Senior Designer

Holland Cooper is a luxury British lifestyle brand with a bold identity and serious commercial ambition. Founded in 2008, we have built a loyal global following through exceptional tailoring, premium fabrics, and a visual aesthetic that is instantly recognisable. We are founder-led, fast-moving, and proud of what we are building.

We are looking for an experienced Senior Designer to join our Design team. This is a hands-on, multi-category role for someone who is passionate about product, technically confident and ready to take real ownership across the design and development process from initial concept through to pre-production. You will work closely with factories and vendors, collaborate across departments, and help to mentor and guide junior members of the team.

If you are ambitious, highly organised, and thrive in a fast-paced environment where creativity meets commercial awareness, we would love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities:

• Through in-depth market and customer research, identify and realise new product and design opportunities aligned to Holland Cooper's overall product strategy.
• Produce CAD designs to a high technical standard, drawing on a strong understanding of fabric, garment engineering, fit and quality.
• Manage Technical Specifications, including specialist knowledge of techniques, materials and construction methods.
• Liaise daily with factories and vendors to problem-solve issues related to garment engineering and production.
• Ensure all designs are produced to the desired specifications, quality and price point.
• Deliver superior product from concept to completion, including all branding, labelling and packaging.
• Own all sample tracking, coordination and comments through to pre-production sample stage.
• Provide direction and support to Trainee, Assistant and mid-level Designers, helping to manage workload across departments and product categories.
• Work to the critical path to meet all deadlines, flagging risks early and managing priorities accordingly.
• Travel abroad during peak design, development and production seasons as required.

Key Competencies/Behaviours:

• Genuinely passionate about product with an exceptional eye for detail — quality and craft matter to you.
• Technically strong with a deep understanding of garment construction, manufacturing processes and fabric.
• Creative and commercially minded, able to balance design vision with the realities of production and price.
• Highly organised with strong time management skills, able to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• A collaborative team player who builds strong working relationships across design, buying, and production teams.
• Confident communicating with factories and vendors across different cultures and time zones.
• Proactive and solutions-focused, comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with evolving priorities.
• A natural mentor who takes pride in developing junior colleagues and sharing knowledge.
• Committed to continuous improvement, always looking for better ways to work and better product outcomes.

Skills/Experience Required:

• A relevant design or fashion design qualification to BA (Hons) standard or equivalent.
• Minimum of 5 years' design experience within fashion or lifestyle.
• Experience managing or mentoring a design team.
• Detailed understanding of manufacturing techniques and garment construction.
• Proficient in CAD, Photoshop and Illustrator.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with experience working with international factories and suppliers.
• Highly organised with the ability to work to tight critical paths in a fast-paced environment.

Desired:

• Previous experience working in-house at a brand environment.
• Experience in outerwear, tailoring or structured premium garments.
• Exposure to a founder-led or high-growth business environment.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Your birthday off on us
• Increased benefits with length of service (e.g. holiday, pension contributions)
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity pay
• Generous staff discount and staff shop available
• Fresh fruit and pastries delivered weekly
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme, including mental health support

Pay: Up to £50,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person