Womenswear Casual & Heavyweight Jersey Designer - 12 Month Fixed Term Contract

Working Pattern: Typically 5 days in the office, with core hours flexible between 8am-6pm.

Ideal Start Date: Mid August for this maternity cover.

The Role
As a Womenswear Designer for Casual and Heavyweight Jersey, you’ll be the creative force behind our most essential, high volume categories. Your mission is to redefine everyday comfort, evolving everything from the perfect oversized hoodie and heavyweight "streetwear" sweats to trend-led, soft-touch basics.

By bridging the gap between directional style and commercial reality, you’ll make a tangible impact on the wardrobe of millions, working alongside an expert team of Buyers, Merchandisers and Technologists to perfect every fit and fabric. 

Our Designers here at Next are always looking forward. Looking for that Next thing, focusing on trend and pushing the boundaries of what we can offer our fantastic customer base. Working as a key part of the critical path; creating new and innovative designs across.

What You’ll Take On

As our specialist for Casual and Heavyweight Jersey, you’ll be the architect of our customers' everyday favorites. Here’s what your role involves:

• Lead the Jersey Strategy: Research and forecast global "athleisure" and streetwear trends to design a compelling range, from premium heavyweight sweats to essential casual jersey staples.
• Perfect the Fit and Feel: Work closely with Technologists and Fabric Specialists to source the best yarns and refine silhouettes, ensuring our jersey maintains its shape, soft-touch, and quality wash after wash.
• Bridge Design and Buying: Collaborate daily with Buyers to build a commercially balanced range that hits the sweet spot between "must-have" fashion pieces and high-volume basics.
• Drive Technical Accuracy: Create detailed, production-ready tech packs and CADs that clearly communicate construction details, ensuring our global suppliers can bring your vision to life accurately.
• Manage Product Lifecycles: Oversee the design process from initial concept to final sample approval, staying agile and organised to meet key seasonal deadlines.

 

What You’ll Bring

• Jersey & Sweatwear Expertise: You have a deep understanding of circular knits and heavyweight fabrics, with a portfolio that showcases your ability to design cool, comfortable, and commercially successful jersey ranges.
• A "Team Player" Attitude: You genuinely enjoy collaborating and can communicate your design vision clearly to Buyers, Merchandisers and Technologists, making sure everyone is aligned on the final look and feel.
• Calm Under Pressure: You’re naturally well-organised and stay focused when things get busy, comfortably managing multiple seasonal drops and "fast-fashion" injections simultaneously.
• A Sharp Commercial Eye: You understand our customer and can spot the difference between a passing fad and a long-term trend, ensuring our jersey collections stay relevant and wearable.
• Adaptable Communication: Whether you’re presenting a mood board to senior leads or discussing construction with an overseas supplier, you do so with clarity, confidence, and warmth.
• Technical Proficiency: You are a pro with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, and you’re comfortable creating precise technical specifications that ensure our fits are perfect every time.
  

A Quick Note: We can’t wait to see your style! 
 Please ensure you attach a digital portfolio to your application, as we can’t wait to see your creative vision in action! We’re looking for work that highlights your expertise in casual and heavyweight jersey, demonstrating a sharp eye for streetwear trends and the ability to translate "must-have" concepts into comfortable, commercially successful designs for the modern Womenswear market.

Please note: Applications without a portfolio  will not be considered 

 

Sponsorship
Candidates wishing to apply who would require sponsorship for this role will be required to meet the Home Office sponsorship requirements. For further information please see: .

We encourage early applications for our roles, as our recruitment process begins as soon as the role is advertised. If we successfully fill the position, this advert may close earlier than planned.

#LI-Onsite

• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Profit-related bonus - based on company performance
• Private medical insurance
• Sharesave scheme - make savings from your net pay to buy NEXT shares at a discount
• Pension - fixed contribution rates from both an employer and employee perspective, but you're also able to make additional voluntary contributions (AVCs) if you wish to save more.
• Life assurance
• Group income protection
• Wagestream - helping you make the most out of your money
• Salary finance - offers access to affordable loans repaid through salary, simple savings and free financial education.
• 25% staff discount on most NEXT products - plus discount on other products
• Direct to work - NEXT orders delivered free to the office for collection
• VIP sale - early access to the NEXT sale
• Access to NEXT staff shops
• Octopus energy - like cycle-to-work, but for electric vehicles
• Free parking (excluding London locations)
• Travel2NEXT - bus services dependent on location
• On site dining facilities (excluding London locations)
• National and local discounts on goods and services - this includes things like discounted cinema tickets
• Wellhub - includes access to discounted gym membership
• Simply health - a healthcare subscription service
• Aviva Digicare Workplace+ healthcare service - 7 Free services including Digital GP appointments and an annual health check.
• Onsite GP - Leicester Head Office
• Onsite Physio - Leicester Head Office
• A range of dedicated 3rd party wellbeing partners
• Free eye testing - voucher to use at specific locations

Conditions apply to all benefits. These benefits are discretionary and subject to change.

We aim to support all candidates during the application process and are happy to provide workplace adjustments when necessary. Should you need support with your application due to a disability or long-term condition, feel free to get in touch with us by email [email protected] (please include 'Workplace Adjustments' in the subject line), or call us on 0116 284 2486 and leave a voicemail.