This role is a 12 month maternity cover. 

We’re Pentland Brands: a global family business behind some of the world’s most iconic active and lifestyle brands. We bring integrity, energy and ambition to our work, setting high standards and striving to deliver great outcomes without ego.

With over 1,500 team members worldwide, we’re proud of our diverse, inclusive culture where everyone is encouraged to speak up, challenge thinking, create breakthroughs and collaborate openly. Our people are what set us apart, and we’re committed to creating an environment where everyone can thrive.

Reports to: Creative Director - Talent & Legacy

Location: London, Farringdon

Hours: 36.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday (4.30pm finish on a Friday)

The Creative Talent Manager Mission:

Design Pool started over twenty three years ago, it has nurtured more than 200 young creatives from across four continents – giving them a launch pad into various creative careers.

Design Pool was set up to recruit and develop exceptional talent from all design disciplines to work across Pentland Brands. Design Pool interns are offered up to a 12-month contract in which they work across a diverse range of briefs across the Pentland brands portfolio. They are trained and mentored in Pentland best practice and computer aided design so that they can fit straight into any brand from their first day.

Creativity is one of the most in-demand skills for the workforce of the future. Design Pool helps young graduates develop their talents and understand how to apply them through live projects. It's about preparing young talent for their future in a dynamic and supportive environment.

Manage and develop Pentland Brands Creative Talent community, with a primary focus on team organisation and admin nurturing early career talent development of the Design Pool and the Pentland Brands Alumni Network.

The Creative Talent Manager is responsible for the day to day leadership of Design Pool department, supporting creative talent from entry into the organisation through to exit, and ensuring strong ongoing connections through a well run alumni network.

This role plays an important enabling part in the wider talent landscape by building capability, continuity and insight across creative talent, while working collaboratively with key stakeholders across the business. A key priority of the role is to ensure continuity, stability and high quality delivery across all programmes during the maternity cover period, while embedding the newly launched alumni platform and leaving strong foundations for ongoing success.

How you'll drive success:

Design Pool:

• Manage and develop members of the Design Pool team, providing clear direction, support and performance management.

• Lead the operational delivery of early career creative including placements, apprenticeships, internships, work experience and junior roles, ensuring high quality experiences and outcomes.

• Work closely with the Creative Talent and Legacy Director to understand evolving creative needs and translate these into clear, achievable talent activity and Design Pool briefs.

• Act as a key point of contact between brands and external creative partners including universities, academics, agencies, charities and not for profit organisations.

• Allocate and oversee the flow of creative briefs into the Design Pool, ensuring briefs are well defined, achievable and delivered to agreed timelines and standards.

• Deliver effective onboarding inductions and offboarding for all early career and Design Pool talent, ensuring individuals feel supported, informed and connected throughout their engagement.

• Build a strong sense of creative community through internal and external events.

• Check in on US Design Pool FTC – via Teams.

Pentland Brands Alumni Network:

• Support the ongoing management and development of the Pentland Brands Alumni Network, using the Enterprise Alumni platform to maintain accurate records, appropriate governance and meaningful engagement.

• Plan and deliver alumni communications and engagement activity such as events, talks, mentoring opportunities and knowledge sharing.

• Work in partnership with HR and Recruitment teams to align early career and creative talent activity with wider hiring and workforce planning approaches.

• Build a strong sense of creative community through internal and external events.

• Maintain clear, accurate administration and reporting across creative talent programmes, alumni activity and Design Pool projects.

What you'll need to thrive:

• Experience managing early career, creative talent or similar development programmes- focus on creative and soft skill set.

• Experience managing or supporting alumni, community or professional networks, including engagement activity, communications or platform based interaction

• Proven people management experience with the ability to support and motivate small teams

• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple programmes and stakeholders

• Confident relationship builder able to work effectively across brands and external partners

• Clear and engaging communication skills across written and in person formats

• Comfortable working with systems and platforms to manage data, communications and reporting

• Focused mindset with a collaborative and inclusive approach to nurture young people at the start of their careers ensuring they feel supported to thrive and succeed in their time in Design Pool.

Alongside a competitive salary and discretionary bonus, we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your wellbeing, flexibility, and life outside work. This includes generous holiday allowance with the option to buy more, hybrid and flexible working, enhanced family leave, pension and financial protection, wellbeing support, travel schemes, and generous discounts across Pentland Brands and selected retail partners. You can find full details of our benefits and perks on our UK Benefits page.

The Interview Process

We want our interview process to feel clear, straightforward, and supportive. If your experience and expectations look like a strong match for the role, here’s what you can expect next:

1. Talent Team Intro Call - A 30-minute video call with our Talent Team to get to know each other, talk through the role and your experience, and answer any questions you have.

2. Experience Interview - A more in-depth interview (usually online) with the hiring manager to explore your skills, experience and approach, and how these align with the role, our principles, and our ways of working.

3. Final Interview - A final in-person interview at our office, focused on deeper discussion and practical application, giving you the chance to meet more of the team and see Pentland Brands in action.