Senior Apparel Designer - Trail & Extrem (Berghaus)

We’re Pentland Brands; a dynamic, global family business, and proud owners and licensees of many iconic active and footwear brands. With a community of over 1,300 team members worldwide, we embrace diversity and inclusion, and champion growth and development. Our success is built on teamwork, courage, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

WHAT’S THE MISSION FOR THIS ROLE?

The Senior Apparel Designer – Trail & Extrem is a pivotal member of the Product Creation team, responsible for driving the technical fit, construction quality, and performance functionality of our trail apparel range. This role blends deep technical expertise with outdoor-specific knowledge to ensure every garment is built to perform across challenging terrain and changing conditions. 

The mission is to lead the technical development of trail products—from fit and block creation to construction refinement—delivering apparel that meets rigorous performance expectations, aligns with brand standards, and exceeds the needs of trail runners, hikers, and outdoor athletes. 

WHAT DOES THIS ROLE DO?

As our Senior Apparel Designer – Trail & Extrem l you will be responsible for: 

• Leading fit, construction, and technical development for all Trail Apparel categories, ensuring products meet performance, durability, and comfort standards. 

• Owning the creation, maintenance, and evolution of fit blocks and grading rules optimised for trail-specific movement and body mapping. 

• Partnering closely with Designers and Product Managers to translate design concepts into accurate, production-ready technical specifications. 

• Conducting fit sessions on live models or mannequins, analysing performance-specific movement and making informed pattern corrections. 

• Creating and maintaining detailed technical packs, specs, construction guides, BOM components, and PLM data. 

• Evaluating materials and trims for technical performance—ventilation, thermoregulation, stretch, abrasion resistance—and advising on suitability. 

• Collaborating with Development, QA, and global vendors to resolve technical challenges and ensure samples meet design, performance, and cost requirements. 

• Reviewing prototypes and salesperson samples, providing advanced technical input to refine construction, seam placement, and functional details. 

• Driving consistency and best practice standards across the Trail Apparel range, mentoring junior technical designers where required. 

• Supporting wear testing programmes by interpreting technical feedback and recommending construction and pattern refinements.

WHAT DO I BRING TO THE ROLE?

You just might be our next superstar if you have the following skills and experience:

• You have a degree in relevant design fields: Fashion, Sport, Industrial and Graphic Design, or equivalent experience, and have a minimum of 5-7 years experience in a professional environment 

• Strong understanding of functional garment engineering, human movement, and performance-led construction principles. 

• Expertise in apparel pattern making, grading, and fit across men’s, women’s, or unisex trail product ranges. 

• Proficiency in all Adobe CC;  Clo3D or similar; PLM systems. 

• Deep knowledge of performance materials, technical trims, seam technologies, bonding, zonal construction, and ventilation methods. 

• Ability to interpret design intent and translate it into technically sound, consumer-ready garments. 

• Strong problem-solving skills with a hands-on approach to evaluating samples and identifying technical solutions. 

• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills, with experience working alongside Design, Development, Sourcing, and QA teams. 

• Are passionate about sustainability and have experience implementing environmentally responsible material strategies. 

• Highly organised with strong attention to detail and an ability to manage multiple deadlines across complex product ranges. 

• Proven people management and coaching/mentoring skills 

WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?

• Competitive salary + discretionary bonus

• 25 Days Holiday: Increases with length of service and the option to purchase additional days to suit your needs.

• Discounts: Brand discounts (including friends and family and JD Sports), Sample Sales, and other retail discounts and perks.

• Family-Friendly Benefits: Generous enhanced parental leave policies

• Health Perks: Choose from a variety of health-related perks including medical cash plan, critical illness cover, life assurance, gym and fitness discounts, dental insurance, eye care, and health screening to maintain your wellbeing.

• Travel Perks: Take advantage of our season ticket loan, cycle to work schemes, electric car schemes, and discounts on home charging units to support eco-friendly commuting.

• Flexible Working: We offer hybrid working and flexible working hours, allowing you to start your day earlier or later to help with commute costs or personal commitments.

We want you to live our company principles, bringing a strong consumer focus, while always looking for ways to improve and grow in your role. Take ownership of your work and be proactive in solving problems whilst communicating openly and treating everyone with respect and kindness. And, of course, let your creativity shine by bringing your unique style and individuality to the Pentland Brands Team.

As an equal opportunity employer, we’re committed to fostering diversity and creating an inclusive culture across our business, stores, and office environment.

We warmly welcome your application.

This vacancy is a newly created role as part of organisational changes. Final appointment will depend upon the outcome of consultation processes and affected employees will have priority for consideration.