Head of Design

The Company

Our client creates sustainable fashion that honours and empowers the diverse female form. They craft timeless designs with intention and care, using eco-friendly materials and ethical production practices. Their philosophy, "Buy Less, Choose Well, Make it Last," underpins their slow fashion approach.

Our client is a consciously crafted clothing brand with roots in Torquay, Australia, and a heart in Bali, where each piece is ethically made. Rooted in sustainability, ethical production, and mindful living, they create timeless, versatile clothing designed for movement and everyday wear. Their collections embrace natural fibres, earthy tones, and effortless silhouettes that honour both the wearer and the world around them.

At our client, their foundation is Connection—to their community, to the Earth, and to the self. They are a place where women feel inspired, seen, and understood, and can reconnect with nature and their own right to be soft and live fully. Every decision they make is rooted in deep intention.

The Role

With a growing global ecommerce presence and retail footprint in Bali, our client is now strengthening their Product & Creative leadership team. Our client is now seeking an experienced Head of Design to lead the Design Department from a strategic, operational and commercial perspective.

This role is the Head of Department for Design, responsible for the strategic, operational and cross-functional leadership of the Design function. The Head of Design ensures that our client’s collections are not only beautiful and aligned with the brand, but also executable, profitable, timely and scalable. You will lead sourcing and fabric strategy, own merchandising and line planning, manage the critical path, and act as a key bridge between your Design team together with Buying, Supply Chain and Finance.

This role is ideal for someone with a strong design technical background who has evolved into an operational and people leader, and who enjoys working at the intersection of product, supply chain and business strategy.

• Reports to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
• Employment: Full-Time Permanent
• Location: Canggu, Bali, Indonesia

Key Responsibilities

Department Leadership & Strategic Management

• Act as Head of the Design Department, owning its performance, structure and evolution.
• Own departmental budget, resource planning and capacity management.
• Lead, develop and performance-manage the Design team in partnership with HR.
• Play a key role in hiring, onboarding and structuring the future Design organisation.
• Establish clear KPIs and operating rhythms for the department.
• Enable the Creative Lead (Senior Fashion Designer) to operate with maximum creative focus by shielding them from operational bottlenecks.

Sourcing & Fabric Strategy

• Lead the raw material and fabric strategy in close collaboration with the Supply Chain team.
• Secure sustainable fabrics (e.g. Linen, Organic Cotton, Bamboo) aligned with our client’s sustainability commitments and aesthetic.
• Support the Supply Chain in the pricing negotiation, MOQs and lead times ahead of the design phase to protect margins and feasibility.
• Balance sustainability, quality, cost and availability in all sourcing decisions.

Merchandising, Line Planning & Commercial Alignment

• Translate company financial and strategic goals into clear Line Plans (SKU count, category mix, margin targets).
• Provide the Creative team with strong commercial frameworks to ensure collections are viable and scalable.
• Partner closely with Finance, Buying and Sales to ensure product strategy aligns with demand, margin and growth targets.

Critical Path Ownership & Execution Excellence

• Ensure that all milestones are met on time, flagging and resolving risks proactively.
• Act as final operational decision-maker on timelines, feasibility and prioritisation.
• Ensure smooth handover between Design, Development, Production and Supply Chain.

Product Integrity & Technical Authority

• Use your technical design expertise to review fittings, samples and final products.
• Ensure fit, construction and quality meet our client standards before final approval.
• Act as technical authority in conversations with factories, pattern makers and suppliers.
• Safeguard product consistency and craftsmanship across collections.

About You

You are a product and operations leader who understands that great design only becomes powerful when it is executable, profitable and scalable.

• Strategic & Structured: You bring clarity and direction to complex product environments.
• Technically Fluent: You deeply understand garment construction, fit and quality.
• Commercially Minded: You naturally consider margin, lead times and scalability in design decisions.
• Bridge Builder: You thrive in cross-functional environments connecting creative, commercial and operational teams.
• Sustainability-Driven: You are genuinely committed to responsible fashion and ethical production.
• People Leader: You lead with clarity, accountability and emotional intelligence.
• Agile & Resilient: You adapt easily in a fast-growing, evolving brand.

• 7+ years of experience in the Fashion Industry, with at least 2 years in a Design Manager, Head of Design or similar leadership role.
• Proven experience in fabric sourcing.
• Strong technical background in garment construction, pattern making and fittings.
• Demonstrated experience managing product timelines and critical paths.
• Strong commercial acumen.
• Operational mindset with strong Excel and PLM proficiency.
• Excellent cross-functional communication and leadership skills.
• Fluent in English (other languages a plus).

This is a good opportunity to join a purpose-driven brand and play a key role in shaping our client’s next phase of growth. If you are a values-led finance leader with a passion for sustainability and a desire to contribute to a global, conscious brand, our client would love to hear from you.

Why Our Client?

1. Join a warm, thoughtful team committed to conscious creation and mindful growth.
2. Work with a brand that values integrity, artistry, femininity, and emotional connection.
3. Creative autonomy and space to experiment, explore, and shape our social voice.
4. Flexible work environment.
5. Opportunity to play a key role in defining the future of our client’s digital presence and storytelling.

Our client is a values-led company. The ideal candidate will live and breathe these principles:

• Integrity: Being honest in our practices and communications.
• Responsibility: Always prioritising people and planet over profit.
• Empathy: Working as one team and treating all people with respect.
• Innovation: Continuously seeking better ways of working and growing.
• Growth & Wellbeing: Investing in personal development and fostering a healthy work-life balance.

If you are a highly capable professional who is ready to translate your intention into meaningful work within a purpose-led organisation, we encourage you to apply!