Designer - Homeware at Marks & Spencer

Marks & Spencer Plc; Greater London; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

20% colleague discount on M&S products

Holiday allowance

Discretionary bonus schemes

Pension and life assurance

Induction and training

Exclusive portal perks (M&S Choices)

Family policies and parental leave

Wellbeing support

Volunteer day

Job summary

Marks & Spencer in London is seeking an experienced Homeware Designer to join our Kitchen category on a 12-month maternity cover contract, shaping ranges across dinnerware, glassware and textiles. You’ll lead and support the team, collaborating with Buying, Technical and Design to deliver concepts from idea to delivery.

Working with the Design Lead and Designers, you’ll translate trends into coordinated looks and ensure timely delivery within a commercial framework.

Qualifications

• Design handwriting and taste level aligned with M&S style.
• Extensive design experience in Retail/Manufacturing.
• Solid understanding of materials, finishes and product quality.
• Proficient in CAD tools including the Adobe suite and PLM.
• Ability to deputise for Design Lead when required.
• Strong communication and influencing skills.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with technical teams to ensure materials, finishes and construction meet strategy.
• Create tech packs with design aesthetics, dimensions and requirements.
• Coordinate with Buying/Technical for range line sheets and critical dates.
• Work with the Design Lead to develop coordinated looks and trends.
• Share trends across Home design teams to craft cross-category stories.
• Develop a forward-looking JD/AD design team within a commercial culture.
• Coach and mentor JD/ADs/Graduates and identify training needs.

Skills

Design handwriting and taste level

Design expertise in Retail/Manufacture

Material knowledge and product quality

CAD Software proficiency

Adobe Illustrator

Photoshop

InDesign

PLM

Communication and influencing

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Photoshop

InDesign

PLM

Job description

Designer - Homeware

Marks & Spencer - London, Greater London

Full-time, on-site position on a 12-month maternity cover contract. Contract end date: 31/12/2027.

About the role

This is a brilliant opportunity for an experienced Homeware Designer to join our Kitchen category on a 12-month maternity cover contract, helping to shape beautiful, commercial ranges across dinnerware, glassware and textiles. You’ll play a key role in driving the category strategy, using your design expertise and customer instinct to develop product that feels fresh, relevant and unmistakably M&S. Working closely with Buying, Technical and Design teams, you’ll bring ideas to life from concept through to delivery, while leading and supporting the Team to do their best work.

What you’ll do

• Work in collaboration with technical teams through the design and development process to ensure delivery of agreed materials, finishes, construction, quality and innovation strategy.


• Create tech packs delivering accurate and commercial product specifications, including design aesthetic, materials, finishes, dimensions and functional requirements.


• Work alongside the Buying and Technical teams to ensure critical dates for range line sheets, product specifications and tech packs are met within the critical path, building in key commercial priorities alongside forward-looking trends.


• Work with the Design Lead and Designers on coordinated looks, trends and lifestyles through the process as required.


• Share trends across Home design teams to build strong cross-category looks and customer-focused product stories.


• Build and develop a strong and creative JD/AD design team with a forward-looking approach to effectively work within a commercially focused culture.


• Coach and manage JD/ADs/Graduates, identifying and acting on training and development needs.

Skills and experience

• Design handwriting and taste level in line with M&S style vision and in line with 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 materials, finishes, construction, functionality and product quality to ensure product integrity.


• Expert level of proficiency in Design related CAD software to include Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign and PLM.


• Deputise for Design Lead as required.


• Strong Communication and Influencing skills.

Benefits

• 20% colleague discount on all M&S products and many third-party brands for you and a member of your household, available once you’ve completed your probation.


• Competitive holiday allowance with the option to buy more.


• Discretionary bonus schemes linked to your performance and ours.


• Strong pension and life assurance to help plan for the future.


• Tailored induction and training to support your development from day one.


• Exclusive perks and savings through the M&S Choices portal.


• Market-leading family policies, including parental, adoption and neonatal leave.


• 24/7 wellbeing support, including virtual GP access and mental health services.


• One paid volunteer day a year to support a cause that matters to you.

Company Culture

Everyone is welcome at M&S. No exceptions. It’s your background, abilities and differences that make you, uniquely you. When you’re part of M&S, that individuality has the potential to make waves.

We are ambitious about the future of retail. We are disrupting, innovating and leading the industry into a more conscientious, inspiring digital era. We are 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.

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.

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 try and put steps in place to help you be at your best through this process.

Due to high interest, this role may close earlier than advertised. We recommend applying as soon as possible.