Design Manager

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Manager

Company: DECJUBA

Location: Cremorne, VIC, Australia

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design / Management & Leadership / Marketing / Retail

Date Posted: 2026-08-31

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and evolve the visual identity of a prominent Australian fashion brand, DECJUBA, across all customer touchpoints.

• Drive creative strategy and execution for integrated campaigns, digital assets, retail experiences, and internal communications.

• Manage and mentor a team of four Graphic Designers, fostering a collaborative and high-performing creative environment.

• Ensure brand consistency, elevated aesthetics, and commercial relevance in all design outputs.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including Brand, Marketing, Digital, Social, and eCommerce to translate business objectives into compelling visual narratives.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior creative leadership opportunity within the fashion retail sector, requiring a blend of strategic vision, team management, and hands-on design expertise. The emphasis on evolving the brand's visual identity and driving integrated campaigns suggests a significant impact on customer perception and brand equity.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the development of innovative and commercially viable creative concepts that advance the DECJUBA visual identity and brand guidelines.

• Translate overarching brand and campaign strategies into impactful visual narratives, from initial mood boards to final multi-channel execution.

• Oversee the creative direction and quality assurance of integrated campaign rollouts across digital platforms, retail environments, and internal communications.

• Ensure seamless adaptation of key campaign concepts across website creative, email marketing, paid media, social media assets, Point of Sale (POS) materials, window displays, and packaging.

• Conduct thorough reviews and provide constructive feedback on all creative output, maintaining exceptional standards in typography, layout, imagery, and overall brand consistency.

• Manage the technical specifications for artwork across both print and digital production, ensuring accuracy and suitability for various mediums.

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Graphic Designers, providing clear creative direction, regular design reviews, and fostering a culture of empowerment and experimentation.

• Prioritize and delegate design projects effectively based on business priorities, team capacity, and campaign deadlines, while managing competing briefs and fast-turnaround requests.

• Identify and implement opportunities to optimize workflows, streamline processes, and enhance overall team efficiency through effective project management.

• Collaborate closely with stakeholders across Brand, Digital Marketing, Social Media, Creative, eCommerce, and Retail departments to interpret briefs and deliver impactful design solutions.

• Act as a trusted creative partner, confidently presenting design concepts, articulating strategic recommendations, and providing expert design guidance.

• Manage relationships with external agencies, print suppliers, and production partners to uphold creative quality from concept initiation through to final execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus on strategic creative leadership and operational execution. The role requires not only conceptualization but also meticulous attention to detail in campaign rollout, team management, and process optimization, ensuring a high volume of creative output meets rigorous standards.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Fine Arts, or a related field is typically expected for a Design Manager role of this caliber. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience:

• Minimum of 6+ years of progressive experience in graphic design, brand design, or digital design.

• Demonstrated experience within the fashion, retail, or lifestyle brand sectors is highly preferred.

• Proven track record of leading and developing a team of Graphic Designers, including strong capabilities in coaching, feedback delivery, and creative direction. Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in the Adobe Creative Cloud suite, specifically Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.

• Exceptional conceptual thinking and visual storytelling abilities, with a portfolio showcasing campaign development from ideation to multi-channel execution.

• Strong understanding of typography, layout principles, and visual composition.

• Comprehensive knowledge of digital production processes (web, social media, paid media, email) and print production (POS, signage, windows, packaging).

• Excellent project and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.

• Proven ability to present creative recommendations confidently and collaborate effectively across diverse business functions.

• Strong understanding of brand identity development and the ability to maintain and evolve brand guidelines. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with motion graphics software such as After Effects.

• Familiarity with collaborative design platforms like Figma.

• Proficiency with project management tools such as Trello, Monday.com, or similar.

• Experience in fashion photography art direction or styling.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "6+ years' experience" and the specific mention of Adobe Creative Cloud, typography, layout, and visual composition point to a need for a highly skilled and experienced designer. The preference for fashion/retail experience and the advantage of motion graphics/project management tools suggest a desire for a candidate who can hit the ground running and contribute to a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 diverse campaign projects that demonstrate conceptual strength, visual storytelling, and end-to-end execution across multiple channels (digital, print, retail).

• Include examples of brand identity development or evolution, illustrating an understanding of brand guidelines and consistency.

• Present case studies detailing the process from brief interpretation to final design, highlighting problem-solving and strategic thinking.

• Demonstrate advanced skills in typography, layout, and visual composition within various applications.

• Highlight experience in managing creative workflows and ensuring timely delivery of design assets. Process Documentation:

• Provide examples of how you have documented design processes or workflows to improve efficiency and clarity within a creative team.

• Showcase experience in developing and maintaining brand guidelines to ensure consistent application across all touchpoints.

• Detail your approach to managing creative briefs, prioritizing tasks, and tracking project progress, ideally with examples of project management tools used.

• Illustrate methods for providing constructive creative feedback and conducting design reviews to elevate team performance and output quality.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Design Manager role, the portfolio is critical. It needs to go beyond just aesthetics and demonstrate strategic thinking, leadership capability, and process management. Expect to present work that illustrates how you've led projects, managed teams, and improved design operations.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Design Manager in fashion retail in Melbourne, Australia, with 6+ years of experience, the estimated annual salary range is AUD $100,000 - $140,000. This range can vary based on the candidate's specific experience, skills, and the final negotiation.

Benefits:

• Opportunity to lead creative direction for a well-established Australian fashion brand.

• Work within a fast-moving, collaborative, and creative environment.

• Genuine opportunity to make a significant impact on brand visual identity and customer experience.

• Employee discounts on DECJUBA products.

• Potential for professional development and growth within the company.

• Access to a supportive team and leadership.

• Involvement in a B Corp Certified company with a focus on sustainability and ethical practices.

Working Hours: The role is full-time, typically around 38-40 hours per week. While an on-site position, there might be some flexibility for managing campaign deadlines or personal appointments, subject to team and business needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimates are based on general market research for similar roles in metropolitan Australia, considering the experience level and industry. Specific benefits are inferred from typical offerings in fashion retail and the company's stated values. The working hours are standard for a full-time management position.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Fashion Retail. DECJUBA operates within a dynamic and competitive fashion retail landscape, known for its aspirational and effortless style. As a B Corp Certified brand, it emphasizes social and environmental responsibility alongside commercial success.

Company Size: Over 1,500 team members globally, with a significant retail footprint across Australia and New Zealand, plus a growing online presence. This indicates a well-established organization with robust operational structures.

Founded: Reimagined by Tania Austin in 2008. This history suggests a brand that has evolved and adapted, with a strong female leadership presence.

Team Structure:

• The Graphic Design team consists of four designers, reporting to the Design Manager.

• This role will collaborate closely with various departments including Brand, Marketing, Digital, Social, Creative, eCommerce, and Retail, indicating a matrixed or highly cross-functional operating model.

• The Design Manager will act as a key creative lead, influencing strategies across multiple business units. Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is implied through the need for commercial relevance in creative concepts and collaboration with marketing and digital teams.

• Workflow optimization and process improvement are explicitly mentioned as responsibilities.

• A strong emphasis on collaboration and stakeholder management is evident in the cross-functional partnership requirements.

Company Website: https://www.decjuba.com.au/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to be fast-paced, collaborative, and commercially driven, with a strong emphasis on brand identity and customer experience. Being a B Corp Certified brand also suggests a commitment to ethical and sustainable practices, which can be a significant cultural differentiator.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior-level management position within the creative function. The Design Manager is responsible for leading a team, setting creative direction, and overseeing the execution of design across all brand touchpoints, indicating significant responsibility and autonomy.

Reporting Structure: The Design Manager will report to a higher-level creative or marketing executive (e.g., Head of Creative, Brand Director, or CMO), and will manage a team of Graphic Designers.

Operations Impact: The Design Manager's role has a direct and substantial impact on revenue and business decisions by shaping the brand's visual identity, driving campaign effectiveness, and influencing customer perception. Strong creative execution directly supports marketing efforts, e-commerce conversion rates, and retail experience, all of which contribute to sales performance.

Growth Opportunities:

• Creative Leadership Advancement: Potential to progress to Head of Creative, Brand Director, or a similar senior leadership role overseeing broader creative functions.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas like brand strategy, campaign development, or digital creative direction.

• Cross-functional Movement: Potential to move into broader marketing, brand management, or digital strategy roles given the collaborative nature of the position.

• Mentorship and Development: Opportunity to grow leadership skills by mentoring and developing a team of designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for career progression within a growing fashion brand. The emphasis on leadership and cross-functional collaboration provides a strong foundation for future growth into more strategic or broader management positions.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based at the company's Head Office in Cremorne, VIC. This is likely a modern, dynamic office environment typical of creative and fashion businesses, fostering collaboration and innovation.

Office Location(s): Cremorne, VIC, Australia. This is a well-known creative and commercial hub in Melbourne, offering good accessibility.

Workspace Context:

• A collaborative workspace designed to encourage interaction between creative teams and other departments.

• Access to the necessary design tools and technology (Adobe Creative Cloud, potentially project management software).

• Opportunities for regular interaction with marketing, digital, and brand teams to align creative efforts with business goals.

• A fast-paced environment where creative output is central to daily operations.

Work Schedule: The position is full-time, with expectations of meeting campaign deadlines. While standard office hours are expected, there may be instances requiring flexibility to ensure successful project delivery, particularly during peak campaign periods.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in a creative hub like Cremorne suggests an environment that values in-person collaboration, idea exchange, and a hands-on approach to design leadership.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess suitability for the role.

• First Interview: Likely with HR and/or the hiring manager (e.g., Head of Creative) to discuss experience, leadership style, and initial fit.

• Portfolio Presentation & Case Study: A crucial stage where candidates present their portfolio, discuss key projects, and potentially work through a design challenge or case study related to evolving the DECJUBA brand. This will assess creative thinking, strategic approach, and communication skills.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from Marketing, Digital, and potentially other design team members to evaluate collaboration style and cultural fit.

• Final Interview: May involve senior leadership to discuss overall vision and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your leadership, strategic thinking, and ability to evolve a brand's visual identity. Prioritize fashion/retail examples if possible.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your role, the creative process, challenges faced, solutions implemented, and the measurable impact (e.g., campaign performance, brand consistency).

• Highlight Leadership: Demonstrate how you've guided teams, provided feedback, and managed workflows. If possible, include examples of team projects you led.

• Showcase Technical Proficiency: Ensure your portfolio demonstrates advanced skills in typography, layout, and the Adobe Creative Cloud suite.

• Address Brand Evolution: Prepare to discuss how you would approach evolving the DECJUBA brand's visual identity and creative output.

• Be Ready for a Challenge: Anticipate a design brief or case study that requires you to apply your skills to a DECJUBA-specific scenario.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brand: Deeply research DECJUBA's current visual identity, campaigns, target audience, and market position.

• Identify Opportunities: Think about potential areas for creative enhancement or evolution of their brand.

• Practice Articulation: Be prepared to clearly explain your creative rationale, strategic thinking, and proposed solutions concisely and persuasively.

• Time Management: If given a timed challenge, practice working efficiently and structuring your response effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process heavily emphasizes the portfolio and a practical demonstration of creative leadership and strategic thinking. Candidates should prepare to articulate their process, leadership style, and vision for the DECJUBA brand.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Cloud: Essential proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign for graphic design, layout, and asset creation.

• Motion Graphics Software: Experience with After Effects is considered advantageous for dynamic campaign content.

• Collaborative Design Platforms: Familiarity with Figma is a plus for team collaboration and prototyping.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed as a direct requirement for the Design Manager, understanding how design impacts key metrics (e.g., website conversion, engagement rates, brand recall) is crucial. Familiarity with web analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics) or social media analytics dashboards would be beneficial for understanding campaign performance. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to the core design responsibilities but understanding how designs are deployed through marketing automation platforms or e-commerce systems can be helpful for ensuring technical feasibility. Project Management:

• Proficiency with project management platforms such as Trello, Monday.com, Asana, or similar is highly advantageous for managing team workloads, tracking project timelines, and coordinating with stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technical requirements revolve around the Adobe Creative Cloud suite. The preferred tools (After Effects, Figma, Project Management platforms) indicate a desire for a candidate who is modern in their approach to design and workflow management.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Focus: A commitment to making customers "look and feel amazing" is central, meaning design must align with aspirational style and ease of dressing.

• Creativity & Innovation: Encouragement of designers to "challenge ideas, experiment and deliver their best work," fostering a culture of creative exploration.

• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on partnering across Brand, Marketing, Digital, and other teams to ensure cohesive brand messaging.

• Commercial Impact: Design is expected to have a "commercial purpose," linking creative output directly to business objectives and sales performance.

• Excellence & Consistency: Maintaining "exceptional standards" and ensuring the brand "feels consistent, elevated and unmistakably us."

• Empowerment & Development: Creating an environment where designers feel empowered and providing opportunities for upskilling.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Close partnership with Brand, Marketing, Digital, Social, and eCommerce teams is essential for translating business briefs into creative strategies.

• Constructive Feedback Culture: The Design Manager is expected to provide clear, constructive feedback, and foster an environment where designers can also challenge ideas.

• Proactive Communication: Acting as a "trusted creative partner" implies clear, confident, and proactive communication with stakeholders at all levels.

• Supplier Partnership: Building strong working relationships with external agencies and production partners is key to ensuring quality execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture values creativity that is grounded in commercial reality and customer appeal. Collaboration is not just encouraged but is a core function of the role, requiring strong interpersonal and communication skills.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Evolving Brand Identity: Continuously innovating the visual identity of a well-established brand like DECJUBA without alienating the existing customer base.

• Balancing Creativity and Commerciality: Ensuring design concepts are both artistically strong and commercially effective, driving sales and brand engagement.

• Managing High Volume & Fast Turnaround: Delivering high-quality creative assets consistently across numerous touchpoints within tight deadlines in a fast-paced retail environment.

• Leading a Diverse Team: Effectively managing, motivating, and developing a team of designers with varying skill sets and creative approaches.

• Stakeholder Alignment: Navigating diverse opinions and requirements from various departments to achieve unified creative outcomes.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic Brand Development: Deepen understanding of brand strategy and its application in a fashion retail context.

• Leadership Skills: Enhance team management, coaching, and mentorship capabilities.

• Digital & Emerging Media: Stay abreast of new digital platforms, tools, and creative technologies relevant to fashion marketing.

• Cross-functional Acumen: Gain broader insights into marketing, e-commerce, and retail operations through close collaboration.

• Industry Trends: Continuous learning about fashion, retail, and design trends to maintain creative relevance and competitive edge.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents opportunities to tackle complex creative challenges within a recognized brand, pushing creative boundaries while ensuring business objectives are met. Growth is intrinsically linked to expanding leadership scope and strategic influence.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach evolving the DECJUBA visual identity for the next season, considering current fashion trends and our brand's core values?" (Assesses strategic thinking, brand understanding, and creative vision.)

• "Describe a time you had to balance competing creative briefs or tight deadlines. How did you prioritize, manage your team, and ensure quality?" (Evaluates project management, leadership, and execution skills.)

• "Walk us through a campaign you led from concept to completion. What were the key decisions, challenges, and results?" (Tests ability to articulate process, problem-solve, and demonstrate impact.)

• "How do you foster a creative and collaborative environment within your design team, and how do you provide constructive feedback?" (Probes leadership style and team development approach.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you admire about the DECJUBA brand and its current creative output?" (Assesses research and genuine interest.)

• "How do you ensure brand consistency across multiple channels and touchpoints, especially in a fast-paced retail environment?" (Tests understanding of brand management and operational execution.)

• "How do you stay inspired and informed about current design and fashion trends?" (Reveals continuous learning and industry engagement.)

• "Describe your experience working with cross-functional teams. How do you manage stakeholder expectations and ensure alignment on creative projects?" (Evaluates collaboration and communication skills.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: Organize your portfolio logically, perhaps by project type or by showcasing your most impactful campaigns.

• Focus on Leadership: For each project, emphasize your role as a leader, not just a designer. Detail how you guided the project, managed resources, and collaborated with others.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use data to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased engagement, conversion rates, positive brand feedback).

• Tell a Story: For each case study, outline the problem, your solution, and the outcome. Make it engaging and easy to follow.

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your creative process, technical choices, and how you handle feedback or criticism.

• Tailor to DECJUBA: Be ready to discuss how your skills and experience are directly relevant to DECJUBA's needs and brand identity.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should heavily focus on demonstrating leadership, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of brand building within the fashion retail context. The portfolio presentation is the prime opportunity to showcase these capabilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Design Manager position:

• Submit your application via the DECJUBA Careers portal at https://careers.decjuba.com.au/job/Cremorne-Design-Manager-VIC-3121/1366655166/.

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight experience in fashion/retail, team leadership, brand identity development, and campaign management, using keywords from the job description (e.g., "creative direction," "visual identity," "Adobe Creative Cloud," "stakeholder management").

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select your strongest projects that demonstrate leadership, strategic thinking, and end-to-end campaign execution. Ensure it's well-organized, visually appealing, and easy to navigate. Include case studies that articulate your process and impact.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on storytelling, leadership contributions, and how your work aligns with DECJUBA's brand and goals. Be ready to discuss your creative process and leadership philosophy.

• Research DECJUBA Thoroughly: Understand their current brand positioning, target audience, recent campaigns, and company values (B Corp, sustainability). This will help you tailor your application and interview responses.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.