Head of Design

Oner Active; London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Oner Active seeks a dynamic Head of Design to lead creative strategy and product innovation, driving alignment with brand vision and commercial objectives. You will oversee a talented design team, ensuring consistency in the brand's design language while fostering a culture of creativity and collaboration. This role requires extensive experience in apparel design, specifically within the activewear sector, and a passion for empowering women through brand mission. You'll play a pivotal role in shaping the future of a fast-growing, purpose-driven brand.

Benefits

25 days annual leave + bank holidays

5% employer match salary sacrifice pension scheme

Generous Oner Active discount

Free Evolve You subscription

Private Healthcare with Vitality

Monthly wellness allowance

Team workout classes

Healthy office snacks and fruit

Dog friendly office

Qualifications

• 8 - 10 years senior-level experience in apparel design.
• Proven leadership experience in creative teams.
• Strong understanding of design strategy and brand storytelling.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic development of collections and ensure brand alignment.
• Manage design team with mentorship and direction.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align product and commercial goals.

Skills

Leadership

Design Strategy

Team Management

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Innovation

Brand Storytelling

Job description

Role: Head of Design

Contract Type: Full Time, working 7.5 hours per day, 5 days per week

Location: Hybrid, working 3 days a week in our offices based in Old Street, London

About Us

Nothing is clearer to us than the belief that every woman should include strength training in her life to enhance both physical and mental well-being. It's about building strong bodies and even stronger minds, asserting their right to take up space in the gym, and allowing the spotlight to shine bright on their progress.

To us, strength training represents a determined, goal-oriented mindset and an unwavering work ethic. We don't wait for success; we create it through hard work and determination. When faced with challenges, we don't back down; instead, we break through barriers, recognising that true progress lies on the other side.

These are the pillars that form the foundation of Oner Active. We consistently challenge ourselves to create innovative and impactful products, so that you can perform better. With our range of products and innovative approach, we provide a wide variety of colours to ensure that all skin tones genuinely radiate in Oner.

Our Purpose and Mission

We are on a mission to unite and empower women to be the strongest version of themselves through strength training. We want to inspire women to take centre stage in the gym by promoting strength training, which underpins all movement and sport, as a healthy foundation in life.

Our Benefits

• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays and work from anywhere up to 4 weeks a year
• 5% employer match salary sacrifice pension scheme
• Generous Oner Active discount plus regular office sample sales
• Free Evolve You subscription
• Private Healthcare with Vitality including optical and dental
• Monthly wellness allowance and team workout classes
• Start-up culture - the chance to learn and make a real impact
• Great employee events like our Summer party, Christmas party and team away days
• Healthy office snacks and fruit (plus a chocolate cupboard for a sweet treat for the balance)
• Dog friendly office
  
  
  

About You

We're looking for a dynamic and strategic Head of Design to play a critical leadership role in driving the creative strategy. Leading a design team, you will ensure that every product aligns with the brand's DNA and the overarching vision of the Creative Director. This role blends strategic oversight with hands-on design direction, requiring you to seamlessly balance innovation, commercial viability, and team development.

You will act as a key connector between the Creative Director, buying, merchandising, and product functions—ensuring creative output is not only brand-aligned but also commercially sound and customer-focused.

This is a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact at a fast-growing, purpose-driven brand.

You'll be responsible for:

Strategic Leadership & Vision Execution

• Partner closely with the Creative Director to bring the brand vision to life through product and design strategy
• Translate brand and business objectives into a cohesive seasonal design direction that aligns with commercial plans and customer expectations
• Lead the strategic development of collections that reflect both innovative thinking and market relevance
  
  

Team Management & Mentorship

• Lead and manage a team of designers, providing mentorship, clear direction, and consistent feedback to foster professional growth and high performance
• Build and nurture a strong team culture rooted in creativity, accountability, and collaboration
• Identify skill gaps and future team needs, playing an active role in hiring and resource planning
  
  

Brand & Design DNA

• Be the guardian of the Oner Active aesthetic and voice across all product categories
• Continuously refine and articulate the brand's design language, ensuring consistency across collections and touchpoints
• Maintain a future-forward approach, evolving the brand's identity in line with customer lifestyles and global trends
  
  

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with Buying, Merchandising, Product Development, and Marketing to ensure alignment of product direction with commercial goals
• Integrate customer insights, sales data, and market analysis into the design process to ensure designs are both innovative and profitable
• Present design strategies and concepts to key internal stakeholders, including senior leadership
  
  

Product Innovation & Execution

• Oversee the full design lifecycle from concept through to final sample, ensuring products meet both creative and technical standards
• Lead fabric and material research in partnership with Product Development to ensure innovation in performance, sustainability, and aesthetics
• Ensure deadlines and critical paths are met across the design function, maintaining a balance between creativity and efficiency
  
  
  

You'll need to have:

• 8 - 10 years senior-level experience in apparel design, ideally within activewear, performance, or lifestyle brands
• Proven leadership experience, with the ability to inspire and grow high-performing creative teams
• Strong understanding of design strategy, brand storytelling, and how to blend creative direction with commercial performance
• Expertise in fabric innovation, fit, and functionality, with a deep appreciation for aesthetic and technical excellence
• Strong cross-functional communication skills, with experience collaborating with Buying, Merchandising, and Product Development
• A track record of designing for customer-centric brands, with the ability to anticipate and meet the evolving needs of a diverse audience
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, high-growth environment with a hands-on approach and solutions-focused mindset
• A passion for empowering women and an authentic connection to our brand mission
  
  
  

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

At Oner Active it's about embracing diversity and empowering every individual to reach their full potential. We are committed to creating an environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and able to thrive.

We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are dedicated to ensuring that everyone has equal access to opportunities during the recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments or additional support, we encourage you to reach out to our Recruitment team — we're here to support you every step of the way.