Design Manager - Footwear

BARBOUR; Jarrow; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading footwear retailer in Jarrow is seeking a talented Design Manager to join their Footwear team temporarily. The successful candidate will lead the design and development of innovative footwear that aligns with brand DNA. Responsibilities include overseeing trends, ensuring quality, and working closely with cross-functional partners. The role requires strong design skills, experience in costing, and a flair for creativity. Benefits include a company bonus scheme, staff discounts, and healthcare plans, among others.

Benefits

Discretionary Company bonus scheme

Staff discount

Free onsite parking

Healthcare cash plan

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Subsidised canteen

Qualifications

• Footwear Design degree or equivalent experience.
• Experience in people management and presentations.
• Strong commercial and negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead new designs and innovations for footwear.
• Oversee the creation of trend overviews and mood boards.
• Ensure designs align with consumer needs and quality.

Skills

Footwear Design degree or equivalent experience

People management experience

Strong organisational skills

Commercial experience in costing and negotiation

Creativity and design flair

Ability to work under pressure

Job description

Company Description

The Barbour story began in 1894 in South Shields in the North East of England. Founder John Barbour began supplying oilskins and other garments to protect the growing community of sailors, fishermen and dockers. Still family owned and now fifth generation, Barbour HQ remains in South Shields. Under the leadership of Chairman Dame Margaret Barbour, Barbour has grown into a lifestyle brand sold in over 55 countries worldwide including Europe, the US and Asia offering a wardrobe of stylish functional clothing, footwear and accessories inspired by the unique values of the British countryside. The iconic Barbour Bedale and Barbour Beaufort wax jackets continue to be made by hand in the factory in South Shields. In 2020, Barbour launched Wax for Life, an overarching name for all of Barbour's wax services designed to encourage customers to extend the life of their wax garments. Wax for Life includes re-waxing and repairs (first introduced in 1921) and Barbour Re-Loved an upcycling circularity initiative. Each year over 70,000 wax garments are sent back to Barbour globally to be repaired, rewaxed or altered.

Position Overview

We are currently recruiting for a Design Manager to join our Footwear team on a temporary Maternity Cover basis, based at Barbour House, South Shields. Along with the Head of Footwear you will lead in shaping our footwear collections. You will be responsible for overseeing the design and development of Barbour footwear and delivering market‑leading, innovative global designs which align to our brand DNA and seasonal creative direction and drive our footwear into the future. Commercially you will develop ranges with an end price in mind, have responsibility for achieving agreed margin and work directly with manufacturers to ensure the design, development and range requirements are met.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead on new designs, trends, innovations, and technical advancements from the industry in line with Brand DNA, strategic and seasonal creative direction.
• Working with the Designer deliver consumer focused designs aligned with brand DNA and range direction, and which achieve commercial targets.
• Assist in and oversee the creation of seasonal creative direction, trend overviews, colour, and mood boards.
• Ensure new designs align with target consumer needs and desire.
• Ensure comfort and wearability are always very high on the agenda so we produce a quality reliable product.
• Assist the Head in the accurate and timely communication between key cross‑functional partners - Sales, Marketing and supply chain.
• Assist in driving margin across footwear categories, and design and develop to a price.
• For your category ensure all necessary PLM info is correctly uploaded to a high standard and in a timely manner.
• Lead the specification and product development process for your category with the support the Technical Manager.
• Product integrity – Aims to instil quality in the product from onset of development through final production.

Skills and Experience

• Footwear Design degree or equivalent experience.
• People management experience.
• Confident in presenting your designs formally and informally and solid experience in creating powerful and engaging content to illustrate and communicate ideas clearly.
• A practical knowledge and experience of production methods.
• Solid proven commercial experience in costing, margin and negotiation.
• A flair for design with great creativity and imagination.
• Ability to produce original ideas on upcoming trends.
• Strong organisational, interpersonal, collaborative and negotiation skills.
• Able to work in a fluid, fast‑paced, multi‑channel environment.
• Resilient and able to manage challenge and resistance.
• Independent and objective thinker.
• Prioritising, decision making, organising workloads and delivery priorities.
• Able to work well in a busy environment and remain calm under pressure.
• Proactive and dynamic mindset.
• Problem solver, collaborative and inclusive.
• Numerate with solid negotiation skillset.

Benefits

• Discretionary Company bonus scheme
• Staff discount
• Staff shop
• Healthcare cash plan
• 25 days holiday as standard increasing with length of service plus bank holidays
• Free onsite parking
• Subsidised canteen

Note: In the event that a sufficient volume of suitable applications are received, the post may close prior to the specified closing date. Please apply as soon as possible if interested.