Global vp of design

The world's leading swimwear brand, Speedo is passionate about life in and around the water. The brand's heritage of innovation derives from its leadership in competitive swimming, where more Olympic Gold Medals have been won in Speedo than any other brand. Unmatched in performance, fit and feel, we are also America’s #1 goggle brand. From the first splash, to every stroke, the genuine love and excitement we have working with the water is what creates exciting and meaningful relationships. Speedo is not where we work, but is who we are. It’s watching a baby in the pool for the first time or our athletes make history. What we do is sacred to us and our connection to the rest of water lovers around the world. Driven by the challenge, not the glory. At Speedo, it is never enough to be good at what you do; you have to love what you do. Speedo is a part of the Pentland Brands Limited Family. We are Pentland Brands, a global family business bringing some of the most loved active and footwear brands to millions of people around the world. We own Speedo, Berghaus, Canterbury of New Zealand, Endura, Mitre, ellesse, Red or Dead and we’re the UK licensee for Kickers and have a joint venture partnership for Lacoste footwear. Our products are available in over 190 countries and are sold either directly by Group companies or are represented by licensees and distributors. All our brands have their own unique identities and every one of them is powered by Pentland. We have more than 1,200 employees worldwide and we’re always on the lookout for talented, enthusiastic people to help shape our future. We celebrate differences and give everyone the freedom to innovate and develop, be it through creative working environments or learning opportunities. Our brands are there in the moments that matter - being there for more people, in more of those moments, drives everything we do. At Pentland, we’re guided by four principles, we use these to make sure we’re not only doing a great job, but we’re doing it in the right way: Success is a team game With clarity and courage Better as standard We believe in building brands for the world to love, generation after generation. Your potential is our potential and together we can build and grow brands that last. Overview This is not just a design role. As VP Design, you will be the creative heartbeat of Speedo — shaping the global design vision, aesthetic, and expression across all categories and global markets. This is a strategic, consumer-centric, and leadership-heavy position requiring creative brilliance, swimwear expertise, and the confidence to navigate a complex matrix organization — all while keeping Speedo ahead of the curve in innovation, culture, and commerciality. Sitting on the Brand Leadership Team, you’ll craft a distinct design language that is boldly Speedo: performance-rooted, future-focused, and emotionally resonant with consumers around the world. This role leads a multidisciplinary design team while collaborating closely with marketing, merchandise, and product teams. You will champion the integration of embedded design thinking, leverage AI-powered creative tools, and harness digital design excellence. Key Responsibilities Define and lead Speedo’s global creative vision and design DNA, ensuring relevance, differentiation and consistency across all consumer segments and product categories resulting in a visual identity of the brand across markets. Champion innovation by pushing creative and technical boundaries through partnerships with internal innovation teams to shape next‑gen swimwear, racing, and lifestyle collections. Deliver world‑class swimwear design with deep understanding of hydrodynamics, fit, materials and athlete insight. Create and own seasonal design direction from trend forecasting, concept development and storytelling, to execution across product ranges. Strategically influence and partner with marketing, product, comms, and digital teams to align brand expression with business goals. Inspire, mentor, and manage a high‑performing, multi‑disciplinary team of designers, fostering a culture founded in growth mindset, collaboration, excellence, and inclusion. Embed design into the heart of the business to ensure consistency and creative integrity from product inception to consumer marketplace. Drive the implementation and adoption of generative AI tools and digital design systems to accelerate creativity, personalization, and scalability. Be a global ambassador for the brand, leading design direction and future vision to service and maintain key customers, markets and retail partners. Navigate, establish norms, and influence within a complex, matrixed global structure, balancing agility with strategic intent. Drive a culture of growth mindset, openness and continuous improvement across your teams and peers. Qualifications & Experience Proven experience in leading global design for a premium consumer brand, ideally in swimwear, sport, or performance fashion. Outstanding creative credentials, with an ability to translate cultural insight and technical innovation into iconic product. A track record of delivering both visionary design leadership and commercial impact. A global mindset with a deep understanding of global consumer segmentation, regional differences, and how to build global brands with local nuance. Strong experience operating in matrix organizations, with the ability to align and influence across geographies and functions. An entrepreneurial, agile, and solution‑oriented mindset; thriving in a dynamic, fast‑moving environment with a bias toward curiosity and exploration of emerging technologies. A natural coach and mentor; energizes and empowers others to do the best work of their lives. Passion for water, movement, and designing with purpose. 10+ years of experience in brand design, marketing design, or creative leadership roles with global exposure. Proven ability to influence lead dimensional design teams, while influencing cross‑functionally. Preferred experience with AI design tools (generative design, automation platforms) Strong conceptual thinker with an eye for detail, brand nuance, and storytelling through product Comfortable navigating complex, global, matrix organizations and an ability to negotiate ambiguity within a fast‑paced, high‑growth environment. Base pay is a portion of our total compensation package and determined within a range that allows growth and development within your role. Your base pay will be determined based on experience, skills and qualifications. Pentland Brands and Speedo are equal opportunity employers and considers all applicants for employment on the basis of their individual capabilities and qualifications, consistent with applicable law and without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, creed, national origin, citizenship status, sexual orientation, genetic information, physical or mental disability, military status or any other characteristic protected under federal, state or local law. In addition to complying with all applicable laws, we have a strong corporate commitment to inclusion, diversity and to ensuring that all current and future associates are compensated solely on job‑related factors such as skill, ability, educational background, work quality, experience and potential. To achieve these goals, applicants are asked not to disclose salary history information. #J-18808-Ljbffr