This is an exciting opportunity for a creative designer passionate about global trends, catwalks, and high-street competition to join our Menswear team, focusing on delivering original, customer-centric apparel and distinct print design. In this collaborative and flexible role, you will be the driving force behind creating versatile garments built for purpose crafting functional, utilitarian styles that support a hands-on lifestyle and feel just as at home in a workshop as they do on a weekend away. Grounded in a practical yet visually strong aesthetic, you will use considered finishes and a confident application of color and pattern to bring genuine personality to our own-brand products. By pairing innovative print briefs with durable craftsmanship, you will design for tactile natural fibers and authentic garment-dyed or denim wash techniques, ensuring every piece develops unique character over time and offers a truly lived-in, exceptional appeal that inspires and delights our customer.
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.
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Contract type - This position is a Secondment/Fixed Term contract until 1st Feb 2027
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Working pattern/flexible working - The Partnership has adopted a hybrid working approach, meaning you'll be able to work a mixture between the office and home. The expectation is for three in-person days per week, which can include your time spent on store visits and meeting brands / suppliers. For Fashion Design this is generally Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
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Location - This role is based at our London Head Office campus in Pimlico. Please note, any cost incurred as a result of travel to the office is the responsibility of the successful candidate. There is no travel allowance for this role.
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(FYI) Next Steps - The application process requires you to upload recent portfolio / examples of your work as well as your CV and application answers. If you are invited to attend an interview, you will be required to provide your portfolio to the assessors as well as present a small project that will be provided to you in advance. INTERVIEWS WILL BE HELD IN PERSON AT OUR HEAD OFFICE IN PIMLICO (Dates TBC)
Key responsibilities
Design:
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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You will bring proficiency in design software (e.g. Adobe Suite, CAD, AI or Clo3D) and be able to bring designs to life digitally, using technology to sketch and design.
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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.
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EU and International travel may be required to develop products as appropriate.
Stakeholder Management:
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Support success driven cross-department working through effective stakeholder relationships.
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Build and maintain strong supplier relationships.
Continuous Improvement:
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Consistently demonstrate a Continuous Improvement mindset
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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/experience you’ll need
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Proven experience working as a Print Designer
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Demonstrated ability to translate design concepts into production-ready sketches and technical specifications, using technology (e.g. Adobe, Clo3D and AI) to do achieve this
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A general awareness of current fashion trends and a passion for fashion and a willingness to research and learn about trends
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Experience in preparing design presentations and technical packages
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A good knowledge of pattern making, sewing, and garment construction or other relevant technical experience as well as an understanding of textiles and materials
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A strong portfolio showcasing fashion design skills within print
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Demonstrates a strong understanding of the JL&P brand, sub-brands values and potential for product design to drive commercial outcomes
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Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to build relationships with internal and external stakeholders
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Design experience in the retail industry
Desirable skills/experience you may have
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BA degree in Design (product, fashion, furniture, textiles, surface pattern, decorative arts)
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Specific sub-category design experience (e.g. Knit, Jeans) and a demonstrable portfolio
For internal use only
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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.
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Did you know?
In 2024 the Partnership launched it's first ever Virtual Work Experience programme, supporting 1300 participants get a taste of life at JLP.
Did you know?
In 2024 the Partnership launched it's first ever Virtual Work Experience programme, supporting 1300 participants get a taste of life at JLP.