Design Manager - MP Activewear

Overview

As Design Manager, you will lead and inspire the design team across Men''s, Women''s, and Accessories categories. Reporting to the Head of Product, you will drive the creation of stylish, functional, and high-performance apparel that resonates with our customers and elevates MP''s position in the activewear market. You will collaborate with product development, marketing, and buying teams to manage the full design lifecycle—from concept through to production—ensuring collections are innovative, on-trend, commercially viable, and aligned with our brand ethos.Responsibilities

Lead and manage the design team, fostering creativity, collaboration, and high performance across Men''s, Women''s, and Accessories lines.Develop and deliver innovative, trend-led collections that embody MP Activewear''s brand values and appeal to our active customer base.Conduct ongoing research into fashion trends, fabrics, technologies, and sustainability to ensure products remain current, functional, and market-leading.Collaborate with product development to ensure designs meet technical, fit, functionality, and production requirements.Maintain a clear understanding of the product development process, timelines, and critical path milestones.Present design concepts and collections confidently to stakeholders, integrating feedback to refine and enhance output.Work with buying teams to select materials that balance sustainability, quality, and cost-effectiveness.Monitor competitor activity, influencer trends, and market shifts to maintain MP''s competitive edge.Participate in fittings and collaborate closely with production teams to ensure the highest quality execution of designs.Qualifications

Degree in Fashion Design or a related field.Minimum 5 years of experience in clothing design, with at least 2 years in a management or leadership role, preferably in activewear, sportswear, or fashion.Strong portfolio demonstrating expertise in performance and activewear design.In-depth knowledge of garment construction, fabrics, and technical design principles.Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop) and other relevant design software.Ability to balance creative innovation with commercial insight, designing products that are both stylish and functional.Excellent communication, leadership, and cross-functional collaboration skills.Passion for activewear and a deep understanding of the modern consumer''s needs.Adaptable, proactive, and able to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment.Benefits and Company Information

Access bespoke development programmes designed by our in-house LandD team.Develop expertise through our up-skilling programme in partnership with industry-leading training providers.Enhanced Leave: 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays; enjoy your birthday off on us; up to 10 days compassionate leave and the ability to buy back up to 3 days annually.Wellbeing Support: Face-to-face and virtual appointments with our in-house GP; access to our in-house CBT therapist; 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) by Bupa; state-of-the-art on-site gym and physio.Other Perks: Save up to 12% on personal tech with our salary sacrifice scheme; subsidised bus pass from Manchester City Centre to our ICON office; up to 50% staff discount on THG brands and access to on-site staff shop and barber.THG is proud to be a Disability Confident Committed employer. If you are invited to interview, please let us know if there are any reasonable adjustments we can make to the recruitment process that will enable you to perform to the best of your ..... full job details .....