Vacancies
Senior Designer-Decorative Hardgoods 12 Months FTC

Senior Designer-Decorative Hardgoods 12 Months FTC

Posted:

16 Mar 2026

Hybrid (Leicester)

Design

Fixed Term Contract

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Overview

Help us create the joy of truly feeling at home. Now and for the generations to come.

We are the UK’s leading homewares retailer – ambitious about our brand, about being a good company and about sustainable growth.

If you aspire to become part of a talented and professional product design team who are central to the creative direction of our business, then keep reading.

We are a highly collaborative group of designers, dedicated to creating exceptional products that seamlessly coordinate within the home. Our mission is to provide direction for a wide and varied range of brands, including Dorma, Fogarty, The Edited Life, Churchgate, Elements, and our parent brand, Dunelm.

We’re looking for a talented and passionate Senior Hardgoods Designer to join our Home Accessories and Dine team. If you have experience designing hardgoods in homeware, kitchen or seasonal categories, and you’re excited by the idea of creating thoughtful, contemporary products for real homes, this could be a brilliant next step for you.

This is a role where creativity meets craft. You’ll help set and follow the product direction for your category, work closely with your design teammates to build cohesive ranges, and explore global and market trends to spark fresh ideas. From early concepts to finished product briefs, you’ll play a key part in shaping ranges that feel inspiring, modern and genuinely useful for our customers.

You’ll also collaborate closely with our buying and merchandising teams to bring our product vision to life, keeping everything running smoothly along the critical path and making sure the process feels organised and clear for everyone involved.

We’d love you to have a solid understanding of 3D design and materials — things like ceramics, glass, wood, metal and plastics — along with good knowledge of manufacturing techniques. An interest in quality, sustainable approaches, and circular design is a big plus.

A strong portfolio of contemporary work is important too, along with confident use of the design software you’ll need to create design packs, detailed briefs and CAD artwork.

D&I statement

Dunelm is committed to becoming an inclusive business that is representative of our customers and locations. We recognise the value in diversity and welcome applications from all candidates regardless of age, race, religion, disability, gender or sexual identity, socio-economic background or education. We are committed to making Dunelm a place where everyone can enjoy a successful career and have systems in place to support all our colleagues. We are seeking applications from candidates who share our values and celebrate diversity in all its forms.

Our commitment to you

Accessibility allows everyone to have an equitable chance when applying and showing off their potential, which helps us create a more inclusive and diverse team that brings fresh ideas and perspectives.

Should you need it, we have an accessibility tool available in the top menu to support you when you’re completing your application. If you require any other reasonable adjustments during the application and assessment process, reach out to your recruitment partner.

Work your way

We want our colleagues to feel at home wherever they work, so that they are comfortable and can be their best selves. In addition, we want everyone to feel connected to the business, our strategy and the teams they work with.

Where hybrid working is applicable, colleagues need to strike the right balance to fulfil both of these important factors. You will find the right mix of being at home, in the office & out in the business, bearing in mind business needs, job role and level of responsibility.

Wellbeing is more than just a buzzword here

From our Wellbeing Buddies and Mental Health First Aid training to our progressive parental leave, menopause policies and Colleague Support Fund, we're committed to supporting our colleagues in every area – and at every stage – of their lives. Through our partnership with the Retail Trust, everyone at Dunelm has free access to a 24/7 Virtual GP, as well as therapy and counselling, plus information, guidance and advice in all areas of financial, emotional and physical wellbeing.

Dazzling design

At Dunelm, we love every aspect of the design process. We're continually researching new developments in packaging, materials and production methods, tapping into new data insights and keeping track of changing lifestyle trends. We're hugely collaborative in the way we work. Together, the teams here have a direct impact on our success, creating amazing products that drive sales and delight our customers, as well as providing direction for our wide and varied range of brands.

Where you’ll
be working

Here is where you'll be based, whether that's an office, or store or one of our sites.

Watermead Business Park, Pontylue Way, Leicester, le7 1ad

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Keep on growing

We want you to get as much out of working with us as possible. That's why we'll do everything we can to engage you in the process of learning, and encourage you to explore new opportunities around your particular skills and interests. For you, this includes:

Housewarming & Settling In where you can find out more about the wider business, our culture, behaviours, networks and wellbeing support

Thrive, our learning and skills platform which gives you a blended, bite-sized, social learning experience with learning relevant to your role

Our Enterprise Leadership Programme designed specifically for our strong growth potential Heads of Department to help them reach the next level in their career

Our INSPIRE Programme designed for our strong growth potential senior managers across the business to enhance their leadership capability

Our EXPLORE Programme designed to prepare our next generation of Line Managers

Personal Effectiveness workshops and self-led learning, also delivered through Thrive

Apprenticeships opportunities relevant to your role – from level 2 (equivalent to GCSE) through to Level 7 (equivalent to Masters)

Colleague Development Fund to support colleagues in accessing external training relevant to your role

Coaching and mentoring opportunities to support you in your current role and help you prepare for the next

Functional academies that offer training to support you in the technical aspects of your role

Self-awareness tools to help you understand what really matters to you, and where your own talents and ambitions lie

Progress conversations that reflect on how you're doing and define your focus areas for the coming months

Career conversations that explore what you want from your career, in light of your current capabilities, potential and future aspirations

Meet your team

Meet your team

I’m in my happy place when…

"One of the best bits of my role is planning for up-coming launches. It's always challenging and always exciting."

Lacey, Merchandiser

Meet your team

I’m in my happy place when…

"There's a fantastic culture here, which I find really empowering. If you have a bright idea, you can run with it."

Gillian, Packaging Manager

Meet your team

I’m in my happy place when…

"If you want to work from home in your PJs, you can. And if you want to bring your slippers to the office, that's fine too."

Eleanor, Junior Buyer

Rewards you deserve

Along with competitive salaries, we offer a range of other great benefits to recognise the unique contribution you bring.

Salary Advance so you can access up to 50% of the money you've earned during the month, rather than having to wait until pay day

Instant discounts with a range of other companies to help you stretch your budget

Pension contributions to help you save for your retirement

ShareSave scheme that enables you to save monthly and buy Dunelm shares at a discounted rate, building up your investments for a rainy day

Continuous training and coaching to ensure you feel confident in your current role and ready for any new challenges

Access to wellbeing support as and when you need it, including an online GP for you and your immediate family

Colleague networks that give everyone a voice and create an environment where we all feel at home

Outstanding development opportunities and all the support you need to grow your career the way you want

33 days annual holiday plus your birthday off to celebrate, and another day when you move home, so you can get settled in

Generous discounts on all our own products, in-store and online to help you make your house a home

Cycle to work scheme to help you keep your fitness up and your travel costs down

Charity day off (paid, of course) so you can volunteer for a charity that matters to you

Free on-site parking (excluding London office) and good public transport links

How did we get here?

Today, Dunelm is a leader in the £11bn UK homewares market. With over 200 stores across the country and a successful online operation – dunelm.com – we offer over 60,000 products across a broad range of categories. But where did it all begin?

1979

Founder, Bill Adderley and his wife Jean take on a stall in Leicester Market selling curtains. Within a month, they make 600% profit.

1984

First bricks-and-mortar store founded in Churchgate, Leicester.

1988

With momentum growing, first flagship store opens in Leicester, East Street, offering warehouse facilities for expansion across the region.

1991

First superstore opens in Rotherham, offering premium brands such as Dorma, which the company goes on to acquire.

1996

Bill's son Will is appointed CEO of the company, following in his father's footsteps.

1999

Now a household name in the Midlands, Dunelm Mill opens a head office with warehouse facilities in Syston, Leicestershire.

2001

The acquisition of a small custom-made curtains business marks the start of Dunelm's made-to-measure service.

2002

A landmark year as Dunelm Mill opens its 50th store and a new central warehouse in Burton. The company goes on to open new stores at a rate of 10 each year.

2005

A fully shoppable website goes live, with a dedicated warehouse below our Radcliffe store

2006

Dunelm floated on the London Stock Exchange, marking the beginning of a new era for the company.

2010

In Liverpool, the company opens its 100th store, having celebrated its 30th birthday in 2009.

2011

To accommodate continued growth, Dunelm builds a new head office in Syston.

2013

Company rebrands from 'Dunelm Mill' to 'Dunelm' – reflecting what our customers have called us for years.

2016

Our family grew to include Worldstores.

2018

Nick Wilkinson joins the business as our new CEO.

2021

To accommodate our continued growth, Dunelm opens a fourth warehouse in Daventry.

2022

Launch of our ‘Conscious Choice’ collection – homeware that lasts longer and is made from more sustainable materials.

2024

First Central London store in Westfield.

2024

Expanded into the Republic of Ireland, acquiring Home Focus at Hickey’s.

2025

Opened our 200th store in Merthyr Tydfil.

2025

Clo Moriarty joins as CEO, taking the reins from Nick Wilkinson.

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