UKC

Equip Outdoor Technologies Ltd specialise in the design and marketing of technical outdoor equipment. Our experienced and enthusiastic team develop innovative designs, manufactured to the highest standard and brought to market throughout the world.

Due to continued growth, we are now looking for a Senior Designer. The successful candidate will design Rab® clothing, have an enthusiastic and team-orientated approach, a love of great gear and bring a wealth of experience to the role. This is a fantastic opportunity to work for a successful company that’s really going places.
Reporting to the Head of Design you will be responsible for the following:

Key responsibilities:

• To be a key part of the Apparel team in designing innovative and commercial products
• To be involved in the full design process, from creating initial design concepts in a range planning context, through prototyping to salesman samples and review
• To conduct targeted research into market and usage via media, trade shows, retail visits, wear and athlete liaison - and share this with the team
• To use their extensive and detailed knowledge of performance fabrics and technologies to contribute to materials innovation and selection
• Produce product specifications in the detail required to realise the garment, working closely with the Technical department
• Liaise with and visit factories overseas to ensure accuracy of sampling, commerciality, best quality and fitness for purpose

Competencies:

• Excellent creative flair, commercial acumen and sound judgement
• Versatility to work on a broad range of technical and general product
• A passion for the outdoors and a wide knowledge of outdoor clothing and equipment
• Detailed knowledge of fit requirements and garment construction
• Sophisticated skills in colour and fabric selection
• Extensive knowledge and experience of performance fabrics and technologies
• Ability to prioritise and meet multiple deadlines
• Ability to work reliably, in detail and accurately under pressure
• Experience using Excel, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, etc.
• Personal qualities: team orientated, highly enthusiastic, organised, positive



Experience & Qualifications:

• Must be able to demonstrate deep involvement in the performance outdoor market and have several years’ experience in a similar position with a relevant brand
• Must have previous experience of liaising with and visiting factories in Asia
• Ideally should be familiar with the different design requirements of international markets
• A relevant Design qualification would be preferable, but not essential

Applicants should apply by sending a CV and covering letter, clearly stating your current salary and salary expectations to Donna Evans, HR Manager. Email donna.evans@equipuk.com or post to:

Donna Evans
HR Manager
Equip Outdoor Technologies
Wimsey Way
Somercotes
DE55 4LS

The closing date for applications is Friday 21st March 2014.

In reply to EquipUK:

Question: I've never understood why employers ask for a prospective employee's current salary. I don't see what relevance it has to a position being offered so could you please explain why you feel you have to ask this?

In reply to Fraser:

Isn't it so they can pay you less as your expectations may be lower than theirs.

In reply to Fraser:


Really ? - never understood ?

Apart from anything else if the current salary / expectations is above their maximum an interview without that information is likely to be a waste of everyone's time.

In reply to shark:

Listing expectations alone would resolve this, no?

In reply to shark:

Yes, really. As purplemonkeyelephant states, asking for salary expectations would suffice. Current salary is totally irrelevant IMO.

And no, I wasn't thinking of applying!

In reply to Fraser:

Expectations alone is inviting unrealism. Actual salary is how much the current employer is actually paying for the job being done. Along with the other facts on a CV it all helps to build up a picture to help selection.

In reply to shark:


Yes, but you're not applying for your current job which pays you a current salary, you're applying for the one being advertised.



Agreed.

In reply to Fraser:


The information helps position where the candidate is currently. This might throw up anomalies such as seemingly underpaid for responsibilities or overpaid for responsibilities and warrant further investigation as to why at interview. It may be that the hirer isn't up to speed on the market rate for a particular post so knowing the salaries of applicants will make them aware of the range for those types of roles. With all the fluff, half truths and selective info on most CVs the hard fact of current salary is one area where a candidate can't wriggle away from and positions their current value to their current employer.

In reply to shark:


Well call me old fashioned, but they damned well should be.




Assuming they give that information. It's a good while ago now, but I was asked my then current salary when I was interviewed for my current job. I declined to give them it and told the interviewer why, which he respected, (or at least accepted), and subsequently offered me the job.

The significance of providing this information in your industry may of course differ.

Putting the shoe on the other foot: if an interviewee asked you, their potential employer, what your current salary was (so they could perhaps gauge how profitable the company was and therefore what salary they could ask for) would you tell them?

In reply to Fraser:



They must have been desperate

In reply to Fraser:


Love it

In reply to shark:

Disappointing response Simon, I generally expect better from you. But perhaps you're right.

In reply to Fraser:
Yes sorry not warranted. Most employers in the sectors/jobs I've dealt in would take a candidate witholding current salary information as being precious and difficult or passive/aggressive or is hiding something. Assuming the candidate started with that employer the earnings info would then be known to the employer from the P60 so its not like it would stay a secret. Having been in the recruitment industry for over 25 years I cant think of a single candidate who has held that info back on request so anyone who did would come across as an extreme oddball compared to the thousands who hadn't. But if you have a valuable and rare skill that's needed then you call the shots and it outweighs how you might be regarded.

In reply to shark:

No worries, fair dos. I've never gone through an agency before so I appreciate that might well be a different set of processes or requirements. I suppose through by the time the new employer got the P60, the deal would have been struck, so probably too late to re-adjust based on the correct former salary figure!

Sadly, my skill set isn't particularly valuable or rare!