Role: Design Manager- Non Clothing
Location: Havant, Hampshire (Hybrid working, 3 days in office)
Job type: Permanent, Full Time (35 hours)
Who are we?
For over 30 years, we’ve travelled, we’ve laughed, we’ve grown. We believe life is for living and more fun with those we love. We are Made for Life.
Our mission statement: Crafting clothes for life’s everyday adventures. Today, tomorrow and always.
Our Product formula: Considered style. Trusted Quality. B Corp certified.
Equality and inclusion isn’t an aspiration but the standard. We promote and drive equality within our workforce to ignite an inclusive foundation for us all to build from and truly connect with our customers, colleagues, and communities alike. You play a key part in creating an environment free from prejudice, racism, sexism, harassment, bullying and any other form of marginalisation in our workplaces.
Role Summary
As Design Manager – Non-Clothing, you will lead the vision and strategy for FatFace’s non-clothing design categories, which include accessories, footwear, bags, homeware, and lifestyle products.
You’ll lead the end-to-end product journey, ensuring that design is at the heart of everything we do—from concept through to customer. This role will empower you to innovate, drive commercial growth, and establish FatFace as a leader in non-clothing design. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure that non-clothing ranges align with FatFace’s brand identity, resonate with our customers, and deliver innovative, high-quality products.
Role Responsibilities
Vision & Strategy
• Set the creative direction and design vision for all non-clothing categories, ensuring alignment with the FatFace brand identity and brand strategy.
• Inspire and lead the design team to deliver innovative, high-quality, and trend-relevant products.
• Act as the non clothing design champion throughout the product lifecycle, ensuring the vision is maintained from concept to launch.
• Drive the growth and innovation of the non-clothing business, identifying opportunities to expand and evolve the product offering.
• Collaborate with senior leaders to create seasonal strategies that balance commercial success with aspirational design.
Growth & Strategy
• Develop and drive the strategy for non-clothing categories, identifying opportunities for growth and innovation.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure designs meet commercial objectives while staying true to the brand.
• Analyse market trends, customer insights, and competitor activity to inform strategic direction.
Design Leadership
• Oversee the end-to-end design process for all non-clothing categories, ensuring design is at the heart of every decision.
• Act as a design advocate throughout the product lifecycle, from concept through to customer-facing execution.
• Partner with the Product Director and creative teams to ensure consistent brand messaging and visual identity across all touchpoints.
Team Leadership
• Lead, inspire, and mentor the non-clothing design team, fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and excellence.
• Manage the team’s workload and timelines to align with the critical path.
• Set clear goals and provide constructive feedback to support team development and performance.
Product Development
• Oversee the creation of cohesive, trend-relevant, and commercially viable collections across non-clothing categories.
• Work closely with buying, merchandising, and sourcing teams to ensure designs are executed to the highest standard.
• Champion sustainable design practices and ensure products reflect FatFace’s commitment to quality and responsibility.
• Research and integrate market trends, customer insights, and competitor analysis into the design process.
Stakeholder Engagement
• Build strong relationships with internal teams, suppliers, and industry contacts to support the non-clothing strategy.
• Represent the non-clothing design vision in meetings with senior leadership and cross-functional partners.
Skills and Experience
• Proven experience of 6 years in a senior design role, preferably with a focus on non-clothing categories (accessories, footwear, homeware, etc.).
• Demonstrated success in setting and delivering design visions that drive commercial growth.
• Strong leadership skills with experience managing and developing creative teams.
• Excellent understanding of the product development process, from concept to customer.
• Passion for sustainable design and innovation.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to balance creativity with business objectives.
• Exceptional communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
Role Competencies
• Strategic and visionary thinking with a passion for design innovation.
• Ability to inspire and lead teams to achieve creative excellence.
• Exceptional organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to balance creativity and business goals, with a deep understanding of brand and customer.
• Collaborative mindset, building strong relationships across teams and stakeholders.
Key Contacts and Relationships:
Internal:
• Product Director
• Senior Leadership Team
• Buying, Merchandising, and Sourcing Teams
• Marketing and Creative Teams
External:
• Suppliers
• Freelance Designers
• Industry Contacts
Accountable for Resources:
• Team leadership and development
• Design budget and resources
• Delivering relevant, commercially successful non-clothing ranges
FatFace Benefits:
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Perkbox our online platform to use from day one (this includes amazing online discounts, home workouts, wellbeing content, popular brand discounts etc.)
• THRIVE – Our learning management system- access from day one with 1000’s of pieces of learning
• Dental Insurance (employee funded)
• Pension scheme
• EAP support around the clock- UNUM/Retail Trust/ Fashion Textiles Support
• Income Protection/Death in service for Salaried staff
• Sick pay allowances
• O2 phone discount
• Eye Tests/contributions to glasses
• Sabbatical leave in line with service
• Enhanced Family Friendly policies i.e. Maternity Leave
• Refer a friend scheme