Head of Design – Womenswear (12 month FTC)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Head of Design – Womenswear (12 month FTC)

Company: Gymshark

Location: Solihull, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-time, Temporary

Category: Design Operations / Product Design Leadership

Date Posted: 2026-05-29T10:53:22

Experience Level: 10+ years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and define the overarching creative vision and strategic direction for the Womenswear category, ensuring alignment with brand objectives and market trends.

• Own the end-to-end product design lifecycle, from concept ideation and trend research to final product delivery, focusing on innovation, performance, and commercial viability.

• Build, mentor, and inspire a world-class Womenswear Design team, fostering a high-performance culture centered on creativity, ownership, and continuous progression.

• Drive significant commercial impact by collaborating with Product Buying on range architecture and pricing, and influencing gross margin through strategic design and cost management.

• Champion cross-functional collaboration with Sourcing, Development, Brand, Insights, and Trading teams to ensure cohesive product strategies and successful go-to-market execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a senior leader with a strong blend of creative vision, strategic thinking, team management, and commercial acumen. The "Head of Design" title, coupled with responsibilities like defining seasonal concepts, long-term strategy, and influencing gross margin, indicates a significant operational and strategic impact within the product development function, aligning closely with Revenue and Product Operations principles. The 12-month Fixed Term Contract (FTC) suggests a critical project or interim leadership need.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and execute the creative direction for Womenswear, translating consumer insights, cultural trends, and market analysis into innovative and performance-led product collections.

• Oversee the complete design process, from initial concept development and mood boards to detailed technical specifications and final product approval, ensuring brand consistency and quality standards.

• Lead, manage, and develop the Womenswear Design team, cultivating a culture of creativity, collaboration, and continuous improvement, while identifying and nurturing emerging talent.

• Partner closely with Product Buying to strategize and shape the overall range architecture, assortment planning, and pricing strategies to maximize commercial success.

• Collaborate with Sourcing and Development teams to ensure designs are feasible for scaled production, optimizing for quality, cost, and delivery timelines.

• Work in tandem with Brand, Marketing, Insights, and Trading departments to ensure product offerings are aligned with broader company strategies and effectively resonate with the target community.

• Conduct thorough trend research and market exploration to maintain Gymshark's position at the forefront of the global athleisure and sportswear market, identifying opportunities for innovation.

• Champion new ideas and approaches in product design, fabric technology, and performance features to drive product differentiation and competitive advantage.

• Analyze sales data, customer feedback, and market performance to inform design decisions and refine future product strategies, with a focus on optimizing gross margin.

• Influence and contribute to the go-to-market strategy for Womenswear collections, ensuring effective storytelling and launch execution from concept through to consumer.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a deep integration with commercial and operational functions, requiring strong analytical skills to balance creative output with financial targets and market demands. The emphasis on "end-to-end design process" and "bringing designs to life at scale" points to significant operational oversight within the product development pipeline.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Fashion Design, Apparel Design, or a related field is typically expected for a senior design leadership role. Relevant vocational training or extensive industry experience can be considered equivalent.

Experience: Proven track record of at least 10+ years in design leadership roles within the womenswear or sportswear industry, with a minimum of 5+ years in a senior management or head of department capacity.

Required Skills:

• Creative Vision & Strategy: Demonstrated ability to conceptualize and articulate a compelling creative vision for a major product category, translating it into actionable design strategies.

• Team Leadership & Development: Proven experience in building, mentoring, and leading high-performing design teams, fostering a positive and productive work environment, and driving talent progression.

• Womenswear & Sportswear Design Expertise: Deep understanding of design principles, aesthetics, and technical requirements specific to womenswear and performance apparel.

• Commercial Acumen & Product Commercialization: Strong ability to balance creative execution with commercial objectives, including range planning, pricing, margin influence, and market responsiveness.

• End-to-End Product Lifecycle Management: Comprehensive knowledge of the entire product development process, from concept and design to sourcing, development, and market launch.

• Stakeholder Management & Influencing: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to effectively manage relationships and influence decisions across various internal departments and external partners.

• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite: Advanced skills in design software such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign for concept development, technical drawings, and presentations.

• Market & Trend Analysis: Ability to conduct thorough research on consumer trends, market dynamics, competitor activities, and emerging technologies to inform design direction.

Preferred Skills:

• Passion for and deep understanding of performance-led and technical apparel design.

• Experience working within a global brand or a rapidly scaling business environment.

• Knowledge of advanced fabric technologies, sustainable materials, garment construction techniques, and fit innovation.

• Familiarity with PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) software and digital design tools.

• Experience in athleisure and lifestyle apparel design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "10+" experience level suggests a need for seasoned professionals with a demonstrable history of impactful design leadership. The emphasis on "commercial outcomes" and "gross margin influence" implies that candidates with a strong understanding of business operations and financial metrics will be highly valued.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated selection of design projects showcasing leadership in womenswear or sportswear, with a focus on innovation, performance, and commercial success.

• Case studies demonstrating the end-to-end design process, from initial concept and trend research to final product and market impact.

• Examples of how creative vision was translated into commercially viable product lines, including insights into range architecture and retail strategy.

• Evidence of team leadership and development, perhaps through project examples where you mentored designers or guided a team through a challenging design cycle.

• Demonstrations of how data and market insights were integrated into the design process to inform decisions and drive product performance.

Process Documentation:

• Examples of how design processes were documented, standardized, or optimized within previous roles to ensure efficiency and consistency.

• Documentation of workflow structures for seasonal design calendars, concept development, and product review stages.

• Evidence of process implementation for integrating feedback from cross-functional teams (e.g., Buying, Sourcing, Marketing) into the design workflow.

• Case studies detailing how new design methodologies, technologies, or materials were introduced and integrated into established processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Head of Design role, the portfolio is critical not just for showcasing creative talent but also for demonstrating the candidate's ability to manage complex design operations, lead teams, and drive commercial results through structured processes. The emphasis on "commercial outcomes" and "end-to-end design process" means the portfolio should highlight a structured, process-driven approach to design management.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Head of Design role in the UK sportswear/athleisure sector, with significant leadership responsibilities and a 12-month FTC, the estimated salary range would be between £75,000 - £100,000 per annum. This estimate accounts for the seniority of the role, the location in Solihull, and the specialized nature of the womenswear and performance apparel market.

Benefits:

• Performance-based Bonus opportunity: Potential for additional compensation tied to individual and company performance metrics.

• Funded Healthcare benefit: Comprehensive health coverage for employees.

• Generous Holiday Allowance: 25 days of annual leave, plus an additional day for your birthday and all UK Bank Holidays.

• Contributory Employer Pension Scheme: Company contribution towards retirement savings.

• Flexible Benefits Programme: A customizable benefits package including:

  • Salary Sacrifice EV Scheme
  • Dental Insurance
  • Cycle to Work Scheme
  • Tech Scheme
  • Holiday Trading (option to buy or sell additional leave)

• Gymshark Employee Discount: Significant discounts on Gymshark products.

• Long Service Awards: Recognition for tenure with the company.

• Access to High Street cashback and discounts: Perks for everyday spending.

• Financial, Physical and Mental Wellbeing Support: Resources and programs to support employee welfare.

• Enhanced Family Leave package: Generous leave provisions for new parents.

• Life Assurance: Financial protection for beneficiaries.

• Office-Specific Perks (GSIQ, Solihull):

  • Gym Membership to The Lifting Club (LC)

  • Onsite lunch provision and coffee bars

  • EV charge points available Working Hours: Full-time, typically 40 hours per week. The role is hybrid, requiring a minimum of 3 days per week in the Solihull office (GSIQ), offering flexibility for remote work for the remainder of the week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on typical compensation for senior design leadership roles in the UK fashion and sportswear industry, adjusted for the specific location and the FTC nature of the role. The extensive list of benefits signifies a strong emphasis on employee well-being and overall compensation package.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: E-commerce, Sportswear, Athleisure, Fitness Apparel. Gymshark is a digitally native brand that has rapidly scaled by focusing on community building and direct-to-consumer sales, disrupting traditional retail models.

Company Size: Gymshark is a large, rapidly growing global business with thousands of employees, indicating a dynamic and fast-paced operational environment.

Founded: Gymshark was founded in 2012, signifying a relatively young company with a strong track record of rapid growth and innovation in the digital-first consumer goods space.

Team Structure:

• The Womenswear Design team will likely be part of a larger Product or Design department, potentially reporting into a VP of Design or Chief Product Officer.

• This role involves leading a dedicated team of designers focused specifically on the Womenswear category.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Gymshark emphasizes using consumer insights, market data, and performance analytics to inform design decisions and product strategies.

• Community-Centric Approach: The brand's success is rooted in building a strong community, which heavily influences product design and marketing.

• Agile & Fast-Paced: The company operates in a high-growth, dynamic environment, requiring agility, quick decision-making, and continuous adaptation.

• Innovation & Disruption: There's a clear drive to challenge the status quo, pushing boundaries in product innovation, technology, and brand communication.

Company Website: https://www.gymshark.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Gymshark's culture is characterized by rapid growth, a strong digital presence, and a community-focused ethos. For a Head of Design, this translates to an environment where innovation is encouraged, data is leveraged, and close collaboration across departments is essential for product success. The FTC nature of the role suggests a need for someone who can quickly integrate and make an impact.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior leadership position, defining the strategic and creative direction for a major product category. It sits at the Head of Design level, requiring significant experience in managing teams, shaping product strategy, and influencing commercial outcomes. The role is pivotal in driving the success of Gymshark's Womenswear offering.

Reporting Structure: The Head of Design for Womenswear will likely report to a higher-level executive within the product or design function, such as a VP of Design, Chief Product Officer, or similar, depending on the organizational structure. They will directly manage a team of designers.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is substantial, directly influencing revenue through the design and commercial success of the Womenswear collections. It plays a critical part in brand perception, product innovation, and customer engagement, all of which are key drivers for a D2C e-commerce business.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Continued opportunities for growth in broader product leadership roles or potentially executive positions within the company, depending on performance and business needs.

• Strategic Influence: Potential to influence the overall product strategy and direction of Gymshark beyond Womenswear.

• Innovation Leadership: Driving forward new initiatives in fabric technology, performance features, and sustainable design practices.

• Mentorship & Team Building: Opportunities to build and scale a world-class design function, nurturing future talent within the organization.

• Broader Business Acumen: Gaining deeper insights into e-commerce operations, global marketing, and business strategy through cross-functional collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: While