Footwear Designer

About the role

As a Footwear Designer, you will be at the creative heart of our product development, responsible for designing and delivering original, customer‑centric products that define the John Lewis aesthetic. This isn't just about making beautiful things – it’s about utilising customer insights to create “distinct, best‑in‑class” products that inspire and delight our customers while driving strategic growth for our categories. You will play a pivotal role in drafting design briefs and bringing products to life, working with a high degree of independence while enjoying the support of a collaborative community of designers, buyers, and suppliers.

• Collaborative Creativity:
  You will work across the wider Design and Buying teams, gaining exposure to the full product lifecycle and learning from some of the best in the industry.
• Agility & Impact:
  Working flexibly across various product categories, you’ll provide vital support where demand is highest, ensuring our most exciting projects meet their deadlines.
• Growth & Potential:
  We are committed to your development. Within this profession, you will have the space to stretch your creative limits and achieve your full potential both personally and professionally.
• Inclusive by Design:
  You’ll be joining a Partnership that celebrates diversity. We strive to be the UK’s most inclusive business, ensuring our products and our people reflect the diverse communities we serve.

At a glance:

• Salary: £33,000 - £51,700.00 per annum based on skill and experience

• Contract type: This is a permanent position

• Hours and location of the role:

  • 35 hours per week
  • Your home location will be our London Pimlico Head Office
  • The Partnership has adopted a hybrid working approach meaning you'll be able to work a mixture between the office and home based upon your personal needs whilst balancing the needs of the business. The team attends the office 3 days a week, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday being the core days, and attend key meetings on more of an ad‑hoc basis.
  • EU and International travel may be required to develop products as appropriate.

• Play a critical role in delivering product design that will form a coherent category assortment aligned to brand and sub‑brand guidelines and in service of our customers. Support the Design Team and studio in fulfilling key tasks across the season.
• Produce commercial and innovative design solutions to briefs. Develop product design handwriting, displaying a breadth of design handwriting to ensure our customer offer is truly unique.
• Assist in the research, preparation and presentation of relevant and appropriate category trends. Demonstrate a good level of research and analytical skills to keep abreast of key customer requirements, market trends and conditions, product trends including technological advancements.
• Ensure the sampling process is efficient for your sub‑category. Produce precise design packs and fulfil delegated seasonal design briefs with commercial and innovative solutions, supported by illustrating, briefing, sourcing key materials and details. Ensure accurate samples are produced and maintain comprehensive records of design projects.
• Work on designated product ranges/projects. Take ownership of design, product development and sampling process, engaging relevant stakeholders throughout, with the support from L6 Designer and L5 Design Manager.
• You will bring proficiency in design software (e.g. Adobe Suite, CAD or Clo3D) and be able to bring designs to life digitally, using technology to sketch and design.
• Where applicable, deliver task management for L9 Design Assistants to achieve and deliver work in line with business outcomes and with the voice of the customer at the heart of decision making.

• Support success driven cross‑department working through effective stakeholder relationships, build and maintain strong supplier relationships.

• Consistently demonstrate a Continuous Improvement mindset.
• Think boldly and see issues and opportunities from all angles and multiple perspectives, even the unprecedented, to draw out meaning and connections and make…