Jersey and Knitwear Designer (10 - 12 month maternity cover contract)

We are looking for a Jersey and Knitwear Designer to join Team OB in our Support Office on a 10 - 12 month maternity cover contract. As a Jersey and Knitwear Designer at OB you will bring our concepts to life using your expertise to develop a clothing collection that our customers will love. You will lead the Jersey department and support on knitwear, with additional responsibility on graphic t shirts. Reporting to the Head Fashion Designer, you will work on projects from initial concept through to completion using your practical skills to support both your imagination and visualization. You will work collaboratively with the Print, Knitwear and Accessories Designers as well as the Clothing Buyer and Merchandiser, in delivering an authentic and inspirational collection. In this role you will be working closely with the Senior Knitwear designer to develop the knit collection in peak times. Our Support Office is based in Tolworth, near Chessington, only a 30-minute journey from London Waterloo. We offer hybrid working with a split of 3 days in the office and 2 days home working per week, and are open to having conversations about working flexibly. A bit about us … At Oliver Bonas (OB), our values of Work Hard, Play Hard & Be Kind are integral to everything we do. Collaboration, imagination, curiosity, and teamwork are key to our success, and everyone has their part to play in making OB a special place to work. Having fun is key, and a playful and positive approach creates an optimistic environment. We don't take ourselves too seriously, but we are serious about what we do. Our team knows their stuff. They're confident and creative and unafraid to challenge convention to find solutions, taking accountability for their actions, but always with kindness and humility. More about the role … An OB Jersey and Knitwear Designer will:

• Design and create the womenswear clothing collection from concept through to production, developing the range collaboratively alongside the Design and Buying teams
• Create and develop original concepts for the clothing collection that compliments the Oliver Bonas design ethos
• Design a collection that is sympathetic and reactive to sales performance while still driving excitement and newness to the range
• Translate themes and trends into ideas or concepts for each season's collections, including colour palette, pattern, materials and product
• Develop and design product with a unique point of difference to ensure we are the world's pre-eminent British design-led lifestyle retailer
• Source and research yarns and fabrics that are in line with the concept and Oliver Bonas handwriting, and correct for seasonality and timing
• Lead the design and development for cold weather accessories and socks
• Collaborate with the Print Designer and Buying and Merchandising teams to ensure the collection is cohesive
• Assist the Head Fashion Designer and Design team, creating seasonal department concepts and themes, colour palettes and trend research that are in line with the brands hand writing and vision
• Research and assist the Head Fashion Designer with seasonal colour palettes ensuring the colour palettes work specific for product categories
• Suggest and find tones, that work in a cohesive way that are correct for material timing and silhouette
• Conduct trend research and market analysis resulting in recommendations and new areas of potential business across all fashion departments
• Collaborate with the Buying and Merchandising teams analysing and creating new seasonal strategy plans for the department that are in line with the top line strategy plan and company vision
• Review and react to the market and social trends to identify emerging product opportunities
• Ensure the OB brand values are reflected in all areas of work from design development to production
• Review and approve all product specification, final designs, colourways and final samples at sign off meetings
• Work closely with our supplier base to understand and develop capability
• Carry out sourcing and attending inspirational trips, feeding back to teams and business to inspire others
• Build ranges and developing collections collaboratively with the Buying team, ensuring the range is balanced and commercial while maintaining excitement within the collection
• Lead fit sessions with the Garment Technologists, communicating technical knowledge to the team where relevant
• Manage supplier communications with product development knowledge across the categories
• Co-ordinate and communicate seasonal design themes with the Buying team and fellow design team members
  
  The ability to connect with OB brand identity and an understanding of the OB handwriting
• A Fashion or Product Design BA Hons or equivalent qualification
• Technical knowledge of womenswear clothing
• Excellent drawing skills and technical drawing ability
• Good eye for colour, pattern and detail
• Knowledge of construction and manufacturing processes
• Desire to continually learn and develop knowledge and skills
• Expert computer skills including CAD, Adobe Suite, Photoshop, and Illustrator
• Big ideas and a strong conceptual imagination
• Confident communicator with the ability to influence and persuade
• An energetic, fun and flexible approach to how you work
• Ambition to be part of a dynamic design team and create a market defining brand
  
  At Oliver Bonas, our promise is to do our bit to make living a joyful experience and give cause for optimism. This promise is central to our work in equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). To bring joy to others, we must first ensure everyone at OB feels valued, included and most importantly, can be themselves at work.
It is important to us that our brand reflects wider society and the communities in which we operate. As a result, we welcome all eligible applicants for this role however we are particularly interested in speaking to eligible candidates from the Black, Asian & Mixed Heritage communities. Oliver Bonas is a Disability Confident Committed employer under the Disability Confident employer scheme. To read more about our ED&I commitments, head over to the EDI page on our website: https://www.oliverbonas.com/meet-the-team/diversity

Bonas Benefits:
• Generous employee discount up to 50% off all OB products
• Free access to our 24 hour employee assistance programme with Care First - offering financial, emotional and vocational support
• Flexible holiday - 30 days (including bank holidays) - increasing to 35 days with length of service
• Annual discretionary profit related bonus scheme
• Free membership for our Westfield Health Cash Plan or Private Medical
• Free access to our onsite gym
• Cycle to work scheme
• Quarterly free lunch
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave
• Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity Voice network and EDI team
• Mental Health First Aider support
• Education and support throughout Looop eLearning platform