Lead Apparel Designer - 12 month parental leave contract
Auckland, Auckland, nz
In-Store
Contract
Posted:
April 21, 2026
Company Description
At The Warehouse Group (TWG), we’re passionate about making a difference for our customers and communities, and proudly recognise the role that we play throughout New Zealand. With our customers top of mind and focused on delivering inspiring and quality products, unparalleled customer experience, in a retail world that is dynamic and ever-changing!
This is an opportunity to influence apparel design at our retail scale and we’re looking for a Lead Apparel Designer to join us on a 12 month parental leave contract until June 2027.
Job Description
This is a pivotal role where design direction meets leadership to create business impact. As Lead Apparel Designer (reporting to our Head of Design), your role will be two-fold - you’ll be key in connecting across our Buying, Sourcing, Planning, Quality and Marketing teams to help shape creative of our owned-brand apparel ranges and lead the apparel design portfolio, bringing direction, influence and guidance to the team of apparel designers (circa 6 – 8 direct reports). A snapshot of the role will see you responsible for:
- Creative Direction & Range Strategy - Develop and drive design direction and range planning (in collab with our Buyers) aligned with brand strategy and customer insights
- Lead, inspire, and mentor the apparel design team
- Design development - Hands on design, overseeing apparel development from concept to fit
- Deliver trend, colour, fabric, and market insights to influence seasonal direction
- Oversee the full design process, ensuring timelines and critical paths are met and designs reflect our commercial strategy and values
- Innovation & Trend Research – keeping ahead of trends, technologies and competitor landscape
Qualifications
We’re looking for:
- Proven Senior / Lead Design experience, ideally within big box retailer or mass-market brands.
- Work with an energised team - experience guiding and mentoring a team of designers preferred!
- Strong retail apparel design experience
- Garment construction, costing and manufacturing knowledge
- Proficiency with Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, PLM systems, and CAD tools.
- Strong collaboration & communication skills working cross-functionally across teams
- Ability to manage multiple deadlines and prioritise effectively.
Additional Information
Come work with us as we look to build exceptional retail brands that customers love and our teams take pride in!
If you’re ready to lead with creativity, think commercially, and make an impact at scale, we’d love to hear from you! What we can promise in return is work that will challenge & excite, working with passionate like-minded people.
We offer a range of benefits that work for you and your career which include:
- Team member discounts across our brands (The Warehouse, Warehouse Stationery and Noel Leeming).
- Paid birthday day off (for permanent team members)
- Free parking, EV charging, onsite gym and café at our Northcote Store Support Office
- Embracing hybrid flexibility - up to 2 days working from home
- 26 weeks paid parental leave (for permanent team members)
- A range of wellbeing support and development opportunities
Excited by the opportunity? Apply today – please include a sample of your work/portfolio.
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