, and however they want to shop with us.

• After completing your probationary period, you’ll receive a 20% colleague discount across all M&S products and many of our third‑party brands for you and a member of your household.
• Competitive holiday entitlement with the potential to buy extra holiday days.
• Discretionary bonus schemes awarded based on how you achieve your personal objectives and our performance as a business.
• A generous Defined Contribution Pension Scheme and Life Assurance.
• A dedicated welcome to our teams with a tailored induction and a wide range of training programmes to develop your skills.
• Amazing perks and discounts via our M&S Choices portal to maximise your financial and personal wellbeing.
• Industry‑leading parental, adoption, and neonatal policies, providing support and flexibility for your family.
• Access to a fantastic range of wellbeing support for all colleagues, including access to our 24/7 Virtual GP and PAM Assist to support you and your family.
• A charity volunteer day to support a charity or cause you’re passionate about through a dedicated day away from work.

What you’ll do

Your key accountabilities will include:

• Work with Design Lead to deliver global product direction for the category through seasonal briefs and OTB opportunities, and identify up‑trending and down‑trending products, categories, fabrics, and items.
• Design and develop product, delivering consistently high standards of tech packs on PLM to sourcing offices to meet critical paths with a consistently high hit rate.
• Work in collaboration with the technical teams through the design and development process to ensure delivery of the agreed fabric and innovation strategy. Create tech packs via PLM, delivering an accurate and commercial interpretation of the product design, including the BOM, design aesthetic of garment make‑up and agreed fabric specifications.
• Conduct in‑depth research of the product scope, including global retail research to trade fairs etc. as appropriate, and identify and communicate key opportunities and actions post trips.
• Work with DL and designers on coordinated looks/trends through the process as required, and share trends with designers across clothing & home design to build strong XBU looks and lifestyles for the customer.

Who you are

Your skills and experience will include:

• Design handwriting and taste level to be in line with M&S style vision and the M&S customer expectation.
• Expert in the field of design with significant designer experience within the retail and/or manufacturing industry.
• Strong understanding of fabric, fit, and garment make‑up to ensure product integrity.
• Ability and strong competence in creating tech packs.
• Expert level proficiency in design‑related CAD software, including Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, and PLM.

Everyone’s welcome. We are ambitious about the future of retail. We’re disrupting, innovating, and leading the industry into a more conscientious, inspiring digital era. We’re transforming how we work together and offering our most exciting opportunities yet.

Marks & Spencer strives to be an inclusive organisation, trusted, and admired by our colleagues, customers, and suppliers. Join us and make change happen.

We are committed to building diverse and representative teams, where everyone can bring their whole selves to work and be at their best. We support each other and work together to win together.

If you feel you’d benefit from any support or reasonable adjustments during any stage of the recruitment process, please don’t hesitate to let us know when completing your application. This information will be picked up by our team, so we can put steps in place to help you be at your best through this process.