Head of Design Childrenswear – Hybrid

Danielle Ward Recruitment; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Danielle Ward Recruitment is recruiting for a Head of Design – Childrenswear on a hybrid basis in the East Midlands. You will lead a design team, drive seasonal ranges and maintain strong customer relationships with a commercially aware approach.

The successful candidate will manage designers from junior to senior level, collaborate with factories overseas, and develop long-term partnerships with clients and suppliers.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a design team at a senior level.
• Extensive background in childrenswear design and product development.
• Strong people management and leadership abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage and develop the design team from junior to senior level.
• Oversee workloads and ensure projects meet deadlines.
• Mentor team members and support professional growth.
• Build relationships with customers and overseas suppliers.
• Design and present commercially successful product ranges.
• Analyse sales data and report insights to the team.
• Support budgeting and forecasting for design costs.
• Source fabrics, trims and new product opportunities.
• Collaborate with factories, including regular visits to overseas sites.

Skills

Head of Design

Childrenswear

People management

Communication

Commercial awareness

Job description

Position: Head of Design Childrenswear – Hybrid

Location: East Midlands

Job Reference No: D008

Recruiting Consultant: Dani

Details

Head of Design Childrenswear – Hybrid

Our client, a highly successful and well-established fashion supplier, is seeking an experienced Head of Design – Childrenswear to lead and inspire their talented design team.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a commercially minded and creative design professional to play a pivotal role within a thriving business, driving innovation, nurturing talent, and building strong customer relationships.

The Role

As Head of Design, you will be responsible for managing the Design team, overseeing designers from Junior through to Senior level. You will ensure customer expectations are consistently exceeded while maintaining a strong commercial focus across all product development activities.

Working closely with both existing and prospective customers, you will be instrumental in developing long-term partnerships, presenting seasonal ranges, and identifying new opportunities for growth. The position also involves regular collaboration with factories, ensuring product development is aligned with customer and business requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, and develop the Design team.
• Oversee team workloads and ensure projects are delivered to agreed deadlines.
• Mentor and support team members, encouraging professional growth and development.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with existing and potential customers.
• Design and present commercially successful product ranges.
• Analyse sales performance and communicate key findings to the design team on a regular basis.
• Support budgeting and forecasting processes relating to design costs.
• Source and develop fabrics, trims, and new product opportunities.
• Work closely with overseas factories, including regular visits to the Far East.
• Drive innovation while maintaining a strong commercial awareness of market trends and customer requirements.

The Candidate

To be considered for this opportunity, you will possess:

• Previous experience in a Head of Design or similar senior leadership position.
• Extensive experience within Childrenswear
• Strong people management and team leadership skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation abilities.
• A keen commercial eye with a strong understanding of the fashion market.
• Experience working directly with customers and overseas suppliers.
• The ability to balance creativity with commercial objectives.

The Opportunity

This is a rare opportunity to join a highly respected fashion supplier and take ownership of a significant design function. The successful candidate will have the chance to further develop their career within a dynamic and growing business, where creativity, innovation, and commercial success are highly valued.