Design Manager

We are looking for an experienced Design Manager to lead, support and develop our team of ten designers. Reporting to the Design Director, you will take responsibility for the day-to-day people leadership, workflow and operational performance of the Design team. You will create the structure, clarity and accountability the team needs to produce high-quality work efficiently and consistently. This is a hands-on leadership role. You will lead regular one-to-ones, manage performance, coach designers and provide practical support when challenges arise. You will oversee workloads across product categories, monitor capacity and ensure design output remains aligned with collection plans, critical-path deadlines and commercial priorities. You will also bring a quantitative approach to design management. Using category counts, planned workloads, completed output and delivery data, you will build clear reports that provide visibility of team productivity, capacity and performance. You will use these insights to improve workflow, identify risks and make informed recommendations about priorities, resourcing and development. Working closely with the Design Director, you will translate the brand’s creative vision into clear team priorities and strong execution. Your leadership will enable the Design Director to remain focused on the overarching brand vision and design aesthetic, while you ensure the team is supported, developed and delivering effectively. You will need a strong understanding of fashion design and product development. While you will not own the overall creative direction, you must be confident reviewing work, providing credible feedback, contributing a considered product view and representing the Design team in cross-functional meetings. Key responsibilities: Directly line manage, motivate and develop a team of ten designers across multiple product categories. Lead regular one-to-ones, objective setting, development reviews and performance conversations. Set clear expectations, provide constructive feedback and address performance or capability concerns fairly and promptly. Own the allocation, coordination and prioritisation of design work, ensuring workloads align with collection plans and critical-path deadlines. Monitor team capacity and delivery, resolving bottlenecks and providing hands-on support when designers need guidance. Build and maintain reports using category counts, planned workload, completed output and delivery data to provide a quantitative view of team performance. Translate the Design Director’s creative vision into clear briefs, priorities and standards for the team. Work cross-functionally with Buying, Garment Technology and other teams to improve product development, workflow and delivery. Core skills: People leadership: Able to motivate, coach and develop a sizeable creative team. Performance management: Confident setting expectations, giving feedback and managing underperformance. …