We are looking for a Head of Design to join the Adanola team.
This role will be responsible for setting Design direction for the Adanola product offering and translating that to the Design team and wider Product function. This person will instinctively understand the Adanola brand DNA and be able to translate that into the design teams’ work. The right candidate will be the perfect balance of creatively inspiring and a strong leader.
About your responsibilities:
Strategic Direction
* Provide strategic design direction to the Design and Product team to ensure cohesive, innovative and on-brand designs.
* Keep the team inspired by new trends and industry innovations that will inform future collections and product developments.
* Lead the effort to improve the critical path
* Ensure complete alignment and collaboration with the other Product Heads (Buying, Merchandising and Sourcing) on the direction of travel for the team and product strategy
* Expert knowledge in garment fit, fabrication and quality standards
* Be obsessed with upcoming trend forecasts and industry knowledge
* Ownership of all category collections being delivered in full and on time in accordance with the critical path and the product direction
* Accompany team on research trips
Collaboration and Communication
* In conjunction with the Buying/Merch/Sourcing teams, ensure there’s a strong working partnership with our suppliers.
* Input into the expansion of the supply base for all categories.
* Sign off proposed collections from your team, giving any necessary feedback and praise.
* Work closely with the Brand and Creative teams on ensuring the vision for Product comes to life through Brand Assets.
* Collaborate with Brand and Creative on collaborations and partnerships, ensuring the products meet the need of the project.
* Inform the team of any feedback from other teams through trade or customer feedback trends.
* Effectively communicate all key information in trade meetings and then take any actions for the team.
* Ensure the story and details of the Product collections are translated to all departments clearly to meet the needs of the teams.
Leading the Design Team
* Lead and manage the Womenswear Design and Garment Tech team, ensuring a collaborative working environment. We want everyone to love coming into work and it is your responsibility to create this environment.
* Mentor junior team members, providing guidance and support
* Conduct team performance reviews, giving open and honest feedback and praise, whilst setting clear KPIs to track progress and success.
* Create an environment where the team feels inspired, motivated, and excited to come to work.
About you:
* You have a wealth of experience leading successful Design teams in the fashion industry.
* You are obsessed with the fashion industry and upcoming trends and are able to translate that into Adanola’s product direction
* You’re commercially astute but balance that with creativity and brand value.
* You can lead and motivate a team is something you have experience in.
* You have a growth mindset, you naturally see opportunity, positivity and room to develop.
* The ability to hold effective, genuine and strong relationships with both your internal stakeholders and external partners/suppliers.
* You’re not afraid to roll your sleeves up and get stuck into tasks within the Design team to help the overall success of the buying function.
Why Adanola?
We're on a mission to becoming everybody's everyday uniform and we need great people with great attitudes to help work towards that. Adanola genuinely cares about the people we employ and as we grow will continue to always put People, Product and Profit, in that order. We're just getting started so you need to be ready to roll your sleeves up and get stuck in but in the most exciting and challenging way.
As well as that, we offer a list of benefits to our Ada employees:
💸 Bonus structure for all employees
🏥 Private Medical Insurance
🎂 Day off on birthday
🌴 25-day holiday minimum
🏡 Hybrid working (3 days a week in office)
🧘♀️ Monthly well-being allowance
👏 Work with a vibrant team
🧢 50% staff discount
💰 Pension scheme available