Design Manager - MP Activewear

The Hut Group; Manchester; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Access bespoke development programmes

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Enhanced maternity and paternity pay

Access to on-site gym

Up to 50% staff discount

Job summary

The Hut Group in Manchester is seeking a Design Manager to lead and inspire the design team, focusing on innovative and stylish activewear across multiple categories.

This role demands collaboration with product development and marketing, managing the full design lifecycle, and ensuring collections resonate with customers.

Join us for a fulfilling career with benefits including 25 days annual leave, enhanced maternity/paternity pay, and staff discounts.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in clothing design with leadership experience in activewear.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating expertise in performance and activewear design.
• Ability to balance creative innovation with commercial insight.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the design team across Men’s, Women’s, and Accessories lines.
• Drive the creation of stylish, functional, and market-leading apparel.
• Collaborate with product development and marketing teams.

Skills

Fashion Design

Creative Leadership

Adobe Creative Suite

Garment Construction

Market Trend Analysis

Education

Degree in Fashion Design or related field

Job description

Role: Design Manager

Reporting to: Head of Product

Location: THG HQ, Manchester (WA15 0AF) - Fully Office Based

The Role

As Design Manager, you will lead and inspire the design team across Men’s, Women’s, and Accessories categories. Reporting to the Head of Product, you will drive the creation of stylish, functional, and high-performance apparel that resonates with our customers and elevates MP’s position in the activewear market.

You will collaborate closely with product development, marketing, and buying teams to manage the full design lifecycle—from concept through to production—ensuring collections are innovative, on-trend, commercially viable, and aligned with our brand ethos.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the design team, fostering creativity, collaboration, and high performance across Men’s, Women’s, and Accessories lines.
• Develop and deliver innovative, trend‑led collections that embody MP Activewear’s brand values and appeal to our active customer base.
• Drive the creative vision of the ranges with brand, ensuring the creative brief is executed.
• Conduct ongoing research into fashion trends, fabrics, technologies, and sustainability to ensure products remain current, functional, and market-leading.
• Collaborate with product development to ensure designs meet technical, fit, functionality, and production requirements.
• Maintain a clear understanding of the product development process, timelines, and critical path milestones.
• Present design concepts and collections confidently to stakeholders, integrating feedback to refine and enhance output.
• Work with buying teams to select materials that balance sustainability, quality, and cost-effectiveness.
• Monitor competitor activity, influencer trends, and market shifts to maintain MP’s competitive edge.
• Participate in fittings and collaborate closely with production teams to ensure the highest quality execution of designs.

What We’re Looking For

• Degree in Fashion Design or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in clothing design, with at least 2 years in a management or leadership role, preferably in activewear, sportswear, or fashion.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating expertise in performance and activewear design.
• In‑depth knowledge of garment construction, fabrics, and technical design principles.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop) and other relevant design software.
• Ability to balance creative innovation with commercial insight, designing products that are both stylish and functional.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and cross‑functional collaboration skills.
• Passion for activewear and a deep understanding of the modern consumer’s needs.
• Adaptable, proactive, and able to thrive in a fast‑paced, evolving environment.

What’s in it for me?

• Access bespoke development programmes that have been designed and developed by our in‑house L&D team.
• Continued development through our upskilling programme that is delivered in partnership with an industry‑leading training provider.

Enhanced Leave

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Enjoy your birthday off on us.
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay, depending on length of service.
• Up to 10 days compassionate leave.
• Buy back up to 3 days each year.
• Access face‑to‑face and virtual appointments with our in‑house GP.
• Access our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) which is provided by Bupa.
• State‑of‑the‑art on‑site gym.
• Access to our on‑site physio.

Other Perks

• Save up to 12% on the cost of personal tech through our salary sacrifice scheme.
• Subsidised bus pass from Manchester City Centre to our ICON office.
• Up to 50% staff discount on THG brands.
• On‑site staff shop.
• Know someone who would be perfect for THG? Refer them and get up to £1000 when they pass their probation.
• Anniversary gifts when you hit 5 and 10 years of service.

Employment Equality & Diversity

THG is proud to be a Disability Confident Committed employer. If you are invited to interview, please let us know if there are any reasonable adjustments we can make to the recruitment process that will enable you to perform to the best of your ability.

THG is committed to creating a diverse & inclusive environment and hence welcomes applications from all sections of the community.