About this role
We have an exciting opportunity to join the M&S Womenswear Design team. Bring your footwear creativity, commercial instinct and eye for detail to M&S as a Junior Designer in Womenswear Shoes. You’ll take ownership of selected categories from initial concept through to fit-approved samples, translating global trends into stylish, customer-relevant footwear. Working closely with Design, Buying, Technology, Merchandising, sourcing teams and suppliers, you’ll help shape cohesive ranges that balance modernity, quality, value and commercial performance.
Please submit a sample of your portfolio as a PDF attachment, rather than a link, as we are unable to access external portfolio links.
Due to high interest, this role may close earlier than advertised. We recommend applying as soon as possible.
What you’ll do
Your key accountabilities will include
- Take ownership of selected footwear categories, designing product from initial concept through to fit-approved samples in line with range strategy, target price points and the critical path.
- Work with the Senior Designer or Design Lead to deliver the global product direction, creating high-quality CADs, design boards, presentations and accurate Tech Packs through PLM.
- Research global retail, catwalk and emerging trends, translating key opportunities into considered, stylish footwear designs for our customer.
- Own the seasonal colour palette and material sourcing process for the department, making choices that support product integrity and the agreed pricing architecture.
- Collaborate with Buying, Technology and Merchandising, sourcing offices and suppliers, using sales and performance insights to refine designs and support timely product delivery.
Who you are
Your skills and experience will include
- Footwear design experience within a premium, retail or manufacturing environment, with a strong understanding of footwear construction, fit and material limitations.
- Strong design and CAD capability, with a high level of proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop; experience using AI design software to create footwear renders is beneficial.
- A commercial and customer-focused approach, with the ability to interpret trends, analyse performance and translate insights into relevant product opportunities.
- Experience creating accurate CADs and Tech Packs and working collaboratively with Design, Buying, Technology and Merchandising teams.
- Strong communication, influencing and relationship-building skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, take ownership and deliver to tight critical-path deadlines.
What’s in it for you?
Working at M&S means being part of something bigger - helping to deliver quality, value and service to millions of customers every day. We’re inclusive, fast-moving and always evolving, with a strong sense of purpose and a focus on doing the right thing.
Here are just a few of the benefits that make working here even more rewarding:
- 20% colleague discount on all M&S products and many third-party brands for you and someone in your household, available once you’ve completed your probation
- Competitive holiday allowance with the option to buy more
- Discretionary bonus schemes linked to your performance and ours
- Strong pension and life assurance to help plan for the future
- Tailored induction and training to support your development from day one
- Exclusive perks and savings through our M&S Choices portal
- Market-leading family policies, including parental, adoption and neonatal leave
- 24/7 wellbeing support, including virtual GP access and mental health services
- One paid volunteer day a year to support a cause that matters to you
Everyone’s welcome
We are ambitious about the future of retail. We are disrupting, innovating and leading the industry into a more conscientious, inspiring digital era. We are transforming how we work together and offering our most exciting opportunities yet. Marks & Spencer strives to be an inclusive organisation, trusted and admired by our colleagues, customers and suppliers. Join us and make change happen.
We are committed to building diverse and representative teams, where everyone can bring their whole selves to work and be at their best. We support each other and work together to win together.
If you feel you'd benefit from any support or reasonable adjustments during any stage of the recruitment process, please don’t hesitate to let us know when completing your application. This information will be picked up by our team, so we can try and put steps in place to help you be at your best through this process.
To stay close to customers, our support teams are in the office three days a week as we believe that skills are developed through collaboration, and that spending time together makes us more creative and connected.
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