[JOBS] HEAD OF DESIGN─KIDSWEAR : RIVER ISLAND

Ready to join one of the most successful fashion brands on the high street? Do you have a passion for fashion? Driven to achieve? United to win? If your answers are yes, we think you’ll love it here on the Island…
 
From our first shop in the remains of a North London bombsite in the 1940s, to now over 250 stores across the UK, Ireland and internationally. We are known for our stylish, affordable fashion and we like to shout-it loud.

Our Island community is everything and we are stronger together. Every Islander counts in making fashion a force for good and we value individuality and difference. Exceptional people have made River Island a success for over 70 years. Together we will continue to do so in the years ahead.
 
We are one team. We are the difference. We are River Island.

Key Accountabilities: 

• Responsibility for strategic design lead for RI Kidswear, immersed in our unique brand DNA, with the flair to drive new business opportunities from concept to completion

• Be passionate about the RI brand, with the ability to interpret trend in a way that is right for our customer, balancing new fashion priorities with commercial opportunities

• Responsible for contributing to the kidswear product strategy, and cascading it to design team, ensuring team structure & priorities are aligned with business goals

• Be confident about working collaboratively with senior leadership colleagues

• Drive the brand forward by engaging peers and stakeholders across marketing, retail, web, brand, VM to drive new concepting and ensure the brand is market leading

• Support trade with new speed to market ideas and exceptional problem solving skills to ensure we are agile and reactive to trend

• Be a change ambassador – creating resilient & agile teams who embrace change and new ways of working that will drive the business forward

• Passionate about developing the leaders of the future, with a track record of great recruitment, succession planning, and ‘next role ready’ talent management

• An outstanding role model, with an on-brand approach, and positive leadership style that will inspire and motivate the teams across d, b, m & t.  whilst also having great networking skills to create meaningful relationships with peers across the business

• Prepared to challenge the status quo with fresh thinking and innovative new ideas for kidswear design – and also blue sky thinking for the kidswear brand

• Ethically conscious, and committed to doing the right thing and delivering on our sustainability & ethical goals

• Believe in responsible product development: constantly driving improvements in expertise, process & hit rate, to achieve right first time product development that is best in class.

Key Experience Required: 

• Substantial previous experience as a Head of Design or an established Designer Manager

• Track record of managing large teams and successfully mentoring and developing others 

• Excellent network in the market and industry 

Base Location

The base location for this role is at our Head Office in West London. 

Hanger Lane is the nearest tube station on the central line, alternatively we have a free on-site car park should driving be an option.

And Wait, Did We Mention The Perks?

• Discount - Generous 50% staff discount so you can treat yourself & a bargain staff shop, all onsite!

• RI Rewards - Reducing Islanders everyday expenses through discounts, benefits, financial advice, wellbeing solutions and more with Reward Gateway!

• Island culture - We have a free onsite gym, subsidised restaurant & café & various social events throughout the year. We also work closely with the Retail Trust to create dedicated support for all our Islanders!

• Work that stays at work - Flexible working is a given, on top of payday early finishes and Summer Fridays

• Family Hub - Every family is unique, we support Islanders with all different family setups enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption & fertility treatment

• Giver Island - Give as you earn scheme, a ‘Giver Island’ day each year and matched funding

• Training on the job - Support with upskilling skills through on the job training and qualifications

• Pension - A contributory private pension scheme

• Holiday - 25 days paid holiday, exclusive of Bank Holidays!