Design Manager

Location: Hengoed (Hybrid Working: 3 days office-based, 2 days from home) Salary: Negotiable

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and creative Design Manager to join a well-established and growing business. This role is ideal for a commercially minded design professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys building strong client relationships while leading innovative product development projects.

The Role

Reporting to the Senior Design Manager, you will take the creative lead on a portfolio of customer accounts, managing the design process from initial concept and trend presentations through to final production. Working collaboratively with customers and internal teams, you will ensure the delivery of high-quality products that meet both customer expectations and commercial objectives.

You will play a key role in identifying trends, developing creative concepts, guiding designers, and driving new product development across multiple product categories.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the creative direction of allocated customer accounts.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with customers and internal stakeholders.
• Interpret customer briefs, market trends and commercial objectives into compelling product ranges.
• Develop trend presentations, themes, colour palettes and design concepts.
• Brief and support internal designers and external creative partners where required.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting tight deadlines.
• Collaborate closely with commercial, category planning, product development and production teams.
• Ensure designs are commercially viable and suitable for manufacture.
• Maintain high standards of quality and accuracy throughout the product development process.
• Support wider creative projects and provide cover across accounts when required.
• Attend customer meetings, industry events and occasional business travel as needed.

About You

The successful candidate will be:

• An experienced design professional with strong creative and commercial awareness.
• Highly organised with excellent project management and time management skills.
• A confident communicator who can build relationships at all levels.
• Able to work effectively under pressure and manage multiple priorities.
• Analytical, proactive and solutions-focused.
• Passionate about design, trends and continuous professional development.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including PowerPoint and Excel.
• Experience within retail or consumer products would be desirable along with packaging, stationery, giftware, home décor or related product categories.
• Product development and project management experience preferred

What's on Offer?

• Hybrid working (3 days in the office, 2 days from home)
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Company pension scheme
• Training and development opportunities
• Annual performance reviews
• Long service awards
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Childcare vouchers
• Opportunity to join a collaborative and creative team environment

Interested? Apply online today or contact Jo Aldred at Reed Marketing & Creative for more information