Urban Outfitters Womenswear Design Manager

Urban Outfitters started out as a single boutique in 1970s Philadelphia with creativity and uniqueness at its core. 50 years on, and over 60 stores across Europe later, we’ve become a destination for emerging design, unexpected styling, One-Of-A-Kind vintage and homeware that makes you want to hit the share button.  

We speak to a social community of over 10 million forward-thinking individuals, bringing together a nostalgia for the past with an enthusiasm to shape the future. The UO community are culturally aware, they shape the music scene, they live a digitally native life and they wear style trends before anyone else. At our core, we empower our customers and staff to express themselves, unapologetically, living life in a way that's truly authentic to them. 

We are always excited to bring new talent into the room, especially if you share our values: 

Progressive — we move with the mood 
Creative — we champion limitless minds 
Inclusive — we open our platforms to all communities 
Responsible — we work to reduce our impact on the environment 
Compassionate — we care for each other beyond the 9 to 5 

Sound like you, why not join us? 

As the Womenswear Design Manager, you will be designing and executing on-trend, creative collections that embody the UO brand’s aesthetic. You will lead the womenswear design team in bringing fresh, innovative ideas to life while aligning closely with the brand’s style direction, customer base, and market trends. In collaboration with cross-functional teams, including merchandising, production, and marketing, you will ensure each collection is commercially viable, high-quality, and on-brand.

You will oversee the full design process—from initial concept through to production—driving the design of seasonal collections and ensuring that Urban Outfitters remains a leader in contemporary, fashion-forward women’s apparel. Your ability to balance creative vision with business strategy will be key to shaping collections that resonate with our customers and drive sales.

• Leading and motivating a team of varying levels, across multiples divisions/product areas. Monitoring progress and development by giving design and strategic direction. Overseeing designs of garments for all phases and seasons, giving critical analysis to senior, established, and junior designers. Responsible for annual appraisal’s and weekly 1:1’s of reporting team members
• Working closely with SHOD and Senior members of the team to create seasonal concepts, colour palettes, print direction and key items for core sensibilities and proprietary brands. These concepts must then be translated into departmental specific items and effectively portrayed to SLT, buying & planning alike.
• Responsible for successful development of innovative, yet commercial product, that meets business requirements across the UK and EU, for stores and online. Producing product which exceeds the customers’ expectations of the brand, whilst displaying an awareness of sustainability, price architecture, margins & selling prices.
• Working with the buying and planning teams to range build and produce collections that reflect core sensibilities and emerging messages, whilst ensuring commerciality remains. An understanding of option count and ranging is essential.
• Whilst Urban Outfitters prides itself on its individuality and self-led trend direction, a level of knowledge and understanding of ‘high’ fashion trends, ‘underground street styles’ and wider ‘cultural movements’, must be shown and reported.
• Actively seeks weekly trade figures & utilizes knowledge to impact design decisions for UK & EU alike.
• Deputising where needed, by supporting SHOD & SLT with strategic and ‘wider-business’ decisions within the team e.g. structure, logistics, performance, budgets.
• Displaying conscious awareness of meeting dynamics and manage expectations of those present.

• Portfolio should be directional and aspirational whilst demonstrating an ability to interpret this ‘blue-sky’ thinking into a well-rounded, commercial range, relevant to the current market-place
• Precision and accuracy must be shown from concept stage through to specs and final designs.
• Excellent commercial acumen with the ability to identify new opportunities with exceptional communication and presentation skills at all levels
• Hand-drawing is a non-negotiable skill that must be demonstrated by the candidate.
• Proficient CAD – Illustrator/Photoshop skills.
• Need to be experienced working with a global supply base and be willing/open to global travel
• A confident communicator; the candidate must demonstrate exceptional organisational skills in order to manage their own workload and time-pressures effectively, along with the workload of others
• Ability to influence key stakeholders including SLT, delivering messages clearly and with credibility
• Understanding of Urban Outfitters as a trend maker and leader, with the know how to take the brand to the next level.
• Ability to perform under pressure.
• Excellent sourcing knowledge and experience working with global supply base.
• Ability to inspire others through your own actions and provide mentoring and training where needed.

• Hybrid Working
• Flexible start and finish times
• Employees Assistance program to support with mental, physical and financial health
• Fully equipped free gym and on-site wellness room in Brick Lane and 50% discount of external gym memberships
• Private Medical Insurance
• Up to 40% off at all URBN Brands
• One paid day to either volunteer or fundraise for a charity of your choice
• Cycle to work scheme, season ticket loan
• We offer structured support within the business alongside continued learning and development

#UrbanEU #LI-MT1

URBN is an Equal Opportunities Employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We provide equal employment opportunities regardless of age, sexual orientation, sex, gender reassignment, pregnancy, marital status, religion, race, or disability. We base all our employment decisions on merit, job requirements and business needs.