Senior Womenswear Designer Full Time

ABOUT THE ROLE

From concept to creation, the Senior Womenswear Designer at Finisterre will lead the entire womenswear design process. Under the guidance of the Head of Design, you will collaborate closely with all Product Team departments to create market-leading, globally focused collections that align seamlessly with the brand vision, meet commercial market demands, and uphold the exceptional quality Finisterre is known for.

You will bring an exceptional eye for style, trend, colour, and fabrication, and will work across the full Finisterre womenswear offering. You will own outerwear, wovens, and jersey across technical, workwear, and lifestyle categories, while also supporting creative direction within specialist areas including knitwear, swim, accessories, print, and brand collaborations.

With an impeccable sense of fit and a strong attention to detail, you will ensure product excellence is delivered throughout the design process, with considered focus on the women’s muse, styling, and overall aesthetic. Working closely with the Senior Design Manager, you will ensure projects are delivered on time, to brief, and to the highest standards.

As a senior member of the design team, you will lead with experience and passion, confidently presenting and communicating product vision and outcomes to the wider business. You will be a strong advocate for Finisterre Women, ensuring the category continues to evolve and maintains its position as an industry leader.

ABOUT FINISTERRE

Born two decades ago from the needs of hardy British surfers, Finisterre creates enduring outdoor wear for an inspired life in and around the ocean. Proudly B Corp certified, we have committed to a deep belief: to make truly exceptional products in a more responsible and transparent way. Whether based at our cliff top headquarters in St. Agnes, Cornwall, or in one of our retail locations across the UK, Finisterre is a truly unique brand and career proposition.

Perched a few hundred meters from the crashing Atlantic, our HQ at St. Agnes’ Wheal Kitty Workshops is at the heart of our brand. Here we stay true to our original design ethos of functionality and sustainability brought to life in an understated style and identity, always remaining committed to product, environment, and people.

As we enter the next exciting stage of global growth, we are on the lookout for talented individuals to join our crew. So, if you are as passionate about the ocean as we are and if you want to be part of a truly authentic, purpose-led brand and you share our vision to create exceptional products in a responsible way, then we would love to hear from you.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design Leadership & Direction: Lead the evolution of Finisterre Womenswear, shaping product design, aesthetic, styling, and overall creative vision. Act as a key bridge between the Head of Design, senior stakeholders, and designers, ensuring clarity, alignment, and creative cohesion across the team.
• Trend, Market & Consumer Insight: Conduct ongoing trend and market research, including shopping trips, competitor analysis, and consumer behaviour insights. Maintain strong awareness of global influences and competition, particularly as Finisterre expands into new markets, using insight to inform forward-thinking and commercially relevant design decisions.
• Concept, Range & Visual Planning: Develop seasonal concepts through mood boards, colour palettes, and sketching (hand and CAD). Own and maintain Visual Range Plans (VRPs) for womenswear categories (excluding knits, graphics, and prints), ensuring accurate colour application ahead of review. The Visual Range Plan must be kept accurate, clearly communicated, and up to date with style names, numbers, and colourways.
• Creative & Commercial Range Analysis: Analyse the womenswear collection both creatively and commercially, using sales performance and market insight to determine what should be retained, evolved, discontinued, or newly introduced. Identify gaps and opportunities within the range.
• Product Lifecycle Ownership: Manage the full product lifecycle from initial concept through to final production, ensuring design integrity, quality, fit, and finish meet Finisterre’s standards while delivering to critical path timelines. You will attend fittings and follow-up on finalization and validation of prototypes through to SMS.
• Technical Delivery & PLM Management: Complete all Technical Packs (TPs) and artworks accurately and on time, ensuring smooth handover within Re-chain PLM. Maintain high standards of detail and clarity to support efficient development and production.
• Design Process & Key Milestones: Prepare and contribute to all key design meetings with c-suite and entire product team. Ensure all documentation, samples, and presentations are prepared to a high standard.
• Sampling & Fabric Development: Collaborate with the materials developer to brief seasonal ranges and new developments within fabric and trims. Own the womenswear colour development process requesting and approving lab-dips and bulk fabrics in line with quality, cost, and performance requirements.
• Innovation & Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate closely with the Product, Merchandising, and Marketing teams, to bring new ideas, materials, and construction techniques to life, balancing creative ambition with commercial and operational realities.
• Supplier & Factory Relationships: Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and factories, supporting innovation, quality standards, and efficient production processes. Participate in research and factory trips when required.
• Mentorship & Team Development: Support and mentor less experienced designers across the wider design function through clear feedback, knowledge-sharing, and leadership by example, contributing to a collaborative and high-performing design culture.

WHAT YOU’LL BRING TO FINISTERRE

• Significant experience as a senior womenswear designer within a multi-channel clothing or lifestyle brand, with responsibility across multiple product categories
• Qualified to degree level in Fashion, Textiles or a related discipline, or equivalent industry experience
• A consummate womenswear design professional with exceptional eye for style, colour, fabrication, and detail, balanced by strong commercial awareness
• Proven track record of delivering successful womenswear collections from concept through to production, meeting both creative vision and commercial objectives
• Strong technical knowledge of garment construction, fit, fabrication, and finishing, with confidence attending and leading fittings
• Experience working collaboratively with product development, buying, merchandising and marketing teams to deliver against critical path and KPIs
• Demonstrated ability to analyse range performance, identify opportunities, and evolve product assortments using insight and data
• Proven ability to mentor, guide and support junior designers, contributing positively to a collaborative and high-performing design culture
• Confidence presenting ideas, concepts and product ranges clearly and persuasively to senior stakeholders
• Passion, energy and aspiration in line with Finisterre values, products, brand and customers
• Excellent self-awareness, communication and interpersonal skills
• Resourceful, creative, resilient and entirely flexible: thrives on positive change and continuous improvement
• 3D Design skills are beneficial

Important: The successful candidate must, by the start of their employment, have permission to work in the UK. Please note that Finisterre are not licensed to sponsor overseas workers.

WHAT YOU’LL RECEIVE FROM FINISTERRE

We are offering a full time, permanent contract, based at our Headquarters at Wheal Kitty, St Agnes, Cornwall. We’ll invest in you with a competitive salary depending on your skills and experience.

But it’s not just a job. At Finisterre, we provide an opportunity to grow and develop yourself within at a fast-paced, growing B Corp certified brand with a great culture and an exciting purpose. You’ll get the chance to collaborate with a diverse community of people with a shared mission. In return, we take good care of you through a range of initiatives and rewards, including:

• 25 days holiday per year, plus up to 8 UK bank holidays (pro rata for pat time employees)
• Additional holidays for length of service
• Your birthday day off
• Up to 3 days of paid volunteering – we will support you in giving back to communities and causes
• A discretionary bonus scheme, based on company performance
• A pension scheme with Nest
• 60% product discount for personal and gift use
• 30% Friends and Family product discount
• Enhanced Family Leave policies to support you in growing your family
• Life assurance with access to an online wellbeing platform which includes, an employee assistance program, virtual GP appointments, digital gym, and a range of perks
• Access to a range of wellbeing resources, including counselling services, cycle to work, eye tests, and wellbeing activities
• Regular company and team social events
• Various discounts from our B Corp community
• Access our online Learning Library and company-wide training sessions delivered by both internal and external trainers to support you in your ongoing development.
• An hour to spend in or by the sea every Tuesday followed by Sea Tuesday companywide meeting
• And so much more!

Closing date: We’ll be interviewing as we go along, so we’d encourage you to submit your application at the earliest opportunity, as the role may close earlier than advertised.