Head of Design

White Stuff was established in 1985 through a simple idea. This idea grew and now we have shops and concessions in the UK and internationally, selling women’s and men’s clothing as well as beautiful accessories and homeware. Our original prints (all designed in house), intricate details and considered design touches reflect our personality and make us subtly distinctive.

Our people are at the heart of our brand, constantly moving and driving us forward. We’re sociable, talented and like minded and we’re not hierarchical or political in how we do business. We encourage entrepreneurial ideas and accountability at all levels.

Who you are:

• A highly experienced, commercially aware Head of Design to lead and inspire our creative vision across wholesale, retail, and online channels. This role requires a dynamic individual who can balance innovation with commercial reality, ensuring our brand aesthetic remains consistent while delivering to the varied needs of different markets and partners
• Highly ambitious, inspirational and innovative creative leader who is full of ideas. Driven, curious, enthusiastic and determined
• Strong team player with a natural collaborative leadership style
• Naturally innovative and always curious, able to see the bigger picture and drive transformation
• Intuitively relates to White Stuff brand values, including its aesthetics and tone of voice, with the ability to know how to engage the brands target customer

Primary objective of the job:

You will be responsible for leading the product aesthetic and handwriting from concept through the product development process to final execution. You will deliver a consistent and compelling ‘look and feel’ for the brand at all times. The role requires you to support delivery of the White Stuff global customer growth plan through the development and execution of the clear product strategy

What you’ll be doing:

Key areas of responsibility:

• To be product guardian of the brand
• The Head of Design will be responsible for shaping the seasonal design strategy and ensuring all collections are delivered to a stringent critical path. They will partner closely with Merchandising, Buying, Digital teams & the supply chain to guarantee that product ranges are aligned with business objectives, customer expectations, and all channel requirements.
• Lead the design team in delivering cohesive, brand-right product ranges across wholesale, retail, and e-commerce.
• Ensure all design activity is managed against a strict critical path, delivering to agreed milestones without compromising creativity or quality.
• To be aware of relevant macro trends and creative external influences and interpret these in the most innovative way in line with the brand handwriting
• Adapt collections to suit the unique requirements of each channel, balancing commerciality with innovation.
• Maintain a strong awareness of customer insights, market trends, and competitor activity across all markets.
• Partner with cross-functional teams (Merchandising, Buying, Marketing, and Digital) to align design output with business needs.
• Oversee design handover into product development, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and consistency.
• Inspire mentor and lead the design team, fostering a culture of creativity, accountability, and commercial awareness.

Further Responsibilities:

• Lead a team of product and print designers inspiring them with a clear vision, ensuring they are motivated, collaborative and performing brilliantly

• Create an inspirational, innovative and fun working environment for your design team removing any barriers & busting myths

• Be a strong creative voice and driver of creative culture both within and outside the business

• Identify key profit drivers at the start of the season and engage design team to ensure delivery whilst offering newness, innovation and creative thinking

• Remain globally aware of relevant macro trends through trade shows/fairs, inspirational shopping trips and factory visits

• Live, eat and breathe our customer to ensure we put their requirements at the centre of our product offer

• Work collaboratively, creatively and strategically with the Heads of Buying, Merch and Brand Marketing

• Work closely with the Brand Marketing team to share a clear vision of outfitting, styling and photography and agree powerful creative themes for the seasonal marketing activity

• Ensure that the product end to end process works in line with the critical path of an omni channel business

• Lead and deliver a creatively ambitious product vision and strategy working closely with buying to ensure the correct range balance is achieved across all product categories

• Awareness of sourcing strategy and capabilities of the supplier base

• Deputise in absence of Product Director

• Responsible for the design budget which will be agreed in conjunction with the Product Director

Measures of Success

• Brand KPI - brand momentum - awareness, consideration, 'brand for me'
• Commercial KPI's - sales, profit
• Customer Satisfaction KPI- Net Promoter Score for style, quality
• People KPI - Internal team feedback

What you’ll need:

• Strong creative eye and exquisite 'taste' level
• Proven experience of working in creative fast paced medium sized organisations where everyone is hands on and the focus is getting the job done to a consistently high standard
• Experienced in leading teams and creating a strong creative culture, fostering and developing innovative thinking in others

What we will offer you:

As a Head of Design at White Stuff you will be entitled to an array of great benefits, some of which include:

• Annual bonus opportunity
• Up to 28 days holiday per annum plus bank holidays
• 2 extra (paid!) days off per year to volunteer in the local community
• 50% discount
• Subsidised BUPA Dental Insurance
• Healthcare cash plan and Life Assurance
• Interest free season ticket loan
• Pension Contribution

We are committed to creating an environment where we can all be proud to work and be ourselves. Part of this commitment is being an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, and age .

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