HEAD OF MENSWEAR - Design/ Creative/ Product Development/ Merchandising
MANCHESTER
UP TO £80K doe
Creative / Design
Our client is a contemporary men's and women's fashion brand rooted in modern luxury, street-inspired design, and strong brand storytelling. They pride themselves on creating elevated apparel that blends trend-led graphics with timeless brand identity. Creativity, attention to detail, and authenticity are at the core of everything they do.
Role Overview:
The Head of Menswear leads the creative and commercial direction of the menswear category, overseeing product development, brand alignment, and go-to-market strategy. This role bridges design, merchandising, and marketing to build a cohesive, high-performing menswear offering that reflects the brand's identity and drives growth.
Key Responsibilities
* Creative Direction & Product Strategy
* Define and lead the menswear vision in line with the brands DNA.
* Oversee All collections from concept to final product.
* Lead seasonal collections with consistency across silhouettes, fabrics, colour palettes, and branding.
* Lead strategically Drive commercially proven product franchises.
* Identify trends and translate them into commercially viable products.
* Maintain a strong point of view on design, fit, and quality.
* Collaberate with design & buying teams
* Translate insights into product strategy
* Product Development & Execution
* Manage the end-to-end product lifecycle (design → sampling → production)
* Work closely with design, technical, and sourcing teams
* Approve fabrics, trims, fits, and final samples
* Ensure timelines and product critical path are met.
* Range Planning & Merchandising Strategy
* Oversee range architecture ( what products are sold and in what quantity)
* Use sales data to inform decisions ( best sellers, gaps, trends)
* Balance fashion forward pieces with core franchises
* Manage pricing strategy and margins
* Commercial Performance
* Own Sales, revenue and profitability for menswear
* Monitor KPI's ( sell through, conversion, AOV, Stock levels)
* Indentify opportunities for growth ( New Catogories and Collaberations)
Cross functional Collaberation
* Work with marketing (campaign direction, Launches)
* E- commerce ( Product presentations, Drops)
* Supply chain ( timelines, production)
* Retail Team ( Supporting with Wholesale Critical path & selling)
Brand & Marketing Alignment
* Collaborate with marketing on campaign direction, product storytelling, and launches
* Ensure menswear reflects the brand's tone, positioning, and visual identity
* Support content strategy (lookbooks, shoots, social)
* Guide styling and product presentation
Leadership & Team Management
• Lead and mentor the menswear design and product teams
• Set clear objectives, workflows, and creative standards
• Foster a high-performance, collaborative environment
• Work cross-functionally with buying, production, and e-commerce
Key Skills & Experience
• 5–8+ years in menswear design, product, or category leadership
• Strong aesthetic sense with a clear understanding of modern menswear
• Proven ability to build and scale product categories
• Commercial awareness (pricing, margins, sell-through)
• Experience working with suppliers and production teams
• Excellent leadership and communication skills
* Experience in premium or contemporary fashion
* Background in both design and merchandising
* Understanding of DTC and e-commerce environments
* Understanding and experience in wholesale selling
* Knowledge of global fashion trends and consumer behaviour
Success Metrics
• Revenue growth of menswear category
• Sell-through rates and margin performance
• Brand consistency and product reception
• Speed and efficiency of product development cycles