We’re Pentland Brands; a dynamic, global family business, and proud owners and licensees of many iconic active and footwear brands. With a community of over 1,300 team members worldwide, we embrace diversity and inclusion, and champion growth and development. Our success is built on teamwork, courage, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

WHAT’S THE MISSION FOR THIS ROLE?

The Senior Apparel Designer – Trail & Extrem is a pivotal member of the Product Creation team, responsible for driving the technical fit, construction quality, and performance functionality of our trail apparel range. This role blends deep technical expertise with outdoor-specific knowledge to ensure every garment is built to perform across challenging terrain and changing conditions. 

The mission is to lead the technical development of trail products—from fit and block creation to construction refinement—delivering apparel that meets rigorous performance expectations, aligns with brand standards, and exceeds the needs of trail runners, hikers, and outdoor athletes. 

WHAT DOES THIS ROLE DO?

As our Senior Apparel Designer – Trail & Extrem you will be responsible for:

• Leading design development across Trail & Extrem categories, ensuring product solutions are consumer-centred, functional, and on-brand.

• Framing and solving key product “problem spaces” (e.g., movement, comfort, protection, thermal regulation, durability, packability) and translating these into clear design direction.

• Partnering closely with Product Managers to define briefs, success measures, and design principles that guide decision-making through the range.

• Working collaboratively with Technical, Development, QA and global vendors to deliver manufacturable solutions—balancing performance, quality, cost, and scalability.

• Driving fit, construction, and technical development where needed: establishing or evolving fit blocks, advising grading rules, and ensuring consistent fit outcomes across the range.

• Conducting fit sessions on live models or mannequins; analysing movement and wear; and guiding pattern/construction refinements through iterative sampling.

• Creating and maintaining detailed technical packs, specifications, construction guidance, BOM components, and accurate PLM data.

• Evaluating materials and trims for performance (ventilation, thermoregulation, stretch, abrasion resistance) and advising on suitability and trade-offs.

• Reviewing prototypes and salesperson samples; providing advanced input on seam placement, construction methods, and functional detailing to improve comfort and durability.

• Supporting wear testing and feedback loops by interpreting insights and converting them into concrete design improvements.

• Driving consistency and best-practice standards across the Trail & Extrem range, mentoring junior team members where required.

WHAT DO I BRING TO THE ROLE?

• You have a degree in relevant design fields (Fashion, Product/Industrial Design, Sport, Engineering Design, or equivalent experience), with a minimum of 5–7 years’ experience in a professional environment.

• Strong evidence of consumer-led problem solving: you can turn insight into clear product intent, and intent into a coherent design solution.

• Strong understanding of human movement, usability, and performance-led construction principles (this may come from apparel or adjacent industries).

• Experience taking products from concept through development to production, with strong attention to detail and a “design it so it can be made” mindset.

• Ability to work fluently with manufacturers and vendors, confidently navigating sampling, iteration, and trade-offs across performance, quality, and cost.

• Technical fluency in product creation: fit, pattern/construction understanding, or equivalent design-for-manufacture capability (depending on background).

• Proficiency in Adobe CC; CLO3D or similar is preferred; PLM systems experience is a plus.

• Materials curiosity and confidence: performance textiles, trims, seam technologies, bonding, zonal construction, and ventilation methods (or transferable equivalents from adjacent categories).

• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills, with experience working alongside Design, Development, Sourcing, and QA teams.

• Passionate about sustainability and experience (or clear interest) in implementing environmentally responsible design/material strategies.

• Highly organised with strong attention to detail and an ability to manage multiple deadlines across complex product ranges.

• Proven people management and coaching/mentoring skills.

• A strong interest in performance product is valuable—but we do not require a pure outdoor/apparel-only background. We welcome candidates from parallel industries where performance, usability, and manufacturability matter.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?

• Competitive salary + discretionary bonus

• 25 Days Holiday: Increases with length of service and the option to purchase additional days to suit your needs.

• Discounts: Brand discounts (including friends and family and JD Sports), Sample Sales, and other retail discounts and perks.

• Family-Friendly Benefits: Generous enhanced parental leave policies

• Health Perks: Choose from a variety of health-related perks including medical cash plan, critical illness cover, life assurance, gym and fitness discounts, dental insurance, eye care, and health screening to maintain your wellbeing.

• Travel Perks: Take advantage of our season ticket loan, cycle to work schemes, electric car schemes, and discounts on home charging units to support eco-friendly commuting.

• Flexible Working: We offer hybrid working and flexible working hours, allowing you to start your day earlier or later to help with commute costs or personal commitments.

We want you to live our company principles, bringing a strong consumer focus, while always looking for ways to improve and grow in your role. Take ownership of your work and be proactive in solving problems whilst communicating openly and treating everyone with respect and kindness. And, of course, let your creativity shine by bringing your unique style and individuality to the Pentland Brands Team.

As an equal opportunity employer, we’re committed to fostering diversity and creating an inclusive culture across our business, stores, and office environment.

We warmly welcome your application.

This vacancy is a newly created role as part of organisational changes. Final appointment will depend upon the outcome of consultation processes and affected employees will have priority for consideration.