Designer - Denim

The Role:(4 Days In Office)

Here at New Look, Design is where it all starts, we live and breathe all things fashion. We are looking for a passionate and driven Designer to join us and be an integral part of our team! With a finger on the pulse for the latest trends at all times, this individual will drive new ideas, and push trends that are new and relevant for the New Look customer. Working closely with buying, merch and suppliers to build a cohesive Denim range that we can be proud of. No two days are the same and we thrive in a fast-paced environment.

WHATS IN IT FOR YOU

40% staff discount plus friends & family discounts throughout the year

Access to our reward platform for external discount and offers

Private pension scheme

Virtual GP access for you and your children - it allows you to speak to a doctor at a time and date that suits you

All employees are covered by our life assurance policy from day one

Unlock extra leave with our buy more holiday scheme.

Celebrate YOU! Enjoy an extra paid day off on your birthday each year

Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave, and shared parental leave.

Spread the cost of your commute with interest-free season ticket loans

Do your bit for the environment and save money with our Cycle2Work scheme

We're proud to partner with the Retail Trust and Fashion & Textile Children's Trust

What you'll be doing:

Clearly identify department key items at the start of the season and ensure they are delivered in line with New Look customer profiles

Identify key item blocks for the season in line with Brand strategy and take full ownership of them

Driving forward the Design team, with support of the Head of Design, and be a vocal voice in strategic opportunities

Driving new trends commercially through product ranges with the New Look brand handwriting and customer at front of mind

Strategically manages the critical path from design concept through to final buying samples reacting to market changes and challenges.

Creating mood boards, trend presentations and catwalk reports giving clear and concise trend messages to Buying teams

Sourcing new fabrications overseas inspired from trend research and to share new ideas on fabrics with the wider Design team where relevant

Working in synergy with Buying to build a strong fashion yet commercial range, sharing ideas and information with other product areas to ensure brand / product consistency

Good influencing skills and self believe, to ensure that newness is delivered into the range, at the correct grading in collaboration with Buying

In-depth trend knowledge, being able to identify emerging trends and influence the business at critical points. Looking at opportunities to react quickly, with strong understanding of the supply base and how to get quick reads on product

Identifying new sourcing opportunities and providing focused, clear development direction to current supplier base

Developing the right product at the right time, in line with the departmental design strategy to meet customer requirements

Monitoring, maintaining, and actioning in-depth competitor analysis, and presenting ideas and new product opportunities to gain competitor advantage

Sharing information where relevant on product, suppliers, best / worst sellers within business area and across the wider business

Communicating effectively with all internal and external teams

Working with QA to complete fit sessions in order to develop block and fit that reflects design direction and customer trends

An excellent understanding of the New Look Customer

Strong understanding of our Customer Insight and Market Share

Actively contributing in trend and competitor analysis, making recommendations for changes or developments

Ongoing familiarity of the competition's product range

Challenging current ways of working and practices across departments and functions, coming up with new initiatives to benefit the whole Business and implementing these

Managing and developing the Team, displaying strong leadership skills to enable achievement of New Look's strategy

Driving the BMD vision into clear goals and objectives for your direct reports and their teams

Who you are:

Previous experience as a Denim Designer within a major retailer / department within New Look / established supplier

Fashion Qualification / Other degree desirable

PC / Mac literate - Photoshop, Illustrator, Excel, Word, Adobe Suite

Excellent spec skills using a mix of hand sketching, illustrator and Photoshop

Able to present work in an exciting format to Heads Of and / or Directors, influencing buying decisions

Management of workload according to the critical path

An in-depth knowledge of the current competitive and inspirational market place

Excellent interpersonal / communication skills

Superb understanding of the department, and the ability to predict trend / key items with full conviction at the start of the season

Ability to line manage, motivate and develop the team

Ability to initiate, build and maintain strong relationships with Buying/Merchandising /QA

Ability to contribute to the bigger picture and Design department as a whole

Good organisational skills

Predicting and delivering of department key items for the season

Speed and proficiency of Design work

Identification and interpretation key trends in line with customer profiles

Achieves sales and strategy plan