Head of Design

Company Description

Lead and shape our creative vision. Design for millions of Kiwis.

Starting with a single red ‘shed’ over 40 years ago, today The Warehouse Group has continued to evolve and is now home to some of Aotearoa’s most iconic brands. With rich history and significant presence in our Kiwi community, what remains clear is our laser-focus on our customers, markets and purpose to “Help Kiwis live better everyday” while looking to excite, inspire, bring joy and deliver value through our products and offering.

We’re on the hunt for our Head of Design for The Warehouse

Job Description

As our Head of Design, you’ll be responsible for defining and delivering the creative vision, design strategy and product aesthetic for our private label ranges. Ultimately ensuring it resonates with our customers, by defining our design identity to set us apart in market, and deliver innovative, on-trend and commercially successful private label ranges. These ranges span categories including apparel, home, and general merchandise.

Leading our talented in-house design function, you will collaborate across our wider Merchandise and Marketing teams to drive innovation across the entire product lifecycle - from creative concept to design excellence to shelf. Your leadership will ensure design excellence and innovation is embedded in everything we do and shape the creative culture for the business.

The role in a snapshot:

- Setting the creative vision, design direction, and product aesthetic for all private label categories
- Developing design strategies aligned to business goals, customer needs, and emerging market trends
- Fostering a culture of creativity & innovation, including the adoption of AI, 3D design, and digital sampling
- Championing sustainable and ethical design practices
- Collaborating cross-functionally to deliver cohesive, customer-focused product assortments
- Leading, inspiring, and mentoring a high-performing multi-category design team
- Driving design-to-cost solutions that balance trend, innovation, and commercial success

Qualifications

You’re a creative leader with a strong background in design and a deep understanding of product development, market trends, and customer needs. You have extensive experience working with retail / apparel brands and a track record of delivering commercial and impactful creative direction & strategy that produces results. Your holistic approach, coupled with your ability to influence stakeholders and gain credibility, will be key to your success. Collaborative and strategic, you excel at communicating a future vision and guide & influence effective implementation.

What You’ll Bring:

- Proven experience in a Head of Design or Design Director role in a fast-paced, customer-focused retail environment
- Deep expertise across multi-category design - apparel essential, wider home, and/or general merchandise a bonus
- A strong design portfolio that demonstrates innovative thinking, trend leadership, and commercial impact
- Experience leading large design teams and building a high-performance creative culture
- Confidence working cross-functionally and influencing at executive level
- Future-forward thinking, with a passion for new design technologies and methodologies
- A deep understanding of the customer and a relentless drive to exceed expectations

Additional Information

Come work with us as we aim to “Help Kiwis live better everyday”.

We are intentional about finding the right people to allow us to work best as a team and truly make a difference for the business and our customers. What we can promise in return is work that will challenge & excite, a collaborate & creative environment, working with an iconic NZ brand and passionate like-minded people.

Our teams balance hybrid working, up to 2 days from home. Conveniently located in Northcote, we offer free car parking on-site, EV charging on top of great discounts across brands, 26 weeks paid parental leave for permanent team members, birthday leave, wellbeing support and excellent opportunities within the business

The scope of this role is rare and unique. If you think your background might lend itself well to success here, then get in touch and we look forward to talking