Pentland Brands
Head of Graphics, Materials and Colour (Speedo)
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About Us
We’re Pentland Brands: a global family business behind some of the world’s most iconic active and lifestyle brands. We bring integrity, energy and ambition to our work, setting high standards and striving to deliver great outcomes without ego.
About Speedo
Design swimwear built for movement, confidence and performance in the water
At Speedo, product has to do more than look good. It has to move with the swimmer, feel comfortable in the water and support performance, confidence and freedom of movement, whether someone is training, competing, learning or simply enjoying the swim.
Role Overview
As Head of Graphics, Materials & Colour at Speedo, you will define and lead the global visual and material expression of the brand across performance swim and lifestyle product.
You will own:
- Global colour strategy and seasonal palettes
- Graphic language, print direction and placement execution
- Material aesthetic expression in partnership with innovation and technical teams
This role ensures that Speedo’s products are visually distinctive, technically credible and commercially relevant, balancing creative ambition with performance functionality.
Key Responsibilities
Colour Strategy & Direction
- Lead the development of seasonal colour architecture aligned to Speedo’s brand DNA and consumer insight
- Translate macro trends into commercially viable, performance-ready colour stories
- Oversee colour approvals, lab dips and execution standards globally
- Establish colour governance to ensure global consistency with regional nuance
Graphics & Print Leadership
- Define and evolve Speedo’s global graphic language across all categories
- Lead seasonal print concepts, placement graphics, repeat patterns and brand graphics
- Ensure graphics enhance product performance while strengthening brand storytelling
- Drive innovation in print techniques, finishes and applications
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Materials Aesthetic & Innovation Partnership
- Partner with Materials, Innovation and Technical teams to influence fabric direction and visual/material expression
- Understand and leverage performance material constraints (chlorine resistance, stretch recovery, sublimation behaviour, durability, etc.)
- Align material aesthetics with sustainability commitments and performance standards
- Support testing and validation of colour and print performance (e.g. colour fastness, durability, print clarity)
Cross-Functional Leadership
- Work closely with Design, Product Development, Merchandising and Brand teams to embed cohesive colour and graphic narratives
- Collaborate with sourcing and supplier partners to ensure excellence in execution
- Present seasonal direction and strategy to senior stakeholders
Team Leadership & Capability Building
- Lead, mentor and develop a high-performing Graphics, Materials & Colour team
- Foster experimentation, innovation and commercial awareness
- Build long-term creative capability within Speedo’s global design function
What You’ll Bring
- Significant experience (8–12+ years) in graphics, colour and materials leadership within performance sport, swimwear or technical apparel
- Deep understanding of textile behaviour, printing methods, dye processes and material innovation
- Strong strategic capability in building seasonal colour and graphic direction at global scale
- Proven ability to balance creative vision with technical and commercial realities
- Experience operating in a matrix, cross-functional global organisation
- Exceptional communication and stakeholder influence skills
- Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite; experience with 3D design tools (e.g. CLO) and PLM systems advantageous
- A strong eye for detail combined with strategic thinking
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Why Speedo?
Speedo is one of the world’s most iconic swimwear brands, built on a heritage of innovation, performance and a lifelong love of swimming.
From elite competition to everyday fitness, leisure and learning, Speedo creates product for every type of swimmer. It is a brand trusted in the water because it understands what matters: fit, movement, comfort, durability, confidence and performance.
Joining Speedo means becoming part of a team that cares deeply about helping people feel at home in the water, whether they are chasing a personal best, building confidence, training regularly or discovering the joy of swimming for the first time.
Perks & Benefits
We offer a competitive salary, discretionary bonus, hybrid working, flexible start and finish times, generous holiday allowance, product discounts, sample sales, enhanced family-friendly policies, healthcare support, gym and fitness discounts, cycle to work scheme and electric car scheme.
You can find full details of our benefits and perks on our UK Benefits page.
The Interview Process
We want our interview process to feel clear, straightforward, and supportive. If your experience and expectations look like a strong match for the role, here’s what you can expect next:
- Talent Team Intro Call - A 30-minute video call with our Talent Team to get to know each other, talk through the role and your experience, and answer any questions you have.
- Experience Interview - A more in-depth interview (usually online) with the hiring manager to explore your skills, experience and approach, and how these align with the role, our principles, and our ways of working.
- Final Interview - A final in-person interview at our office, focused on deeper discussion and practical application, giving you the chance to meet more of the team and see Pentland Brands in action.
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