Senior Designer

MATALAN; Grimsby; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30% staff discount

Thrive Recognition Scheme

Wellbeing support provided by RetailTr

Life Assurance

Retail Rewards platform discounts

Pension Scheme

Career development access

Job summary

Matalan is seeking a Design Lead to drive category design across key product areas, translating strategy and insights into commercially successful ranges that align with our brand. You will lead and mentor creative teams, collaborating with Buying, Merchandising, Technical, and Marketing to deliver cohesive seasonal ranges.

You will own the end-to-end design process, balance creative ambition with trading performance, and present clear design direction to senior stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a Senior Design role, ideally within a fast-paced omni channel retailer.
• Homeware experience essential
• Strong ability to translate trend, customer and market insight into commercially successful product ranges.
• Demonstrated experience leading seasonal range development, from concept through to delivery with clear ownership of category frameworks.
• Commercially astute, with experience partnering closely with Buying and Merchandising to balance creative ambition with trading performance.
• Confident communicator able to present design direction and influence cross-functional stakeholders at a senior level.
• Collaborative leadership style with the confidence to challenge constructively and drive clarity in decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design direction for your given product category in line with the overarching design strategy, set by the Design Manager.
• Translate customer insight, market trends and trade priorities into commercially relevant design concepts and seasonal ranges.
• Own the seasonal framework for your given product category, ensuring alignment to KPIs, key stories, and range architecture.
• Maintain a strong creative point of view while ensuring designs are appropriate for the brand, customer, market.
• Support the Design Manager in the curation of the season trend development.
• Take hands on ownership of key product areas, from concept through to final sign-off, ensuring design integrity and executional excellence.
• Partner closely with Buying & Merchandising to deliver cohesive, commercially robust seasonal ranges.
• Own category-level design across colour, prints, textiles and finishes to ensure consistency and quality.
• Deliver clear, confident range presentations that articulate design intent, performance insight, and style credentials.
• Ensure timely delivery against the critical path, quality standards and commercial guardrails.
• Lead, coach and develop your team, setting clear expectations and accountability.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performing culture that encourages creativity, ownership and continuous improvement.
• Represent the Design team effectively in cross-functional forums and contribute to wider design initiatives.

Skills

Senior design

Homeware

Trend translation

Team leadership

Cross-functional

Adobe Creative Suite

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

About Matalan

From humble beginnings to disruptive innovations in the retail industry, find out about how Matalan is ever-evolving here.

We know as a team, we are stronger together - we champion equality for all and make lasting connections that go beyond work. We thrive off our inclusive culture, encouraging our colleagues to bring their true selves to work and contributing to collective creativity, open-mindedness and growth.

We want give every candidate the opportunity to perform at their best throughout the application and interview process and then ultimately in their role. If you require any adjustments during our recruitment process, please don't hesitate to let us know.

About the role

As a Design Lead, you are responsible for the category design of key product areas translating strategy and insights into commercially successful, brand-aligned product. You will provide creative team leadership and mentoring to co-create a cohesive range in line with creative direction for your division.

Strategy & Creative Direction:

• Lead the design direction for your given product category in line with the overarching design strategy, set by the Design Manager.
• Translate customer insight, market trends and trade priorities into commercially relevant design concepts and seasonal ranges.
• Own the seasonal framework for your given product category, ensuring alignment to KPIs, key stories, and range architecture.
• Maintain a strong creative point of view while ensuring designs are appropriate for the brand, customer, market.
• Support the Design Manager in the curation of the season trend development.

Range Planning & Development:

• Take hands on ownership of key product areas, from concept through to final sign-off, ensuring design integrity and executional excellence.
• Support and oversee your team through the end-to-end design process for your given product area, balancing creative ambition with commercial requirements.
• Partner closely with Buying & Merchandising to deliver cohesive, commercially robust seasonal ranges.
• Own category-level design across colour, prints, textiles and finishes to ensure consistency and quality.
• Deliver clear, confident range presentations that articulate design intent, performance insight, and style credentials.
• Ensure timely delivery against the critical path, quality standards and commercial guardrails.

Leadership & People Management:

• Lead, coach and develop your team, setting clear expectations and accountability.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performing culture that encourages creativity, ownership and continuous improvement.
• Act as a trusted partner to the Design Manager, providing clear insight, risk and solutions.
• Represent the Design team effectively in cross-functional forums and contribute to wider design initiatives.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Buying, Merchandising, Technical, and Marketing teams to deliver category objectives.

About You

• Proven experience in a Senior Design role, ideally within a fast-paced omni channel retailer.
• Homeware experience essential
• Strong ability to translate trend, customer and market insight into commercially successful product ranges.
• Demonstrated experience leading seasonal range development, from concept through to delivery with clear ownership of category frameworks.
• Commercially astute, with experience partnering closely with Buying and Merchandising to balance creative ambition with trading performance.
• Confident communicator able to present design direction and influence cross-functional stakeholders at a senior level.
• Collaborative leadership style with the confidence to challenge constructively and drive clarity in decision-making.

Benefits

In addition to competitive salaries, we also offer the below core benefits:

• 30% staff discount, which increases with length of service
• Thrive Recognition Scheme
• Wellbeing support provided by the Retail Trust
• Life Assurance
• Retail Rewards platform offering discounts for other retailers
• Pension Scheme
• Access to a wide range of career development
• Additional benefits may apply depending on your role and area of the business

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