Senior Product Designer - Gifting & Lifestyle

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer - Gifting & Lifestyle

Company: Joma Jewellery and Katie Loxton

Location: Banbury, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / GTM Operations

Date Posted: May 29, 2026

Experience Level: Senior (5-10 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end product design process for Gifting & Lifestyle categories, driving creative vision and commercial success.

• Manage and mentor a team of Product Designers and Design Assistants, fostering a collaborative and growth-oriented environment.

• Collaborate extensively with cross-functional teams, including Buying, Merchandising, Marketing, E-commerce, and Wholesale, to ensure product alignment and market readiness.

• Develop and maintain exceptional product standards that embody the brand's affordable luxury positioning and high-quality aesthetic.

• Contribute to strategic product vision and seasonal collection direction, balancing emerging trends with brand values and business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Senior Product Designer," the responsibilities heavily lean into Go-To-Market (GTM) operations, specifically product lifecycle management, cross-functional collaboration for product launches, and team leadership. The role requires a strong understanding of commercial viability and market trends, which are critical GTM operational functions. The emphasis on "driving the brand forward," "influencing the broader product vision," and "shaping seasonal collections" indicates a strategic GTM role rather than purely creative execution.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the concept development, design, and execution of new gifting and lifestyle product collections, ensuring commercial viability and adherence to brand aesthetic.

• Drive the creation of accurate technical specification sheets, artwork, and packaging designs that meet brand quality and regulatory standards.

• Oversee and manage the product sample process, including quality checks, fit assessments, and ensuring alignment with final specifications.

• Maintain comprehensive product decks, range plans, product codes, pricing, and visual assets, ensuring data integrity and consistency across systems.

• Track project progress against critical paths, proactively identifying and mitigating risks to ensure timely delivery of seasonal product lines.

• Collaborate closely with Buying, Merchandising, Marketing, E-commerce, and Wholesale teams to inform product strategy and support go-to-market execution.

• Provide insights on competitor activities, market trends, and emerging product innovations to inform design direction and strategic planning.

• Lead and mentor junior designers and design assistants, providing guidance, feedback, and professional development support to foster team growth.

• Confidently present creative concepts, product proposals, and final collections to senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams.

• Liaise with suppliers to ensure clear communication of product vision, timelines, quality expectations, and manufacturing requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of strategic product leadership and operational execution, critical for GTM success. The mention of "driving the brand forward," "shaping seasonal collections," and "influencing the broader product vision" highlights the strategic GTM component, while "technical specification sheets," "sample process," and "critical paths" point to operational rigor. The leadership aspect is also a key operational function in managing project timelines and team output.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• A design qualification in fashion or product design.

Experience:

• Senior-level experience (5-10 years) in product design, with a proven track record of delivering products from concept through to production.

• Demonstrated experience in line management or mentoring midweight/junior designers, successfully guiding them through project lifecycles.

Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign) for design creation and technical documentation.

• Strong understanding of packaging design principles, typography, and retail product development.

• Exceptional visual communication skills with meticulous attention to detail and a keen eye for brand consistency.

• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

• Strong commercial awareness, with the ability to balance creative vision with business objectives and market demands.

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with 3D design software or product visualization tools.

• Experience with product lifecycle management (PLM) software.

• Knowledge of sustainable design practices and materials.

• Understanding of e-commerce product presentation and digital asset requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications emphasize both creative design expertise and robust project and people management skills, which are crucial for a senior role influencing GTM strategy and execution. The mention of "commercial awareness" and "business objectives" reinforces the GTM operational aspect, requiring the candidate to think beyond pure aesthetics to market success.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A strong, concept-driven portfolio showcasing a breadth of work in gifting and lifestyle products.

• Demonstrated ability to articulate the design process from initial concept to final production, highlighting problem-solving and creative solutions.

• Evidence of commercial awareness in design choices, showing an understanding of target markets and brand positioning.

• Examples of technical specification sheets, packaging designs, and any relevant product development documentation.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase understanding of product development workflows, including stages from ideation, sampling, quality control, to final production hand-off.

• Examples of how you have managed project timelines, critical paths, and cross-functional dependencies in previous roles.

• Documentation or examples of how you ensure brand consistency and quality across product ranges and associated collateral.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Product Designer role with GTM responsibilities, the portfolio is a critical tool for assessing not just creative talent but also operational capability. The emphasis on process, commercial acumen, and end-to-end delivery is paramount for evaluating a candidate's fit for influencing product strategy and execution within the GTM framework.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• 33 days of holiday per year, rising to 35 days with length of service (inclusive of bank holidays).

• Generous staff discount across both Joma Jewellery and Katie Loxton brands.

• Opportunities for professional development, learning, and further growth within the company.

Working Hours:

• Standard working hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (40 hours per week).

• Hybrid work model requiring an average of three days per week in the Banbury office, with flexibility for two remote days.

• Occasional increase to five days a week in the office may be required during peak periods, such as during sign-off phases.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimation is based on typical UK market rates for senior design roles with management responsibilities, considering the location (Oxfordshire) and the hybrid work model. The benefits are detailed as provided in the job description, highlighting key perks relevant to employees in the creative and retail sectors.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Fashion Accessories, Jewellery, Gifting, Lifestyle Retail. The company operates in a competitive, trend-driven market where brand identity and product appeal are paramount for driving sales across wholesale and retail channels.

Company Size: The description implies a growing, entrepreneurial, family-run business with a "bright and friendly team." This suggests a dynamic environment where individual contributions are visible and valued, fostering a culture of agility and direct impact on business outcomes.

Founded: Joma Jewellery was founded in 2008, and Katie Loxton was launched in 2015. This indicates a company with established roots and a successful track record of expansion, with a clear vision for growth beyond the UK market.

Team Structure:

• The role involves line management of Product Designers and Design Assistants, indicating a structured design department.

• Close collaboration is expected with Buying, Merchandising, Marketing, E-commerce, and Wholesale teams, highlighting a cross-functional, integrated approach to product development and launch.

Methodology:

• The company values creativity, collaboration, and integrity, driving a culture of innovation.

• A data-driven approach is implied through the need for commercial awareness, trend analysis, and understanding of business objectives to inform design decisions.

• Emphasis on high-quality, affordable luxury positions the company for success in its target markets.

Company Website: https://careers.katieloxton.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is described as entrepreneurial, dynamic, and friendly, typical of a growing, family-run business. The emphasis on diversity and inclusion, encouraging ideas from all team members, suggests an open and collaborative environment where a Senior Product Designer can have significant influence. The operational context is that of a fast-paced retail environment requiring agility and close cross-functional alignment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior-level position, implying a significant degree of autonomy, responsibility, and strategic input. The role is not just about executing designs but also about shaping the product direction, managing a team, and influencing cross-functional strategies that impact market entry and sales performance.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Head of Design, Creative Director, or a senior executive responsible for product development and merchandising. They will, in turn, manage Product Designers and Design Assistants.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on the company's revenue and market position by leading the creation of commercially successful products. The design output influences sales performance across wholesale and retail channels, brand perception, and customer acquisition/retention. Success in this role contributes directly to the company's GTM strategy execution.

Growth Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Opportunities to deepen expertise in product lifecycle management, GTM strategy integration, and supply chain collaboration.

• Leadership Development: Formal and informal leadership opportunities through line management, project leadership, and strategic input into product roadmaps.

• Specialization: Potential to become a subject matter expert in specific product categories or market segments within the company's portfolio.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gaining broader business acumen by working closely with Merchandising, Marketing, and Sales teams, potentially leading to roles with wider GTM responsibilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant growth potential beyond traditional design. The combination of creative leadership, team management, and strategic GTM involvement positions the candidate for advancement into broader product management, creative direction, or even GTM leadership roles within a growing company. The focus is on developing a well-rounded operations professional within the product domain.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in a hybrid model, requiring an average of three days per week in the company's office located in Banbury, Oxfordshire. This suggests a professional office environment designed for collaboration and focused work.

Office Location(s): Cherwell Business Village, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX16 2SP, United Kingdom. This location provides a professional business setting outside of major metropolitan hubs, potentially