Childrenswear Design Manager

Danielle Ward Recruitment; Noordwes; Hybrid; ZAR 300 000 - 400 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading fashion recruitment agency seeks an experienced Childrenswear Design Manager in South Africa, Noordwes. This role involves leading a design team, ensuring high-quality, commercially successful licensed collections. Candidates should have minimum six years in the industry and strong leadership skills, with a hybrid work model involving three office days and two home working days. Excellent organizational and communication abilities, along with proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, are required for this position.

Qualifications

• Minimum of six years’ industry experience in licensed apparel.
• At least three years of experience managing a design team of 10+.
• In-depth knowledge of fabrics and garment construction.

Responsibilities

• Lead and guide the design team aligning with brand and licensor standards.
• Plan and allocate workloads to meet deadlines and optimize productivity.
• Conduct performance reviews and support team development.
• Build strong relationships with licensors, retailers, and partners.
• Maintain awareness of market trends and competitor activity.

Skills

Leadership in design team

Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite

Strong organizational skills

Excellent communication skills

Knowledge of fabric and garment construction

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Job description

We are partnered with a well-established fashion supplier who are seeking an experienced Childrenswear Design Manager to lead their dynamic design team.

The Childrenswear Design Manager must have a strong background in licensed apparel, with a minimum of six years’ industry experience, including at least three years managing a design team of 10+ across multi product categories.

The Childrenswear Design Manager will work closely with the Head of Creative to shape and deliver commercially successful, licensor-approved collections.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and guide the design team with both strategic oversight and hands‑on involvement, ensuring all creative work aligns with brand guidelines, licensor requirements, and retailer standards
• Translate creative direction into commercially viable collections while maintaining high quality and consistency throughout all stages of development
• Plan and allocate workloads effectively to ensure deadlines are met, productivity is optimized, and team wellbeing is supported
• Conduct regular performance reviews, providing clear feedback, coaching, and development support to maintain outstanding creative standards
• Act as a central point of communication between Directors, senior leadership, and operational teams to ensure clarity, alignment, and transparency
• Represent the business professionally when engaging with licensors, retailers, and external partners, building and maintaining strong working relationships
• Promote a positive and inclusive team culture by being accessible, supportive, and proactive in mentoring and training team members, with clear progression pathways
• Oversee team absences including holidays and sickness, ensuring appropriate cover and minimal impact on workflow
• Demonstrate strong proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator and Photoshop), alongside excellent organizational, communication, and presentation skills
• Apply in-depth knowledge of fabrics, garment construction, production techniques, manufacturing capabilities, and cost considerations, working closely with factories
• Collaborate with Sales and Development teams to balance innovation with commercial timelines and market requirements
• Maintain a strong awareness of market trends, consumer behaviour, and competitor activity, contributing to seasonal and macro trend development as well as graphics direction
• Plan and attend seasonal competitor shopping trips within agreed budgets alongside the Head of Creative
• Participate in travel as required for licensor meetings, retailer appointments, and research trips

Additional Information

This is a hybrid role, with 3 days in the office and 2 working from home.

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