Menswear Design Assistant, Knit and Jersey

We are looking for a creative, high-energy Jersey & Knit Designer to join our growing team. Working directly with our Lead Designer, you will play a key role in developing fresh, innovative concepts while staying true to our brand’s signature aesthetic and taste level.
This isn't just about technical skill, we are looking for a "culture add" who brings a positive, collaborative spirit and a sense of fun to the studio every day.

Key responsibilities will include:
* Collaborate & Create: Work hand-in-hand with the Lead Designer to evolve our jersey and knitwear categories from concept to final sample
* Fresh Innovation: Bring new, trend-forward ideas to the table that push the brand forward while maintaining our core "look and feel"
* Team Synergy: Contribute to a high-vibe, positive workspace where ideas are shared freely and creativity thrives
* Technical Execution: Develop detailed tech packs and oversee the development of jersey and knit textures, weights, and finishes

Who You Are:
* A Jersey & Knit Specialist: You have a deep understanding of garment construction, yarn types, and jersey fabrications
* A Creative Spark: You are full of fresh ideas and aren't afraid to share them
* Positive & Proactive: You bring a "can-do" attitude and fun energy to a collaborative team environment
* Brand-Aligned: You have a refined "eye" and an instinctive understanding of high-level design and taste

In addition to your contractual pay, any time worked between 22:00 - 06:00 will attract Night Premium at a rate of £4.75 per hour. This will also apply to existing Partners who have enrolled onto Enhanced Hours Premium arrangements.

At a glance:

• Salary: £35,000.00 - £53,000.00 per annum based on skill and experience

• Contract type: This is a permanent opportunity 

• Hours and location of the role:

  • 35 hours per week

  • Your home location will be our London Pimlico Head Office

  • This is a hybrid working role. The expectation is a minimum of 3 days per week in the office as team collaboration is critical in this role - core days will vary across teams

  • EU and International travel may be required to develop products as appropriate

Key responsibilities:

Design: 

• End to end development of product

• Can integrate trend as well as moving best selling lines forward in a commercial way

• Take a key role in design projects, with support from the category design lead, and in collaboration with the buying, merchandising and tech teams

• Play a critical role in delivering product design that will form a coherent category assortment aligned to brand / sub brand guidelines and in service of our customers. Support the Design Team and studio in fulfilling key tasks across the season

• Produce commercial and innovative design solutions to briefs. Develops product design handwriting, displaying a breadth of design handwriting to ensure our customer offer is truly unique

• Assist in the research, preparation and presentation of relevant and appropriate category trends. Demonstrate a good level of research and analytical skills to keep abreast of key customer requirements, market trends and conditions, product trends including technological advancements

• Ensure the sampling process is efficient for your sub-category. Produces precise design packs and fulfils delegated seasonal design briefs with commercial and innovative solutions, supported by illustrating / briefing / sourcing key materials and details. Ensure accurate samples are produced. Maintains comprehensive records of design projects

• Works on designated product ranges/projects. Takes ownership of design, product development and sampling process, engaging relevant stakeholders throughout, with the support from L6 Designer and L5 Design Manager

• You will bring proficiency in design software (e.g. Adobe Suite, CAD or Clo3D) and be able to bring designs to life digitally, using technology to sketch and design

• Where applicable, deliver task management for L9 Design Assistants to achieve and deliver work, in line with business outcomes and with the voice of the customer at the heart of decision making

Stakeholder Management:

• Support success driven cross-department working through effective stakeholder relationships

• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships

Continuous Improvement:

• Consistently demonstrate a Continuous Improvement mindset

• Think boldly and see issues and opportunities from all angles and multiple perspectives, even the unprecedented, to draw out meaning and connections and make recommendations to adjust strategy and outcomes as a result. Generate a number of workable options and overcome barriers to finding solutions

Essential skills you’ll need:

• Experience in designing knitwear and jersey

• Have an excellent understanding of various yarns, weights, gauges, knit structures and dying techniques. A good knowledge of pattern making, sewing, and garment construction or other relevant technical experience as well as an understanding of the textiles and materials

• Demonstrated ability to translate design concepts into production-ready sketches and technical specifications, using technology (e.g. Adobe) to do achieve this

• A general awareness of current fashion trends and a passion for fashion and a willingness to research and learn about trends

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to build relationships with internal and external stakeholders

• Experience in preparing design presentations and technical packages 

• Experience doing fittings and confidence in following through styles, from sketch to production

• Delivering designs on time within the seasonal critical path

• Demonstrates a strong understanding of the JL&P brand, sub-brands values and potential for product design to drive commercial outcomes

• Design experience in the retail industry

Desirable skills and/or experience you may have: 

• BA degree in Design (product, fashion, furniture, textiles, surface pattern, decorative arts)

• Specific sub-category design experience (e.g. Knit, Jeans) and a demonstrable portfolio

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We’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.  

We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose.   

As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect. 

We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective. 

As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.  

Important points to note:  

It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre-employment vetting (which may include DBS checks for successful candidates). If required, you’ll be informed and provided with information about vetting during the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays. Any DBS checks required will be carried out by a third-party registered body and financial probity checks may also be required for some of our roles.  

We occasionally close vacancies early in the event we receive a high volume of applications, and therefore, we recommend you apply early. If you require a reasonable adjustment due to a disability which means you may need longer to complete your application please contact us as soon as possible.

We want all of our Partners to have a good work-life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview.